Books: The Pilgrim\'s Progess in Words of One Syllable
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Mary Godolphin >> The Pilgrim\'s Progess in Words of One Syllable
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Then you next saw the maid come in to lay the dust; so is sin
made clean and laid low by faith in The Book.
Now, said Christian, let me go hence.
Well, said Interpreter, keep all things so in thy mind that they
may be a goad in thy sides; and may faith guide thee!
Then I saw in my dream that the high way which Christian was to
tread, had a wall on each side, and the name of that wall was
Salvation. Up this high way did Christian run, but with great
toil for the load on his back. He ran thus till he drew near to a
place on which stood a cross, and at the foot of it a tomb. Just
as Christian came up to the cross, his load slid from his back,
close to the mouth of the tomb, where it fell in, and I saw it no
more.
Then was Christian glad, and said with a gay heart: He gives me
rest by his grief, and life by his death.
Yet he stood still for a while, for he was struck with awe to
think that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his
load. Three or four times did he look on the cross and the tomb,
and the tears rose to his eyes. As he stood thus and wept, lo,
three Bright Ones came to him, and one of them said: Peace be to
thee! thou hast grace from thy sins. And one came up to him to
strip him of his rags and put a new robe on him, while the third
set a mark on his face, and gave him a roll with a seal on it,
which he bade him look on as he went, and give it at The
Celestial Gate; and then they left him.
Christian gave three leaps for joy, and sang as he went: Ah, what
a place is this! Blest cross! Blest tomb! Nay, blest is the Lord
that was put to shame for me!
He went on thus till he came to a vale where he saw three men who
were in a sound sleep, with chains on their feet. The name of one
was Simple, one Sloth, and the third Presumption. As Christian
saw them lie in this case, he went to wake them, and said: You
are like those that sleep on the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea
is at your feet. Wake, rise, and come with me. Trust me, and I
will help you off with your chains. With that they cast their
eyes up to look at him, and Simple said: I would fain take more
sleep. Presumption said: Let each man look to his own. And so
they lay down to sleep once more.
Then I saw in my dream that two men leapt from the top of the
wall and made great haste to come up to him. Their names were
Formalist and Hypocrisy.
Christian.--Sirs, whence come you, and where do you go?
Formalist and Hypocrisy.--We were born in the land of Vain-glory,
and are on our way to Mount Zion for praise.
Christian.--Why came you not in at the Gate? Know you not that he
that comes not in at the door, but climbs up to get in, the same
is a thief?
They told him that to go through the gate was too far round; that
the best way was to make a short cut of it, and climb the wall,
as they had done.
Christian.--But what will the Lord of the town to which we are
bound think of it, if we go not in the way of his will?
They told Christian that he had no need for care on that score,
for long use had made it law, and they could prove that it had
been so for years. Christian.--But are you quite sure that your
mode will stand a suit at law?
Yes, said they, no doubt of it. And if we get in the road at all,
pray what are the odds? If we are in, we are in; you are but in
the way, who come in at the gate, and we too are in the way that
choose to climb the wall. Is not our case as good as yours?
Christian.--I walk by the rule of my Lord, but you walk by the
rule of your own lusts. The Lord of the way will count you as
thieves, and you will not be found true men in the end.
I saw then that they all went on till they came to the foot of
the Hill of Difficulty, where there was a spring. There were in
the same place two more ways, one on the left hand and one on the
right; but the path that Christian was told to take went straight
up the hill, and its name is Difficulty, and he saw that the way
of life lay there.
Now when Christian got as far as the Spring of Life he drank of
it, and then went up the hill. But when the two men saw that it
was steep and high, and that there were three ways to choose
from, one of them took the path the name of which is Danger, and
lost his way in a great wood, and one of them went by the road of
Destruction, which led him to a wide field full of dark rocks,
where he fell, and rose no more. I then saw Christian go up the
hill, where at first I could see him run, then walk, and then go
on his hands and knees, so steep was it. Now half way up was a
cave made by the Lord of that hill, that those who came by might
rest there. So here Christian sat down, and took out the scroll
and read it, till at last he fell off in a deep sleep which kept
him there till it was dusk; and while he slept his scroll fell
from his hand. At length a man came up to him and woke him, and
said: Go to the ant, thou man of sloth, and learn of her to be
wise.
