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THE

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

PART III.

AFTER the two former dreams concerning Christian and Christiana his wife, with their children and companions' pilgrimage from the City of Destruction to the region of glory, I fell asleep again, and the visions of my head returned upon me. I dreamed another dream, and, behold, there appeared unto me a great multitude of people, in several distinct companies and bands, travelling from the City of Destruction. the town of Carnal-Policy, the village of Morality, and from the rest of the cities, towns, villages, and hamlets, that belong to the Valley of Destruction for so was the whole country called that lay on this side of the Wicket-Gate which the man Evangelist shewed unto Christian; and so was also that country called that was situate wide of the gate, on the right hand and on the left, extending itself along by the walls and borders of that region, wherein lay the way to the heavenly country. This was the name of that province, even the Valley of Destruction.

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Now I saw in my dream, that all the highway roads and lanes, that led from the Valley of Destruction towards the gate of the way of life, were full of people, travelling towards the gate; and some of them walked along very vigorously, others halted, and grew very weary, through the most violent heat of the season, which then made them even ready to faint; for it was in the hottest time of the year, and the sun burnt the herb of the field, and scorched the poor travellers so, that many of them were forced to sit down and rest themselves; and in the night-time many of them returned back to their old habitations; others, more hardy than the rest, went till they came to the Slough of Despond, where Pliable forsook Christian, and there falling into the filth and mire of that place, were so disheartened, that they returned in whole droves to their own wellings again; and very few there were that would venture hrough the slough; yet some got very dexterously over the

Tender-Conscience sets out on Pilgrimage.

steps, without being in the least hemired, whilst others, through heedlessness and ignorance, missing those steps, were forced to wade through the dirt, which was very deep, and made their passage exceeding painful; but at length, with much ado, they weathered the point and inastered the difficulties of that horrid quagmire, and got safe upon dry ground.

Among the rest of these travellers that got over this slough, I saw a young man of an amiable countenance walking by himself, after he had got clear of the slough; but he was all over bedaubed with the filth of that place, which made him go very heavily on; for what with struggling to get through, and what with the dismal apprehension he lay under during his passage, he was extremely weakened, and his joints loosened; besides, it was the nature of the dirt of this place to cause a trembling and disorder in the limbs of those that were defiled with it; and to whatsoever part of their body it stuck, there it would do them some injury. Now the young man being all over clammed with it, he went a very slow pace, his head hanging down, his hands quivering, and his feet tripping at the least uneasiness and ruggedness of the way; and a speck or two of the dirt being spattered near his eyes, made him dim-sighted, so that he groped along like one that is blind, and sometimes stepped out of the path.

In this condition he was, when at length I saw, in my dream, that he sat down upon the ground to bemoan his sad state, and wept bitterly: and, behold, a bright cloud hovered over his head, which gradually descending, overshadowed him, and out of the cloud a hand was reached forth, which, with the tears that ran like rivers from his eyes, washed the dirt off his face and his whole body, so that in a moment, as it were, his sight and strength were restored again; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, Son of man, go on in the strength of the Lord thy God. So he was mightily comforted and refreshed after this, and began to rouse himself, being more nimble and active, more vigorous and strong, than ever he was before; and his eyes being also healed, he clearly saw the shining light that Evangelist shewed to Christian. Then he tript along over the plain, and made directly up to the shining light, by means of which he quickly found the Wicket-Gate; at which he Knocked aloud, minding what was written over the gate, namely "Knock, and it shall be opened."

Now I saw in my dream, that as soon as he had knocked at the Wicket-Gate, a whole shower of arrows were shot at him from the castle of Beelzebub, so that he was wounded in seve

His interview with Good-Will.

ral places, and extremely frightened at the adventure; which made him knock again and again very hard, for fear those that shot at him would come an kill him outright, before he could get in: but presently, to his great comfort, the gate was opened to him: and when he that opened the gate saw the arrows stick in his flesh, he bid him baste in, for fear of more danger.

