The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read
went before, were glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the
lions so they stepped back, and went behind.
At this their guide smiled, and said, "How now, my boys! do you love to
go before when no danger doth approach, and love to come behind so soon
as the lions appear?"
Now, as they went up, Mr. Great-heart drew his sword, with intent to
make a way for the pilgrims in spite of the lions. Then there appeared
one that, it seems, had taken upon him to back the lions; and he said to
the pilgrims' guide, "What is the cause of your coming hither?" Now, the
name of that man was Grim, or Bloody-man, because of his slaying of
pilgrims; and he was of the race of the giants.
GREAT. Then said the pilgrims' guide, "These women and children are
going on pilgrimage, and this is the way they must go; and go it they
shall, in spite of thee and the lions."
GRIM. This is not their way, neither shall they go therein. I am come
forth to withstand them, and to that end will back the lions.
[Sidenote: GREAT-HEART OVERCOMES GRIM]
Now, to say truth, by reason of the fierceness of the lions, and of the
grim carriage of him that did back them, this way had of late lain much
unoccupied, and was almost all grown over with grass.
CHR. Then said Christiana, "Though the highways have been unoccupied
heretofore, and though the travellers have been made in times past to
walk through by-paths, it must not be so now I am risen. 'Now I am risen
a mother in Israel.'"
GRIM. Then he swore by the lions, "But it should," and therefore bid
them turn aside, for they should not passage there.
But Great-heart their guide made first his approach unto Grim, and laid
so heavily at him with his sword, that he forced him to a retreat.
GRIM. Then said he that attempted to back the lions, "Will you slay me
upon mine own ground?"
GREAT. It is the King's highway that we are in, and in His way it is
that thou hast placed thy lions; but these women, and these children,
though weak, shall hold on their way in spite of thy lions.
And, with that, he gave him again a downright blow, and brought him upon
his knees. With this blow he also broke his helmet, and with the next he
cut off an arm. Then did the giant roar so hideously, that his voice
frighted the women, and yet they were glad to see him lie sprawling upon
the ground. Now, the lions were chained, and so of themselves could do
nothing.
Wherefore, when old Grim, that intended to back them, was dead, Mr.
Great-heart said to the pilgrims, "Come now, and follow me, and no hurt
shall happen to you from the lions." They therefore went on; but the
women trembled as they passed by them: the boys also looked as if they
would die; but they all got by without further hurt.
CHAPTER V.
THE PALACE BEAUTIFUL.
Now, then, they were within sight of the Porter's lodge, and they soon
came up unto it; but they made the more haste after this to go thither,
because it is dangerous travelling there in the night. So, when they
were come to the gate, the guide knocked, and the Porter cried, "Who is
there?" But as soon as the guide had said "It is I," he knew his voice,
and came down, for the guide had oft before that come thither as a
conductor of pilgrims. When he was come down he opened the gate; and,
seeing the guide stand just before it (for he saw not the women, for
they were behind him), he said unto him, "How now, Mr. Great-heart! what
is your business here so late to-night?"
"I have brought," said he, "some pilgrims hither, where, by my Lord's
commandment, they must lodge. I had been here some time ago, had I not
been opposed by the giant that did use to back the lions; but I, after a
long and tedious combat with him, have cut him off, and have brought the
pilgrims hither in safety."
PORT. Will you not go in, and stay till morning?
GREAT. No, I will return to my Lord to-night.
CHR. Oh, sir, I know not how to be willing you should leave us in our
pilgrimage: you have been so faithful and so loving to us, you have
fought so stoutly for us, you have been so hearty in counselling of us,
that I shall never forget your favor towards us.
MER. Then said Mercy, "Oh that we might have thy company to our
journey's end! How can such poor women as we hold out in a way so full
of troubles as this way is, without a friend and defender?"
JAMES. Then said James, the youngest of the boys, "Pray, sir, be
persuaded to go with us, and help us, because we are so weak, and the
way so dangerous as it is."
GREAT. I am at my Lord's commandment. If he shall allot me to be your
guide quite through, I will willingly wait upon you. But here you failed
at first; for when he bid me come thus far with you, then you should
have begged me of him to have gone quite through with you, and he would
have granted your request. However, at present I must withdraw; and so,
good Christiana, Mercy, and my brave children, adieu.
Then the Porter, Mr. Watchful, asked Christiana of her country and of
her kindred. And she said, "I come from the City of Destruction. I am a
widow woman, and my husband is dead: his name was Christian, the
pilgrim."
"How!" said the Porter, "was he your husband?"
[Sidenote: A JOYFUL RECEPTION]
"Yes," said she, "and these are his children, and this" (pointing to
Mercy) "is one of my townswomen."
Then the Porter rang his bell, as at such times he is wont, and there
came to the door one of the maids, whose name was Humble-mind; and to
her the Porter said, "Go, tell it within that Christiana, the wife of
Christian, and her children, are come hither on pilgrimage."
She went in, therefore, and told it. But oh, what a noise for gladness
was there within when the maid did but drop that word out of her mouth!
