Christiana and her sons

Well, the time grew on that the pilgrims must go on their way; wherefore

they prepared for their journey. They sent for their friends; they conferred

with them; they had some time set apart therein to commit each other to the

protection of their Prince. There were again that brought them of such

things as they had, that were fit for the weak and the strong, for the women

and the men, and so laded them with such things as were necessary. Acts

28:10. Then they set forward on their way; and their friends accompanying

them so far as was convenient, they again committed each other to the

protection of their King, and parted.

They therefore that were of the pilgrims’ company went on, and Mr.

Great-Heart went before them. Now, the women and children being weakly, they

were forced to go as they could bear; by which means Mr. Ready-to-halt and

Mr. Feeble-mind, had more to sympathize with their condition.

When they were gone from the townsmen, and when their friends had bid them

farewell, they quickly came to the place where Faithful was put to death.

Therefore they made a stand, and thanked him that had enabled him to bear

his cross so well; and the rather, because they now found that they had a

benefit by such a manly suffering as his was.

They went on therefore after this a good way further, talking of Christian

and Faithful, and how Hopeful joined himself to Christian after that

Faithful was dead.

Now they were come up with the hill Lucre, where the silver mine was which

took Demas off from his pilgrimage, and into which, as some think, By-ends

fell and perished; wherefore they considered that. But when they were come

to the old monument that stood over against the hill Lucre, to wit, to the

pillar of salt, that stood also within view of Sodom and its stinking lake,

they marvelled, as did Christian before, that men of such knowledge and

ripeness of wit as they were, should be so blinded as to turn aside here.

Only they considered again, that nature is not affected with the harms that

others have met with, especially if that thing upon which they look has an

attracting virtue upon the foolish eye.

I saw now, that they went on till they came to the river that was on this

side of the Delectable Mountains; to the river where the fine trees grow on

both sides, and whose leaves, if taken inwardly, are good against surfeits;

where the meadows are green all the year long, and where they might lie down

safely. Psa. 23:2.

By this river-side, in the meadows, there were cotes and folds for sheep, a

house built for the nourishing and bringing up of those lambs, the babes of

those women that go on pilgrimage. Also there was here one that was

intrusted with them, who could have compassion; and that could gather these

lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that

were with young. Heb. 5:2; Isa. 40:11. Now, to the care of this man

Christiana admonished her four daughters to commit their little ones, that

by these waters they might be housed, harbored, succored, and nourished, and

that none of them might be lacking in time to come. This man, if any of them

go astray, or be lost, will bring them again; he will also bind up that

which was broken, and will strengthen them that are sick. Jer. 23:4; Ezek.

34:11-16. Here they will never want meat, drink, and clothing; here they

will be kept from thieves and robbers; for this man will die before one of

those committed to his trust shall be lost. Besides, here they shall be sure

to have good nurture and admonition, and shall be taught to walk in right

paths, and that you know is a favor of no small account. Also here, as you

see, are delicate waters, pleasant meadows, dainty flowers, variety of

trees, and such as bear wholesome fruit: fruit, not like that which Matthew

ate of, that fell over the wall out of Beelzebub’s garden; but fruit that

procureth health where there is none, and that continueth and increaseth it

where it is. So they were content to commit their little ones to him; and

that which was also an encouragement to them so to do, was, for that all

this was to be at the charge of the King, and so was as an hospital to young

children and orphans.

Now they went on. And when they were come to By-path Meadow, to the stile

over which Christian went with his fellow Hopeful, when they were taken by

Giant Despair and put into Doubting Castle, they sat down, and consulted

what was best to be done: to wit, now they were so strong, and had got such

a man as Mr. Great-Heart for their conductor, whether they had not best to

make an attempt upon the giant, demolish his castle, and if there were any

pilgrims in it, to set them at liberty before they went any further. So one

said one thing, and another said the contrary. One questioned if it was

lawful to go upon unconsecrated ground; another said they might, provided

their end was good; but Mr. Great-Heart said, Though that assertion offered

last cannot be universally true, yet I have a commandment to resist sin, to

overcome evil, to fight the good fight of faith: and I pray, with whom

should I fight this good fight, if not with Giant Despair? I will therefore

attempt the taking away of his life, and the demolishing of Doubting Castle.

Then said he, Who will go with me? Then said old Honest, I will. And so will

we too, said Christiana’s four sons, Matthew, Samuel, Joseph, and James; for

they were young men and strong. 1 John 2:13,14. So they left the women in

the road, and with them Mr. Feeble-mind, and Mr. Ready-to-halt with his

crutches, to be their guard until they came back; for in that place the

Giant Despair dwelt so near, they keeping in the road, a little child might

lead them. Isa. 11:6.

So Mr. Great-Heart, old Honest, and the four young men, went to go up to

Doubting Castle, to look for Giant Despair. When they came at the castle

gate, they knocked for entrance with an unusual noise. At that the old Giant

comes to the gate, and Diffidence his wife follows. Then said he, Who and

what is he that is so hardy, as after this manner to molest the Giant

Despair? Mr. Great-Heart replied, It is I, Great-Heart, one of the King of

the Celestial country’s conductors of pilgrims to their place; and I demand

of thee that thou open thy gates for my entrance: prepare thyself also to

fight, for I am come to take away thy head; and to demolish Doubting Castle.

