图书图片
PDF
ePub

Then, said I, a man, it seems, may report it for a truth?

SAG. You need not fear to affirm it; I mean that they are all gone on pilgrimage, both the good woman and her four boys. And being (we are, as I perceive) going some considerable way together, I will give you an account of the whole of the matter.

This Christiana (for that was her name from the day that she, with her children, betook themselves to a pilgrim's life), after her husband was gone over the river, and she could hear of him no more, her thoughts began to work in her mind. First, for that she had lost her husband, and for that the loving bond of that relation was utterly broken betwixt them. For you know, said he to me, nature can do no less but entertain the living with many a heavy cogitation in the remembrance of the loss of loving relations. This, therefore, of her husband did cost her many a tear. But this was not all; for Christiana did also begin to consider with herself, whether her unbecoming behaviour towards her husband was not one cause that she saw him no more; and that in such sort he was taken away from her. And upon this, came into her mind, by swarms, all her unkind, unnatural, and ungodly carriages to her dear friend; which also clogged her conscience, and did load her with guilt. She was, moreover, much broken with calling to remembrance the restless groans, brinish tears, and self-bemoanings of her husband, and how she did harden her heart against all his entreaties and loving persuasions, of her and her sons, to go with him; yea, there was not anything that Christian either said to her or did before her all the while that his burden did hang on his back, but it returned upon her like a flash of lightning, and rent the caul of her heart in sunder. Specially that bitter outcry of his, "What shall I do to be saved?" did ring in her ears most dolefully.

Then said she to her children, Sons, we are all undone. I have sinned away your father, and he is gone; he would have had us with him, but I would not go myself. I also have hindered you of life. With that the boys fell all into tears, and cried out to go after their father. been but our lot to go with him, then had it fared well with us, beyond what it is like to do now; for though I formerly foolishly imagined, concerning

O! said Christiana, that it had

[graphic][merged small]

the troubles of your father, that they proceeded of a foolish fancy that he had, or for that he was overrun with melancholy humours; yet now it will not out of my mind, but that they sprang from another cause, to wit, for that the Light of light was given him, James i. 23-25; by the help of which, as I perceived, he has escaped the snares of death. Then they all wept again, and cried out, "O woe worth the day!"

The next night Christiana had a dream; and, behold, she saw as if a broad parchment was opened before her, in which were recorded the sum of her ways, Luke xviii. 13; and the times, as she thought, looked very black upon her. Then she cried out aloud in her sleep, "Lord, have mercy upon me a sinner!" and the little children heard her.

After this she thought she saw two very ill-favoured ones standing by her bed-side, and saying, What shall we do with this woman? for she cries out for mercy waking and sleeping; if she be suffered to go on as she begins, we shall lose her as we have lost her husband. Wherefore, we must, by one way or other, see to take her off from the thoughts of what shall be hereafter, else all the world cannot help it but she will become a pilgrim.

Now she awoke in a great sweat, also a trembling was upon her; but after a while she fell to sleeping again. And then she thought she saw Christian her husband in a place of bliss, among many immortals, with a harp in his hand, standing and playing upon it before one that sat on a throne, with a rainbow about his head. She saw also as if he bowed his head, with his face to the paved work that was under the Prince's feet, saying, I heartily thank my Lord and King for bringing of me into this place. Then shouted a company of them that stood round about, and harped with their harps; but no man living could tell what they said, but Christian and his companions.

Next morning, when she was up, had prayed to God, and talked with her children a while, one knocked hard at the door, to whom she spake out, saying, If thou comest in God's name, come in. So he said, Amen, and opened the door, and saluted her with "Peace be to this house." The which, when he had done, he said, Christiana, knowest thou wherefore I am come? Then she

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

1

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

mia pridig skuered in sered and loving her hai u Låven guiponded, and aud, Sar hana, here is also a lemer {gous spots in terra tag assonanda Kag. So the took a mi Chip, ten de media, aling the text six of the seat, perfine, Cina i 3: also " man me ben in jenen of qua The arvesta of the letter way, That the Peg med bath big Aty na Ash Gudleian her hvidband, for that was the way Buy Mouthh My Bug bity, and My Amni in his presence with joy for ever. At this bro pred matinti Wam by vám tydhahoma; so she cried out to the Visitor, Sir, will you ranty wnd my children with you, that we may also go and worship Thin Pit

The mid the Visitor, Christians, the bitter is before the sweet. Thou must Hound troubles, na did he that went before thee, enter this Celestial City. Wheretors Indian then to do as did Christian thy husband. Go to the what puts youder, over the plain, for that stands in the head of the way up with flow must go, and I wish then all good speed. Also I advise that thou pout the letter in thy fum; that thou read therein to thyself, and to thy children, until you have got it by rote of heart, for it is one of thy songs that

« 上一页继续 »