So he stepped in, and made obeisance to the man that opened the gate, for he seemed to be a person worthy of reverence, by his grave countenance and composed behaviour: so he spake to the man, whose name was Good-Will, and said, Sir, having heard of the fame of the heavenly country, and being informed by several travellers that the way to it was by this gate, I, being weary of living in the Valley of Destruction, and earnestly desirous to see that region of bliss, humbly made bold to knock at this gate, which you have been graciously pleased to open to me; for which high favour I return you my humble and hearty thanks: but as I stood at the gate, after I knocked the first time, I was shot with these arrows which you now see sticking in my flesh, and I fear I am mortally wounded; for my spirits fail me, and there is a mist before my eyes: and with that he fell at Good-Will's feet, begging him to tell where he might find one that had skill to probe his wounds, and cure him, if not mortal.

Good-Will, taking compassion on the young man, asked his name. My name, replied the young man, is Tender-Conscience: I was born and bred in the town of Vain-Delights. Then Good-Will having registered the young man's name, he wrote. a certificate, and gave it to him, bidding him deliver it at the next house, which was the house of the Interpreter, withal shewing him the way to it, for it was but a little way off from the gate: there, says he, you will find a remedy for your wounds, and see many glorious things.

Then I saw in my dream, that Good-Will gave to TenderConscience a strong crutch, made of lignum-vitæ, or the tree of life, to rest himself upon, and ease his feet as he went along; he having nothing before in his hand but a twig of vain opinions, which he gathered from the tree of knowledge, growing on the banks of the waters of confusion. This weak reed was all the staff that Tender-Conscience leaned upon in his journey, till such time as Good-Will, bidding him throw it away, gave him the aforesaid strong crutch, which he bid him be sure not to part with, for that it should be of singular use to him all the way, and especially now when he was wounded, for that it had a particular virtue to stay the bleeding of wounds. So Good

Tender-Conscience arrives the Interpreters.'

Will, having given Tender-Conscience ample directions to find the way, bade him farewell, and left him to go forward on his journey.

Then Tender-Conscience began to pluck up his spirits, being much comforted, eased, and supported, by the crutch which Good-Will had given him. For no sooner was he in possession of it, but his wounds abated in bleeding; and by the time it grew warm in his hand, it sent forth a certain odoriferous fume, which exceedingly refreshed his spirits, and he found himself grow stronger and stronger by the healing virtue of this wonderful crutch.

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And thus he travelled on, till at length he arrived at the house of the Interpreter, where, knocking at the door, one presently opened; and, asking his business, Tender-Conscience: made answer, I would speak with the Interpreter, who, I understand, is the master of the house. So one called the Interpreter, who came forthwith to Tender-Conscience, and demanded what he would have.

TENDER. Sir, I was recommended to you by one Good-Will, who keeps yonder Wicket-Gate. For travelling from the town where I was born, in the Valley of Destruction, towards the region of life, I came to the Wicket-Gate, as I was directed; and as soon as I had knocked there, I was shot with these ar rows that you see sticking in my flesh: and when the gate was opened, I made my condition known to Good-Will, and told him I was afraid some of my wounds were mortal, desiring him to acquaint me where I might find a physician; so he recommended me to you, giving me this certificate of his hand, and bidding me deliver it unto you; assuring me, that in this place I should find a remedy for my wounds, and see many glorious things: he likewise gave me this strong crutch which you see in my hand, which has afforded me great comfort and assistance, by refreshing my fainting spirits, supporting me in the way, and putting a stop to the excessive bleeding of my wounds: but it is from you that I hope for the finishing of my cure.

INTER. Welcome, young man, (said the Interpreter, after he had read the certificate,) come in, and partake of the good things of this house; and before you go away, I hope to see vou whole and sound.

So he conducted him into a parlour, and asked him several questions concerning his country, and the manner of his life there. To all which Tender-Conscience made particular an swers, giving him an exact account of his education, and how be had spent the time of his youth till that day. After which

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