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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By and by their way lay just on the bank of a pure stream, from
which they drank. On each side of it were green trees that bore
fruit, and in a field through which it ran they lay down to
sleep. When they woke up they sat for a while in the shade of the
boughs; thus they went on for three or four days, and to pass the
time they sang:
He that can tell What sweet fresh fruit, yea leaves these trees
do yield, Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field.
Now on the left hand of the road was By-path Meadow, a fair green
field with a path through it, and a stile. Come, good Hopeful,
said Christian, let us walk on the grass.
Hopeful.--But what if this path should lead us wrong?
Christian.--How can it? Look, doth it not go by the way side?
So they set off through the field. But they had not gone far when
they saw in front of them a man, Vain-confidence by name, who
told them that the path led to The Celestial Gate. So the man
went first; but lo, the night came on, and it grew so dark that
they lost sight of their guide, who, as he did not see the path
in front of him, fell in a deep pit, and was heard of no more.
Where are we now? said Hopeful.
Then was Christian mute, as he thought he had led his friend out
of the way. And now light was seen to flash from the sky, and
rain came down in streams.
Hopeful (with a groan) Oh, that I had kept on my way!
Christian.--Who could have thought that this path should lead us
wrong?
Hopeful.--I had my fears from the first, and so gave you a hint.
Christian.--Good friend, I grieve that I have brought you out of
the right path.
Hopeful.--Say no more, no doubt it is for our good.
Christian.--We must not stand thus; let us try to go back.
Hopeful.--But, good Christian, let me go first.
Then they heard a voice say: Set thine heart to the high way, the
way thou hast been: turn once more. But by this time the stream
was deep from the rain that fell, and to go back did not seem
safe; yet they went back, though it was so dark and the stream
ran so high that once or twice it was like to drown them. Nor
could they, with all their skill, get back that night. So they
found a screen from the rain, and there they slept till break of
day.
Now, not far from the place where they lay was Doubting Castle,
the lord of which was Giant Despair; and it was on his ground
that they now slept. There Giant Despair found them, and with a
gruff voice he bade them wake. Whence are you? said he; and what
brought you here? They told him that they had lost the path. Then
said Giant Despair: You have no right to force your way in here;
the ground on which you lie is mine.
They had not much to say, as they knew that they were in fault.
So Giant Despair drove them on, and put them in a dark and foul
cell in a strong hold. Here they were kept for three days, and
they had no light nor food nor a drop to drink all that time, and
no one to ask them how they did. Now Giant Despair had a wife,
whose name was Diffidence, and he told her what he had done. Then
said he, What will be the best way to treat them? Beat them well,
said Diffidence. So when he rose he took a stout stick from a
crab tree, and went down to the cell where poor Christian and
Hopeful lay, and beat them as if they had been dogs, so that they
could not turn on the floor; and they spent all that day in sighs
and tears.
The next day he came once more, and found them sore from the
stripes, and said that since there was no chance for them to be
let out of the cell, their best way would be to put an end to
their own lives: For why should you wish to live, said he, with
all this woe? But they told him they did hope he would let them
go. With that he sprang up with a fierce look, and no doubt would
have made an end of them, but that he fell in a fit for a time,
and lost the use of his hand; so he drew back, and left them to
think of what he had said.
Christian.--Friend, what shall we do? The life that we now lead
is worse than death. For my part I know not which is best, to
live thus, or to die at our own hand, as I feel that the grave
would be less sad to me than this cell. Shall we let Giant
Despair rule us?
Hopeful.--In good truth our case is a sad one, and to die would
be more sweet to me than to live here; yet let us bear in mind
that the Lord of that land to which we go hath said: 'Thou shalt
not kill.' And by this act we kill our souls as well. My friend
Christian, you talk of ease in the grave, but can a man go to
bliss who takes his own life? All the law is not in the hands of
Giant Despair. Who knows but that God, who made the world, may
cause him to die, or lose the use of his limbs as he did at
first. I have made up my mind to pluck up the heart of a man, and
to try to get out of this strait. Fool that I was not to do so
when first he came to the cell. But let us not put an end to our
own lives, for a good time may come yet.
By these words did Hopeful change the tone of Christian's mind.
