The Pilgrim's Progress from this world to that which is to come: Delivered under the similitude of a dream, by John BunyanBunyan, John
ReligionComparative
The Pilgrim's Progress from this world to that which is to come: Delivered under the similitude of a dream, by John Bunyan
Bunyan, John
Christian fiction; Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Fiction
{103} I beheld, then, that they all went on till they came to the
foot of the Hill Difficulty; at the bottom of which was a spring.
There were also in the same place two other ways besides that which
came straight from the gate; one turned to the left hand, and the
other to the right, at the bottom of the hill; but the narrow way
lay right up the hill, and the name of the going up the side of
the hill is called Difficulty. Christian now went to the spring,
and drank thereof, to refresh himself [Isa. 49:10], and then began
to go up the hill, saying--
"The hill, though high, I covet to ascend,
The difficulty will not me offend;
For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, pluck up heart, let's neither faint nor fear;
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe."
{104} The other two also came to the foot of the hill; but when
they saw that the hill was steep and high, and that there were two
other ways to go, and supposing also that these two ways might meet
again, with that up which Christian went, on the other side of the
hill, therefore they were resolved to go in those ways. Now the
name of one of these ways was Danger, and the name of the other
Destruction. So the one took the way which is called Danger,
which led him into a great wood, and the other took directly up the
way to Destruction, which led him into a wide field, full of dark
mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more.
"Shall they who wrong begin yet rightly end? Shall they at all
have safety for their friend? No, no; in headstrong manner they
set out, And headlong will they fall at last no doubt."
{105} I looked, then, after Christian, to see him go up the hill,
where I perceived he fell from running to going, and from going to
clambering upon his hands and his knees, because of the steepness
of the place. Now, about the midway to the top of the hill was a
pleasant arbour, made by the Lord of the hill for the refreshing
of weary travellers; thither, therefore, Christian got, where also
he sat down to rest him. Then he pulled his roll out of his bosom,
and read therein to his comfort; he also now began afresh to take
a review of the coat or garment that was given him as he stood by
the cross. Thus pleasing himself awhile, he at last fell into a
slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him in that
place until it was almost night; and in his sleep, his roll fell
out of his hand. Now, as he was sleeping, there came one to him,
and awaked him, saying, Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her
ways and be wise. [Prov. 6:6] And with that Christian started
up, and sped him on his way, and went apace, till he came to the
top of the hill.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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