At this Christian gave a start, and sped on his way, and went at
a quick pace.
When he had got near to the top of the hill, two men ran up to
meet him, whose names were Timorous and Mistrust, to whom
Christian said, Sirs, what ails you? You run the wrong way.
Timorous said that Zion was the hill they meant to climb, but
that when they had got half way they found that they met with
more and more risk, so that great fear came on them, and all they
could do was to turn back.
Yes, said Mistrust, for just in front of us there lay two beasts
of prey in our path; we knew not if they slept or not, but we
thought that they would fall on us and tear our limbs.
Christian.--You rouse my fears. Where must I fly to be safe? If I
go back to my on town (Destruction) I am sure to lose my life,
but if I can get to The Celestial City, there shall I be safe. To
turn back is death; to go on is fear of death, but when I come
there, a life of bliss that knows no end. I will go on yet.
So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill and Christian went on
his way. Yet he thought once more of what he had heard from the
men, and then he felt in his cloak for his scroll, that he might
read it and find some peace. He felt for it but found it not.
Then was Christian in great grief, and knew not what to do for
the want of that which was to be his pass to The Celestial City.
At last, thought he: I slept in the cave by the side of the hill.
So he fell down on his knees to pray that God would give him
grace for this act; and then went back to look for his scroll.
But as he went, what tongue can tell the grief of Christian's
heart? Oh, fool that I am! said he, to sleep in the day time; so
to give way to the flesh as to use for ease that rest which the
Lord of the hill had made but for the help of the soul!
Thus, then, with tears and sighs, he went back, and with much
care did he look on this side and on that for his scroll. At
length he came near to the cave where he had sat and slept. How
far, thought Christian, have I gone in vain! Such was the lot of
the Jews for their sin; they were sent back by the way of the Red
Sea; and I am made to tread those steps with grief which I might
have trod with joy, had it not been for this sleep. How far might
I have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread those
steps thrice which I need not to have trod but once; yea, now too
I am like to be lost in the night, for the day is well nigh
spent. O that I had not slept!
Now by this time he had come to the vale once more, where for a
spell he sat down and wept; but at last, as he cast a sad glance
at the foot of the bench, he saw his scroll, which he caught up
with haste, and put in his cloak. Words are too weak to tell the
joy of Christian when he had got back his scroll. He laid it up
in the breast of his coat and gave thanks to God. With what a
light step did he now climb the hill! But, ere he got to the top,
the sun went down on Christian, and he soon saw that two wild
beast stood in his way. Ah, thought he, these beasts range in the
night for their prey; and if they should meet with me in the
dark, how should I fly from them? I see now the cause of all
those fears that drove Mistrust and Timorous back.
Still Christian went on, and while he thought thus on this sad
lot he cast up his eyes and saw a great house in front of him,
the name of which was Beautiful, and it stood just by the side of
the high road. So he made haste and went on in the hope that he
could rest there a while. The name of the man who kept the lodge
of that house was Watchful, and when he saw that Christian made a
halt as if he would go back, he came out to him and said: Is thy
strength so small? Fear not the two wild beasts, for they are
bound by chains, and are put here to try the faith of those that
have it, and to find out those that have none. Keep in the midst
of the path and no harm shall come to thee.
Then I saw, in my dream, that still he went on in great dread of
the wild beasts; he heard them roar, yet they did him no harm;
but when he had gone by them he went on with joy, till he came
and stood in front of the lodge where Watchful dwelt.
Christian.--Sir, what house is this? May I rest here to night?
Watchful.--This house was built by the Lord of the Hill to give
aid to those who climb up it for the good cause. Tell me, whence
come you?
Christian.--I am come from the Town of Destruction, and am on my
way to Mount Zion; but the day is far spent, and I would, with
your leave, pass the night here.
Watchful.--What is your name?
Christian.--My name is now Christian, but at first it was
Graceless.
Watchful.--How is it you came so late? The sun is set.
Christian then told him why it was.
Watchful.--Well, I will call one that lives here, who, if she
like your talk, will let you come in, for these are the rules of
the house.
So he rang a bell, at the sound of which there came out at the
door a grave and fair maid, whose name was Discretion. When
Watchful told her why Christian had come there, she said: What is
your name?
It is Christian, said he, and I much wish to rest here to night,
and the more so for I see this place was build by the Lord of the
Hill, to screen those from harm who come to it.
