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13 - The Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan · Sacred Texts Archive

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Second half of Part two, the sixth stage. Now the cook sent up
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to signify that supper was almost ready, and sent one to lay the cloth
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and the trenches, and to set the salt and bread in order. Then
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said Matthew, the sight of this cloth and of this forerunner of the supper
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begetteth in me a greater appetite for my food than I had before Gaeus.
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So let all ministering doctrines to thee in this life beget in thee a greater
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desire to sit at the supper of the Great King in his kingdom. For
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all preaching books and ordinances. Here a butt as the laying of the trenches
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and the setting of salt upon the board, when compared with the feast which
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our Lord will make for us when we come to his house. So supper
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came up, and first a heaved shoulder and a wave breast were set on
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the table before them, to show that they must begin their meal with prayer
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and prays to God. The heath shoulder David lifted up his heart to God
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with and with the rave breast where his heart lay. He used to lean
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upon his harp when he played Leviticus seven thirty two to thirty four, ten,
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fourteen and fifteen Psalm twenty five one, Hebrews thirteen fifteen. These two
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dishes were very fresh and good, and they all ate heartily thereof. The
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next they brought up was a bottle of wine as red as blood Deuteronomy thirty
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two, fourteen, Judges nine thirteen, John fifteen five. So Gayas said
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to them, drink freely. This is the true juice of the vine that
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makes glad the heart of God and man. So they drank and were merry.
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The next was a dish of milk, well crumbed. Gaeus said,
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let the boys have that that they may grow thereby first Peter two one and
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two. Then they brought up, in course a dish of butter and honey.
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Then said Gaeus, eat freely of this, for this is good to
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cheer up and strengthen your judgments and understandings. This was our lord's dish when
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he was a child. Butter and honey shall he eat that he may know
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to refuse the evil and choose the good Isaiah seven fifteen. Then they brought
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them up a dish of apples, and they were very good tasted fruit.
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Then said Matthew, May we eat apples, since it was such by and
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with which the serpent beguiled. Our first mother then said, Gaeus, apples
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were they with which we were beguiled? Yet sin not apples. Hath our
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souls defiled? Forbid if ate corrupt the blood to eat such? When commanded,
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does us good drink of his flagons. Then thou church his dove and
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eat his apples. Who art sick of love? Then said Matthew, I
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made the scruple because I, while since was sick with the eating of fruit.
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Gaeus, forbidden fruit will make you sick, but not what our lord
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has tolerated. While they were thus talking, they were presented with another dish,
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and it was a dish of nuts. Song of Solomon six eleven.
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Then said some at the table. Nuts spoil tender teeth, especially the teeth
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of children, which, when Gayus heard, he said, hard texts are
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nuts. I will not call them cheetahs, whose shells to keep the kernel
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from the eaters. Open the shells, and you shall have the meat.
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They here are brought for you to crack and eat. Then were they very
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merry, and sat at the table a long time talking of many things.
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Then said the old gentleman, my good landlord, while we are cracking your
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nuts, if you please, do you open this riddle. A man there
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was, though some did count him mad. The more he cast away the
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more he had. Then they all gave good heed. Wondering what good Gaius
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would say, so he sat still a while, and then thus replied,
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he who bestows his goods upon the poor shall have as much again, and
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ten times more. Then said Joseph, I dare say, sir, I
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did not think you could have found it out, Oh, said Gaeus,
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I have been trained up in this way a great while. Nothing teaches like
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exp experience. I have learned of my lord to be kind, and have
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found by experience that I have gained thereby. There is that scattereth and yet
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increaseth. And there is that withholdeth more than its meat, but it tendeth
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to poverty. There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing. There
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is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches Proverbs eleven, twenty four
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thirteen seven. Then Samuel whispered to Christiana his mother, and said, mother,
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this is a very good man's house. Let us stay here a good
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while, and let my brother Matthew be married here to Mercy before we go
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any further, the which gayest, the host overhearing, said, with a
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very good will, my child. So they stayed there more than a month,
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and Mercy was given to Matthew to wife. While they aid here,
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Mercy, as her custom was, would be making coats and garments to give
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to the poor, by which she brought a very good report upon the pilgrims.
