The Pilgrim's Progress in Words of One SyllableBunyan, John
Religion
The Pilgrim's Progress in Words of One Syllable
Bunyan, John
Christian fiction; Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Fiction
Then they came to a bench, Slothful's Friend by name, which had shrubs
and plants round it, to screen those who sat there from the sun. But
Christiana and the rest gave such good heed to what their guide told
them, that though they were worn out with toil, yet there was not one
of them that had so much as a wish to stop there; for they knew that it
would be death to sleep but for a short time on The Enchanted Ground.
Now as it was still dark, their guide struck a light that he might look
at his map (the book of God's Word); and had he not done so, they would
all have been lost, for just at the end of the road was a pit, full of
mud, and no one can tell how deep.
Then thought I: Who is there but would have one of these maps or books
in which he may look when he is in doubt, and knows not which way he
should take?
They soon came to a bench, on which sat two men, Heedless and Too-bold;
and Christiana and the rest shook their heads for they saw that these
men were in a bad case. They knew not what they ought to do: to go on
and leave them in their sleep, or to try to wake them. Now the guide
spoke to them by name; but not a sound could he hear from their lips. So
Great-heart at last shook them, and did all he could to wake them.
One of the two, whose name was Heedless, said, Nay: I will pay you when
I get in my debts.
At this the guide shook his head.
Then Too-bold spoke out: I will fight as long as I can hold my sword.
When he had said this all who stood round gave a laugh.
Christiana:--'What does this mean?
Great-heart:--They talk in their sleep. If you strike or shake them,
they will still talk in the same way, for their sleep is like that of
the man on the mast of a ship, when the waves of the sea beat on him.
Then did Christiana, Mercy and their train go on with fear, and they
sought from their guide a light for the rest of the way.
But as the poor babes' cries were loud for want of rest, all fell on
their knees to pray for help. And, by the time that they had gone but
a short way, a wind sprang up which drove off the fog; so, now that the
air was clear, they made their way.
Then they came to the land of Beulah, where the sun shines night and
day. Here they took some rest, and ate of the fruit that hung from the
boughs round them. But all the sleep that they could wish for in such
a land as this was but for a short space of time; for the bells rang to
such sweet tunes, and such a blaze of lights burst on their eyes, that
they soon rose to walk to and fro on this bright way, where no base feet
dare to tread.
And now they heard shouts rise up, for there was a noise in the town
that a post was come from The Celestial City with words of great joy for
Christiana, the wife of Christian. So search was made for her, and the
house was found in which she was.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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