Now Giant Despair, because he was a giant, thought no man could overcome

him: and again thought he, Since heretofore I have made a conquest of

angels, shall Great-Heart make me afraid? So he harnessed himself, and went

out. He had a cap of steel upon his head, a breast-plate of fire girded to

him, and he came out in iron shoes, with a great club in his hand. Then

these six men made up to him, and beset him behind and before: also, when

Diffidence the giantess came up to help him, old Mr. Honest cut her down at

one blow. Then they fought for their lives, and Giant Despair was brought

down to the ground, but was very loth die. He struggled hard, and had, as

they say, as many lives as a cat; but Great-Heart was his death, for he left

him not till he had severed his head from his shoulders.

Then they fell to demolishing Doubting Castle, and that you know might with

ease be done, since Giant Despair was dead. They were seven days in

destroying of that; and in it of pilgrims they found one Mr. Despondency,

almost starved to death, and one Much-afraid, his daughter: these two they

saved alive. But it would have made you wonder to have seen the dead bodies

that lay here and there in the castle yard, and how full of dead men’s bones

the dungeon was.

When Mr. Great-Heart and his companions had performed this exploit, they

took Mr. Despondency, and his daughter Much-afraid, into their protection;

for they were honest people, though they were prisoners in Doubting Castle

to that tyrant Giant Despair. They, therefore, I say, took with them the

head of the giant, (for his body they had buried under a heap of stones,)

and down to the road and to their companions they came, and showed them what

they had done. Now, when Feeble-mind and Ready-to-halt saw that it was the

head of Giant Despair indeed, they were very jocund and merry. Now

Christiana, if need was, could play upon the viol, and her daughter Mercy

upon the lute: so, since they were so merry disposed, she played them a

lesson, and Ready-to-halt would dance. So he took Despondency’s daughter,

Much-afraid, by the hand, and to dancing they went in the road. True, he

could not dance without one crutch in his hand, but I promise you he footed

it well: also the girl was to be commended, for she answered the music

handsomely.

As for Mr. Despondency, the music was not so much to him; he was for feeding

rather than dancing, for that he was almost starved. So Christiana gave him

some of her bottle of spirits for present relief, and then prepared him

something to eat; and in a little time the old gentleman came to himself,

and began to be finely revived.

Now I saw in my dream, when all these things were finished, Mr. Great-Heart

took the head of Giant Despair, and set it upon a pole by the highway-side,

right over against the pillar that Christian erected for a caution to

pilgrims that came after, to take heed of entering into his grounds.

Then he writ under it upon a marble stone these verses following:

“This is the head of him whose name only

In former times did pilgrims terrify.

His castle’s down, and Diffidence his wife

Brave Mr. Great-Heart has bereft of life.

Despondency, his daughter Much-afraid,

Great-Heart for them also the man has play’d.

Who hereof doubts, if he’ll but cast his eye

Up hither, may his scruples satisfy.

This head also, when doubting cripples dance,

Doth show from fears they have deliverance.”

When these men had thus bravely showed themselves against Doubting Castle,

and had slain Giant Despair, they went forward, and went on till they came

to the Delectable Mountains, where Christian and Hopeful refreshed

themselves with the varieties of the place. They also acquainted themselves

with the shepherds there, who welcomed them, as they had done Christian

before, unto the Delectable Mountains.

Now the shepherds seeing so great a train follow Mr. Great-Heart, (for with

him they were well acquainted,) they said unto him, Good sir, you have got a

goodly company here; pray where did you find all these?

Then Mr. Great-Heart replied,

“First, here is Christiana and her train,

Her sons, and her sons’ wives, who, like the wain,

Keep by the pole, and do by compass steer

From sin to grace, else they had not been here.

Next here’s old Honest come on pilgrimage,

Ready-to-halt too, who I dare engage

True-hearted is, and so is Feeble-mind,

Who willing was not to be left behind.

Despondency, good man, is coming after,

And so also is Much-afraid, his daughter.

May we have entertainment here, or must

We further go? Let’s knew whereon to trust.”

Then said the shepherds, This is a comfortable company. You are welcome to

us; for we have for the feeble, as well as for the strong. Our Prince has an

eye to what is done to the least of these; therefore Infirmity must not be a

block to our entertainment. Matt. 25:40. So they had them to the palace

door, and then said unto them, Come in, Mr. Feeble-Mind; come in Mr.

Ready-to-halt; Come in, Mr. Despondency, and Mrs. Much-afraid his daughter.

These, Mr. Great-Heart, said the shepherds to the guide, we call in by name,

for that they are most subject to draw back; but as for you, and the rest

that are strong, we leave you to your wonted liberty. Then said Mr.

Great-Heart, This day I see that grace doth shine in your faces, and that

you are my Lord’s shepherds indeed; for that you have not pushed these

diseased neither with side nor shoulder, but have rather strewed their way

into the palace with flowers, as you should. Ezek. 34:21.