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But to return again to our story, after supper, the lads desired
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a bed, for they were weary with traveling. Then Gaius called to show
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them their chamber, but said, Mercy, I will have them to bed.
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So she had them to bed, and they slept well. But the
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rest sat up all night for Gaius, and they were such suitable company that
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they could not tell how to part. After much talk of their lord,
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themselves and their journey, Old mister Honest, he that put forth the riddle
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to Gaius, began to nod, then said, Greatheart, what sir,
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you begin to be drowsy? Come rub up, now here is a riddle
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for you. Then said mister Honest, let us hear it. Then replied
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mister Greatheart, he that would kill, must first be overcome. Who live
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abroad wood first must die at home. Ha said mister honest. It is
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a hard one, hard to expound and harder to practiced. But come,
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landlord, said he, I will, if you please leave my part to
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you. Do you expound it? And I will hear what you say.
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No, said Gaeus, It was put to you, and it is expected
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you should answer it. Then said the old gentleman. He first, by
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grace must conquered be that sin would mortify who that he lives would convince me
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unto himself must die. It is right, said Geus. Good doctrine and
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experience teach this for first, and till grace displays itself and overcomes the soul
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with its glory, it is altogether without heart to oppose sin. Besides,
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if sin is Satan's chords by which the soul lies bound, how should it
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make resistance before it is loosed from that infirmity. Secondly, nor will any
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one that knows either reason or grace believe that such a man can be a
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living monument of grace, that is a slave to his own corruptions. And
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now it comes into my mind, I will tell you a story worth the
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hearing. There are two men that went on pilgrimage. The one began when
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he was young, the other when he was old. The young man had
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strong corruptions to grapple with, the old man's were weak. With the decays
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of nature. The young man trod his steps as even as did the old
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one, and was every way as light as he who now or which of
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them had their graces shining clearest, since both seem to be alike, Mister
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Honest, the young man's doubtless. For that which makes head against the greatest
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opposition gives best demonstration that it is strongest, especially when it also holdeth pace
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with that which meets not with half, so much as to be sure old
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age does not. Besides, I have observed that old men have blessed themselves
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with this mistake, namely taking the decays of nature for a gracious conquest over
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corruptions, and so have been apt to beguile themselves. Indeed, old men
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that are gracious are best able to give advice to them that are young,
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because they have seen most of the emptness of things. But yet, for
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an old and a young man to set out both together, the young one
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has the advantage of the fairest discovery of a work of grace within him,
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though the old man's corruption are naturally the weakest. Thus they sat talking till
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break of day. Now, when the family were up, Christiana bid her
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son James that he should read a chapter, so he read fifty third of
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Isaiah. When he had done, mister Honest asked why it was said that
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the Savior was to come out of a dry ground, and also that he
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had no form nor comeliness in him. Mister Greatheart, then, said mister
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Greatheart. To the first, I answer, because the Church of the Jews
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of which Christ came had then lost almost all the sap and spirit of religion.
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To the second, I say, the words are spoken in the person
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of unbelievers, who, because they want the eye that can see into our
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Prince's heart, therefore they judge of him by the meanness of his outside,
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just like those who, not knowing that precious stones are covered over with a
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homely crust when they have found one, because they know not what they have
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found, cast it away again as men do a common stone. Well,
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said Gaius, Now you're here, And since as I know, mister great
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Heart is good at his weapons, if you please, after we have refreshed
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ourselves, we will walk into the fields to see if we can do any
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good. About a mile from hence there is one sligh good, a giant
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that doth much annoy the King's highway in these parts, and I know where
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about his haunt is. He is master of a number of thieves. Twould
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be well if we could clear these parts of him. So they consented and
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went mister great Heart with his sword, helmet and shield, and the rest
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with spears and stars. When they came to the place where he was,
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they found him with one feeble mind in his hand, whom his servants had
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brought unto him, having taken him in the way. Now the giant was
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rifling him, with the purpose after that to pick his bones, for he
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was of the nature of flesh eaters. Well. So soon as he saw
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mister Greatheart and his friends at the mouth of his cave with their weapons,
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he demanded what they wanted. Mister Greatheart, we want thee, for we
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are come to revenge the quarrels of the many that thou hast slain of the
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pilgrims, when thou hast dragged them out of the King's Highway, wherefore,
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come out of thy cave. So he armed himself and came out, and
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to battle they went and fought for above an hour, and then stood still
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to take wind slay good. Then said the giant, why are you here
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on my ground, mister great Heart, to revenge the blood of pilgrims,
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as I told thee before. So they went to it again, and the
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giant made mister Greatheart give back. But he came up again, and in
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the greatness of his mind he let fly with such stoutness at the giant's head
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and sides that he made him let his weapon fall out of his hand.
