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and of the shadow of death; a land that no man (but a Christian) passeth through; and where no man dwelt." Now here Christian was worse put to it than in his fight with Apollyon; as by the sequel you shall see.

I saw then in my dream, that when Christian was got to the borders of the Shadow of Death, there met him two men, children of them that brought up an evil report of the good land, making haste to go back; to whom Christian spake as follows:

Christian. Whither are you going?

Men. Back! back! and would have you to do so too, if either life or peace is prized by you.

Christian. Why, what is the matter?

Men. Matter! We were going that way as you are going, and went as far as we durst! and indeed we were almost past coming back; for had we gone a little farther, we had not been here to bring the news to thee.

Christian. But what have you met with?

Men. Why, we were almost in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; but that by good hap we looked before us; and saw the danger, before we came to it.

Christian. But what have you seen?

Men. Seen! Why, the Valley itself, which is as dark as pitch: we also saw there the hobgoblins, satyrs, and dragons of the pit: we heard also in that Valley a continual howling and yelling, as of people under unutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction and irons: over that Valley hang the discouraging clouds of confusion: Death also doth always spread his wings over it. In a word, it is every whit dreadful, being utterly without order.

Christian. I perceive not yet, by what you have said, but that this is my way to the desired haven.§

Men. Be it thy way; we will not choose it for ours. So they parted, and Christian went on his way, but still with his sword drawn in his hand, for fear lest he should be assaulted.

I saw then in my dream, so far as this Valley reached, there was on the right hand a very deep ditch: That ditch is it, into which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both there miserably perished. Again, behold, on the left hand, there was a very dangerous quag, into which if even a good man falls, he finds no bottom for his foot to stand on into that quag. king David once did fall,|| and had,

*Numb. xiii. 32. Jer. ii, 6,

† Psalm xliv. 19.-cvii. 14.
|| Psalm 1xix. 14.

Job iii. 5-x. 22.

no doubt, therein been smothered, had not He that is able plucked him out.

The path-way was here also exceeding narrow, and therefore good Christian was the more put to it; for when he sought, in the dark, to shun the ditch on the one hand, he was ready to tip over into the mire on the other: also, when he sought to escape the mire; without great carefulness, he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went on, and I heard him here sigh bitterly; for, besides the danger mentioned above, the path-way was here so dark, that oft-times, when he lift up his foot, to set forward, he knew not where, or upon what, he should set it next.

About the midst of this Valley, I perceived the mouth of Hell to be; and it stood also hard by the way-side. Now, thought Christian, what shall I do? And ever and anon the flame and smoke would come out in such abundance, with sparks and hideous noises, (things that cared not for Christian's sword, as did Apollyon before,) that he was forced to put up his sword, and betake himself to another weapon called all-prayer. So he cried in my hearing, 'O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.' Thus he went on a great while; yet still the flames would be reaching towards him: also he heard doleful voices, and rushings to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he should be torn to pieces, or trodden down like mire in the streets. This frightful sight was seen, and these dreadful noises were heard by him, for several miles together: and coming to a place where he thought he heard a company of fiends coming forward to meet him, he stopped and began to muse what he had best to do; sometimes he had half a thought to go back; and then again he thought he might be half-way through the Valley: he remembered also, how he had already vanquished many a danger; and that the danger of going back might be much more than for to go forward; sc he resolved to go on: yet the fiends seemed to come nearer and nearer; but when they were come even almost at him, he cried out with a most vehement voice, "I will walk in the strength of the Lord God." So they gave back and came no farther. One thing I would not let slip: I took notice, that now poor Christian was so confounded, that he did not know his own voice: and thus I perceived it: Just when he was come over against the mouth of the burning pit, one of the

* Poor man! where art thou now? Thy day is night:
Good man,
be not cast down, thou yet art right:
Thy way to Heaven, lies by the gates of Hell:
Cheer up, hold out, with thee it shall go well.
† Eph. vi. 18.
Psalm cxvi. 4.

Psalm 1xxi. 16.

wicked ones got behind him, and stept up softly to him, and, whispering, suggested many grievous blasphemies to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. This put Christian more to it than any thing that he met with before, even to think that he should now blaspheme him that he loved so much before: yet, if he could have helped it, he would not have done it; but he had not the discretion either to stop his ears, or to know from whence those blasphemies came.

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When Christian had travelled in this disconsolate condition some considerable time, he thought he heard the voice of a man, as going before him, saying, Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no ill, for thou art with me."*

Then was he glad, and that for these reasons:

First. Because he gathered from thence, that some who feared God were in this Valley as well as himself.

Secondly. That he perceived that God was with them, though in that dark and dismal state:†-" And why not, (thought he) with me? Though by reason of the impediment that attends this place, I cannot perceive it."

Thirdly. For that he hoped (could he overtake them) to have company by and by.

So he went on, and called to him that was before; but he knew not what to answer; for that he also thought himself to be alone. And by and by the day broke: then said Christian, "He hath turned the shadow of death into the morning."

Now, morning being come, he looked back, not out of desire to return, but to see, by the light of the day, what hazards he had gone through in the dark: So he saw more perfectly the ditch that was on the one hand, and the that was on the other; also how narrow the way was which led betwixt them both: also he saw the hobgoblins, and satyrs, and dragons of the pit, but all afar off; for, after break of day, they came not nigh, yet they were discovered to him, according to that which is written, "he discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death."

Now was Christian much affected with his deliverance 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

*Psalm xxiii. 4. † Job xxiii. 1.

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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 full of pits, pit-falls, deep holes, and shelvings-down there; that, had it now 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 espied 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 danger; whereat I somewhat wondered: but I have learnt since, that Pagan has been dead many a day; and as for the 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 can now 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 at 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 burnt." But he held his peace, and set a good face on it, and so went by, and catched no hurt. Then sang Christian

O world of wonders! (I can say no less,
That I should be preserved in that distress
That I have met with here! O, blessed be
That hand that from it hath deliver'd me!
Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and sin,
Did compass me, while I this Vale was in;
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.

* Job xxix. 3.

Now, as Christian went on his way, he came to a little ascent, which was cast up on purpose that Pilgrims might see before them: Up there, therefore, Christian went; and, looking forward, he saw Faithful before him upon his jour ney: Then said Christian aloud, "Ho, ho! So, ho! Stay, and 1 will be your companion." At that, Faithful looked behind him; to whom Christian called again, "Stay, stay, till I come up 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 vaingloriously 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 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.

Christian. My honored 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.

Faithful. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite from our town, but you did get the start of me: wherefore I was forced to come thus much of the way alone.

Christian. How long did you stay in the city of Destruction, before you set out after me on your pilgrimage?

Faithful. 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 burnt down to the ground.

Christian. What! did your neighbors talk so?

Faithful. Yes, it was for a while in every body's mouth. Christian. What! and did no more of them but you come out to escape the danger?

Faithful. 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 of your desperate journey, (for they so 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.

Christian. Did you hear no talk of neighbor Pliable? Faithful. Yes, Christian; I heard that he followed you

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