Well, at night the Giant went down to the cell to see if life was
still in them, and in good truth that life was in them was all
that could be said, for from their wounds and want of food they
did no more than just breathe. When Giant Despair found they were
not dead, he fell in a great rage, and said that it should be
worse with them if they had not been born. At this they shook
with fear, and Christian fell down in a swoon; but when he came
to, Hopeful said: My friend, call to mind how strong in faith you
have been till now. Say, could Apollyon hurt you, or all that you
heard, or saw, or felt in the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Look
at the fears, the griefs, the woes that you have gone through.
And now to be cast down! I, too, am in this cell, far more weak a
man than you, and Giant Despair dealt his blows at me as well as
you, and keeps me from food and light. Let us both (if but to
shun the shame) bear up as well as we can.
When night came on, the wife of Giant Despair said to him: Well,
will the two men yield?
To which he said: No; they choose to stand firm, and will not put
an end to their lives.
Then said Mrs. Diffidence: At dawn of day take them to the yard,
and show them the graves where all those whom you have put to
death have been thrown, and make use of threats this time.
So Giant Despair took them to this place, and said: In ten days
time you shall be thrown in here if you do not yield. Go; get you
down to your den once more. With that he beat them all the way
back, and there they lay the whole day in a sad plight.
Now, when night was come, Mrs. Diffidence said to Giant Despair:
I fear much that these men live on in hopes to pick the lock of
the cell and get free.
Dost thou say so, my dear? quoth Giant Despair to his wife; then
at sun rise I will search them.
Now, on that night, as Christian and Hopeful lay in the den, they
fell on their knees to pray, and knelt till the day broke; when
Christian gave a start, and said: Fool that I am thus to lie in
this dark den when I might walk at large! I have a key in my
pouch, the name of which is Promise, that, I feel sure, will turn
the lock of all the doors in Doubting Castle.
Then said Hopeful: That is good news; pluck it from thy breast,
and let us try it.
So Christian put it in the lock, when the bolt sprang back, the
door flew wide, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. When
they got to the yard door the key did just as well; but the lock
of the last strong gate of Doubting Castle went hard, yet it did
turn at last, though the hinge gave so loud a creak that it woke
up Giant Despair, who rose to seek for the two men. But just then
he felt his limbs fail, for a fit came on him, so that he could
by no means reach their cell. Christian and Hopeful now fled back
to the high way, and were safe out of his grounds. When they sat
down to rest on a stile, they said they would warn those who
might chance to come on this road. So they cut these words on a
post: This is the way to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant
Despair, who loves not the King of the Celestial Country, and
seeks to kill all who would go there.
Then they came to The Delectable Mountains, which the Lord of the
Hill owns. Here they saw fruit trees, vines, shrubs, woods, and
streams, and drank and ate of the grapes. Now there were men at
the tops of these hills who kept watch on their flocks, and as
they stood by the high way, Christian and Hopeful leant on their
staves to rest, while thus they spoke to the men: Who owns these
Delectable Mountains, and whose are the sheep that feed on them?
Men.--These hills are Immanuel's, and the sheep are His too, and
He laid down his life for them.
Christian.--Is this the way to The Celestial City?
Men.--You are in the right road.
Christian.--How far is it?
Men.--Too far for all but those that shall get there, in good
truth.
Christian.--Is the way safe?
Men.--Safe for those for whom it is to be safe; but the men of
sin shall fall there.
Christian.--Is there a place of rest here for those that faint on
the road?
Men.--The Lord of these Hills gave us a charge to help those that
came here, should they be known to us or not; so all the good
things of the place are yours.
I then saw in my dream that the men said: Whence come you, and by
what means have you got so far? For but few of those that set out
come here to show their face on these hills.
So when Christian and Hopeful told their tale, the men cast a
kind glance at them, and said: With joy we greet you on The
Delectable Mountains!
Their names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere,
and they led Christian and Hopeful by the hand to their tents,
and bade them eat of that which was there, and they soon went to
their rest for the night.
When the morn broke, the men woke up Christian and Hopeful, and
took them to a spot whence they saw a bright view on all sides.
