242 The Valley of Humiliation. Apollyon, with whom he had also a sore combat: but that fray was the fruit of those slips which he got in his going down the hill; for they that get slips there, must look for combats here. And hence it is that this valley has got so hard a name. For the common people, when they hear that some frightful thing has befallen such a one in such a place, are of opinion that that place is haunted with some foul fiend or evil spirit; when, alas! it is for the fruit of their own ley of Humilia- doing that such things do befall them there. This Valley of Humiliation is of itself as fruitful a place as any the crow flies over; and I am persuaded, if we could hit upon it, we might find somewhere hereabout something that might give us an account why Christian was so hardly beset in this place. The reason why Christian was beset in the Val tion. Then James said to his mother, Lo, yonder stands a A pillar with an pillar, and it looks as if something was inscription on it. written thereon; let us go and see what it is. So they went, and found there written," Let Christian's slips before he came hither, and the battles that he met with in this place, be a warning to those that come after." Lo, said their guide, did not I tell you that there was something here abouts that would give intimation of the reason why Christian was so hard beset in this place? Then turning himself to Christiana, he said, No disparagement to Christian more than to many others whose hap and lot it was. For it is easier going up than down this hill, and that can be said but of few hills in all these parts of the world. But we will leave the good man; he is at rest; he also had a brave victory over his enemy. Let Him grant that dwelleth above that we fare no worse, when we come to be tried, than he. But we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. This valley a It is the best and most fruitful piece of brave place. ground in all these parts. It is fat ground, and, as you see, consisteth much in meadows; and if a man was to come here in summer-time, as we do now, if he knew not any thing before thereof, and if he also The Shepherd's Boy singing. 243 Men thrive in delighteth himself in the sight of his eyes, he might see that which would be delightful to him. Behold how green this valley is; also how beautified with lilies, Song ii. 1. I have known many labouring men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation; for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble, James iv. 6; 1 Pet. v. 5. deed it is a very fruitful soil, and doth bring forth by handfuls. Some also have wished that the next way to their Father's house were here, that they might be troubled no more with either hills or mountains to go over, but the way is the way, and there's an end. In- the Valley of Humiliation. Now as they were going along and talking, they espied a boy feeding his father's sheep. The boy was in very mean clothes, but of a fresh and well-favoured countenance; and as he sat by himself he sung. Hark, said Mr Great-heart, to what the shepherd boy saith. So they hearkened, and he said— He that is down needs fear no fall; He that is low, no pride: He that is humble ever shall Have God to be his guide. I am content with what I have, And, Lord, contentment still I crave, Because thou savest such. Fulness to such a burden is, That go on pilgrimage; Here little, and hereafter bliss, Then said their guide, Do you hear him? I will dare to say this boy lives a merrier life, and wears more of that herb called heart's-ease in his bosom, than he that is clad in silk and velvet. But we will proceed in our discourse. In this valley our Lord formerly had his countryhouse he loved much to be here. He Christ when in loved also to walk these meadows, for he the flesh had his found the air was pleasant. Besides, here the Valley of Hua man shall be free from the noise and from country-housein miliation. the hurryings of this life: all states are full of noise and confusion; only the Valley of Humiliation is that empty and solitary place. Here a man shall not be so let and hindered in his contemplation as in other places he is apt to be. This is a valley that nobody walks in but those that love a pilgrim's life. And though Christian had the hard hap to meet here with Apollyon, and to enter with him into a brisk encounter, yet I must tell you that in former times men have met with angels here, Hos. xii. 4, 5, have found pearls here, Matt. xiii. 46, and have in this place found the words of life, Prov. viii. 35. Did I say our Lord had here in former days his country-house, and that he loved here to walk? I will add, in this place, and to the people that love and trace these grounds, he has left a yearly revenue, to be faithfully paid them at certain seasons, for their maintenance by the way, and for their further encouragement to go on in their pilgrimage. SAM. Now as they went on, Samuel said to Mr Great-heart, Sir, I perceive that in this valley my father and Apollyon had their battle; but whereabout was the fight? for I perceive this valley is large. GREAT. Your father had the battle with Apollyon at a place yonder before us, in a narrow passage, And indeed that place is the most dangerous place in all these parts. For if at any time pilgrims meet with any brunt, it is when they forget what favours they have received, and how unworthy they are of them. This is the place also where others have been hard put to it. But more of the place when we are come to it; for I persuade myself, that to this day there remains either some sign of the battle, or some monument to testify that such a battle there was fought. Forgetful Green. just beyond Forgetful Green. MER. Then said Mercy, I think I am as well in this Humility a sweet Valley as I have been any where else in all our journey: the place, methinks, suits with my spirit. I love to be in such places, where there is grace. The place where Christian fought. 245 no rattling with coaches, nor rumbling with wheels. Methinks, here one may, without much molestation, be thinking what he is, whence he came, what he has done, and to what the King has called him. Here one may think, and break at heart, and melt in one's spirit, until one's eyes become as the fish-pools in Heshbon, Song vii. 4. They that go rightly through this valley of Baca, make it a well; the rain that God sends down from heaven upon them that are here, also filleth the pools. This valley is that from whence also the King will give to his their vineyards, and they that go through it shall sing, as Christian did for all he met with Apollyon, Ps. lxxxiv. 5-7; Hos. ii. 15. GREAT. 'Tis true, said their guide; I have gone through this valley many a time, and never An experiment was better than when here. I have also upon it. been a conductor to several pilgrims, and they have confessed the same. "To this man will I look," saith the King, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word," Isa. lxvi. 2. 66 The place where fiend did fight. Now they were come to the place where the aforementioned 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, Christian and the did not I 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 some signs of the 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 showed himself as stout as Hercules could, had he been here, even he himself. When Apollyon was beat, he made his retreat to the next valley, that is called the Valley of the Shadow of Death, unto which we shall come anon. Lo, yonder also stands a monument on which is engraven this battle remain. 246 The Valley of the Shadow of Death. battle and Christian's victory, to his fame throughout A monument of all ages. So because it stood just on the Christian's vic wayside before them, they stepped to it, and read the writing, which word for word tory. was this: : Hard by here was a battle fought Most strange, and yet most true; The man so bravely play'd the man, Of which a monument I stand, The same to testify. When they had passed by this place, they came upon the borders of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. 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 daylight, and because Mr Great-heart was their conductor. When they were entered upon this valley, they Groanings thought that they heard a groaning as of heard. dying men, a very great groaning. They thought also that 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. shakes. So they went on a little further, and they thought The ground that they felt the ground begin to shake under them, as if some hollow place was there they heard also a kind of 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. 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 James sick with fear. |