out of their sight. So she went and called, and entered in at the gate with all the ceremonies of joy that her husband Christian had entered with before her.

At her departure her children wept. But Mr. Great

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heart and Mr. Valiant played upon the well-tuned cymbal and harp for joy. So all departed to their respective places.

Ready-to-halt summoned.

In process of time there came a post to the town again, and his business was with Mr. Ready-to-halt. So he inquired him out, and said to him, I am come to thee in the name of Him whom thou hast loved and followed, though upon crutches; and my message is to tell thee, that he expects thee at his table to sup with him in his kingdom, the next day after Easter; wherefore prepare thyself for this journey.

Then he also gave him token that he was a true messenger, saying, "I have broken thy golden bowl, and loosed thy silver cord" (Eccles. xii. 6).

Promises.

After this, Mr. Ready-to-halt called for his fellowpilgrims, and told them, saying, I am sent for, and God shall surely visit you also. So he desired Mr. Valiant to make his will. And because he had nothing to bequeath to them that should survive him but his crutches and his good wishes, therefore thus he said, These crutches I bequeath to my son that shall tread in my steps, with an hundred warm wishes that he may prove better than I have done.

His will.

Then he thanked Mr. Great-heart for his conduct and kindness, and so addressed himself to his journey. When he came at the brink of the river he said, Now I shall have no more need of these crutches, since yonder are chariots and horses for me to ride on. The last words he was heard to say were, Welcome life! So he went his way.

His last

words.

After this, Mr. Feeble-mind had tidings brought him that the post sounded his horn at his chamber door. Then he came in, and

Feeble-mind

summoned.

told him, saying, I am come to tell thee

that thy Master hath need of thee; and that in a very

More Messengers.

379

little time thou must behold his face in brightness. And take this as a token of the truth of my message: "Those that look out at the windows shall be darkened" (Eccles. xii. 3).

He makes no will.

Then Mr. Feeble-mind called for his friends, and told them what errand had been brought unto him, and what token he had received of the truth of the message. Then he said, Since I have nothing to bequeath to any, to what purpose should I make a will? As for my feeble mind, that I will leave behind me; for that I have no need of that in the place whither I go, nor is it worth bestowing upon the poorest pilgrim; wherefore, when I am gone, I desire that you, Mr. Valiant, would bury it in a dunghill. This done, and the day being come in which he was to depart, he entered the river as the rest. His last words were, Hold out,

His last

faith and patience! So he went over to words.

the other side.

Mr. Despondency summoned.

When days had many of them passed away, Mr. Despondency was sent for; for a post was come, and brought this message to him: Trembling man! these are to summon thee to be ready with thy King by the next Lord's day, to shout for joy for thy deliverance from all thy doubtings. And, said the messenger, that my message is true, take this for a proof: so he gave him a grasshopper to be a burden unto him (Eccles. xii. 5).

Now, Mr. Despondency's daughter, whose name was Much-afraid, said, when she heard what

was done, that she would go with her father. Then Mr. Despondency said to

His daughter goes too.

his friends, Myself and my daughter, you know what we have been, and how troublesomely we have behaved ourselves in every company. My will

and my daughter's is, that our desponds

His will.

and slavish fears be by no man ever received, from the

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day of our departure, for ever; for I know that after my death they will offer themselves to others. For, to be plain with you, they are ghosts, the which we entertained when we first began to be pilgrims, and could never shake them off after: and they will walk about, and seek entertainment of the pilgrims; but for our sakes shut ye the doors upon them.

His last words.

When the time was come for them to depart, they went to the brink of the river. The last words of Mr. Despondency were, Farewell night; welcome day! His daughter went through the river singing, but none could understand what she said.

Mr. Honest summoned.

Then it came to pass, a while after, that there was a post in the town that inquired for Mr. Honest. So he came to his house where he was, and delivered to his hand these lines: Thou art commanded to be ready against this day seven-night, to present thyself before thy Lord, at his Father's house. And for a token that my message is true, "All thy daughters of music shall be brought low" (Eccles. xii. 4). Then Mr. Honest called for his friends, and said unto them, I die, but shall make no will. As for my honesty, it shall go with me; let him that comes after be told of this. When the day that he was to be gone was come, he addressed himself to go over the river. Now the river at that time overflowed the

He makes no will.

Good-conscience helps Mr. Honest over the river.

banks in some places; but Mr. Honest in his life-time had spoken to one Goodconscience to meet him there, the which he also did, and lent him his hand, and so helped him over. The last words of Mr. Honest were, Grace reigns! So he left the world.

Mr. Valiant summoned.

After this it was noised abroad that Mr. Valiant-for-truth was taken with a summons by the same post as the other, and had this

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381 "That

His will.

for a token that the summons was true, his pitcher was broken at the fountain" (Eccles. xii. 6). When he understood it, he called for his friends, and told them of it. Then said he, I am going to my Father's; and though with great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage; and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles who now will be my rewarder. When the day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the river side, into which as he went he said, "Death, where is thy sting?" And as he went down deeper, he said, "Grave, where is thy victory?" So he passed

His last

words.

over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.

Mr. Standfast is summoned.

Then there came forth a summons for Mr. Stand-fast (this Mr. Stand-fast was he that the rest of the pilgrims found upon his knees in the Enchanted Ground), for the post brought it him open in his hands. The contents whereof were, that he must prepare for a change of life, for his Master was not willing that he should be so far from him any longer. At this Mr. Stand-fast was put into a muse. Nay, said the messenger, you need not doubt the truth of my message, for here is a token of the truth thereof: Thy wheel is broken at the cistern" (Eccles. xii. 6). Then he called unto him Mr. Great-heart, who was their guide, and said unto him, Sir, although it was not my hap to be much in your good company in the days of my pilgrimage, yet, since the time I knew you, you have been profitable to me. When I came from home, I left

He calls for Mr. Great

heart.

His speech to

him.