So she gave a smile, but the tears stood in her eyes; and in a
short time she said: I will call forth two or three more of our
house, and then she ran to the door and brought in Prudence,
Piety, and Charity, who met him and said: Come in, thou blest of
the Lord; this house was built by the King of the Hill for such
as you. Then Christian bent down his head, and went with them to
the house.
Piety.--Come, good Christian, since our love prompts us to take
you in to rest, let us talk with you of all that you have seen on
your way.
Christian.--With a right good will, and I am glad that you should
ask it of me.
Prudence.--And, first, say what is it that makes you wish so much
to go to Mount Zion?
Christian.--Why there I hope to see Him that did die on the
Cross; and there I hope to be rid of all those thing that to this
day grieve and vex me. There, they say, is no death; and there I
shall dwell with such as love the Lord.
Charity.--Have you a wife and babes?
Christian.--Yes, I have.
Charity.--And why did you not bring them with you?
Christian then wept, and said: Oh, how glad should I have been to
do so! but they would not come with me, nor have me leave them.
Charity.--And did you pray to God to put it in their hearts to go
with you?
Christian.--Yes, and that with much warmth, for you may think how
dear they were to me.
Thus did Christian talk with these friends till it grew dark, and
then he took his rest in a large room, the name of which was
Peace; there he slept till break of day, and then he sang a hymn.
They told him that he should not leave till they had shown him
all the rare things that were in that place. There were to be
seen the rod of Moses, the nail with which Jail slew Sisera, the
lamps with which Gideon put to flight the host of Midian, and the
ox goad with which Shamgar slew his foes. And they brought out
the jaw bone of an ass with which Samson did such great feats,
and the sling and stone with which David slew Goliath of Gath.
Then I saw in my dream that Christian rose to take his leave of
Discretion, and of Prudence, Piety, and Charity, but they said
that he must stay till the next day, that they might show him The
Delectable Mountains; so they took him to the top of the house,
and bade him look to the South, which he did, and lo, a great way
off, he saw a rich land, full of hills, woods, vines, shrubs, and
streams.
What is the name of this land? said Christian.
Then they told him it was Immanuel's Land. And, said they, It is
as much meant for you, and the like of you, as this hill is; and
when you reach the place, there you may see the gate of The
Celestial City. Then they gave him a sword, and put on him a coat
of mail, which was proof from head to foot, lest he should meet
some foe in the way; and they went with him down the hill.
Of a truth, said Christian, it is as great a toil to come down
the hill as it was to go up.
Prudence.--So it is, for it is a hard thing for a man to go down
to The Vale of Humiliation, as thou dost now, and for this cause
have we come with you to the foot of the hill. So, though he went
with great care, yet he caught a slip or two.
Then in my dream I saw that when they had got to the foot of the
hill, these good friends of Christian's gave him a loaf of bread,
a flask of wine, and a bunch of dry grapes; and then they left
him to go on his way.
But now in this Vale of Humiliation poor Christian was hard put
to it, for he had not gone far, ere he saw a foe come in the
field to meet him, whose name was Apollyon. Then did Christian
fear, and he cast in his mind if he would go back or stand his
ground. But Christian thought that as he had no coat of mail on
his back, to turn round might give Apollyon a chance to pierce it
with his darts. So he stood his ground, For, thought he, if but
to save my life were all I had in view, still the best way would
be to stand.
So he went on, and Apollyon met him with looks of scorn.
Apollyon.--Whence come you, and to what place are you bound?
Christian.--I am come from The City of Destruction, which is a
place of all sin, and I am on my way to Zion.
Apollyon.--By this I see you are mine, for of all that land I am
the Prince. How is it, then, that you have left your king? Were
it not that I have a hope that you may do me more good, I would
strike you to the ground with one blow.
Christian.--I was born in your realm, it is true, but you drove
us too hard, and your wage was such as no man could live on.
Apollyon.--No prince likes to lose his men, nor will I as yet
lose you; so if you will come back, what my realm yields I will
give you.
Christian.--But I am bound by vows to the King of Kings; and how
can I, to be true, go back with you?
Apollyon.--You have made a change, it seems, from bad to worse;
but why not give Him the slip, and come back with me?
Christian.--I gave Him my faith, and swore to be true to Him: how
can I go back from this?
