PART II. above that we fare no worse, when we come to be tried, than he. But we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. It is the best and most fruitful piece of ground in all these parts. It is fat ground, and, as you see, consisteth much in meadows; and if a man was to come here in summertime, as we do now, if he knew not any thing before thereof, and if he also delighted himself in the sight of his eyes, he might see that which would be delightful to him. Behold how green this valley is; also how beautified with lilies. I have known many labouring men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation; for "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." Indeed it is a very fruitful soil, and doth bring forth by handfuls. Some also have wished that the next way to their Father's house were here, that they might be troubled no more with either hills or mountains to go over; but the way is the way, and there's an end. Now as they were going along and talking, they espied a boy feeding his father's sheep. The boy was in very mean clothes, but of a fresh and well-favoured countenance; and as he sat by himself, he sung. Hark, said Mr Great-Heart, to what the shepherd's boy saith. So they hearkened, and he said, He that is down, needs fear no fall; He that is low, no pride: He that is humble ever shall Have God to be his guide. I am content with what I have, And, Lord, contentment still I crave, Fulness to such a burden is, That go on pilgrimage; Is best from age to age. Then said their guide, Do you hear him? I will dare to PART II. say, this boy lives a merrier life, and wears more of that herb called heart's-ease in his bosom, than he that is clad in silk and velvet. But we will proceed in our discourse. In this valley our Lord formerly had his country-house: he loved much to be here. He loved also to walk these meadows, for he found the air was pleasant. Besides, here PART II. : a man shall be free from the noise, and from the hurrying of this life all states are full of noise and confusion; only the Valley of Humiliation is that empty and solitary place. Here a man shall not be so let and hindered in his contemplation as in other places he is apt to be. This is a valley that nobody walks in but those that love a pilgrim's life. And though Christian had the hard hap to meet here with Apollyon, and to enter with him into a brisk encounter, yet I must tell you, that in former times men have met Hos. xii. with angels here,' have found pearls here, and have in this place found the words of life.3 4, 5. 2 Matthew xiii. 46. * Proverbs viii. 35. Did I say our Lord had here, in former days, his countryhouse, and that he loved here to walk? I will add, in this place, and to the people that love and trace these grounds, he has left a yearly revenue, to be faithfully paid them at certain seasons, for their maintenance by the way, and for their further encouragement to go on in their pilgrimage. SAM. Now as they went on, Samuel said to Mr GreatHeart, Sir, I perceive that in this valley my father and Apollyon had their battle; but whereabout was the fight? for I perceive this valley is large. GREAT. Your father had the battle with Apollyon at a place yonder before us, in a narrow passage just beyond Forgetful Green. And indeed that place is the most dangerous place in all these parts. For if at any time pilgrims meet with any brunt, it is when they forget what favours 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 I am as well in this valley as I have been anywhere else in all our journey; the 1 place, methinks, suits with my spirit. I love to be in such PART II. places, where there is no rattling with coaches, nor rumbling with wheels. Methinks, here one may, without much molestation, 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 as the fish-pools in Heshbon.' Song 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." 3 Now they were come to the place where the aforementioned 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 shewed himself as stout as Hercules could, had he been here, even he himself. When Apollyon was beat, he made his retreat to the next valley, that is called the Valley of the Shadow of Death, vii. 4. 2 Psalm lxxxiv. 57; Hos. ii. 15. 3 Isa. lxvi. 2. PART II. unto which we shall come anon. Lo, yonder also stands a monument on which is engraven this battle and Christian's victory, to his fame throughout all ages. So because it stood just on the way-side before thein, 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; Each other to subdue. The man so bravely play'd the man, Of which a monument I stand 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 dying men; a very great groaning. They thought also that they did hear words of lamentation, spoken as of some in extreme torment. These |