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The Pilgrim's Progress: Christian

Then was there much ado in the family of Christian, for such was his name, that he should run from his home on a way which all knew to be perilous. Two of his neighbors did Christian implore to accompany him. The name of the one was Obstinate, that of the other Pliable. "What," cried Obstinate, "leave our friends and comforts behind us?" But Pliable went with him for a space, till they reached a quag named the Slough of Despond. Having wallowed here for a time Pliable, getting out on the side nearest to his home, turned back. But Christian struggling on alone, one Help came to his rescue and led him to solid ground.

Here as Christian was walking he espied afar off a Mr. Worldly Wiseman, of the town of Carnal Policy. To his questions as to where he would be going Christian replied that he sought means to be rid of the burden on his back. "Why, in yonder village, Morality," said the gentleman, "there dwells one whose name is Legality, and who hath a pretty young man, Civility, to his son. These will ease thee of thy burden." So saying he directed Christian to a high hill, the which, on his reaching it, bent over so much that it was like to fall on and bury him.

Now Christian began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel; whereupon he again saw Evangelist, who encouraged him to go back and seek the Gate for which he had been making when urged to go out of the way. So in process of time Christian got up to this Gate, over which was written, "Knock and it shall be opened unto you." He knocked, therefore, and one named Good-will came to answer.

Then did Christian recite the perils through which he had come in seeking to be rid of his burden. "Be content to bear it," said Good-will, "until thou come to the place of deliverance, for there it will fall off of itself." So was he sent on his way again, walking along a road which ended in a cross and a sepulcher. I saw in my dreams that as he came up with the cross his burden loosed from his back till it fell into the sepulcher, where I saw it no more.

Then Christian gave three leaps for joy and went on singing, coming to the hill Difficulty. About midway to the top of this hill was an arbor in which he sat him down to rest, but soon fell asleep. Losing under the settle the roll in which he had begun to read, he started hastily, when he awoke, on his way again. At the top of the hill there met him two men running amain. These were Mistrust and Timorous, who warned him to go back, since there were lions in the way. Then was Christian in a great quandary, since to go back to his own city would mean to be burnt with fire and brimstone, while to go on would be to risk death at the mouths of lions. Thus troubled, he sought comfort in reading in his roll, but, lo! it was not in his bosom. Then was much time lost while Christian returned to the arbor to find his book; but while he was thus bewailing his miscarriage he lifted up his eyes and saw a stately palace, the name of which was Beautiful. Here dwelt the damsels Discretion, Prudence, Piety, and Charity, who made Christian welcome, laying him in the chamber called Peace. Next day they showed him the armory of their house, as well as such ancient treasures as Moses' rod, the hammer and nail with which Jael slew Sisera, and the jaw-bone with which Samson did mighty feats. Likewise did they take him up to the top of their house and bid him look at the pleasant countries of the Delectable Mountains and Emmanuel's Land. "When thou comest there," said they, "thou mayst see the Gate of the Celestial City."

Going on thence, he entered the Valley of Humiliation, where met him the foul fiend, Apollyon. Apollyon claiming Christian as his subject, the latter could in no wise deny the fact, seeing that he had been born in the City of Destruction, over which the monster ruled. Nevertheless, Christian renounced his allegiance to this wicked prince, claiming that he had sworn himself to the King of Princes, who dwelt in the City of Zion. Then ensued a dreadful fight between Christian and the fiend, during which the fiend was like to have worsted the pilgrim had it not been for the weapons furnished him from their armory by the fair damsels in the Castle Beautiful. The battle being over, there came a hand with some of the leaves of the Tree of Life, wherewith Christian stanched his wounds.

Now at the end of this valley was another still more dread, called the Valley of the Shadow of Death. On its right was a very deep ditch into which the blind have led the blind in all ages, while on the left was a dangerous quag, the which if even a good man were to fall into it he could find no bottom for his foot to stand on. Good Christian was the more put to it, seeing that the pathway was exceeding narrow, and as he went on he sighed bitterly. About the middle of this valley was there also the mouth of Hell, out of which came dismal flame and smoke. When the fiends came up to this entrance he cried out in a vehement voice, "I will walk in the strength of the Lord God," whereat they gave back.