Apollyon.--You did the same to me, and yet I will pass by all, if
you will but turn and go back.
Then, when Apollyon saw that Christian was stanch to his Prince,
he broke out in a great rage, and said, I hate that Prince, and I
hate his laws, and I am come out to stop you.
Christian.--Take heed what you do. I am on the King's high way to
Zion.
Apollyon.--I am void of fear, and to prove that I mean what I
say, here on this spot I will put thee to death. With that he
threw a dart of fire at his breast, but Christian had a shield on
his arm, with which he caught it. Then did Christian draw his
sword, for he saw it was time to stir; and Apollyon as fast made
at him, and threw darts as thick as hail; with which, in spite of
all that Christian could do, Apollyon gave him wounds in his
head, hand, and foot.
This made Christian pause in the fight for a time, but Apollyon
still came on, and Christian once more took heart. They fought
for half a day, till Christian, weak from his wounds, was well
nigh spent in strength. When Apollyon saw this, he threw him down
with a great force; on which Christian's sword fell out of his
hand. Then said Apollyon, I am sure of thee now.
But while he strove to make an end of Christian, that good man
put out his hand in haste to feel for his sword, and caught it.
Boast not, oh Apollyon! said he, and with that he struck him a
blow which made his foe reel back as one that had had his last
wound. Then he spread out his wings and fled, so that Christian
for a time saw him no more.
Then there came to him a hand which held some of the leaves of
the tree of life; some of them Christian took, and as soon as he
had put them to his wounds, he saw them heal up.
Now near this place was the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and
Christian must needs go through it to get to The Celestial City.
It was a land of drought and full of pits, a land that none but
such as Christian could pass through, and where no man dwelt. So
that here he was worst put to it than in his fight with Apollyon,
which by and by we shall see.
As he drew near the Shadow of Death he met with two men, to whom
Christian thus spoke: To what place do you go?
Men.--Back! Back! and we would have you do the same if you prize
life and peace.
Christian.--But why?
Men.--We went on as far as we durst.
Christian.--What then have you seen?
Men.--Seen! Why the Valley of the Shadow of Death; but by dint of
good luck we caught sight of what lay in front of it, ere we came
up. Death doth spread out his wings there. In a word it is a
place full of bad men, where no law dwells.
Christian.--I see not yet, by what you have told me, but that
this is my way to Zion.
Men.--Be it thy way then; we will not choose it for ours.
So they took their leave, and Christian went on, but still with
his drawn sword in his hand, for fear lest he should meet once
more with a foe.
I saw then in my dream that so far as this vale went, there was
on the right hand a deep ditch; that ditch to which the blind
have led the blind as long as the world has been made. And, lo,
on the left hand there was a quag. in which if a man fall, he
will find no firm ground for his foot to stand on. The path way
was not broad, and so good Christian was the more put to it. This
went on for miles, and in the midst of that vale was a deep pit.
One thing which I saw in my dream I must not leave out; it was
this:--Just as Christian had come to the mouth of the pit, one of
those who dwelt in it swept up to him, and in a soft tone spoke
bad things to him, and took God's name in vain, which Christian
thought must have come from his own mind. This put him out more
than all the rest had done; to think that he should take that
name in vain for which he felt so deep a love, was a great grief
to him. Yet there was no help for it. Then he thought he heard a
voice which said: Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow
of Death, I will fear no harm for thou art with me.
Now as Christian went on, he found there was a rise in the road,
which had been thrown up that that path might be clear to those
who were bound for Zion. Up this road Christian went, and saw his
old friend Faithful a short way off.
Then said Christian: Ha, my friend, are you here? Stay, and I
will join you.
This ere long he did, and they spoke of all that had come to pass
since they had last met.
In course of time the road they took brought them to a town, the
name of which is Vanity, where there is a fair kept through the
whole year, and all that is bought or sold there is vain and void
of worth. There, too, are to be seen at all times games, plays,
fools, apes, knaves, and rogues. Yet he that will go to The
Celestial City must needs pass through this fair.
As soon as Christian and Faithful came to the town, a crowd drew
round them, and some said they had lost their wits, to dress and
speak as they did, and to set no store by the choice goods for
sale in Vanity Fair. When Christian spoke, his words brought from
these folks fierce taunts and jeers, and soon the noise and stir
grew to such a height that the chief man of the fair sent his
friends to take up these two strange men, and he bade them tell
him whence they came, and what they did there in such a garb.
