cording as he had dealt with her husband before. So I saw in my dream, that they walked on their Way, and had the weather very comfortable to them. Then Christiana began to sing, saying, THE DEVIL'S Bless'd be the day that I began A Pilgrim for to be; And blessed also be that man That thereto moved me. "Tis better late than never. Our tears to joy, our fears to faith, Thus our beginning (as one saith) Shews what our end will be. Now, there was on the other side of the GARDEN. Wall that fenced in the way up which Christiana and her companions were to go, a Garden; and that Garden belonged to him whose was that barking Dog, of whom mention was made before. And some of the fruit-trees that grew in that Garden shot their branches over the wall; and being mellow, they that found them did gather them up, and eat of them to their hurt. So Christiana's boys, as boys are apt to do, being pleased with the Trees, and with the Fruit THE CHILDREN EAT that did hang thereon, did pluck them, and began to eat. Their Mother did also chide them for so doing, but still the boys went on. Well, said she, my sons, you transgress; for that fruit is none of ours. But she did not know that it belonged to the Enemy; I'll warrant you, if she had TWO ILL-FAVOURED TIANA AND MERCY. she would have been ready to die for fear. But that passed, and they went on their way. Now, by that they were gone about two bow-shots from the place that led them into the Way, they espied two very illfavoured ones coming down apace to meet them. With that Christiana, and Mercy her friend, covered themselves with their veils, and so kept on their journey; the children also went on before; so at last they met together. Then they that came down to meet them, came just ONES ASSAULT CHRISup to the women as if they would embrace them: but Christiana said, Stand back, or go peaceably as you should! Yet these two, as men that are deaf, regarded not Christiana's words, but began to lay hands upon them. At that Christiana waxing very wroth, spurned at them with her feet; Mercy also, as well as she could, did what she could to shift them. Christiana again said to them, Stand back, and begone! for we have no money to lose, being Pilgrims, as you see, and such too as live upon the charity of our friends. Then said one of the two men, We make no assault upon you for money; but are come out to tell you, that if that if you will but grant one small request which we shall ask, we will make Women of you for ever. Now Christiana, imagining what they should mean, made answer again, We will neither hear nor regard, nor yield to what you shall ask; we are in haste, and cannot stay: our business is a business of life and death so again she and her companion made a fresh essay to go past them; but they letted them in their way. And they said, We intend no hurt to your lives; 'tis another thing we would have. SHE CRIES OUT. Ay, quoth Christiana, you would have us body and soul, for I know it is for that you are come; but we will die rather upon the spot, than to suffer ourselves to be brought into such snares as shall hazard our well-being hereafter. And with that they both shrieked out, and cried, " Murder! Murder!"8 and so put themselves under those laws that are provided for the protection of women. But the men still made their approach upon them, with design to prevail against them; they therefore cried out again. 'TIS GOOD TO CRY Now they being, as I said, not far OUT WHEN WEARE from the Gate in at which they came, their voice was heard, from whence ASSAULTED. they were, thither; wherefore some of the House came THE RELIEVER COMES. out, and knowing that it was Christiana's tongue, they made haste to her relief. But by that they were got within sight of them, the women were in a very great scuffle; the children also stood crying by. Then did he that came in for their relief call out to the ruffians, saying, What is that thing you do? Would you make my Lord's people to transgress? He also attempted to take them, but they did make their TO THE DEVIL FOR escape over the wall into the Garden of the man to whom the great Dog belonged; so the Dog became their protector. This Reliever then came up to the Women, and asked them how they did? So they answered, We thank thy THE ILL ONES FLY RELIEF. 8 Deut. xxii. 23, 26, 27. Prince, pretty well; only we have been somewhat affrighted; we thank thee also for that thou camest in to our help, otherwise we had been overcome. THE RELIEVER So, after a few more words, this Reliever said as followeth; I marvelled TALKS TO THE much, when you was entertained at the WOMEN. Gate above, being ye knew that ye are but weak women, that you petitioned not the Lord for a Conductor. Then might you have avoided these troubles and dangers: for he would have granted you one. Alas! said Christiana, we were so taken MARK THIS. with our present blessing, that dangers to come were forgotten by us. Beside, who could have thought that, so near the King's Palace, there could have lurked such naughty ones? Indeed, it had been well for us had we asked our Lord for one; but since our Lord knew it would be for our profit, I wonder he sent not one along with us. WE LOSE FOR ING FOR. Rel. It is not always necessary to grant things not asked for, lest, by so doing, they become of little esteem; but when the want of a thing is felt, it then comes under, in the eyes of WANT OF ASKhim that feels it, that estimate that properly is its due, and so consequently will be thereafter used. Had my Lord granted you a Conductor, you would not either so have bewailed that oversight of yours in not asking for one, as now you have occasion to do. So all things work for good, and tend to make you more wary. Chr. Shall we go back again to my Lord, and confess our folly, and ask one? Rel. Your confession of your folly I will present him with. To go back again, you need not; for, in all places where you shall come, you shall find no want at all; for in every one of my Lord's lodgings, which he has prepared for the reception of his Pilgrims, there is sufficient to furnish them against all attempts whatsoever. But, as I said, "He will be inquired of by them to do it for them."9 And 't is a poor thing thing that is not worth asking for. When he had thus said, he went back to his place, and the Pilgrims went on their way. THE MISTAKE OF MERCY. Then said Mercy, What a sudden blank is here! I made account that we had been past all danger, and that we should never see sorrow more. CHRISTIANA'S GUILT. Thy innocency, my sister, said Christiana to Mercy, may excuse thee much; but as for me, my fault is so much the greater, for that I saw this danger before I came out of the doors, and yet did not provide for it when provision might have been had. I am much to be blamed. Then said Mercy, How knew you this before you came from home? Pray, open to me this riddle. CHRISTIANA'S Chr. Why, I will tell you: Before I DREAM RE- set foot out of doors, one night, as I lay PEATED. in my bed, I had a dream about this; for methought I saw two men, as like these as ever any in the world could look, stand at my bed's feet, plotting how they might prevent my salvation. I will tell you their very words: They said ('t was when I was in my troubles), What shall we do with this Woman? for she cries out, waking and sleeping, for 9 Ezek. xxxvi. 37. |