The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read
the kindness that attends this place, I cannot perceive it?
Thirdly,--For that he hoped (could he overtake them) to have company
by-and-by. So he went on, and called to him that was before; but he knew
not what to answer, for that he also thought himself to be alone. And
by-and-by the day broke. Then said Christian, "He hath turned the shadow
of death into the morning."
Now, morning being come, he looked back, not out of desire to return,
but to see, by the light of the day, what dangers he had gone through in
the dark. So he saw more perfectly the ditch that was on the one hand,
and the quag that was on the other; also how narrow the way which led
betwixt them both. Also now he saw the hobgoblins, and satyrs, and
dragons of the pit, but all afar off; for after break of day they came
not nigh; yet they were shown to him according to that which is written,
"He showeth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the
shadow of death."
Now was Christian much affected with his deliverance from all the
dangers of his solitary way; which dangers, though he feared them much
before, yet he saw them more clearly now, because the light of the day
made them plain to him. And about this time the sun was rising, and this
was another mercy to Christian; for you must note that, though the first
part of the Valley of the Shadow of Death was dangerous, yet this second
part, which he was yet to go, was if possible far more dangerous; for,
from the place where he now stood, even to the end of the valley, the
way was all along set so full of snares, traps, gins, and nets here,
and so full of pits, pitfalls, deep holes, and shelvings down there,
that, had it now been dark, as it was when he came the first part of the
way, had he had a thousand souls, they had in reason been cast away.
But, as I said just now the sun was rising. Then said he, "His candle
shineth on my head, and by His light I go through darkness."
[Sidenote: POPE AND PAGAN]
In this light, therefore, he came to the end of the valley. Now, I saw
in my dream that at the end of the valley lay blood, bones, ashes, and
mangled bodies of men, even of pilgrims that had gone this way formerly;
and, while I was musing what should be the reason, I espied a little
before me a cave, where two giants, POPE and PAGAN, dwelt in old time;
by whose power and tyranny, the men whose bones, blood, ashes, etc., lay
there, were cruelly put to death. But by this place Christian went
without danger, whereat I somewhat wondered; but I have learnt since,
that Pagan has been dead many a day; and, as for the other, though he be
yet alive, he is, by reason of age, also of the many shrewd brushes that
he met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in his joints,
that he can now do little more than sit in his cave's mouth, grinning at
pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails because he cannot come to
them.
So I saw that Christian went on his way; yet, at the sight of the old
man that sat at the mouth of the cave, he could not tell what to think,
especially because he spoke to him, though he could not go after him,
saying, "You will never mend till more of you be burned." But he held
his peace, and set a good face on it, and so went by and caught no hurt.
Then sang Christian:
"O, world of wonders (I can say no less),
That I should be preserved in that distress
That I have met with here! Oh, blessed be
That hand that from it hath delivered me!
Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and sin,
Did compass me, while I this vale was in;
Yes, snares, and pits, and traps, and nets did lie
My path about, that worthless, silly I
Might have been catched, entangled, and cast down;
But, since I live, let Jesus wear the crown."
CHAPTER V.
Now as Christian went on his way, he came to a little ascent which was
cast up on purpose that pilgrims might see before them: up there,
therefore, Christian went; and looking forward, he saw Faithful before
him upon his journey. Then said Christian aloud, "Ho, ho! so-ho! stay,
and I will be your companion." At that Faithful looked behind him; to
whom Christian cried, "Stay, stay, till I come up to you." But Faithful
answered, "No, I am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind
me."
[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN JOINS FAITHFUL]
At this Christian was somewhat moved; and putting to all his strength,
he quickly got up with Faithful, and did also overrun him: so the last
was first. Then did Christian boastfully smile, because he had gotten
the start of his brother; but, not taking good heed to his feet, he
suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rise again until Faithful came
up to help him.
Then I saw in my dream, they went very lovingly on together, and had
sweet talk together of all things that had happened to them in their
pilgrimage; and thus Christian began:
CHRIS. My honored and well-beloved brother Faithful, I am glad that I
have overtaken you, and that God has so tempered our spirits that we can
walk as companions in this so pleasant a path.
FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite from
our town; but you did get the start of me, wherefore I was forced to
come thus much of the way alone.
CHRIS. How long did you stay in the City of Destruction before you set
out after me on your pilgrimage?
[Sidenote: WHAT WAS SAID IN THE CITY]
FAITH. Till I could stay no longer; for there was great talk, presently
after you were gone out, that our city would, in a short time, with fire
from heaven, be burned down to the ground.
CHRIS. What! did your neighbors talk so?
FAITH. Yes, it was for a while in everybody's mouth.
CHRIS. What! and did no more of them but you come out to escape the
danger?
