face and similitude of the Prince of Pilgrims himself.— Yes, I have talked with them that can tell, and they have said, that they have seen the very crown of thorns upon his head, by looking in that glass; they have therein also seen the holes in his hands, in his feet, and his side. Yea, such an excellency is there in that glass, that it will show him to one where they have a mind to see him; whether living or dead, whether in earth or in heaven ; whether in a state of humiliation, or in his exaltation; whether coming to suffer, or coming to reign.'

Christiana therefore went to the shepherds apart, (now the names of the shepherds were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere), and said unto them, There is one of my daughters, a breeding woman, that, I think, doth long for something that she hath seen in this house, and she thinks she shall miscarry, if she should by you be denied.

Exper. Call her, call her she shall assuredly have what we can help her to. So they called her, and said to her, Mercy, what is that thing thou wouldest have? Then she blushed and said, The great glass that hangs up in the dining-room. So Sincere ran and fetched it, and with a joyful consent it was given her. Then she bowed her head, and gave thanks, and said, By this I know that I have obtained favour in your eyes.

They also gave to the other young women such things as they desired, and to their husbands great commendations, for that they had joined with Mr. Great-heart, to the slaying of giant Despair, and the demolishing of Doubting Castle.-About Christiana's neck the shepherds put a bracelet, and so they did about the necks of her four daughters; also they put ear-rings in their ears, and jewels on their foreheads.

When they were minded to go hence, they let them go in peace, but gave not to them those certain cautions which before were given to Christian, and his companion. The reason was, for that these had Great-heart to be their guide, who was one that was well acquainted with things, and so could give them their cautions more scasonable; 1 James i. 23-25. 1st Cor. xiii. 12. 2d Cor. iii. 18. Part i. p. 108..

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to wit, even then when the danger was nigh the approaching. What cautions Christian and his companion had received of the shepherds,' they had also lost by that the time was come that they had need to put them in practice. Wherefore, here was the advantage that this company had over the other.

From hence they went on singing, and they said

Behold, how fitly are the tables set

For their relief that pilgrims are become ;
And how they us receive without one let,
That make the other life the mark and home.
What novelties they have, to us they give,
That we, tho' pilgrims, joyful lives may live.
They do upon us too such things bestow,
That show we pilgrims are, where'er we go.

CHAP XIV.

The pilgrims are joined by Mr. Valiant-for-truth and Mr. Standfast.-They pass over the Enchanted Ground.Madam Bubble described.

WHEN they were gone from the shepherds, they

quickly came to the place where Christian met one Turn-away, that dwelt in the town of Apostasy. Wherefore of him, Mr. Great-heart, their guide, did now put them in mind, saying, This is the place where Christian met with one Turn-away, who carried with him the character of his rebellion at his back. And this I have to say concerning this man, he would hearken to no counsel, but once a falling, persuasion could not stop him.

When he came to the place where the cross and sepulchre was, he did meet with one that did bid him look there but he gnashed with his teeth, and stamped, and said, He was resolved to go back to his own town. Before he came to the gate, he met with Evangelist, who offered to lay hands on him, to turn him into the way again.— But this Turn-away resisted him, and having done much despite unto him, he got away over the wall, and so escaped his hand.

Then they went on: and, just at the place where Littlefaith formerly was robbed, there stood a man with his 1 Part i. p. 110. 2 Part i. p. 112.

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sword drawn, and his face all bloody. Then said Mr. Great-heart, what art thou? The man made answer, saying, I am one whose name is Valiant-for-truth, I am a pilgrim, and am going to the Celestial City. Now, as I was in my way, there were three men that did beset me, and propounded unto me these three things:-Whether I would become one of them ;-or go back from whence I came ;-or die upon the place? To the first I answered, I had been a true man a long season, and therefore it could not be expected that I now should cast in my lot with thieves Then they demanded what I would say to the second. So I told them the place from whence I came, had I not found incommodity there, I had not forsaken it at all: but finding it altogether unsuitable to me, and very unprofitable for me I forsook it for this way. Then they asked me what I said to the third? And I told them, My life cost more dear far, than that I should lightly give it away: Besides, you have nothing to do but to put things to my choice; wherefore at your peril be it if you meddle. Then these three, to wit, Wildhead, Inconsiderate, and Pragmatic, drew upon me, and I also drew upon them. So we fell to it, one against three, for the space of three hours. They have left upon me, as you see, some of the marks of their valour, and have also carried away with them some of mine. They are but just now gone: I suppose they might, as the saying is, hear your horse dash, and so they betook themselves to flight.