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So he smote him and slew him, and cut off his head and brought
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it away to the inn. He also took feeble Mind the pilgrim, and
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brought him with him to his lodgings. When they were come home, they
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showed his head to the family and set it up as they had done others
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before, for a terror to those that should attempt to do as he Hereafter
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then they asked mister Feeblemind how he fell into his hands. Mister feeble Mind
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then said the poor man. I am a sickly man, as you see
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and because death did usually once a day knock at my door, I thought
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I should never be well at home. So I betook myself to a pilgrim's
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life, and have traveled hither from the town of Uncertain, where I and
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my father were born. I am a man of no strength at all of
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body, nor yet of mind, but would if I could, though I
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can but crawl, sped my life in the pilgrim's way. When I came
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at the gate, that is at the head of the way, the lord
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of that place did entertain me freely. Neither objected he against my weakly looks,
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nor against my feeble mind, but gave me such things as were necessary
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for my journey, and bid me hope to the end. When I came
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to the house of the Interpreter, I received much kindness there, and because
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the hill of difficulty was judged too hard for me, I was carried up
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that by one of his servants. Indeed, I have found much relief from
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pilgrims, the nun willing to go so softly as I am forced to do.
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Yet still, as they came on, they bid me be of good
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cheer, and said that it was the will of their lord that comfort should
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be given to the feeble minded. First, the Salonians five fourteen and so
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went on their own pace. When I was come to assault lane, then
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this giant met with me and bid me prepare for an encounter. But alas
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feeble one that I was, I had more need of a cordial So he
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came up and took me. I conceded he would not kill me. Also,
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when he had got me into his den, since I went not with
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him willingly, I believed I should come out alive again. For I have
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heard that not any pilgrim that is taken captive by violent hands, if he
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keeps heart whole towards his master, is by the laws of providence, to
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die by the hand of the enemy. Robbed, I look to be,
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and rob to be sure I am. But I have, as you see,
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escaped with life for the which I thank my King as the author,
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and you as the means. Other brunts I also look for. But this
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I have resolved on to wit, to run when I can, to go
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when I cannot run, and to creep when I cannot go. As to
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the main, I thank him that loved me. I am fixed. My
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way is before me, my mind is beyond the river that has no bridge.
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Though I am, as you see, but of a feeble mind.
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Mister honest, then, said old mister Honest, have not you, some
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time ago been acquainted with one mister Fearing a pilgrim, Mister feeble mind,
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acquainted with him? Yes, he came from the town of Stupidity, which
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lieth four degrees to the northward of the city of Destruction, and as many
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off of where I wen. Yet we were well acquainted, for indeed he
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was my uncle, my father's brother. He and I have been much of
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a temper. He was a little shorter than I, but yet we were
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much of a complexion. Mister Honest, I perceive ye knew him, and
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I am apt to believe also that ye were related one to another, For
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you have his whitely look a cast like his with your eye, and your
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speech is much alike, mister feeble mind. Most have said so that have
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known us both, And besides what I have read in him, I have
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for the most part found in myself. Gaeus, come, sir, said
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good gaeus, be of good cheer for your welcome to me and to my
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house. What thou hast a mind to call for freely and what thou wouldst
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have my servants do for thee, they will do it with a ready mind.
