In this light, therefore, he came to the end of the valley. Now I saw in my dream, that at the end of the valley lay blood, bones, ashes, and mangled bodies of men, even of Pilgrims that had gone this way formerly; and, while I was musing what should be the reason, I espied, a little before me, a cave, where two giants, Pope and Pagan, dwelt in old time, by whose power and tyranny the men, whose bones, blood, ashes, &c., lay there, were cruelly put to death. By this place Christian went without much danger, whereat I somewhat wondered: but I have learned since, that Pagan has been dead many a day; and as for the other, though he be yet alive, he is, by reason of age, and also of the many shrewd brushes that he met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in his joints, that he can now do little more than sit in his Cave's mouth, grinning at Pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails because he cannot come at them.

So I saw that Christian went on his way; yet, at the sight of the Old Man that sat at the mouth of the Cave, he could not tell what to think, 'specially because he spoke to him, though he could not go after him, saying, You will never mend till more of you be burnt! But he held his peace, and set a good face on it, and so went by, and catched no hurt. Then sang Christian :

O world of wonders! (I can say no less,)
That I should be preserved in that distress
That I have met with here! O blessed be
That hand that from it hath deliver'd me!
Dangers in darkness, Devils, Hell, and Sin,
Did compass me, while I this vale was in:
Yea, snares, and pits, and traps, and nets did lie

My path about; that worthless, silly I,

Might have been catch'd, entangled, and cast down:
But, since I live, let JESUS wear the crown.

Now, as Christian went on his way, he came to a little ascent, which was cast up on purpose that Pilgrims might see before them: up there, therefore, Christian went, and looking forward, he saw Faithful before him upon his journey. Then said Christian aloud, Ho, ho! so, ho! Stay, and I will be your companion. At that Faithful looked behind him; to whom Christain cried again, Stay, stay, till I come up to you. But Faithful answered, No; I am upon my life, and the Avenger of Blood is behind me.

Christian over

At this Christian was somewhat moved, and putting to all his strength, he quickly got up with takes Faithful. Faithful, and did also overrun him; so the last was

first. Then did Christian vain-gloriously smile, because he had gotten the start of his brother: but, not taking good heed to his

feet, he suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rise again, unti Faithful came up to help him.

Christian's fall

Then I saw in my dream they went very lovmakes Faithful ingly on together, and had sweet discourse of all things that had happened to them in their pilgrimage; and thus Christian began:

and he go lovingly together.

Chr. My honoured and well-beloved brother Faithful, I am glad that I have overtaken you, and that God has so tempered our spirits, that we can walk as companions in this so pleasant a path.

Faith. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite from our town, but you did get the start of me; wherefore I was forced to come thus much of the way alone.

Chr. How long did you stay in the city of Destruction, before you set out after me on your pilgrimage?

Their talk about

the country from whence they

came.

Faith. Till I could stay no longer; for there was a great talk, presently after you were gone out, that our city would, in a short time, with fire from Heaven, be burnt down to the ground.

Chr. What! did your neighbours talk so?

Faith. Yes, it was for a while in every body's mouth. Chr. What! and did no more of them but you come out to escape the danger?

Faith. Though there was, as I said, a great talk thereabout, yet I do not think they did firmly believe it; for, in the heat of the discourse, I heard some of them deridingly speak of you, and of your desperate journey, (for so they called this your pilgrimage :) but I did believe, and do still, that the end of our city will be with fire and brimstone from above; and therefore I have made my

escape.

Chr. Did you hear no talk of neighbour Pliable?

Faith. Yes, Christian, I heard that he had followed you till he came to the slough of Despond, where, as some said, he fell in; but he would not be known to have so done; but I am sure he was soundly bedabled with that kind of dirt.

Chr. And what said the neighbours to him?

How Pliable was

Faith. He hath, since his going back, been held accounted of when greatly in derision, and that among all sorts of he got home. people; some do mock and despise him, and scarce will any set him on work. He is now seven times worse than if he had never gone out of the city.

Chr. But why should they be so set against him, since they also despise the way that he forsook ?

