trees that grew in that garden shot their branches over the wall; and being mellow, they that found them did gather them up, and oft 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 that did of the enemy's hang thereon, did plash 32 them, and began to eat. Their mother did also chide them for so doing, but still the

The children eat

fruit.

boys went on.

ones.

Well, said she, my sons, you transgress, for that fruit is none of ours; but she did not know that they did belong to the enemy; I will warrant you, if she had, 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 let them into the way, Two ill-favoured they espied two very ill-favoured 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 that at last they met together. Then They assault they that came down to meet them, came just up to the Christiana. women, as if they would embrace them; but Christiana said, Stand back, or go peaceably by, 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.

The pilgrims struggle with

them.

ILL-FAVOURED. Then said one of the two of the men, We make no assault upon you for money, but are come out to tell you, that if you will but grant one small request, which we shall ask, we will make women of you for ever.

CHRIS. 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, cannot stay; our business is a business

of life and death.

So, again, she and her companions made a fresh essay to go past them; but they letted them in their way.

ILL-FAV. And they said, We intend no hurt to your lives; it is another thing we would have.

CHRIS. Ah, quoth Christiana, you would have us body and soul, for I know it is for that you are come; but we will die She cries out. rather upon the spot, than 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! and so put themselves under those laws that are provided for the protection of

women. (Deut. xxii. 23-27.)

But the men still made their approach upon them, with design to prevail against them. They, therefore, cried

out again.

It is good to cry out when we are assaulted.

But by that

a very great

The Reliever

comes.

Now, they being, as I said, not far from the gate in at which they came, their voice was heard from where they were, thither; wherefore some of the house came out, and knowing that it was Christiana's tongue, they made haste to her relief. they were got within sight of them, the women were in 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 that you do? Would you make my Lord's people to transgress? He also attempted to take them, but they did make their escape over the wall into the garden of the man to whom the great dog belonged; so the dog became their to the devil for protector. This Reliever then came up to the women, and asked them how they did. So they answered, We thank thy Prince, pretty well; only we have been somewhat affrighted; we thank thee also, for that thou camest in to our help, for otherwise we had been overcome. RELIEVER.

The ill ones fly

relief.

The Reliever

talks to the women.

So after a few more words, this Reliever said as followeth : I marvelled much when you were entertained at the gate above, being [as] ye knew, that ye were but weak women, that you petitioned not the Lord there for a conductor; then might you have avoided these troubles and dangers, for he would have granted you one.

Mark this.

CHRIS. Alas! said Christiana, we were so taken with our present blessing, that dangers to come were forgotten by us; besides, who could have thought, that so near the King's palace, there should 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!

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 him that feels it, that estimate that properly is its due, and so, consequently, We lose for want will be thereafter used. Had my Lord granted you a of asking for. conductor, you would not neither 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 wary.

CHRIS. 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. Το go back again you need not; for in all places where you shall come, you will find no want at all; for in every 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. "He will be inquired of by them, to do it for them." And it is a poor thing that is not worth asking for. thus said, he went back to his place, and the pilgrims went on their

way.

But, as I said, (Ezek. xxxvi. 37.) When he had

MERCY. Then said Mercy, What a sudden blank is here! I made account we had now been past all danger, and that we The mistake of should never see sorrow more.

Mercy.

CHRIS. 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 guilt.

Christiana's

the doors, and yet did not provide for it where provision might have been had. I am therefore much to be blamed.

MERCY. Then said Mercy, How knew you this before you came from home? Pray open to me this riddle.

CHRIS. Why, I will tell you. Before I set foot out of doors, one night, as I lay in my bed, I had a dream about this; for, methought I saw two men, as like these as ever the world they could look, stand at my bed's feet, plotting how they might prevent my salvation. Christiana's I will tell you their very words. They said (it was when dream repeated. I was in my troubles), What shall we do with this woman? for she

cries out, waking and sleeping, for forgiveness. If she be suffered to go on as she begins, we shall lose her, as we have lost her husband. This, you know, might have made me take heed, and have provided when provision might have been had.

MERCY.

Mercy makes good use of their neglect of duty.

Well, said Mercy, as by this neglect we have an occasion ministered unto us, to behold our own imperfections; so Our Lord has taken occasion thereby to make manifest the riches of his grace; for he, as we see, has followed us with unasked kindness, and has delivered us from their hands that were stronger than we, of his mere good pleasure.

Talk in the Interpreter's house about Christiana's going on pilgrimage.

Thus, now when they had talked away a little more time, they drew nigh to a house which stood in the way, which house was built for the relief of pilgrims; as you will find more fully related in the First Part of these Records of the Pilgrim's Progress. So they drew on towards the house (the House of the Interpreter), and when they came to the door, they heard a great talk in the house. They then gave ear, and heard, as they thought, Christiana mentioned by name. For you must know that there went along, even before her, a talk of her and her children's going on pilgrimage. And this thing was the more pleasing to them, because they had heard that she was Christian's wife, that woman who was sometime ago so unwilling to hear of going on pilgrimage. Thus, therefore, they stood still, and heard the good people within commending her, who, they little thought, stood at the door. At last Christiana knocked, as she had done at the gate before. Now, when she had knocked, there came to the door a young damsel, opened to them named Innocent, and opened the door and looked, and behold two women were there.

She knocks at the door.

The door is

by Innocent.

DAMSEL.

in this place?

Then said the damsel to them, With whom would you speak

CHRIS. Christiana answered, We understand that this is a privileged place for those that are become pilgrims, and we now at this door are such; wherefore we pray that we may be partakers of that for which we at