FAITH. Though there was, as I said, a great talk thereabout, yet I do
not think they did firmly believe it. For, in the heat of the talking I
heard some of them deridingly speak of you, and of your desperate
journey; for so they called this your pilgrimage. But I did believe, and
do still, that the end of our city will be with fire and brimstone from
above; and therefore I have made my escape.
CHRIS. Did you hear no talk of neighbor Pliable?
FAITH. Yes, Christian; I heard that he followed you till he came to the
Slough of Despond, where, as some said, he fell in; but he would not be
known to have so done; but I am sure he was soundly bedabbled with that
kind of dirt.
CHRIS. And what said the neighbors to him?
FAITH. He hath, since his going back, been held greatly in derision, and
that among all sorts of people: some do mock and despise him, and scarce
any will set him on work. He is now seven times worse than if he had
never gone out of the city.
CHRIS. But why should they be set so against him, since they also
despise the way that he forsook?
FAITH. "Oh," they say, "hang him; he is a turncoat! he was not true to
his profession!" I think God has stirred up even his enemies to hiss at
him and laugh at him, because he hath forsaken the way.
CHRIS. Had you no talk with him before you came out?
FAITH. I met him once in the streets, but he leered away on the other
side, as one ashamed of what he had done; so I spake not to him.
CHRIS. Well, at my first setting out, I had hopes of that man, but now I
fear he will perish in the overthrow of the city. For it has happened to
him according to the true proverb, "The dog is turned to his vomit
again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."
FAITH. These are my fears of him too; but who can hinder that which will
be?
CHRIS. "Well, neighbor Faithful," said Christian, "let us leave him, and
talk of things that more immediately concern ourselves. Tell me now
what you have met with in the way as you came; for I know you have met
with some things, or else it may be writ for a wonder."
FAITH. I escaped the slough that I perceive you fell into, and got up to
the gate without that danger; only I met with one whose name was Wanton,
that had like to have done me a mischief.
CHRIS. It was well you escaped her net: Joseph was hard put to it by
her, and he escaped her as you did; but it had like to have cost him his
life. But what did she do to you?
FAITH. You cannot think (but that you know something) what a flattering
tongue she had; she lay at me hard to turn aside with her, promising me
all manner of enjoyment.
CHRIS. Nay, she did not promise you the enjoyment of a good conscience.
FAITH. You know what I mean--not the enjoyment of the soul, but of the
body.
CHRIS. Thank God you have escaped her: the abhorred of the Lord shall
fall into her ditch.
FAITH. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her or no.
CHRIS. Why, I suppose you did not consent to her desires?
FAITH. No, not to defile myself; for I remembered an old writing that I
had seen which saith, "Her steps take hold of hell." So I shut mine
eyes, because I would not be bewitched with her looks. Then she railed
on me, and I went my way.
CHRIS. Did you meet with no other assault as you came?
[Sidenote: FAITHFUL AND ADAM THE FIRST]
FAITH. When I came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, I met with
a very aged man, who asked me what I was and whither bound. I told him
that I was a pilgrim, going to the Celestial City. Then said the old
man, "Thou lookest like an honest fellow: wilt thou be content to dwell
with me, for the wages that I shall give thee?" Then I asked him his
name, and where he dwelt. He said his name was Adam the First, and that
he dwelt in the town of Deceit. I asked him then what was his work, and
what the wages that he would give. He told me that his work was many
delights; and his wages, that I should be his heir at last. I further
asked him what house he kept, and what other servants he had. So he told
me that his house was filled with all the dainties of the world, and
that his servants were his own children. Then I asked him how many
children he had. He said that he had but three daughters, the Lust of
the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life, and that I
should marry them if I would. Then I asked, how long time he would have
me live with him? And he told me, As long as he lived himself.
CHRIS. Well, and what conclusion came the old man and you to at last?
FAITH. Why, at first I found myself somewhat inclinable to go with the
man, for I thought he spake very fair; but looking in his forehead, as
I talked with him, I saw there written, "Put off the old man with his
deeds."
CHRIS. And how then?
FAITH. Then it came burning hot into my mind, whatever he said, and
however he flattered, when he got home to his house he would sell me for
a slave. So I bid him forbear, for I would not come near the door of his
house. Then he reviled me, and told me that he would send such a one
after me that should make my way bitter to my soul. So I turned to go
away from him; but, just as I turned myself to go thence, I felt him
take hold of my flesh, and give me such a deadly twitch back, that I
thought he had pulled part of me after himself: this made me cry, "O
wretched man!" So I went on my way up the hill. Now, when I had got
about half-way up, I looked behind me, and saw one coming after me,
swift as the wind; so he overtook me just about the place where the
settle stands.
CHRIS. "Just there," said Christian, "did I sit down to rest me; but
being overcome with sleep, I there lost this roll out of my bosom."
FAITH. But, good brother, hear me out. So soon as the man overtook me,
he was but a word and a blow; for down he knocked me, and laid me for
dead. But, when I was a little come to myself again, I asked him