Faith. O, they say, Hang him! he is a turn-coat, he was not

[The return of Pliable-derided by "all sorts of people."]

true to his profession! I think God has stirred up even his enemies to hiss at him, and make him a proverb, because he hath forsaken the way.*

Chr. Had you no talk with him, before you came out?

Faith. I met him once in the streets, but he leered away on the other side, as one ashamed of what he had done; so I spake not to him.

The dog and sow.

Chr. Well, at my first setting out, I had hopes of that man; but now I fear he will perish in the overthrow of the city. For it has happened to him, according to the true proverb, "The dog is turned to his vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."†

Faith. These are my fears of him too; but who can hinder that which will be.

Well, neighbour Faithful, said Christian, let us leave him, and talk of things that more immediately concern ourselves. Tell me now what you have met with in the way as you came; for I know you have met with some things, or else it may be writ for a wonder. Faith. I escaped the Slough that I perceived you fell into, and got up to the Gate without danger; only I met with one whose name was Wanton, that had like to have done me a mischief.

Jer. xxix. 18, 19. + 2 Peter ii. 22.

Faithful assaulted

by Wanton.

Chr. It is well you escaped her net; Joseph was hard put to it by her, and he escaped her as you did; but it had like to have cost him his life.* But what did she do to you?

Faith. You cannot think (but that you know something) what a flattering tongue she had; she lay at me hard to turn aside with her, promising me all manner of content.

Chr. Nay, she did not promise you the content of a good con science,

Faith. You know that I mean all fleshly and carnal content. Chr. Thank God you have escaped her. The abhorred of the Lord shall fall into her ditch.t

Faith. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her

or no.

Chr. Why, I trow you did not consent to her desire ?

Faith. No, not to defile myself; for I remembered an old writing that I had seen, which said, "Her steps take hold on hell;"‡ so I shut mine eyes, because I would not be bewitched with her looks. Then she railed on me, and I went on my way.

Chr. Did you meet with no other assault as you came ?

He was assaulted

Faith. When I came to the foot of the hill called

by Adam the first. Difficulty, I met with a very aged Man, who asked me what I was, and whither bound? I told him that I was a Pilgrim going to the Celestial City. Then said the Old Man, Thou lookest like an honest fellow; wilt thou be content to dwell with me for the wages that I shall give thee? Then I asked him his name, and where he dwelt? He said his name was Adam the First, and that he dwelt in the town of Deceit. I asked him then what was his work, and what the wages that he would give? He told me, that his work was many delights; and his wages, that I should be his heir at last. I further asked him, what house he kept, and what other servants he had? So he told me, that his house was maintained with all and that his servants were those of his asked him how many children he had? three daughters, "The lust of the flesh, the pride of life;"|| and that I should marry them, if I would. Then I asked, how long time he would have me live with him? And he told me as long as he lived himself.

the dainties of the world; own begetting. Then I He said that he had but the lust of the eyes, and

Chr. Well, and what conclusion came the Old Man and you to at last?

Faith. Why, at first, I found myself somewhat inclinable to go with the Man, for I thought he spoke very fair; but looking in his • Gen. xxxix. 11-13 + Prov. xxii. 14. Prov. v. 5. § Job xxxi. 1. 1 John ii. 16.

forehead, as I talked with him, I saw there written, "Put off the Old Man with his deeds."

Chr. And how then?

Faith. Then it came burning hot into my mind, whatever he said, and however he flattered, when he got me home to his house, he would sell me for a slave. So I bid him forbear to talk, for I would not come near the door of his house. Then he reviled me, and told me, that he would send such a one after me, that should make my way bitter to my soul. So I turned to go away from him; but, just as I turned myself to go thence, I felt him take hold of my flesh, and give me such a deadly twitch back, that I thought he had pulled part of me after himself; this made me cry, O wretched man! So I went on my way up the hill.*

Now, when I had got about half the way up, I looked behind me, and saw one coming after me, swift as the wind: so he overtook me just about the place where the settle stands.

Just there, said Christian, did I sit down to rest me; but, being overcome with sleep, I there lost this Roll out of my bosom. Faith. But, good brother, hear me out. So soon as the Man overtook me, he was but a word and a blow; for down he knocked me, and laid me for dead. But, when I was a little come to myself

*Rom. vii. 24.