47.

Christiana answered and said to the eldest of them

whose name was Mrs. Timorous, I am preparing for a

1 Part, page Journey (This Timorous was daughter to him that met Christian upon the Hill Difficulty: and would a had him gone back for fear of the Lions.)

Timorous

comes to visit

Timorous. For what Journey I pray you?

Chris. Even to go after my good Husband; and with

Christiana, that she fell a weeping.

with Mercy, one of her Neighbours.

Death.

Tim. I hope not so, good Neighbour, pray for your poor Children's sakes, do not so unwomanly cast away yourself.

Chris. Nay, my Children, shall go with me; not one of them is willing to stay behind.

Tim. I wonder in my very heart, what, or who has brought you into this mind.

Chris. Oh, Neighbour, knew you but as much as I do, I doubt not but that you would go with me.

Tim. Prithee what new knowledge hast thou got that so worketh off thy mind from thy Friends, and that tempteth thee to go nobody knows where?

Chris. Then Christiana replied, I have been sorely afflicted since my Husband's departure from me; but specially since he went over the River. But that which troubleth me most, is my churlish carriages to him when he was under his distress. Besides, I am now as he was then; nothing will serve me but going on Pilgrimage. I was a dreaming last night that I saw him. O that my Soul was with him. He dwelleth in the presence of the King of the Country, he sits and eats with him at his Table, he is become a Companion of Immortals, and has 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, a House now given him to dwell in, to which, the best Palaces on Earth, if compared, seem to me to be but as a Dunghill. The Prince of the Place has also sent for me

3, 4.

with promise of entertainment if I shall come to him; his messenger was here even now, and has brought me a Letter, which Invites me to come. And with that she pluck'd out her Letter, and read it, and said to them, what now will you say to this?

1 Part, pages 15-18.

Tim. Oh the madness that has possessed thee and thy Husband, to run yourselves upon such difficulties! You have heard, I am sure, what your Husband did meet with, even in a manner at the first step that he took on his way, as our Neighbour Obstinate can yet testify; for he went along with him, yea and Pliable too, until they, like wise men, were afraid to go any further. We also heard over and above, how he met with the Lions, Apollyon, the Shadow of Death, and many other things: Nor is the danger that he met with at Vanity fair to be forgotten by thee. For if he, tho' a man, was so hard put to it, what canst thou being but a poor Woman, do? Consider also The reasonthat these four sweet Babes are thy Children, thy Flesh flesh. and thy Bones. Wherefore, though thou shouldest be so rash as to cast away thyself: Yet for the sake of the Fruit of thy Body, keep thou at home.

:

ings of the

But Christiana said unto her, tempt me not, my Neighbour I have now a price put into mine hand to get gain, and I should be a Fool of the greatest size, if I should have no heart to strike in with the opportunity. And for that you tell me of all these Troubles that I am like to meet with in the way, they are so far off from 4 pertinent reply to being to me a discouragement, that they shew I am in fleshly the right. The bitter must come before the sweet, and that also will make the sweet the sweeter. Wherefore since you came not to my House, in God's name, as I said, I pray you to be gone, and not to disquiet me farther.

reasonings.

Mercy's

Bowels yearn over Chris

tiana.

Then Timorous also revil'd her, and said to her Fellow, come Neighbour Mercy, let's leave her in her own hands, since she scorns our Counsel and Company. But Mercy was at a stand, and could not so readily comply with her Neighbour and that for a two-fold reason. : First, her Bowels yearned over Christiana: so she said within herself, If my Neighbour will needs be gone, I will go a little way with her, and help her. Secondly, her Bowels yearned over her own Soul, (for what Christiana had said, had taken some hold upon her mind.) Wherefore she said within herself again, I will yet have more talk with this Christiana, and if I find Truth and Life in what she shall say, myself with my heart shall also go with her. Wherefore Mercy began thus to reply to her neighbour Timorous.

Mercy. Neighbour, I did indeed come with you, to see Christiana this Morning, and since she is, as you see, a taking of her last farewell of her Country, I think to walk this Sun-shine Morning, a little way with her to help her on the way. But she told her not of her second Reason, but kept that to herself.