Then they went with them to the top of a high hill, the name of
which was Error; it was steep on the far off side, and they bade
them look down to the foot of it. So Christian and Hopeful cast
their eyes down, and saw there some men who had lost their lives
by a fall from the top; men who had been made to err, for they
had put their trust in false guides.
Have you not heard of them? said the men.
Christian.--Yes, I have.
Men.--These are they, and to this day they have not been put in a
tomb, but are left here to warn men to take good heed how they
come too near the brink of this hill.
Then I saw that they had led them to the top of Mount Caution,
and bade them look far off. From that stile, said they, there
goes a path to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair,
and the men whom you see there came as you do now, till they got
up to that stile; and, as the right way was rough to walk in,
they chose to go through a field, and there Giant Despair took
them, and shut them up in Doubting Castle, where they were kept
in a den for a while, till he at last sent them out quite blind,
and there they are still. At this Christian gave a look at
Hopeful, and they both burst out with sobs and tears, but yet
said not a word.
Then the four men took them up a high hill, the name of which was
Clear, that they might see the gates of The Celestial City, with
the aid of a glass to look through, but their hands shook, so
they could not see well.
When Christian and Hopeful thought they would move on, one of the
men gave them a note of the way, and the next (Experience by
name) bade them take heed that they slept not on The Enchanted
Ground, and the fourth bade them God Speed. Now it was that I
woke from my dream.
Then I slept, and dreamt once more, and saw Christian and Hopeful
go down near the foot of these hills, where lies the land of
Conceit, which joins the way to Mount Zion, by a small lane. Here
they met a brisk lad, whose name was Ignorance, to whom Christian
said: Whence come you, and to what place do you go?
Ignorance.--Sir, I was born in the land that lies off there on
the left, and I wish to go to The Celestial City.
Christian.--How do you think to get in at the gate?
Ignorance.--Just as the rest of the world do.
Christian.--But what have you to show at that gate to pass you
through it?
Ignorance.--I know my Lord's will, and I have led a good life; I
pay for all that I have, I give tithes, and give alms, and have
left my own land for that to which I now go.
Christian.--But you came not in at the gate that is at the head
of this way, you came in through a small lane; so that I fear,
though you may think well of all you have done, that when the
time shall come, you will have this laid to your charge, that you
are a thief and so you will not get in.
Ignorance.--Well, since I know you not; you keep to your own
creed, and I will keep to mine, and I hope all will be well. And
as for the gate that you talk of, all the world knows that it is
far from our land, and I do not think that there is a man in all
our parts who does so much as know the way to it, and I see not
what need there is that he should, since we have, as you see, a
fine green lane at the next turn that comes down from our part of
the world.
Christian said in a low tone of voice to Hopeful: There is more
hope of a fool than of him.
Hopeful.--Let us pass on if you will, and talk to him by and by,
when, may be, he can bear it.
So they went on, and Ignorance trod in their steps a short way
from them, till they saw a road branch off from the one they were
in, and they knew not which of the two to take.
As they stood to think of it, a man whose skin was black, but who
was clad in a white robe, came to them and said: Why do you stand
here? They told him that they were on their way to The Celestial
City, but knew not which of the two roads to take.
Come with me, then, said the man, for it is there that I mean to
go.
So they went with him, though it was clear that the road must
have made a bend, for they found they would soon turn their backs
on The Celestial City.
Ere long, Christian and Hopeful were both caught in a net, and
knew not what to do; and with that the white robe fell off the
black man's back.
Then they saw where they were. So there they sat down and wept.
Christian.--Did not one of the four men who kept guard on their
sheep tell us to take heed lest Flatterer should spread a net for
out feet?
Hopeful.--Those men, too, gave us a note of the way, but we have
not read it, and so have not kept in the right path. Thus they
lay in the net to weep and wail.
At last they saw a Bright One come up to them with a whip of fine
cord in his hand, who said: What do you here? Whence come you?
They told him that their wish was to go to Zion, but that they
had been led out of the way by a black man with a white cloak on,
who, as he was bound for the same place, said he would show them
the road.
Then said he: It is Flatterer, a false man, who has put on the
garb of a Bright One for a time.
So he rent the net and let the men out. Then he bade them come
with him, that he might set them on the right way once more. He
said: Where were you last night?
Quoth they: With the men who kept watch of their sheep on The
Delectable Mountains.