So they came with haste to the Porter, for Christiana stood still at the
door. Then some of those within said unto her, "Come in, Christiana,
come in, thou wife of that good man; come in, thou blessed woman; come
in, with all that are with thee."
So she went in, and they followed her that were her children and her
companions. Now, when they were gone in, they were had into a very large
room, where they were bidden to sit down. So they sat down, and the
chief of the house were called to see and welcome the guests. Then they
came in and understanding who they were did salute each other with a
kiss, and said, "Welcome, ye that bear the grace of God; welcome to us,
your friends!"
Now, because it was somewhat late, and because the pilgrims were weary
with their journey, and also made faint with the sight of the fight, and
of the terrible lions, therefore they desired, as soon as might be, to
prepare to go to rest. "Nay," said those of the family, "refresh
yourselves first with a morsel of meat;" for they had prepared for them
a lamb, with the accustomed sauce belonging thereto, for the Porter had
heard before of their coming, and had told it to them within. So, when
they had supped, and ended their prayer with a psalm, they desired they
might go to rest.
"But let us," said Christiana, "if we may be so bold as to choose, be in
that chamber that was my husband's when he was here."
So they had them up thither, and they lay all in a room. When they were
at rest, Christiana and Mercy entered into discourse about things that
were convenient.
CHR. Little did I think once, when my husband went on pilgrimage, that I
should ever have followed.
MER. And you as little thought of lying in his bed, and in his chamber
to rest, as you do now.
CHR. And much less did I ever think of seeing his face with comfort, and
of worshipping the Lord the King with him; and yet now I believe I
shall.
MER. Hark! don't you hear a noise?
CHR. Yes, it is, as I believe, a noise of music, for joy that we are
here.
MER. Wonderful! Music in the house, music in the heart, and music also
in heaven, for joy that we are here!
[Sidenote: MERCY'S DREAM]
Thus they talked a while, and then betook themselves to sleep. So in the
morning, when they were awake, Christiana said to Mercy, "What was the
matter, that you did laugh in your sleep to-night? I suppose you were in
a dream."
MER. So I was, and a sweet dream it was; but are you sure I laughed?
CHR. Yes, you laughed heartily; but, prithee, Mercy, tell me thy dream.
MER. I was dreaming that I sat all alone in a solitary place, and was
bemoaning of the hardness of my heart. Now, I had not sat there long,
but methought many were gathered about me to see me, and to hear what it
was that I said. So they hearkened, and I went on bemoaning the hardness
of my heart. At this, some of them laughed at me, some called me fool,
and some thrust me about. With that, methought I looked up, and saw one
coming with wings towards me. So he came directly to me, and said,
"Mercy, what aileth thee?" Now, when he had heard me make my complaint,
he said, "Peace be to thee;" he also wiped mine eyes with his
handkerchief, and clad me in silver and gold. He put a chain about my
neck, and ear-rings in mine ears, and a beautiful crown upon my head.
Then he took me by the hand, and said, "Mercy, come after me." So he
went up, and I followed, till we came to a golden gate. Then he knocked;
and when they within opened, the man went in, and I followed him up to a
throne upon which One sat; and He said to me, "Welcome, daughter!" The
place looked bright and twinkling, like the stars, or rather like the
sun; and I thought that I saw your husband there. So I awoke from my
dream. But did I laugh?
CHR. Laugh! ay, and well you might, to see yourself so well. For you
must give me leave to tell you, that I believe it was a good dream; and
that, as you have begun to find the first part true, so you shall find
the second at last. "God speaks once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it
not; in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon
men, in slumberings upon the bed." We need not, when abed, to lie awake
to talk with God: He can visit us while we sleep, and cause us then to
hear His voice. Our heart oftentimes wakes when we sleep; and God can
speak to that, either by words, by proverbs, or by signs and
similitudes, as well as if one was awake.
MER. Well, I am glad of my dream; for I hope ere long to see it
fulfilled, to the making of me laugh again.
CHR. I think it is now high time to rise, and to know what we must do.
MER. Pray, if they invite us to stay, a while, let us willingly accept
of the proffer. I am the willinger to stay a while here, to grow better
acquainted with these maids. Methinks Prudence, Piety, and Charity have
very lovely and sober countenances.
CHR. We shall see what they will do.
So, when they were up and ready, they came down; and they asked one
another of their rest, and if it was comfortable or not.
MER. "Very good," said Mercy; "it was one of the best nights' lodging
that ever I had in my life."
Then said Prudence and Piety, "If you will be persuaded to stay here a
while, you shall have what the house will afford."
CHAR. "Ay, and that with a very good will," said Charity.
So they consented, and stayed there about a month, or above, and became
very profitable one to another.
[Sidenote: MR. BRISK VISITS MERCY]
Now, by that these pilgrims had been at this place a week, Mercy had a
visitor that pretended some good-will unto her; and his name was Mr.
Brisk; a man of some breeding, and that pretended to religion, but a man
that stuck very close to the world. So he came once or twice, or more,
to Mercy, and offered love unto her. Now, Mercy was a fair countenance,
and therefore the more alluring.
Her mind also was, to be always busying of herself in doing; for, when
she had nothing to do for herself, she would be making of hose and