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Then said mister feeble mind. This is an unexpected favor. And as
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the sun shining out of a very dark cloud, did Giant slag Good intend
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me this favor when he stopped me and resolved to let me go. No
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further did he intend that, after he had rifled my pockets, I should
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go to Gaius mine host. Yet so it is now, just as mister
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feeble Mind and Gayut were thus in talk, there came one running and called
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at the door, and said that about a mile and a half off there
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was one mister Nottwright, a pilgrim, struck dead upon the place where he
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was with a thunderbolt. Mister feeble mind, alas said mister feeble mind,
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is he slain? He overtook me some days before I came so far as
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hither, and would be my company keeper. He was also with me when
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slave with the giant took me, But he was nimble of his heels and
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escaped. But it seems he escaped to die, and I was taken to
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live. What one would think doth seek to slay outright ofttimes delivers from the
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saddest plight, that very providence, whose face is death, doth ofttimes to
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the lonely life bequeath I taken. Was he did escape and flee. Hans
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Crost gave death to him and life to me. Now about this time Matthew
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and Mercy were married. Also, Gaius gave his daughter Phoebe to James,
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Matthew's brother to wife, after which time they yet stayed about ten days at
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Gaius's house, spending their time and the seasons, like as pilgrims used to
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do. When they were to depart, Gaius made them a feast, and
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they did eat and drink and were merry. Now the hour was come that
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they must be gone. Wherefore mister Greatheart called for a reckoning, But Gays
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told him that at his house it was not the custom for pilgrims to pay
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for the entertainment. He bordered them by the year, but looked for his
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pay from the good Samaritan, who had promised him at his return whatsoever charge
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he was at with them faithfully to repay him. Luke ten thirty four and
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thirty five, then said mister Greatheart to him, Mister Greatheart, beloved,
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thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers who have borne
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witness to thy charity before the church, whom, if thou yet bring forward
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on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well Third John five
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and six. Then Gays took his leave of them all and his children,
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and particularly of mister feeble mind. He also gave him something to drink.
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By the way. Now, mister feeble Mind, when they were going out
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of the door, made as if he intended to linger the which when mister
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Greatheart aspired, he said, come, mister feeble mind, pray do you
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go along with us? I will be your conductor, and ye shall fare
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as the rest. Mister feeble mind, alas I want a suitable companion,
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You are all lusty and strong, But I, as you see, am
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weak. I choose therefore rather to come behind, lest by reason of my
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many infirmities, I should be both a burden to myself and to you.
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I am, as I said, a man of a weak and feeble mind,
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and shall be offended and made weak at that which others can bear.
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I shall like no laughing. I shall like no gay attire. I shall
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like no MP football questions. Nay, I am so weak a man as
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to be offended with that which others have a liberty to do. I do
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not yet know all the truth. I am a very ignorant Christian man.
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Sometimes if I hear some rejoice in the Lord, it troubles me because I
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cannot do so too. It is with me as it is with a weak
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man among the strong, or as with the sick man among the healthy,
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or as a lamp despised so that I know not what to do. He
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that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the
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thought of him that is at ease. Job twelve five mister greatheart. But
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brother said, mister Greatheart, I have it in commission to comfort the feeble
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minded and to support the weak. You must needs go along with us.
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We will wait for you, We will lend you our help. We will
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deny ourselves of some things, both opinionative and practical, for your sake.
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We will not enter into doubtful disputations before you. We will be made all
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things to you, rather than ye shall be left behind. First that Salonians
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five fourteen Romans fourteen First Corinthians eight nine to thirteen nine twenty two. Now
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all this while they were at Gaye's door. And behold, as they were
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thus in the heat of their discourse, mister Ready to halt came by with
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his crutches in his hand, and he also was going on pilgrimage. Mister
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feeble mind, then said mister feeblemind to him, man, how camest thou
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hither I was but now complaining that I had not a suitable companion, But
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thou art according to my wish. Welcome, Welcome, good, mister Ready
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to halt. I hope thou and I may be some help. Mister Ready
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to halt. I shall be glad of thy company, said the other.
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And good mister Feeblemind. Rather than we will part, since we are thus
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happily met, I will lend THEE one of my crutches. Mister feeblemind.
