The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read
any time the pilgrims meet with any brunt, it is when they forget what
favors they have received, and how unworthy they are of them. This is
the place also where others have been hard put to it. But more of the
place when we are come to it; for I persuade myself, that to this day
there remains either some sign of the battle, or some monument to
testify that such a battle there was fought.
MER. Then said Mercy, "I think that I am as well in this valley as I
have been anywhere else in all our journey: the place, methinks, suits
with my spirit. I love to be in such places, where there is no rattling
with coaches nor rumbling with wheels. Methinks here one may, without
much trouble, be thinking what he is, whence he came, what he has done,
and to what the King has called him. Here one may think and break at
heart, and melt in one's spirit, until one's eyes become like the
fish-pools in Heshbon. They that go rightly through this Valley of Baca,
make it a well; the rain that God sends down from heaven upon them that
are here also filleth the pools. This valley is that from whence also
the King will give to His their vineyards; and they that go through it
shall sing, as Christian did, for all he met with Apollyon."
GREAT. "'Tis true," said their guide; "I have gone through this valley
many a time, and never was better than when here. I have also been a
conductor to several pilgrims, and they have confessed the same. 'To
this man will I look,' saith the King, 'even to him that is poor and of
a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word.'"
Now they were come to the place where the afore-mentioned battle was
fought. Then said the guide to Christiana, her children, and Mercy,
"This is the place; on this ground Christian stood, and up there came
Apollyon against him. And look--did not I tell you?--here is some of
your husband's blood upon these stones to this day. Behold, also, how
here and there are yet to be seen upon the place some of the shivers of
Apollyon's broken darts. See also how they did beat the ground with
their feet as they fought, to make good their places against each other;
how also, with their by-blows, they did split the very stones in
pieces. Verily, Christian did here play the man, and showed himself as
stout as could, had he been there, even Hercules himself. When Apollyon
was beat, he made his retreat to the next valley, that is called the
Valley of the Shadow of Death, unto which we shall come soon. Lo, yonder
also stands a monument, on which is engraven this battle, and
Christian's victory, to his fame throughout all ages."
[Sidenote: VALLEY OF SHADOW OF DEATH]
So, because it stood just on the way-side before them, they stepped to
it, and read the writing, which word for word was this:
"Hard by here was a battle fought,
Most strange, and yet most true;
Christian and Apollyon sought
Each other to subdue.
"The man so bravely played the man,
He made the fiend to fly;
Of which a monument I stand,
The same to testify."
When they had passed by this place, they came upon the borders of the
Shadow of Death. This valley was longer than the other; a place also
most strangely haunted with evil things, as many are able to testify;
but these women and children went the better through it, because they
had daylight, and because Mr. Great-heart was their conductor.
When they were entered upon this valley, they thought that they heard a
groaning, as of dead men--a very great groaning. They thought also that
they did hear words of moaning spoken, as of some in extreme torment.
These things made the boys to quake; the women also looked pale and wan;
but their guide bid them be of good comfort.
So they went on a little farther, and they thought that they felt the
ground begin to shake under them, as if some hollow place was there;
they heard also a kind of hissing, as of serpents; but nothing as yet
appeared. Then said the boys, "Are we not yet at the end of this doleful
place?" But the guide also bid them be of good courage, and look well to
their feet; "lest haply," said he, "you be taken in some snare."
Now James began to be sick; but I think the cause thereof was fear; so
his mother gave him some of that glass of spirits that had been given
her at the Interpreter's house, and three of the pills that Mr. Skill
had prepared; and the boy began to revive. Thus they went on till they
came to about the middle of the valley; and then Christiana said,
"Methinks I see something yonder upon the road before us, a thing of
such a shape as I have not seen." Then said Joseph, "Mother, what is
it?" "An ugly thing, child, an ugly thing," said she. "But, mother, what
is it like?" said he. "'Tis like I cannot tell what," said she, "and now
it is but a little way off." Then said she, "It is nigh!"
[Sidenote: RESIST THE DEVIL]
"Well, well," said Mr. Great-heart, "let them that are most afraid keep
close to me." So the fiend came on, and the conductor met it; but, when
it was just come to him, it vanished to all their sights. Then
remembered they what had been said some time ago, "Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you."
They went therefore on, as being a little refreshed. But they had not
gone far before Mercy, looking behind her, saw, as she thought,
something most like a lion, and it came a great padding pace after; and
it had a hollow voice of roaring, and at every roar that it gave it made
all the valley echo, and all their hearts to ache, save the heart of him
that was their guide. So it came up, and Mr. Great-heart went behind,
and put the pilgrims all before him. The lion also came on apace, and
Mr. Great-heart addressed himself to give him battle. But, when he saw
that it was determined that resistance should be made, he also drew
back, and came no farther.
