before me a cave, where two giants, POPE and PAGAN, dwelt in old time; by whose power and tyranny the men whose bones, blood, ashes, &c., lay there, were cruelly put to death. But by this place Christian went without much danger, whereat I somewhat wondered; but I have learnt since, that PAGAN has been dead many a day; and as for the other, though he be yet alive, he is, by reason of age, and also of the many shrewd brushes that he met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in his joints, that he can now do little more than sit in his cave's mouth, grinning at. pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails because he cannot come at them.

So I saw that Christian went on his way; yet, at the sight of the Old Man that sat in the mouth of the cave, he could not tell what to think, especially because he spake to him, though he could not go after him, saying, "You will never mend till more of you be burned." But he held his peace, and set a good face on it, and so went by and catched no hurt." Then sang Christian

O world of wonders! (I can say no less)
That I should be preserved in that distress
That I have met with here! O blessed be
That hand that from it hath deliver'd me!

"The quaint and pithy point of this passage stamps it as one of Bunyan's most felicitous descriptions. His picture of the cave of Pagan and Pope, and its memorials; his delineation of the survivor of this fearful pair, rank among those master-touches which have won such lasting honour for his genius."

d Christian having passed the gloomy whirlwind of temptation, now walks in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, through the second part of the valley Here he encounters new dangers. "The day of persecution is full of snares and perils. Here is the fear of man-the terrors of a prison-of loss of goods and life-all things look black-the fiery trial is come. Without prayer he is like to take a fall-a foul fall. He will not only break his own bones, but the hearts of those that fear God, and behold it." [52] "Antichrist is angry; he speaks not a word but blood, blood is in it. He is assuredly drawing towards his downfall." [56] Had the darkness of mental anguish been added, he must have perished. The butcheries of Jefferies strewed the way with blood, bones, ashes, and mangled bodies of pilgrims. It appears that from the time of Bunyan's enering the prison he walked in the light of God's countenance to his dying day.

Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and sin,
Did compass me, while I this vale was in:

Yea, snares and pits, and traps, and nets, did lie

My path about, that worthless silly I

Might have been catch'd, entangled, and cast down;
But since I live, let JESUS wear the crown.

Now, as Christian went on his way, he came to a little ascent, which was cast up on purpose that pilgrims might see before them. Up there, therefore, Christian went, and looking forward, he saw Faithful before him, upon his journey. Then said Christian aloud, "Ho! ho! Soho! stay, and I will be your companion!" At that, Faithful looked behind him; to whom Christian cried again, "Stay, stay, till I come up to you." But Faithful answered, "No, I am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind me."ƒ

takes Faithful.

over

At this, Christian was somewhat moved, and putting to all Christian his strength, he quickly got up with Faithful, and did also overrun him; so the last was first. Then did Christian vain-gloriously smile, because he had gotten the start of his brother; but not taking good heed to his feet, he suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rise again until Faithful came up to help him.

Christian's fall

Then I saw in my dream they went very lovingly on together, and had sweet discourse of all things that had happened to them in their pilgrimage; and thus Christian began.

makes Faithful

and he go lovingly together.

CHR. My honoured and well-beloved brother, Faithful, I am glad that I have overtaken you; and that God has so tempered our spirits, that we can walk as companions in this so pleasant a path.

FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your

We are now to be introduced to a new pilgrim, and Christian is no more to go on his way alone. The sweet Christian communion depicted in this book forms one of the most delightful features in it; and Faithful and Hopeful are both of them portraits that stand out in as firm relief as that of Christian himself. "There is no man that flies for his life that thinks he speeds fast enough. He would willingly take a mile at a step." [26]

& Ah, what a smile was that! humble, spiritual gratitude and joy. comes false security, and a fall.

How much sin was there in it, instead of

Now see how surely, with spiritual pride,

company quite from our town; but you did get the start of me, wherefore I was forced to come thus much of the way alone.

CHR. How long did you stay in the City of Destruction, before you set out after me on your pilgrimage?

FAITH. Till I could stay no longer; for there was great talk presently after you were gone out, that our Their talk about city would, in short time, with fire from heaven, the country from be burned down to the ground.

CHR. What did your neighbours talk so?

whence they came.

FAITH. Yes, it was for a while in everybody's mouth. CHR. What! and did no more of them but you come out to escape the danger?

FAITH. Though there was, as I said, a great talk thereabout, yet I do not think they did firmly believe it. For in the heat of the discourse, I heard some of them deridingly speak of you and of your desperate journey (for so they called this your pilgrimage), but I did believe, and do still, that the end of our city will be with fire and brimstone from above; and therefore I have made my escape.

CHR. Did you hear no talk of neighbour Pliable?

FAITH. Yes, Christian, I heard that he followed you till he came at the Slough of Despond, where, as some said, he fell in ; but he would not be known to have so done; but I am sure he was soundly bedabbled with that kind of dirt.

CHR. And what said the neighbours to him?

How Pliable was

FAITH. He hath, since his going back, been had greatly in derision, and that among all sorts of people; some do mock and despise him; and scarce will any set him on work, He is now seven times worse than if he had never gone out of the city.

accounted of, when he got home.

CHR. But why should they be so set against him, since they also despise the way that he forsook?

FAITH. Oh, they say, hang him, he is a turn-coat! he was not true to his profession. I think God has stirred up even

"Mr. Anything became a brisk man in the broil; but both sides were against him, because he was true to none. He had, for his malapertness, one of his legs broken, and he that did it wished it had been his neck." [27]