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Nay, said he. Though I thank THEE for thy good will, I
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am not inclined to halt before I am lame. Howbeit I think when occasion
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is, it may help me against a dog. Mister Ready to halt,
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If either myself or my crutches can do THEE a pleasure, we are both
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at thy command, good, mister Feeblemind. Thus therefore they went on,
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mister great Heart, and mister Honest went before. Christiana and her children went
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next, and mister Feeblemind came behind. And mister Ready to halt with his
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crutches, then said mister Honest, mister Honest, pray sir, Now we
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are upon the road, tell us some profitable things of some that have gone
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on pilgrimage before us, mister Greatheart, with a good will. I suppose
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you have heard how Christian of old did meet with Apollyon in the Valley of
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Humiliation, and also what hard work he had to go through the valley of
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the shadow of death. Also, I think you cannot but have heard how
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Faithful was put to it by Madame Wanton with Adam the first, with one
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discontent and shame, for as deceitful villains as a man can meet with upon
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the road. Mister Honest, yes, I have heard of all this.
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But indeed good Faithful was hard as put to it with shame. He was
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an unwearied one, mister Greatheart. Ay, for as the pilgrim well said,
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he of all men had the wrong name, mister Honest. But pray,
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where was it that Christian and Faithful met talkative? That saying was also
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a notable one, mister great Heart. He was a confident fool, yet
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many follow his ways, mister Honest. He had liked to have beguiled faithful,
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mister Greatheart, Aye, But Christian put him into a way quickly to
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find him out. Thus they went on till they came to the place where
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evangelists met with Christian and Faithful and prophesied to them what should befall them at
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Vanity Fair? Then said their guide. Hereabouts did Christian and Faithful meet with
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evangelist who prophesied them of what troubles they should meet with at Vanity Fair?
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Mister Honest, say you, sir, I dare say it was a hard
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chapter that then he did read unto them, mister Greatheart, it was so,
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But he gave them encouragement with all. But what do we talk of
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them? They were a couple of lion like men. They had set their
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faces like a flint. Do not you remember how undaunted they were when they
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stood before the judge. Mister Honest, well faithful bravely suffered, mister Greatheart,
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So he did, and as brave things came on for Hopeful and some
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others, as the story relates were converted by his death. Mister Honest,
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well, but pray go on, for you are well acquainted with things,
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mister Greatheart. Above all that Christian met with after he had passed through Vanity
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Fair, one by ens was the arch one, mister Honest, Biens.
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What was he, mister Greatheart? A very arch fellow, a downright hip,
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one that would be religious whichever way the world went, but so cunning
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that he would be sure never to lose or suffer for it. He had
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his mode of religion for every fresh occasion, and his wife was as good
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at it as he. He would turn from opinion to opinion yea, and
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plead for so doing too. But so far as I could learn, he
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came to an ill end with his buyings. Nor did I ever hear that
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any of his children were ever of any esteem with any that truly feared God.
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Now by this time they were come within sight of the town of Vanity,
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where Vanity Fairs kept. So when they saw that they were so near
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the town, they consulted with one another how they should pass through the town.
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And some said one thing, and some another at last, mister Greatheart
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said, I have, as you may understand, often been a conductor of
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pilgrims through this life. Town. Now I am acquainted with one mister Nason
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Acts twenty one sixteen, a Cyprusian by nation, an old disciple, at
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whose house we may lodge. If you think good, we will turn in
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there, Content said old honest, Content said Christiana. Content said, mister
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feeble mind. So they said all. Now you must think it was eventide
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by that they got to the outside of the town. But mister Greatheart knew
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the way to the old man's house. So thither they came, and he
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called at the door, and the old man within knew his tongue as soon
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as ever he heard it, So he opened the door and they all came
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in. Then said Nason, their host, how far have ye come to
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day? So they said, from the house of Gaius, our friend.
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I promise you, said he you have gone a good stitch. You may
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well be weary. Sit down, So they sat down. Mister Greatheart then
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said their guide come, what cheer, good sirs, I dare say you
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are welcome to my friend, mister Nason. I also said, mister Nason,
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do bid you welcome, and whatever you want, do but say,
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and we will do what we can to get it for you. Mister Honest.