They then went on again, and their conductor did go before them, till
they came to a place where was cast up a pit the whole breadth of the
way; and before they could be prepared to go over that, a great mist and
darkness fell upon them, so that they could not see. Then said the
pilgrims, "Alas! what now shall we do?" But their guide made answer,
"Fear not, stand still, and see what an end will be put to this also."
So they stayed there, because their path was marred. They then also
thought that they did hear more apparently the noise and rushing of the
enemies; the fire also, and the smoke of the pit, were much easier to be
discerned. Then said Christiana to Mercy, "Now I see what my poor
husband went through. I have heard much of this place, but I never was
here before now. Poor man! he went here all alone in the night; he had
night almost quite through the way; also these fiends were busy about
him, as if they would have torn him in pieces. Many have spoken of it,
but none can tell what the Valley of the Shadow of Death should mean,
until they come in it themselves. 'The heart knoweth its own bitterness,
and a stranger intermeddleth not with its joy.' To be here is a fearful
thing."
GREAT. This is like doing business in great waters, or like going down
into the deep. This is like being in the heart of the sea, and like
going down to the bottoms of the mountains. Now it seems as if the
earth, with its bars, were about us for ever. But let them that walk in
darkness and have no light, trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon
their God. For my part, as I have told you already, I have gone often
through this valley, and have been much harder put to it than now I am;
and yet, you see, I am alive. I would not boast, for that I am not mine
own saviour; but I trust we shall have a good deliverance. Come, let us
pray for light to Him that can lighten our darkness, and that can
rebuke not only these, but all the Satans in hell.
So they cried and prayed, and God sent light and deliverance; for there
was now no hindrance in their way, no, not there where but now they were
stopped with a pit. Yet they were not got through the valley; so they
went on still; and behold, great stinks and loathsome smells, to the
great annoyance of them. Then said Mercy to Christiana, "It is not so
pleasant being here as at the gate, or at the Interpreter's, or at the
house where we lay last."
"Oh, but," said one of the boys, "it is not so bad to go through here as
it is to abide here always; and, for aught I know, one reason why we
must go this way to the house prepared for us is, that our home might be
made the sweeter to us."
"Well said, Samuel," quoth the guide; "thou hast now spoke like a man."
"Why, if ever I get out here again," said the boy, "I think I shall
prize light and good way better than ever I did in all my life."
Then said the guide, "We shall be out by-and-by."
So on they went, and Joseph said, "Cannot we see to the end of this
valley as yet?"
[Sidenote: AMONG THE SNARES]
Then said the guide, "Look to your feet, for we shall presently be among
the snares."
So they looked to their feet, and went on; but they were troubled much
with the snares. Now, when they were come among the snares, they espied
a man cast into the ditch on the left hand, with his flesh all rent and
torn.
Then said the guide, "That is one Heedless, that was going this way; he
has lain there a great while. There was one Take-heed with him when he
was taken and slain, but he escaped their hands. You cannot imagine how
many are killed hereabouts; and yet men are so foolishly venturous as to
set out lightly on pilgrimage, and to come without a guide. Poor
Christian! it is a wonder that he here escaped; but he was beloved of
his God, also he had a good heart of his own, or else he could never
have done it."
[Sidenote: GREAT-HEART ENCOUNTERS MAUL]
Now they drew towards the end of the way; and just where Christian had
seen the cave when he went by, out thence came forth Maul, a giant. This
Maul did use to spoil young pilgrims by deceiving them; and he called
Great-heart by his name, and said unto him, "How many times have you
been forbidden to do these things?"
Then said Mr. Great-heart, "What things?"
"What things!" quoth the giant; "you know what things; but I will put an
end to your trade."
"But pray," said Mr. Great-heart, "before we fall to it, let us
understand wherefore we must fight."
Now the women and children stood trembling, and knew not what to do.
Quoth the giant, "You rob the country, and rob it with the worst of
thefts."
"These are but random words," said Mr. Great-heart; "tell what robberies
I have done, man."
Then said the giant, "Thou practicest the craft of a kidnapper: thou
gatherest up women and children, and carriest them into a strange
country, to the weakening of my master's kingdom."
But now Great-heart replied, "I am a servant of the God of heaven; my
business is to persuade sinners to turn to God. I am commanded to do my
best to turn men, women, and children from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan unto God; and if this be indeed the ground of thy
quarrel, let us fall to it as soon as thou wilt."
[Sidenote: THE GIANT IS SLAIN]
Then the giant came up, and Mr. Great-heart went to meet him; and as he
went, he drew his sword, but the giant had a club. So without more ado
they fell to it; and, at the first blow, the giant struck Mr.
Great-heart down upon one of his knees. With that, the women and
children cried out. So Mr. Great-heart, recovering himself, laid about
him in full lusty manner, and gave the giant a wound in his arm. Thus he
fought for the space of an hour, to that height of heat, that the breath
came out of the giant's nostrils as the heat doth out of a boiling
cauldron.
Then they sat down to rest them; but Mr. Great-heart betook himself to
prayer. Also the women and children did nothing but sigh and cry all the