Then he said: But when you were at a stand why did you not read
your note?
They told him they had not thought of it.
Now I saw in my dream that he bade them lie down, and whipt them
sore, to teach them the good way in which they should walk; and
he said: Those whom I love I serve thus.
So they gave him thanks for what he had taught them, and went on
the right way up the hill with a song of joy.
At length they came to a land the air of which made men sleep,
and here the lids of Hopeful's eyes dropped, and he said: Let us
lie down here and take a nap.
Christian.--By no means, lest if we sleep we wake no more.
Hopeful.--Nay, friend Christian, sleep is sweet to the man who
has spent the day in toil.
Christian.--Do you not call to mind that one of the men who kept
watch of the sheep bade us take care of The Enchanted Ground? He
meant by that that we should take heed not to sleep; so let us
not sleep, but watch.
Hopeful.--I see I am in fault.
Christian.--Now then, to keep sleep from our eyes I will ask you,
as we go, to tell me how you came at first to do as you do now?
Hopeful.--Do you mean how came I first to look to the good of my
soul?
Christian.--Yes.
Hopeful.--For a long time the things that were seen and sold at
Vanity Fair were a great joy to me.
Christian.--What things do you speak of?
Hopeful.--All the good of this life; such as lies, oaths, drink;
in a word, love of self and all that tend to kill the soul. But I
heard from you and Faithful that the end of these things is
death.
Thus did they talk as they went on their way.
But I saw in my dream that by this time Christian and Hopeful had
got through The Enchanted Ground and had come to the land of
Beulah, where the air is sweet; and as their way lay through this
land, they made no haste to quit it, for here they heard the
birds sing all day long, and the sun shone day and night; the
Valley of Death was on the left, and it was out of the reach of
Giant Despair; nor could they from this place so much as see
Doubting Castle.
Now were they in sight of Zion, and here some of the Bright Ones
came to meet them. Here, too, they heard the voice of those who
dwelt in Zion, and had a good view of this land of bliss, which
was built of rare gems of all hues, and the streets were laid
with gold. So that the rays of light which shone on Christian
were too bright for him to bear, and he fell sick, and Hopeful
had a fit of the same kind. So they lay by for a time, and wept,
for their joy was too much for them.
At length, step by step, they drew near to Zion, and saw that the
gates were flung back.
A man stood in the way, to whom Christian and Hopeful said: Whose
vines and crops are these?
He told them they were the king's and were put there to give joy
to those who should go on the road. So he bade them eat what
fruit they chose, and took them to see the king's walks; where
they slept.
Now I saw in my dream that they spoke more in their sleep than
they had done all the rest of the way, and I could but muse at
this, but the man said: Why do you muse at it? The juice from the
grapes of this vine is so sweet as to cause the lips of them that
sleep to speak.
I then saw that when they woke, they would fain go up to Zion;
but as I said, the sun threw off such bright rays from The
Celestial City, which was built of pure gold, that they could
not, as yet, look on it, save through a glass made for that end.
Now as they went, they met with two men in white robes, and the
face of each shone bright as the light.
These men said: Whence come you? And when they had been told they
said: You have but one thing more to do, which is a hard one, and
then you are in Zion.
Christian and Hopeful did then beg of the two men to go with
them; which they did. But, said they, It is by your own faith
that you must gain it.
Now 'twixt them and the gate was a fierce stream which was broad
and deep; it had no bridge, and the mere sight of it did so stun
Christian and Hopeful that they could not move.
But the men who went with them said: You can not come to the gate
but through this stream.
Is there no way but this one to the gate? said poor Christian.
Yes, quoth they, but there have been but two men, to wit, Enoch
and Elijah who have trod that path since the world was made.
When Christian and Hopeful cast their eyes on the stream once
more, they felt their hearts sink with fear, and gave a look this
way and that in much dread of the waves. Yet through it lay the
way to Zion. Is the stream all of one depth? said Christian. He
was told that it was not, yet that in that there was no help, for
he would find the stream more or less deep, as he had faith in
the King of the place. So they set foot on the stream, but
Christian gave a loud cry to his good friend Hopeful, and said:
The waves close round my head, and I sink. Then said Hopeful: Be
of good cheer; my feet feel the bed of the stream, and it is
good.