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Our great want a while since was harbor and good company, And now
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I hope we have both, mister Nason. For harbor, you see what
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it is. But for good company that will appear in the trial, mister
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Greatheart, well said mister Greatheart. Will you have the pilgrims up into their
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lodging, mister Nason, I will, said mister Nason. So he had
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them to their respective places, and also showed them a very fair dining room
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where they might be and sup together until the time should come to go to
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rest. Now, when they were seated in their places and were a little
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cheery after their journey, mister Honest asked his landlord if there was any store
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of good people in the town. Mister Nason, we have a few,
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For indeed they are but a few, and compared with them on the other
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side, mister Honest, but how shall we do to see some of them?
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For the sight of good men to them that are going on pilgrimage is
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like the appearing of the moon and stars to them that are sailing upon the
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seas. Mister Nason. Then mister Nason stamped with his foot, and his
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daughter Grace came up. So he said, unto her, Grace, go
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you tell my friends, mister Contrite, mister holy Man, mister Saints,
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mister dare not lie, and mister Penitent, that I have a friend or
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two at my house who have a mind this evening to see them. So
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Grace went to call them, and they came, and after salutation made,
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they sat down together at the table. Then said mister Nason, the landlord
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my neighbors, I have, as you see, a company of strangers come
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to my house. They are pilgrims. They come from Afar and are going
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to Mount Zion. But who quoth he? Do you think? This is
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pointing his finger to Christiana. It is Christiana, the wife of Christian,
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the famous pilgrim, who, with faithful his brother was so shamefully handled in
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our town. At that they stood a maize, saying, we little thought
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to see Christiana when Grace came to call us, wherefore this is a very
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comfortable surprise. They then asked her of her welfare and if these young men
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were her husband's sons, And when she had told them they were they said,
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the King whom you love and serve, make you as your father,
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and bring you where he is in peace. Mister Honest, Then, mister
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Honest, when they were all sat down, asked mister Contrite and the rest
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in what posture their town was at present? Mister Contrite, you may be
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sure we are full of hurry and fair. Time tis hard keeping our hearts
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and spirits in good order when we are in a cumbered condition. He that
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lives in such a place as this is, and has to do with such
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as we have, has need of an item to caution him to take heed
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every moment of the day, mister Honest. But how are your neighbors now?
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For quietness, mister Contrite, They are much more moderate now than formerly.
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You know how Christian and faithful were used at our town. But of
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late I say they have been far more moderate. I think the blood of
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faithful lieth as a load upon them till now, For since they burned him,
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they have been ashamed to burn any more. In those days we were
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afraid to walk the street, but now we can show our heads. Then
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the name of a professor was odious now, especially in some parts of our
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town. For you now our town is large, religion is counted honorable,
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then, said mister Contrade to them, pray how faireth it with you and
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your pilgrimage? How stands the country affected towards you? Mister honest? It
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happens to us as it happens to wayfaring men. Sometimes our way is clean,
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sometimes foul, sometimes uphill, sometimes downhill. We are seldom at a
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certainty. The wind is not always on our backs. Nor is every one
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a friend that we meet within the way. We have met with some notable
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rubs already, and what are yet behind we know not, But for the
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most part we find it true that has been talked of old a good man
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must suffer trouble. Mister Contrite, you talk of robs. What robs have
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you met with all, mister Honest? Nay, ask mister Greatheart our guide,
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for he can give the best account of that. Mister Greatheart, we
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have been beset three or four times already. First Christiana and her children were
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beset by two ruffians, whom they feared would take away their lives. We
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were beset by giant bloody man, giant mole, and giant slay good Indeed,
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read it rather beset the last and were beset by him. And thus
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it was after we had been some time at the house of Gaius, mine
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host, and of the whole church, we were minded upon a time to
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take our weapons with us and go see if we could light upon any of
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those that are enemies to pilgrims, for we heard that there was a notable
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one thereabouts. Now Gaius knew his haunt better than I, because he dwelt
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thereabout. So we looked and looked till at last we discerned the mouth of
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his cave. Then we were glad and plucked up our spirits. So we
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approached up to his den, and lo, when we came there, he
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had dragged by mere force into his net this poor man, mister feeble Mind,
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and was about to bring him to his end. But when he saw
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us, supposing as we thought, he had another prey, he left the
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poor man in his hole and came out. So we fell to it full
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sore, and he lustily laid about him Barton conclusion, he was brought down
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to the ground and his head cut off and set up by the wayside.
