_Christian._ I came from the city of _Destruction_ and am going to mount _Zion_. _Apollyon._ Thou art one of my subjects. All that country is mine. I am the prince and god of it. How is it that thou art fled from thy king. _Christian._ I _was_ your subject; but your service was hard, and I could endure it no longer. _Apollyon._ Since thou complainest of my service, go back with me; and whatever our country affords, I will give thee. _Christian._ But I have hired myself to another, even the King of Kings. How then can I go back? _Apollyon._ It is common for those that have professed themselves his servants, after a while to return to me. Do thou so, and all shall be well. _Christian._ I have sworn allegiance to him; and how can I go from this, without being a traitor. _Apollyon._ Thou didst the same to me; and yet I will pass by all, if thou wilt now return. _Christian._ I tell thee, once for all, I like his service, his wages, his government, his servants, his company, and country, better than thine; and him only will I serve. _Apollyon._ Yet consider in cool blood, what thou art like to meet with in the way that thou goest. How many of his servants came to ill ends? How many have been put to shameful deaths? And yet, as good a master as he is, he cometh not to deliver them out of my hands. _Christian._ His delaying to deliver them, is on purpose to try their love. And as for their ill end, as thou callest it, that is their glory. For present deliverance they ask it not; being content to wait for their reward, till their Prince shall come. _Apollyon._ But what reward shalt thou have, who hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him. _Christian._ Wherein? _Apollyon._ Thou didst faint at setting out, in the slough of _Despond_. Thou didst attempt wrong ways to be rid of thy burthen. Thou didst sinfully sleep, and lose thy choice things. Thou wast well nigh frighted back by the lions. And when thou talkest of thy journey, and of what thou hast seen and heard, there is pride in all thou sayest. _Christian._ All this is true, and much more. But the King I serve is a merciful King; yea, I know, he is merciful to _my_ unrighteousness, and _my_ sins he remembreth no more. Then _Apollyon_ broke out into a rage, and said, “I am an enemy to thy King. I hate his person, his people, his laws. I am come out on purpose to withstand thee.” _Christian._ Beware what thou dost. I am in the King’s highway, the way of holiness. Then did _Apollyon_ stride quite over the way, and said, “I am void of fear in this matter. Prepare thyself to die. For no farther shalt thou go. Here will I spill thy soul.” With that he threw a flaming dart at his breast: but _Christian_ caught it with his shield, and drew his sword while _Apollyon_ continued throwing darts as thick as hail. This made _Christian_ give a little back; but he soon took courage again: yet the combat lasted for above half a day, he at length began to grow faint and weary.