So the feeble and weak went in, and Mr. Great-Heart and the rest did follow.

When they were also set down, the shepherds said to those of the weaker

sort, What is it that you would have? for, said they, all things must be

managed here to the supporting of the weak, as well as to the warning of the

unruly. So they made them a feast of things easy of digestion, and that were

pleasant to the palate and nourishing; the which when they had received,

they went to their rest, each one respectively unto his proper place.

When morning was come, because the mountains were high and the day clear,

and because it was the custom of the shepherds to show the pilgrims before

their departure some rarities, therefore, after they were ready, and had

refreshed themselves, the shepherds took them out into the fields, and

showed them first what they had shown to Christian before.

Then they had them to some new places. The first was Mount Marvel, where

they looked, and beheld a man at a distance that tumbled the hills about

with words. Then they asked the shepherds what that should mean. So they

told them, that that man was the son of one Mr. Great-grace, of whom you

read in the first part of the records of the Pilgrim’s Progress; and he is

set there to teach pilgrims how to believe down, or to tumble out of their

ways, what difficulties they should meet with, by faith. Mark 11:23,24. Then

said Mr. Great-Heart, I know him; he is a man above many.

Then they had them to another place, called Mount Innocence. And there they

saw a man clothed all in white; and two men, Prejudice and Ill-will,

continually casting dirt upon him. Now behold, the dirt, whatsoever they

cast at him, would in a little time fall off again, and his garment would

look as clear as if no dirt had been cast thereat. Then said the pilgrims,

What means this? The shepherds answered, This man is named Godlyman, and

this garment is to show the innocency of his life. Now, those that throw

dirt at him are such as hate his well-doing; but, as you see the dirt will

not stick upon his clothes, so it shall be with him that liveth innocently

in the world. Whoever they be that would make such men dirty, they labor all

in vain; for God, by that a little time is spent, will cause that their

innocence shall break forth as the light, and their righteousness as the

noonday.

Then they took them, and had them to Mount Charity, where they showed them a

man that had a bundle of cloth lying before him, out of which he cut coats

and garments for the poor that stood about him; yet his bundle or roll of

cloth was never the less. Then said they, What should this be? This is, said

the shepherds, to show you, that he who has a heart to give of his labor to

the poor, shall never want wherewithal. He that watereth shall be watered

himself. And the cake that the widow gave to the prophet did not cause that

she had the less in her barrel.

They had them also to the place where they saw one Fool and one Want-wit

washing an Ethiopian, with intention to make him white; but the more they

washed him, the blacker he was. Then they asked the shepherds what that

should mean. So they told them, saying, Thus it is with the vile person; all

means used to get such a one a good name, shall in conclusion tend but to

make him more abominable. Thus it was with the pharisees; and so it shall be

with all hypocrites.

Then said Mercy, the wife of Matthew, to Christiana her mother, Mother, I

would, if it might be, see the hole in the hill, or that commonly called the

By-way to hell. So her mother brake her mind to the shepherds. Then they

went to the door; it was on the side of an hill; and they opened it, and bid

Mercy hearken a while. So she hearkened, and heard one saying, Cursed be my

father for holding of my feet back from the way of peace and life. Another

said, Oh that I had been torn in pieces before I had, to save my life, lost

my soul! And another said, If I were to live again, how would I deny myself,

rather than to come to this place! Then there was as if the very earth

groaned and quaked under the feet of this young woman for fear; so she

looked white, and came trembling away, saying, Blessed be he and she that is

delivered from this place!

Now, when the shepherds had shown them all these things, then they had them

back to the palace, and entertained them with what the house would afford.

But Mercy, being a young and married woman, longed for something that she

saw there, but was ashamed to ask. Her mother-in-law then asked her what she

ailed, for she looked as one not well. Then said Mercy, There is a

looking-glass hangs up in the dining-room, off which I cannot take my mind;

if, therefore, I have it not, I think I shall miscarry. Then said her

mother, I will mention thy wants to the shepherds, and they will not deny

thee. But she said, I am ashamed that these men should know that I longed.

Nay, my daughter, said she, it is no shame, but a virtue, to long for such a

thing as that. So Mercy said, Then mother, if you please, ask the shepherds

if they are willing to sell it.

Now the glass was one of a thousand. It would present a man, one way, with

his own features exactly; and turn it but another way, and it would show one

the very 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, his feet, and his side. Yea, such

an excellency is there in this 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. James 1:23; 1 Cor. 13:12; 2 Cor. 3:18.

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 that she

shall miscarry if she should by you be denied.

EXPERIENCE: 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

wouldst 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 favor 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 in the slaying of Giant Despair, and the demolishing of Doubting

Castle.

About Christiana’s neck the shepherds put a bracelet, and so did they 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 seasonably, to wit, even 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 thence they went on singing, and they said,

“Behold how fitly are the stages set

For their relief that pilgrims are become,

And how they us receive without one let,

That make the other life our mark and home!

What novelties they have to us they give,

That we, though pilgrims, joyful lives may live;

They do upon us, too, such things bestow,

That show we pilgrims are, where’er we go.”

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