The Pilgrim's Progress

I saw then in my dream, so far as this valley reached, there was on the right hand a very deep ditch. That ditch is it into which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both there miserably perished. Again behold on the left hand, there was a very dangerous quag, into which if even a good man falls, he can find no bottom for his foot to stand on. Into that quag King David once did fall, and had no doubt therein been smothered, had not he that is able plucked him out. The pathway was here also exceeding narrow, and therefore good Christian was the more put to it. For when he sought in the dark to shun the ditch on the one hand, he was ready to tip over into the mire on the other. Also when he sought to escape the mire, without great carefulness he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went on, and I heard him here sigh bitterly, for besides the dangers mentioned above, the pathway was here so dark, and oft times when he lift up his foot to set forward, he knew not where or upon what he should set it next. Poor man, where art thou now? By day is night. Good man, be not cast down, thou yet art right, thy way to heaven lies by the gates of hell. Cheer up, hold out, with thee it shall go well. About the midst of this valley I perceived the mouth of hell to be. It stood also hard by the wayside, and betake himself to another weapon called all prayer. So he cried in my hearing, yet still the flames would be reaching her doleful voices, to be torn in pieces like mire in the streets, and coming to a place where he thought he halfway through the valley. He remembered also how he'd already bent before they gave back. One thing I would not let slip. I took notice that now poor Christian was so confounded that he did not know his own voice. Just when he was come over against the mouth of the burning pit, one of the wickedness did many grievous blasphemies to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind, worse than anything that he had met before, even to think that he should now blaspheme him that he had loved so much before. Yet if he could have helped it, he would not have done the discretion either to stop his ears, or to know from whence these blasphemies came. When Christian had traveled in this consulate condition some considerable time, he thought he heard the voice of a man as going before him, saying, Though I walk through the valley. Then he was glad, and that for these reasons. First, because he gathered from thence that some who feared God were in this valley as well as himself. Secondly, for that he perceived God was with them, though in that dark and dismal state. And why not thought he with me? Though by reason of the impediment that attends this place, I cannot perceive it. Thirdly, for that he hopes could he overtake them to have company by and by. So he went on and called to him that was before, but he knew not what to answer, for that he also thought to be alone. By and by the day broke. Then said Christian, Ah, he hath turned the shadow of death into the morning. Now the morning being come, he looked back, not out of desire to return, but to see by the light of the day what hazards he had gone through in the dark. So he saw more perfectly the ditch that was on the one hand, and the mire that was on the other. Also how narrow the way was which led betwixt them both. Also now he saw the hobgoblins and satyrs and dragons of the pit, but all afar off, for after break of day they came not nigh. Yet they were discovered to him, according to that which is written, He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. Now was Christian much affected with his deliverance from all the dangers of his solitary way, which dangers, though he feared them more before, yet he saw them more clearly now, because the light of the day made them conspicuous to him. And about this time the sun was rising, and this was another mercy to Christian. For you must note that though the first part of the valley of the shadow of death was dangerous, yet this second part which he was yet to go was, if possible, far more dangerous. For from the place where he now stood, even to the end of the valley, the way was all along set so full of snares, traps, jins, and nets here, and so full of pits, pitfalls, deep holes, and shelvings down there, that had it now been dark as it was when he came the first part of the way, had he a thousand souls they had in reason been cast away. But, as I said just now, the sun was rising. Then said he, his candle shineth upon my head, and by his light I walk through darkness. In this light, therefore, he came to the end of the valley. Now I saw in my dream that at the end of this valley lay blood, bones, ashes, and mangled bodies of men, even of pilgrims that had gone this way formerly. And while I was musing what should be the reason, I espied a little 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, and so forth 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. 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 delivered me. Dangers and darkness, devils, hell and sin did compass me while I this veil was in. Yea, snares and pits and traps and nets did lie my path about, that worthless silly eye might have been catched, entangled, and cast down. But since I live, let Jesus wear the crown.