Gr.-h. But here was great odds, three against one. Val. 'Tis true: but little or more are nothing to him that has the truth on his side: 66 Though an host should encamp against me," said one," my heart shall not fear; Though war shall rise against me, in this will I be confi dent, &c." Besides, said he, I have read in some records, that one man has fought an army: and how many did Sampson slay with the jaw-bone of an ass?

Then said the guide, Why did not you cry out, that some might have come in for your succour.

Val. So I did to my king, who I knew could hear me, and afford invisible help, and that was enough for me.

1 Prov. i. 10-19.

Then said Mr. Great-heart to Mr. Valiant-for-truth, Thou hast worthily behaved thyself; let me see thy sword: so he showed it him.

When he had taken it into his hand, and looked thereon a while, he said, Ha! it is a right Jerusalem blade.

Val. It is so; let a man have one of these blades, with a hand to wield it, and skill to use it, and he may venture upon an angel with it. He need not fear its holding, if he can but tell how to lay on. Its edge will never blunt. It will cut flesh and bones, and soul and spirit and all.

Gr.-h. But you fought a great while, I wonder you was not weary.

Val. I fought till my sword did cleave to my hand, and then they were joined together, as if a sword grew out of my arm and when the blood run through my fingers, then I fought with most courage.

Gr.-h. Thou hast done well; thou hast resisted unto blood, striving against sin; thou shalt abide by us, come in, and go out with us, for we are thy companions.

Then they took him, and washed his wounds, and gave him of what they had to refresh him; and so they went together. Now as they went on, because Mr. Great-heart was delighted in him (for he loved one greatly, that he found to be a man of his hands), and because there were in company them that were feeble and weak: therefore he questioned with him about many things; as first, What Countryman he was?

my

Val. I am of Dark-land, for there I was born, and there father and mother are still.

Dark-land! saith the guide; doth not that lie on the same coast with the city of Destruction?

Val. Yes it doth. Now that which caused me to come on pilgrimage, was this: we had Mr. Tell-true come into our parts, and he told it about what Christian had done, that went from the city of Destruction; namely, how he had forsaken his wife and children, and had betaken him. self to a pilgrim's life. It was also confidently reported, how he had killed a serpent, that did come out to resist him in his journey; and how he got through to whither he intended. It was also told, what welcome he had to

all his Lord's lodgings, especially when he came to the gates of the Celestial City; for there, said the man, he was received with sound of trumpet, by a company of shining ones. He told it also, how all the bells in the city did ring for joy at his reception, and what golden garments he was clothed with; with many other things that now I shall forbear to relate. In a word, that man so told the story of Christian and his travels, that my heart fell into a burning heat to be gone after him: nor could father or mother stay me. So I got from them, and am come thus far on my way,

Gr.-h. You come in at the gate, did you not?

Val. Yes, yes; for the same man also told us, that all would be nothing, if we did not begin to enter this way at the gate.

Look you, said the guide to Christiana, the pilgrimage of your husband, and what he has gotten thereby, is spread abroad far and near.

Val. Why, is this Christian's wife?

Gr-h. Yes, that it is; and these are also her four

sons.

Val. What? and going on pilgrimage too?

Gr.-h. Yes, verily, they are following after.

Val. It glads me at heart; good man, how joyful will he be, when he shall see them, that would not go with him, to enter before him in at the gates into the Celestial City!

Gr.-h. Without doubt it will be a comfort to him; for, next to the joy of seeing himself there, it will be a joy to meet there his wife and children.

Val. But, now you are upon that, pray let me hear your opinion about it. Some make a question, whether we shall know one another when we are there.*

Whether we shall know one another when we are there.] The author has answered, with much delicacy, judgment and brevity, a question which has occasioned various speculations. That relations and friends shall have a knowledge of each other in the world of glory, is an opinion which must entirely rest upon conjecture; scripture in many places seems to authorize it; reason gives full sanction to it, and the finest feelings of the heart warnily support it. The two reasons assigned in the text appear very powerful in its favour.