But Christian said: Ah, Hopeful, the pains of death have got hold
of me; I shall not reach the land that I long for. And with that
a cloud came on his sight, so that he could not see.
Hopeful had much to do to keep Christian's head out of the
stream; nay, at times he had quite sunk, and then in a while he
would rise up half dead.
Then said Hopeful: My friend, all this is sent to try if you will
call to mind all that God has done for you, and live on Him in
your heart.
At these words Hopeful saw that Christian was in deep thought; so
he said to him: Be of good cheer, Christ will make thee whole.
Then Christian broke out with a loud voice: Oh, I see Him, and He
speaks to me and says, When you pass through the deep streams, I
will be with you.
And now they both got strength, and the stream was as still as a
stone, so that Christian felt the bed of it with his feet, and he
could walk through it. Thus they got to the right bank, where the
two men in bright robes stood to wait for them, and their clothes
were left in the stream.
Now you must bear in mind that Zion was on a steep hill, yet did
Christian and Hopeful go up with ease and great speed, for they
had these two men to lead them by the arms.
The hill stood in the sky, for the base of it was there. So in
sweet talk they went up through the air. The Bright Ones told
them of the bliss of the place, which they said was such as no
tongues could tell, and that there they would see the Tree of
Life, and eat of the fruit of it.
When you come there, said they, white robes will be put on you,
and your talk from day to day shall be with the King for all
time. There you shall not see such things as you saw on earth, to
wit, care and want, and woe and death. You now go to be with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Christian and Hopeful.--What must we do there?
They said: You will have rest for all your toil, and joy for all
your grief. You will reap what you have sown--the fruit of all
the tears you shed for the King by the way. In that place you
will wear crowns of gold, and have at all times a sight of Him
who sits on the throne. There you shall serve Him with love, with
shouts of joy and with songs of praise.
Now, while they thus drew up to the gate, lo, a host of saints
came to meet them, to whom the two Bright Ones said: These are
men who felt love for our Lord when they were in the world, and
left all for His name; and He sent us to bring them far on their
way, that they might go in and look on their Lord with joy.
Then the whole host with great shouts came round on all sides (as
it were to guard them); so that is would seem to Christian and
Hopeful as if all Zion had come down to meet them.
Now, when Christian and Hopeful went in at the gate a great
change took place in them, and they were clad in robes that shone
like gold. There were bright hosts that came with harps and
crowns, and they said to them: Come, ye, in the joy of the Lord.
And then I heard all the bells in Zion ring.
Now, just as the gates were flung back for the men to pass in, I
had a sight of Zion, which shone like the sun; the ground was of
gold, and those who dwelt there had love in their looks, crowns
on their heads, and palms in their hands, and with one voice they
sent forth shouts of praise.
But the gates were now once more shut, and I could but wish that
I, too, had gone in to share this bliss. Then I woke, and, lo, it
was a dream.
END OF FIRST PART.
PART II.
Once more I had a dream, and it was this:--Christiana, the wife
of Christian, had been on her knees to pray, and as she rose, she
heard a loud knock at the door. If you come in God's name, said
she, come in. Then I thought in my dream that a form, clad in
robes as white as snow, threw back the door, and said, Peace be
to this house. At a sight so new to her, Christiana at first grew
pale with fear, but in a short time took heart and told him she
would fain know whence he came, and why. So he said his name was
Secret, and that he dwelt with those that are on high. Then said
her guest: Christiana, here is a note for thee, which I have
brought from Christian. So she took it, broke the seal, and read
these words, which were in gold:--"To her who was my dear wife.
The King would have you do as I have done, for that was the way
to come to this land, and to dwell with Him in joy." When
Christiana read this, she shed tears, and said to him who brought
the note, Sir, will you take me and my sons with you, that we,
too, may bow down to this king? But he said, Christiana, joy is
born of grief: care must come first, then bliss. To reach the
land where I dwell, thou must go through toils, as well as scorn
and taunts. But take the road that leads up to the field gate
which stands in the head of the way; and I wish you all good
speed. I would have thee wear this note in thy breast, that it
may be read by thee till thou must give it up at the last gate
that leads to The Celestial City.
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