Tim. Well, I see you have a mind to go a fooling too : but take heed in time, and be wise: while we are out of danger we are out; but when we are in, we are in. So forsakes her; Mrs. Timorous returned to her House, and Christiana cleaves to her. betook herself to her Journey. But when Timorous

Timorous

but Mercy

Timorous

Friends what

the good Christiana

acquaints her was got home to her House, she sends for some of her Neighbours, to wit, Mrs. Bat's-eyes, Mrs. Inconsiderate, intends to do. Mrs. Light-mind, and Mrs. Know-nothing. So when they were come to her House, she falls to telling of the story of Christiana, and of her intended Journey. And thus she began her Tale.

Tim. Neighbours, having had little to do this morning,

I went to give Christiana a visit, and when I came at the door, I knocked, as you know 'tis our Custom: And she answered, If you come in God's Name, come in. So in I went, thinking all was well: But when I came in, I found her preparing herself to depart the Town, she and also her Children. So I asked her what was her meaning by that? and she told me in short, That she was now of a mind to go on Pilgrimage, as did her Husband. She told me also a Dream that she had, and how the King of the Country where her Husband was, had sent her an inviting Letter to come thither.

Then said Mrs. Know-nothing, And what! do you Mrs. Know think she will go?

Tim. Aye, go she will, whatever come on't; and methinks I know it by this; for that which was my great Argument to perswade her to stay at home, (to wit, the Troubles she was like to meet with in the way) is one great Argument with her to put her forward on her Journey. For she told me in so many words, The bitter goes before the sweet. Yea, and for as much as it so doth, it makes the sweet the sweeter.

nothing.

Mrs. Bat's-eyes. Oh this blind and foolish woman, Mrs. Bat'ssaid she, Will she not take warning by her Husband's eyes. Afflictions? For my part, I see if he was here again he would rest him content in a whole Skin, and never run

so many hazards for nothing.

siderate.

Mrs. Inconsiderate, also replied, saying, away with Mrs. Inconsuch Fantastical Fools from the Town; a good Riddance, for my part, I say, of her, Should she stay where she dwells, and retain this her mind, who could live quietly by her? for she will either be dumpish or unneighbourly, or talk of such matters as no wise Body can abide : Wherefore, for my part I shall never be sorry for her

Mrs. Lightmind, Madam

Wanton she

that had like

to a been too hard for

Faithful

time past,

in

1 Part, page

75.

Discourse betwixt

Departure; let her go, and let better come in her room: 'twas never a good World since these whimsical Fools dwelt in it.

Then Mrs. Light-mind added as followeth. Come, put this kind of Talk away. was yesterday at Madam Wanton's, where we were as merry as the Maids. For who do you think should be there, but I, and Mrs. Lovethe-flesh, and three or four more, with Mr. Lechery, Mrs. Filth, and some others. So there we had Musick and Dancing, and what else was meet to fill up the pleasure. And I dare say my Lady herself is an admirably well bred Gentlewoman, and Mr. Lechery is as pretty a Fellow.

By this time Christiana was got on her way, and Mercy went along with her. So as they went, her Children being there also, Christiana began to discourse. Mercy and And Mercy, said Christiana, I take this as an unexpected favour, that thou shouldest set foot out of Doors with me to accompany me a little in my way.

good Christiana.

Mercy in

clines to go.

Christiana would have her neighbour with her.

Mercy doubts of acceptance.

Mercy. Then said young Mercy (for she was but young,) If I thought it would be to purpose to go with you, I would never go near the Town any more. Chris. Well, Mercy, said Christiana, cast in thy Lot with me. I well know what will be the end of our Pilgrimage, my Husband is where he would not but be, for all the Gold in the Spanish Mines. Nor shalt thou be rejected tho' thou goest but upon my Invitation. The King who hath sent for me and my Children, is one that delighteth in Mercy. Besides, if thou wilt, I will hire thee, and thou shalt go along with me as my servant. Yet we will have all things in Common betwixt thee and me, only go along with me.

Mercy. But how shall I be ascertained that I also