THE GIANTS, POPE AND PAGAN.

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verance from all the dangers of his solitary way; which dangers though he feared them more before, yet he saw them more clearly now, because the light of the day made them conspicuous to him. And about this time. the sun was rising; and this was another mercy to CHRISTIAN: for you must note, that though the first part of the valley of the SHADOW OF DEATH WAS dangerous; yet this second part, which he was yet to go, was, if possible, far more dangerous: for, from the place where he now stood even to the end of the valley, the way was all along set so full of snares, traps, gins, and nets, here, and so full of pits, pitfalls, deep holes, and shelvings down, there; that had it been dark, as it was when he came the first part of the way, had he had a thousand souls they had in reason been cast away: but, as I said, just now the sun was rising. Then said he, "His candle shineth on my head, and by his light I go through darkness"."

In this light therefore he came to the end of the valley. Now I saw in my dream, that at the end of this 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 spied 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. But by this place CHRISTIAN went without much danger, whereat I somewhat wondered: but I have learnt since, that PAGAN has been dead many a day; and, as for the

■ Job, xxix. 3.

72

CHRISTIAN SEES FAITHFUL BEFORE HIM.

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 now can 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 in the mouth of the cave, he could not tell what to think; especially because he spake to him, though he could not go after him, saying, You will never mend till more of you be burned.' But he held his peace, and set a good face on it, and so went by and catched no hurt. CHRISTIAN,

O world of wonders! (I can say no less)
That I should be preserv'd in that distress
That I have met with here! O blessed be
That hand that from it hath delivered me!
Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and fin,

Did compass me while I this vale was in:

Then sang

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 up cast 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;

OVERRUNS HIM; BUT BEING ELATED FALLS.

73

to whom CHRISTIAN cried Stay, stay, till I come 'to you,' but FAITHFUL answered, No, I am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind

' me.'

At this CHRISTIAN was somewhat moved, and putting to all his strength he quickly got up with 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 until FAITHFUL came up to help him.

Then I saw in my dream they went very lovingly on together, and had sweet discourse of all things that had happened to them in their pilgrimage: and thus CHRISTIAN began.

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.

get

FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite from our town, but you did 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?

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

74

THEY CONVERSE ABOUT THEIR CITY, AND PLIABLE.

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 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 followed you till he came at 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 bedaubed with that kind of dirt.

CHR. And what said the neighbours to him?

FAITH. He hath since his going back been had greatly in derision, and that among all sorts of 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.

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CHR. But why should they be so set against him, since they also despised the way that he forsook? FAITH. O they say, Hang him; he is a turncoat! he was not 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',

1 Jer. xxix. 18, 19.

FAITHFUL RELATES HOW HE MET WITH WANTON: 75

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.

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 hath 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 her mire."

FAITH. They 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 that danger; only I met with one, whose name was WANTON, that had like to have done me a mischief.

CHR. It was 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.