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WHO LEAVE THEM AND PROCEED ON THEIR JOURNEY. 157

they put ear-rings in their ears, and jewels on their
foreheads.

When they were minded to go hence, they let them
go in peace, but gave not to them those certain cau-
tions which before were given to CHRISTIAN, and his
companion. The reason was, for that these had
GREAT-HEART to be their guide, who was one that
was well acquainted with things, and so could give
them their cautions more seasonable; to wit, even
then when the danger was nigh the approaching.
What cautions CHRISTIAN and his companion had
received of the shepherds', they had also lost by that
the time was come that they had need to put them
in practice.
Wherefore, here was the advantage

that this company had over the other.

From hence they went on singing, and they said,

Behold, how fitly are the stables set

For their relief that pilgrims are become,

And how they us receive without one let,

That make the other life the mark and home.

What novelties they have, to us they give,
That we, though pilgrims, joyful lives may live,
They do upon us, too, such things bestow,
That show we pilgrims are, where'er we go.'

When they were gone from the shepherds, they
quickly came to the place where CHRISTIAN met with
one TURN-AWAY, that dwelt in the town of APOS-
TACY2 Wherefore of him Mr. GREAT-HEART, their
guide, did now put them in mind, saying, This is

152

THEY OVERTAKE VALIANT-FOR-TRUTH.

the place where CHRISTIAN met with one TURNAWAY, who carried with him the character of his rebellion at his back. And this I have to say concerning this man; he would hearken to no counsel, but, once a falling, persuasion could not stop him. When he came to the place where the cross and the sepulchre was, he did meet with one that did bid him look there, but he gnashed with his teeth, and stamped, and said, he was resolved to go back to his own town. Before he came to the gate, he met with EVANGELIST, who offered to lay hands on him to turn him into the way again. But this TURN-AWAY resisted him, and having done much despite unto him, he got away over the wall, and so escaped his hand.

Then they went on: and, just at the place where LITTLE-FAITH formerly was robbed, there stood a man with his sword drawn, and his face all bloody. Then said Mr. GREAT-HEART, What art thou? The man made answer, saying, I am one whose name is VALIANT-FOR-TRUTH, I am a pilgrim, and am going to the celestial city. Now, as I was in my way, there were three men that did beset me, and propounded unto me these three things:-Whether I would become one of them;-or go back from whence I came;-or die upon the place? To the first I answered, I had been a true man a long season, and therefore it could not be expected that I now should cast in my lot with thieves'. Then they demanded what I would say to the second. So I told them the place from whence I came, had I not found incom

Prov. i, 10-19.

WHO HAD JUST OVERCOME THREE DARING ASSAILANTS. 153

modity there, I had not forsaken it at all; but finding it altogether unsuitable to me, and very unprofitable for me, I forsook it for this way. Then they

asked me what I said to the third? And I told them, My life cost more dear far, than that I should lightly give it away: Besides, you have nothing to do to put things to my choice; wherefore at your peril be it if you meddle. Then these three, to wit, WILDHEAD, INCONSIDERATE, and PRAGMATICK, drew upon me, and I also drew upon them. So we fell to it, one against three, for the space of three hours. They have left upon me, as you see, some of the marks of their valour, and have also carried away with them some of mine. They are but just now gone: I suppose they might, as the saying is, hear your horse dash, and so they betook themselves to flight.

GR.-H. But here was great odds, three against one. VAL. 'Tis true; but little or more are nothing to him that has the truth on his side: "Though an "host should encamp against me,” said one, 66 my "heart shall not fear: though war shall rise against me, " in this will I be confident," &c. Besides, said he, I have read in some records, that one man has fought an army: and how many did SAMPSON slay with the jaw-bone of an ass?

Then said the guide, why did you not cry out, that some might have come in for your succour?

VAL. So I did to my King, who I knew could hear me, and afford invisible help, and that was enough for me,

Then said GREAT-HEART to Mr. VALIANT-FOR

146 ARE WELCOMED AND FEASTED BY THE SHEPHERDS.

⚫ and Mrs. MUCH-AFRAID his daughter.' These, Mr. 'GREAT-HEART,' said the shepherds to the guide, we call in by name, for that they are most subject to 'draw back; but as for you, and the rest that are strong, we leave you to your wonted liberty.' Then said Mr GREAT-HEART, This day I see that grace doth shine in your faces, and that you are my Lord's shepherds indeed; for that you have not pushed these 'diseased neither with side nor shoulder, but have ⚫ rather strewed their way into the palace with flowers should'.'

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as you

So the feeble and weak went in, and Mr. GREATHEART and the rest did follow. When they were also sat down, the shepherds said to those of the weakest sort, What is that you would have? For, said they, all things must be managed here to the supporting of the weak, as well as the warning of the unruly.

So they made them a feast of things easy of digestion, and that were pleasant to the palate and nourishing: the which when they had received, they went to their rest, each one respectively unto his proper place. When morning was come, because the mountains were high, and the day clear; and because it was the custom of the shepherds to show the pilgrims before their departure, some rarities; therefore, after they were ready, and had refreshed themselves, the shepherds took them out into the fields, and shewed them first what they had shewed to CHRISTIAN before. Then they had them to some new places. The ≈ P. i. p. 146—150.

2 Ezek. xxxiv. 21.

WHO SHOW THEM MOUNT MARVEL,AND MOUNT INNOCENCE. 147

first was mount MARVEL, where they looked, and behold a man at a distance, that tumbled the hills about with words. Then they asked the shepherds, what that should mean? So they told them, that that man was the son of one Mr. GREATGRACE, [of whom you read in the first part of the records of the Pilgrim's Progress:] and he is set there to teach pilgrims how to believe down, or to tumble out of their ways, what difficulties they should meet with, by faith'. Then' said Mr. GREAT-HEART, 'know him; he is a man above many.'

'I

Then they had them to another place, called mount INNOCENCE: and there they saw a man clothed all in white; and two men, PREJUDICE and ILL-WILL, continually casting dirt upon him. Now behold, the dirt, whatsoever they cast at him, would in a little time fall off again, and his garment would look as clear as if no dirt had been cast thereat.-Then said the pilgrims, What means this? The shepherds answered, This man is named GODLY-MAN, and the garment is to show the innocency of his life. Now those that throw dirt at him, are such as hate his welldoing; but as you see the dirt will not stick upon his clothes, so it shall be with him that lives truly innocently in the world. Whoever they be that would make such men dirty, they labour all in vain; for GOD, by that a little time is spent, will cause that their innocence shall break forth as the light, and their righteousness as the noon-day.

Then they took them, and had them to mount

A Mark xi. 23, 24.