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For a terror to such as should after practice such ungodliness that I tell you
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the truth. Here is the man himself to affirm it, who was as
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a lamb taken out of the mouth of the lion. Mister feeble Mind then,
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said mister Feeblemind. I found this true to my cost and comfort.
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To my cost when he threatened to pick my bones every moment, and to
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my comfort when I saw mister Greatheart and his friends with their weapons approach so
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near for my deliverance. Mister holy Man then said mister holy Man. There
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are two things that they have need to possess who go on pilgrimage, courage
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and an unspotted life. If they have not courage, they can never hold
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on their way, and if their lives be loose, they will make the
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very name of a pilgrim's stink. Mister Love Saints then, said mister Love
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Saints. I hope this caution is not needful among you. But truly there
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are many that go upon the road who rather declare themselves strangers to pilgrimage than
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strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Mister dare not lie, then, said
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mister dare not lie? Tis true they have neither the pilgrims reed nor the
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pilgrim's courage. They go not uprightly, but all ride with their feet.
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One shoe goeth inward, another outward, and their hosen are out behind.
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Here a rag and there a rent to the disparagement of their lord, mister
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Penitent. These things, said mister Penitent, they ought to be troubled,
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for nor are the pilgrims like to have that grace put upon them and their
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pilgrim's progress as they desire, until the way is cleared of such spots and
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blemish. Thus they sat talking and spending the time until supper was set upon
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the table, unto which they went and refreshed their weary bodies. So they
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went to rest. Now they stayed in the fair a great while at the
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house of mister Nason, who in process of time gave his daughter Grace unto
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Samuel Christian son to wife, and his daughter Martha to Joseph. This time,
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as I said, that they stayed here, was long, for it
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was not now as in former times. Wherefore the pilgrims grew acquainted with many
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of the good people of the town and did them what service they could.
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Mercy, as she was wont labored much for the poor wherefore their bellies and
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backs blessed her, and she was there an ornament to her profession and to
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say the truth. For Grace, Phoebe, and Martha, they were all
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of a very good nature and did much good in their place. They were
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also, all of them very fruitful, so that Christian's name, as was
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said before, was like to live in the world. While they lay here,
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there came a monster out of the woods and slew many of the people
40:15
of the town. It would also carry away their children and teach them to
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suck its whelps. Now no man in the town durst so much as face
40:25
this monster, but all fled when they heard the noise of his coming.
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The monster was like unto no one beast on the earth. Its body was
40:37
like a dragon, and it had seven heads and ten horns. It made
40:43
great havoc of children, and yet it was governed by a woman Revelations seventeen
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three. So this monster propounded conditions to men, and such men as loved
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their lives more than their souls, accepted of those conditions. So they came
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under now mister Greatheart, together with those who came to visit the pilgrims.
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At mister Nason's house, entered into a covenant to go and engage this beast,
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if perhaps they might deliver the people of this town from the paws and
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mouth of this so devouring a servant. Then did mister Greatheart, mister Contrite,
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mister holy Man, mister Dare not Lie, and mister Penitent, with
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their weapons go forth to meet him. Now, the monster at first was
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very rampant and looked upon these enemies with great disdain. But they so belabored
41:40
him, being sturdy men at arms, that they made him make a retreat.
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So they came home to mister Nason's house again. The monster, you
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must know, had his certain seasons to come out in and to make his
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attempts upon the children of the people of the town. At these seasons did
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these valiant worthies watch him, and did still continually assault him, insomuch that
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in process of time he became not only wounded, but lain also he has
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not made that havoc of the townsmen's children, as formerly he had done,
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And it is verily believed by some that this beast will die of his wounds.
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This therefore made mister Greatheart and his fellows of great fame in this town,
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so that many of the people that wanted their taste of things yet had
42:34
a reverent esteem and respect for them. Upon this account, therefore it was
42:38
that these pilgrims got not much hurt here. True, they were some of
42:44
the baser sort, that could see no more than a mole, nor understand
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any more than a beast. These had no reverence for these men, and
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took no notice of their valor and adventures. Second half of Part two,
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the sixth stage