WORLDLY-WISEMAN MEETS CHRISTIAN.

11

they be, men through the dizziness of their heads step beside; and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there: but the ground is good when they are once got in at the gate'.

Now I saw in my dream that by this time PLIABLE was got home to his house. So his neighbours came to visit him; and some of them called him wise man for coming back; and some called him fool for hazarding himself with CHRISTIAN: others again did mock at his cowardliness; saying, Surely, since you began to venture, I would not have been so base to have

given out for a few difficulties:' so PLIABLE sat sneaking among them. But at last he got more confidence, and then they all turned their tales and began to deride poor CHRISTIAN behind his back. And thus much concerning PLIABLE.

This

Now as CHRISTIAN was walking solitarily by himself, he spied one afar off crossing over the field to meet him, and their hap was to meet just as they were crossing the way of each other. The gentleman's name, that met him, was Mr. WORLDLY-WISEMAN; he dwelt in the town of CARNAL-POLICY; a very great town, and also hard by from whence CHRISTIAN came. man then meeting with CHRISTIAN, and having some inkling of him, (for CHRISTIAN's setting forth from the city of DESTRUCTION was much noised abroad, not only in the town where he dwelt, but also it began to be the town-talk in some other places;) Mr. WORLDLYWISEMAN therefore having some guess of him by beholding his laborious going, by observing his sighs

1 Sam. xii. 22.

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HE ACCOSTS AND COUNSELS HIM.

and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into some talk with CHRISTIAN.

WORLD. How now, good fellow, whither away after this burdened manner?

CHR. A burdened manner indeed, as ever, I think, poor creature had! And whereas you asked me, whither away? I tell you, Sir, I am going to yonder WICKET-GATE before me; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put in a way to be rid of my heavy burden. WORLD. Hast thou a wife and children?

CHR. Yes; but I am so laden with this burden that I cannot take that pleasure in them as formerly: methinks I am as if I had none1.

WORLD. Wilt thou hearken to me if I give thee counsel ?

CHR. If it be good I will; for I stand in need of good

counsel.

WORLD. I would advise thee, then, that thou with all speed get thyself rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be settled in thy mind till then, nor canst thou enjoy the benefits of the blessings which God hath bestowed upon thee till then.

CHR. That is that which I seek for, even to be rid of this heavy burden; but get it off myself I cannot : nor is there any man in our country that can take it off my shoulders: therefore am I going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden.

WORLD. Who bid you go this way to be rid of your burden?

CHR. A man that appeared to me to be a very great

11 Cor. vii. 29.

THEIR FURTHER CONVERSATION.

13

and honourable person; his name, as I remember, is EVANGELIST.

WORLD. Beshrew him for his counsel; there is not a more dangerous and troublesome way in the world than is that unto which he hath directed thee; and that thou shalt find if thou wilt be ruled by his counsel. Thou hast met with something, as I perceive, already; for I see the dirt of the slough of DESPOND is upon thee; but that slough is the beginning of the sorrows that do attend those that go on in that way. Hear me, I am older than thou; thou art like to meet with on the way which thou goest, wearisomeness, painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword, lions, dragons, darkness, and, in a word, death, and what not! These things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies. And why should a man so carelessly cast away himself by giving heed to a stranger?

CHR. Why, Sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than are all these things which you have mentioned: nay, methinks I care not what I meet with in my way if so be I can also meet with deliverance from my burden.

WORLD. How camest thou by the burden at first? CHR. By reading this book in my hand.

WORLD. I thought so; and it has happened unto thee as to other weak men, who meddling with things too high for them do suddenly fall into thy distractions; which distractions do not only unman men, (as thine I perceive have done thee) but they run them upon desperate ventures to obtain they know not what.

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LEGALITY, AND THE VILLAGE MORALITY.

CHR. I know what I would obtain; it is ease from my heavy burden.

WORLD. But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it? Especially since, hadst thou but patience to hear me, I could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into. Yea, and the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add that instead of these dangers thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content.

CHR. Sir, I pray, open this secret to me.

WORLD. Why in yonder village (the village is named MORALITY) there dwells a gentleman, whose name is LEGALITY, a very judicious man and a man of very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as thine is from their shoulders; yea, to my knowledge he hath done a great deal of good this way: aye, and besides, he hath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their burdens. To him, as I said, thou mayest go and be helped presently. His house is not quite a mile from this place; and if he should not be at home himself, he hath a pretty young man to his son, whose name is CIVILITY, that can do it (to speak on) as well as the old gentleman himself. There, I say, thou mayest be eased of thy burden: and if thou art not minded to go back to thy former habitation, as indeed I would not wish thee, thou mayest send for thy wife and children to thee to this village; where there are houses now stand empty, one of which thou mayest have at reasonable rates: provision is there also cheap and good: and that

CHRISTIAN TURNS ASIDE. HIS ALARM.

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which will make thy life more happy, is, to be sure there thou shalt live by honest neighbours in credit and good fashion.

Now was CHRISTIAN somewhat at a stand; but presently he concluded, If this be true which this gentleman hath said, my wisest course is to take his advice; and with that he thus further spake.

CHR. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house? WORLD. Do you see yonder high hill ?

CHR. Yes, very well.

WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come at is his.

So CHRISTIAN turned out of his way to go to Mr. LEGALITY's house for help. But behold when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next the way side did hang so much over, that CHRISTIAN was afraid to venture further lest the hill should fall on his head: wherefore there he stood still and wotted not what to do. Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in his way. There came also flashes of fire out of the hill, that made CHRISTIAN afraid that he should be burned': here therefore he sweat and did quake for fear. And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. WORLDLY-WISEMAN'S counsel. And with that he saw EVANGELIST coming to meet him; at the sight also of whom he began to blush for shame. So EVANGELIST drew nearer and nearer; and coming up to him he looked upon him with a severe and dreadful countenance, and thus began to reason with CHRISTIAN.

Exod. xix. 16-18. Heb. xii. 21.