The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can ReadBunyan, John
Religion
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read
Bunyan, John
Christian life -- Juvenile literature; Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Juvenile literature
Then thought I with myself, "Who that goeth on pilgrimage but would have
one of those maps about him, that he may look, when he is at a stand,
which is the way he must take?"
They went on then in this Enchanted Ground till they came to where was
another arbor, and it was built by the highway-side. And in that arbor
there lay two men, whose names were Heedless and Too-bold. These two
went thus far on pilgrimage; but here, being wearied with their journey,
they sat down to rest themselves, and so fell fast asleep. When the
pilgrims saw them, they stood still, and shook their heads; for they
knew that the sleepers were in a pitiful case. Then they consulted what
to do,--whether to go on, and leave them in their sleep, or to step to
them, and try to awake them. So they concluded to go to them and wake
them; that is, if they could; but with this caution, namely, to take
heed that themselves did not sit down nor embrace the offered benefit of
that arbor.
So they went in and spake to the men, and called each one by his name
(for the guide, it seems, did know them); but there was no voice or
answer. Then the guide did shake them, and do what he could to disturb
them. Then said one of them, "I will pay you when I take my money." At
which the guide shook his head. "I will fight so long as I can hold my
sword in my hand," said the other. At that, one of the children laughed.
[Sidenote: THE LAND OF BEULAH]
Then said Christiana, "What is the meaning of this?" The guide said,
"They talk in their sleep. If you strike them, beat them, or whatever
else you do to them, they will answer you after this fashion; or, as one
of them said in old time, when the waves of the sea did beat upon him,
and he slept as one upon the mast of a ship, 'When shall I awake? I will
seek it yet again.' You know, when men talk in their sleep, they say
anything, but their words are not governed either by faith or reason.
There is an unsuitableness in their words now, as there was before
betwixt their going on pilgrimage and sitting down there. This, then, is
the mischief of it: when heedless ones go on pilgrimage, 'tis twenty to
one but they are served thus. For this Enchanted Ground is one of the
last refuges that the enemy to pilgrims has; wherefore, it is, as you
see, placed almost at the end of the way, and so it standeth against us
with the more advantage. For when, thinks the enemy, will these fools be
so desirous to sit down as when they are weary? and when so like to be
weary as when almost at their journey's end? Therefore it is, I say,
that the Enchanted Ground is placed so near to the Land of Beulah, and
so near the end of their race. Wherefore, let pilgrims look to
themselves, lest it happen to them as it has done to these, that, as you
see, are fallen asleep, and none can wake them."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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