Christian and Faithful told them all; but those who sat to judge
the case thought that they must be mad, or else that they had
come to stir up strife at the fair; so they beat them with
sticks, and put them in a cage, that they might be a sight for
all the men at the fair. Then the worse sort of folks set to pelt
them with mud out of spite, and some threw stones at them for
mere sport; but Christian and Faithful gave good words for bad,
and bore all in such a meek way, that not a few took their part.
This led to blows and fights, and the blame was laid on Christian
and Faithful, who were then made to toil up and down the fair in
chains, till, faint with stripes, they were at length set with
their feet in the stocks. But they bore their griefs and woes
with joy, for they saw in them a pledge that all should be well
in the end.
By and by a court sat to try them: the name of the judge was Lord
Hate-good; and the crime laid to their charge was that they had
come to Vanity Fair to spoil its trade, and stir up strife in the
town; and had won not a few men to their side, in spite of the
prince of the place.
Faithful said to the Judge: I am a man of peace, and did but wage
war on Sin. As for the prince they speak of, since he is
Beelzebub, I hold him in scorn.
Those who took Faithful's part were won by the force of plain
truth and right in his words; but the judge said, Let those speak
who know aught of this man.
So three men, whose names were Envy, Superstition, and
Pick-thank, stood forth and swore to speak the truth, and tell
what they knew of Faithful. Envy said: My lord, this man cares
nought for kings or laws, but seeks to spread his own views, and
to teach men what he calls faith. I heard him say but just now
that the ways of our town of Vanity are vile. And does he not in
that speak ill of us?
Then Superstition said: My lord, I know not much of this man, and
have no wish to know more, but of this I am sure, that he is a
bad man, for he says that our creeds are vain.
Pick-thank was then bid to say what he knew, and his speech ran
thus: My lord, I have known this man for a long time, and have
heard him say things that ought not to be said. He rails at our
great Prince Beelzebub, and says that if all men were of his
mind, that prince should no more hold sway here. More than this,
he hath been heard to rail on you, my lord, who are now his
judge.
Then said the Judge to Faithful: Thou base man! Hast though heard
what these folk have said of thee?
Faithful.--May I speak a few words in my own cause?
Judge.--Thy just doom would be to die on the spot; still, let us
hear what thou hast to say.
Faithful.--I say, then, to Mr. Envy, that all laws and modes of
life in which men heed not the Word of God are full of sin. As to
the charge of Mr. Superstition, I would urge that nought can save
us if we do not the will of God. To Mr. Pick-thank, I say that
men should flee from the Prince of this town and his friends, as
from the wrath to come and so, I pray the Lord to help me.
Then the Judge, to sum up the case, spoke thus: You see this man
who has made such a stir in our town. You have heard what these
good men have said of him, which he owns to be true. It rests now
to you to save his life or hang him.
The twelve men who had Faithful's life in their hands spoke in a
low tone thus: This man is full of schisms, said Mr. Blind-man.
Out of the world with him, said Mr. No-good. I hate the mere look
of him, said Mr. Malice. From the first I could not bear him,
said Mr. Love-ease. Nor I, for he would be sure to blame my ways,
said Mr. Live-loose. Hang him, hang him! said Mr. Heady. A low
wretch! said Mr. High-mind. I long to crush him, said Mr. Enmity.
He is a rogue, said Mr. Liar. Death is too good for him, said Mr.
Cruelty. Let us kill him, that he may be out of the way, said Mr.
Hate-light. Then said Mr. Implacable: Not to gain all the world
would I make peace with him, so let us doom him to death. And so
they did, and in a short time he was led back to the place from
whence he came, there to be put to the worst death that could be
thought of; for the scourge, the sword, and the stake brought
Faithful to his end.
Now I saw that there stood near the crowd a strange car with two
bright steeds, which, as soon as his foes had slain him, took
Faithful up through the clouds straight to The Celestial City,
with the sound of the harp and lute.
As for Christian, for this time he got free; and there came to
him one Hopeful, who did so from what he had heard and seen of
Christian and Faithful. Thus, while one lost his life for the
truth, a new man rose from his death, to tread the same way with
Christian. And Hopeful said there were more men of the fair who
would take their time, and then come too.
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