THE PLACE

mentioned battle was fought. Then said the Guide to Christiana, her children, and Mercy, This is the place; on this ground Christian stood, and up there came Apollyon against him. And look, did

WHERE CHRISTIAN
AND THE FIEND
DID FIGHT.

SOME SIGNS OF

THE BATTLE RE

MAIN.

I not tell you? here is some of your husband's blood upon these stones to this day. Behold, also, how here and there are yet to be seen, upon the place, some of the shivers of Apollyon's broken darts. See also how they did beat the ground with their feet as they fought, to make good their places against each other; how also, with their by-blows, they did split the very stones in pieces! Verily Christian did here play the man, and shewed himself as stout as been here, even he himself. he made his retreat to the

Hercules could, had he When Apollyon was beat, next Valley, that is called

the Valley of the Shadow of Death, unto which we shall come anon.

A MONUMENT OF

TORY.

Lo! yonder also stands a monument, on which is engraven this battle, CHRISTIAN'S VICand Christian's victory, to his fame throughout all ages. So, because it stood just on the way-side before them, they stepped to it, and read the writing, which, word for word, was this:

Hard by here was a battle fought,
Most strange, and yet most true;
Christian and Apollyon sought

Each other to subdue.

The man so bravely play'd the man,
He made the fiend to fly;

Of which a monument I stand,
The same to testify.

When they had passed by this place, they came upon the borders of the Shadow of Death; and this Valley was longer than the other; a place also most strangely haunted with evil things, as many are able to testify; but these women and children went the better through it, because they had day-light, and because Mr. Great-heart was their Conductor.

GROANINGS

THE GROUND

SHAKES.

When they were entered upon this

HEARD. Valley, they thought that they heard a groaning as of dying men; a very great groaning. They thought also they did hear words of lamentation spoken, as of some in extreme torment. These things made the boys to quake; the women also looked pale and wan; but their Guide bid them be of good comfort. So they went on a little farther, and they thought that they felt the ground begin to shake under them, as if some hollow place was there: they heard also a kind of a hissing as of serpents; but nothing as yet appeared. Then said the boys, Are we not yet at the end of this doleful place? But the Guide also bid them be of good courage, and look well to their feet, lest haply, said he, you be taken in some snare.

JAMES SICK WITH FEAR.

Now James began to be sick; but I

think the cause thereof was fear; so his mother gave him some of that glass of spirits that had been given her at the Interpreter's house, and three of the pills that Mr. Skill had prepared, and the boy Thus they went on, till they came to

began to revive.

about the middle of the Valley; and then Christiana said, Methinks I see something yonder upon the road before us, a thing of a

THE FIEND

APPEARS.

Then said Joseph,

shape such as I have not seen. Mother, what is it? An ugly thing,

child, an ugly thing, said she. But,

THE PILGRIMS

ARE AFRAID.

mother, what is it like? said he. It is like I cannot tell what, said she; and now it is but a little way off. Then said she, It is nigh!

Well, well, said Mr. Great-heart, GREAT-HEART ENlet them that are most afraid keep COURAGES THEM. close to me. So the fiend came on, and the Conductor met it; but when it was just come to him, it vanished to all their sights. Then remembered they what had been said some time ago, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

They went therefore on, as being a little refreshed; but they had not gone far before Mercy, looking behind her, saw, as she thought, some

A LION.

thing most like a Lion; and it came a great padding pace after; and it had a hollow voice of roaring; and, at every roar it gave, it made all the Valley echo, and all their hearts to ache, save the heart of him that was their Guide. So it came up, and Mr. Great-heart went behind, and put the Pilgrims all before him. The Lion also came on apace, and Mr. Great-heart addressed himself to give him battle ;6 but when he saw that it was determined that resistance should be made, he also drew back, and came no farther.

Then they went on again, and their Conductor did go before them, till they came at a place where was cast up a pit the whole breadth of the way; and before they could be pre

5 James iv. 7.

A PIT AND
DARKNESS.

6 1 Pet. v. 8.

Then

pared to go over that, a great mist and a darkness fell upon them, so that they could not see. said the Pilgrims, Alas! what now shall we do? But their Guide made answer, Fear not; stand still, and see what an end will be put to this also. So they staid there, because their path was marred. They then also thought that they did hear more apparently the noise and rushing of the enemies; the fire also, and smoke of the pit, was much easier to be discerned. Then said Christiana to Mercy, Now

CHRISTIANA NOW

HUSBAND FELT.

KNOWS WHAT HER I see what my poor husband went through. I have heard much of this place, but I never was here afore now. Poor man! he went here all alone in the night; he had night almost quite through the way; also these fiends were busy about him, as if they would have torn him in pieces. Many have spoken of it; but none can tell what the Valley of the Shadow of Death should mean, until they come in it themselves. "The heart knows its own bitterness; and a stranger intermeddleth not with its joy." To be here is a fearful thing.

Great-heart. This is like doing business in great waters, or like going down into the deep; this is like being in the heart of the sea, and like going down to the bottoms of the mountains. Now it seems as if the earth, with its bars, were about us for ever. But "let them that walk in darkness, and have no light, trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon their God." For my part, as I have told you already, I have gone often through this Valley, and have been

7 Isa. 1. 10.

much harder put to it than now I am; and yet you see I am alive. I would not boast, for that I am not my own Saviour; but I trust we shall have a good deliverance. Come, let us pray for light to Him that can lighten our darkness, and that can rebuke not only these, but all the Satans in Hell.

THEY PRAY.

So they cried and prayed; and God sent light and deliverance, for there was now no let in their way; no, not there, where but now they were stopped with a pit. Yet they were not got through the Valley; so they went on still, and behold, great stinks and loathsome smells, to the great annoyance of them. Then said Mercy to Christiana, There is not such pleasant being here, as at the Gate, or at the Interpreter's, or at the house where we lay last.

ONE OF THE

BOYS REPLY.

Oh but, said one of the boys, it is not so bad to go through here, as it is to abide here always! and, for aught I know, one reason why we must go this way to the House prepared for us, is, that our home might be made the sweeter to us.

Well said, Samuel, quoth the Guide; thou hast now spoke like a man. Why, if ever I get out here again, said the boy, I think I shall prize light and good way better than ever I did in all my life. Then said the

Guide, we shall be out by and by.

So on they went, and Joseph said, Cannot we see to the end of this Valley as yet? Then said the Guide, Look to your feet, for we shall presently be among the snares! So they looked to their feet, and went on;