CHRISTIANA FOR OF SPIRITS. may what you have do to you! at home I eat the same. every day. Now, when they had eaten and drank, and had chatted a little longer, their Guide said to them, The day wears away; if you think good, let us prepare to be going. So they got up to go, and the little boys went before: but Christiana forGETS HER BOTTLE got to take her bottle of spirits with her; so she sent her little boy back to fetch it. Then said Mercy, I think this is a losing place. Here Christian lost his tiana left her bottle behind her. of this? So their Guide made answer, and said, The cause is sleep, or forgetfulness; some sleep when they should keep awake, and some forget when they should remember and this is the very cause why often, at the resting-places, some Pilgrims, in some things, come off losers. Pilgrims should watch, and remember what they have already received under their greatest enjoyments; but, for want of doing so, ofttimes their MARK THIS. Roll; and here Chris- rejoicing ends in tears, and their sunshine in a cloud; witness the story of Christian at this place. When they were come to the place where Mistrust and Timorous met Christian to persuade him to go back for fear of the Lions, they perceived as it were a stage, and before it, towards the road, a broad plate, with a copy of verses written thereon, and underneath, the reason of raising up that stage in that place rendered. The verses were these: Let him that sees this stage, take heed Unto his heart and tongue; Lest, if he do not, here he speed As some have long agone. "This The words underneath the verses were :stage was built to punish those upon, who, through timorousness or mistrust, shall be afraid to go farther on pilgrimage. Also, on this stage, both Mistrust and Timorous were burned through the tongue with a hot iron, for endeavouring to hinder Christian on his journey." Then said Mercy, This is much like to the saying of the beloved, "What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper." AN EMBLEM OF So they went on till they came within sight of the Lions. Now Mr. Great-heart was a strong man, so he was not afraid of a Lion: but yet, when they were come up to the place where the Lions were, the boys that went before were now glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the THOSE THAT GO WHEN THERE IS NO DANger, but TROUBLES COME. Lions; so they stepped back, and went behind. At this their Guide smiled, and said, How now, my boys; do you love to go before when no danger doth approach, and love to come behind so soon as the Lions appear? Now, as they went on, Mr. Great-heart drew his sword, with an intent to make a way for the Pilgrims in spite of the Lions. Then there appeared one that, it seems, had OF GRIM THE taken upon him to back the Lions; HIS BACKING THE and he said to the Pilgrims' Guide, LIONS. What is the cause of your coming hither? Now the name of that man was Grim, or Bloody-man, because of 4 Psal. cxx. 3, 4. his slaying of Pilgrims, and he was of the race of the Giants. Then said the Pilgrims' Guide, These women and children are going on pilgrimage, and this is the way they must go; and go it they shall, in spite of thee and the Lions. Grim. This is not their way, neither shall they go therein. I am come forth to withstand them, and to that end will back the Lions. Now, to say truth, by reason of the fierceness of the Lions, and of the grim carriage of him that did back them, this way of late had been much unoccupied, and was almost all grown over with grass. Then said Christiana, Though the highways have been unoccupied heretofore, and though the travellers have been made, in times past, to walk through bypaths, it must not be so, now I am risen; "Now I am risen a mother in Israel."5 Then he swore by the Lions that it should; and therefore bid them turn aside, for they should not have passage there. A FIGHT BETWIXT But Great-heart, their Guide, made GRIM AND GREAT- first his approach unto Grim, and laid so heavily at him with his sword, that HEART. he forced him to a retreat. Then said he that attempted to back the Lions, Will you slay me upon my own ground? Great-heart. 'Tis the King's highway that we are in, and in His way it is that thou hast placed the Lions; but these women, and these children, though weak, shall hold on their way in spite of thy Lions. 5 Judg. v. €, 7. And with that he gave him again a downright blow, and brought him upon his knees. With this blow also he broke his helmet; and with the next he cut off Then did the Giant roar so hideously, that an arm. sprawling upon the ground. Now the Lions were chained, and so of themselves could do nothing; wherefore, when old Grim, that intended to back them, was dead, Mr. Great-heart said to the Pilgrims, Come now, and follow me, and no hurt shall happen to you from the Lions. They therefore went on; but the women trembled as they passed by them; and the boys also looked as if they would die; but they all got by without further hurt. Now, when they were within sight of the Porter's THEY COME TO lodge, they soon came up unto it; but they made the more haste after this to go thither, because it is dangerous travelling there in the night. So when they were come to the Gate, the Guide knocked, and the Porter cried, Who is there? but as soon as the Guide had said, It is I, he knew his voice, and came down ; for the Guide had oft before that come thither as a conductor of Pilgrims. When he was come down, he opened the Gate, and seeing the Guide standing just before it, (for he saw not the women, for they were behind him,) he said unto him, How now, Mr. Greatheart? What is your business here so late to-night? I have brought, said he, some Pilgrims hither, where, by my Lord's commandment, they must lodge. I had been here some time ago, had I not been opposed by the Giant that did use to back the Lions; but I, after a long and tedious combat with him, have cut him off, and have brought the Pilgrims hither in safety. Porter. Will you not go in and stay till morning. Great-heart. No; I will return to GREAT-HEART ATTEMPTS TO GO my Lord to-night. BACK. Chr. Oh, Sir! I know not how to be willing you should leave us in our pilgrimage; you have been so faithful and so loving to us, you have fought so stoutly for us, you have been so hearty in counselling of us, that I shall never forget your favour towards us. THE PILGRIMS COMPANY STILL. Then said Mercy, Oh that we might have thy company to our journey's end! How can such poor women as we hold out in a way so full of troubles as this way is, without a friend and defender? |