MERCY FALLS DOWN IN A SWOON. 219

Now all this while poor Mercy did stand without, trembling and crying for fear that she was rejected. But when Christiana had gotten admittance for herself and her boys, then she began to make intercession for Mercy.

And she said, 'My Lord, I have a companion of mine that stands yet without, that is come hither upon the same account as myself: one that is much dejected in her mind, for that she comes, as she thinks, without sending for: whereas I was sent to by my husband's King to come.'

Now Mercy began to be very impatient, and each minute was as long to her as an hour; wherefore she prevented Christiana from a fuller interceding for her, by knocking at the gate herself. And she knocked then so loud, that she made Christiana to start. Then said the keeper of the gate, Who is there?' And Christiana said, 'It is my friend.' So he opened the gate and looked out, but Mercy was fallen down without in a swoon, for she fainted, and was afraid that no gate would be opened to her. Then he took her by the hand, and said, 'Damsel, I bid thee arise.'

'O Sir,' said she, ‘I am faint; there is scarce life left in me.' But he answered, that one said, 'When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came unto thee, into thy holy temple.'' Fear not, but stand upon thy feet, and tell me wherefore thou art come.'

Mer. I am come for that unto which I was never invited, as my friend Christiana was. Hers was

(1) Jonah ii. 7.

220

GOODWILL LEADS MERCY IN.

from the King, and mine was but from her. Wherefore I presume.

Good. Did she desire thee to come with her to this place?

Mer. Yes; and, as my Lord sees, I am come; and, if there is any grace and forgiveness of sins to spare, I beseech that thy poor hand-maid may be partaker thereof.

Then he took her again by the hand, and led her gently in, and said, 'I pray for all them that believe on me, by what means soever they come unto me.' Then said he to those that stood by, Fetch something, and give it Mercy to smell on, thereby to stay her faintings.' So they fetched her a bundle of myrrh. A while after she was revived.

And now was Christiana, and her boys, and Mercy, received of the Lord at the head of the way, and spoke kindly unto by him. Then said they yet further unto him, 'We are sorry for our sins, and beg of our Lord his pardon, and further information what we must do.'

́ I grant pardon,' said he, ́ by word and deed ; by word, in the promise of forgiveness; by deed, in the way I obtained it. Take the first from my lips with a kiss, and the other as it shall be revealed.'1

Now I saw in my dream, that he spake many good words unto them, whereby they were greatly gladded. He also had them up to the top of the gate, and showed them by what deed they were saved; and told them withal, that that sight they would have again as they went along in the way, to their comfort. (1) Sol. Song, i. 2. John xx. 19.

THE PILGRIMS CONVERSE TOGETHER.

221

So he left them awhile in a summer parlour below, where they entered into talk by themselves: and thus Christiana began: O Lord, how glad am I that we are got in hither!'

Mer. So you well may: but I of all have cause to leap for joy.

Chr. I thought one time as I stood at the gate (because I had knocked and none did answer), that all our labour had been lost, especially when that ugly cur made such a heavy barking at us.

Mer. But my worst fear was, after I saw that you was taken into his favour, and that I was left behind. Now, thought I, it is fulfilled which is written, Two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken and the other left.' I had much ado to forbear crying out, Undone! And afraid I was to knock any more: but, when I looked up to what was written over the gate, I took courage. I also thought, that I must either knock again or die: so I knocked, but I cannot tell how; for my spirit now struggled between life and death.

Chr. Can you not tell how you knocked? I am sure your knocks were so earnest, that the very sound made me start: I thought I never heard such knocking in all my life: I thought you would come in by a violent hand, or take the kingdom by storm.3

Mer. Alas, to be in my case! who that so was could but a done so? You saw that the door was shut upon me, and that there was a most cruel dog thereabout. Who, I say, that was so faint-hearted as I, would not have knocked with all their might? (1) Matt. xxiv. 41. (2) Part I. p. 22. (3) Matt. xi. 12.