A pillar with an

inscription on it.

Then James said to his mother, Lo, yonder stands a pillar, and it looks as if something was 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 hereabouts 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 his 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. It is the best and most useful piece of ground in all those parts. It is fat ground, and, as you see, consisteth much in meadows; and if a man was to come here in the summer-time, as we do now, if he knew not anything before, thereof, and if he also delighted himself in the sight of his eyes, he might see that that would be delightful to him. Behold how green this Valley is, also how beautified with lilies. (Can. ii. 1.) I have also known many labouring men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation ("for God resisteth the Valley of the proud, but gives more, more grace unto the humble," James iv. 6; 1 Peter v. 5), for indeed it is a very fruitful soil, and doth bring forth by handfuls.87 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 is an end.

This valley a brave place.

Men thrive in

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 very fresh and well-favoured countenance; and as he sat by himself, he sang. Hark, said Mr. Great-heart, to what the shepherd's boy saith. So they hearkened, and he said

Then said the guide, Do you hear him? I will dare to say, that 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.

Christ, when "in

the flesh, had his Country-house

Humiliation.

In this Valley our Lord formerly had his country house; he loved much to be here; he loved also to walk these meadows, for he found the air was pleasant. 89 Besides, here a man in the Valley of shall be free from the noise, and from 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 a brisk encounter, yet I must tell you, that in former times men have met with angels here, have found pearls here, and have in this place found the words of life. (Hos. xii. 4, 5.)

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 live, 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. (Matt. xi. 29.)

SAMUEL. 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-HEART. Your father had that battle with Apollyon at a place yonder before us, in a narrow passage, just beyond Forgetful Green. Forgetful Green.90 And, indeed, that place is the most dangerous place in all these parts. For if at any time the pilgrims meet with any brunt, it is when they forget what favours they have received, and how unworthy they are of them.91 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.

MERCY. Then said Mercy, I think I am as well in this Valley

Humility a sweet grace.

as I have been anywhere else in all our journey; the place, methinks, suits with my spirit. I love to be in such places where there is 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 like "the fish-pools of Heshbon." (Can. 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. (Ps. lxxxiv. 6, 7.) This Valley is that from whence also the King will give to his their vineyards (Hos. ii. 15); and they that go through it shall sing, as Christian did, for all he met with Apollyon.

GREAT-HEART. It is true, said their guide, I have gone through this Valley many a time, and never was better than when An Experiment

here.

of it.

I have also 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." (Is. lxvi. 2.)92

The place where
Christian and the

Fiend did fight.

Some signs of the

battle remain.

Now they were come to the place where the afore-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 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 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 could, had he been there, even Hercules 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.93

Lo, yonder also stands a monument, on which is engraven this battle, A monument of and Christian's victory, to his fame throughout all ages. So, because it stood just on the wayside before them, they stepped to it, and read the writing, which word for word was this

the battle.

A monument of Christian's victory.

First Part, p. 81.

Hard by, here was a battle fought,
Most strange, and yet most true; 94
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 daylight, and because Mr. Great-heart was their conductor.

Groanings heard.

When they were entered upon this Valley, they thought that they heard a groaning, as of dead men [men in the agonies of death], 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.

shakes.

So they went on a little further, and they thought that they felt The ground 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.95

Now James began to be sick, but I think the cause thereof was