GREAT-HEART COMMITS THE PILGRIMS TO WATCHFUL. 61 gerous travelling there in the night. So when they were come to the gate, the guide knocked, and the Porter cried, "Who is there?' But as soon as the guide had said, 'It is I,' he knew his voice, and came down (for the guide had oft before that come thither as a conductor of pilgrims). When he was come down, he opened the gate, and, seeing the guide standing just before it, (for he saw not the women, for they were behind him,) he said unto him, How now, Mr. GREAT-HEART, what is your business here so late at night? I have brought,' said he, some pilgrims hither, where, by my Lord's commandment, they must lodge; I had been here some time ago, ⚫ had I not been opposed by the giant that used to back the lions. But I, after a long and tedious ⚫ combat with him, have cut him off, and have brought the pilgrims hither in safety, POR.. Will not you go in, and stay till morning? GR.-H. No. I will return to my Lord to-night. CHR. Oh, Sir, I know not how to be willing you should leave us in our pilgrimage, you have been so faithful and so loving to us, you have fought so stoutly for us, you have been so hearty in counselling of us, that I shall never forget your favour towards us. Then said MERCY, O that we might have thy company to our journey's end! How can such poor women as we hold out in a way so full of troubles as this way is, without a friend or defender? Then said JAMES, the youngest of the boys, Pray, Sir, be persuaded to go with us and help us, because we are so weak, and the way so dangerous as it is. D dd 62 GREAT-HEART RETURNS. THE PILGRIMS WELCOMED. Gr.-H. I am at my Lord's commandment: if he shall allot me to be your willingly wait upon you. upon you. for when he bid me come you, guide quite through, I will But here But here you failed at first; thus far with you, then you should have begged me of him to have gone quite through with and he would have granted your request. However, at present I must withdraw; and so good CHRISTIANA, MERCY, and my brave children, Adieu. Yes,' said she, Then the porter, Mr. WATCHFUL, asked CHRISTIANA of her country, and of her kindred: and she said, I came from the city of DESTRUCTION; I am a widow woman, and my husband is dead, his name was CHRISTIAN, the pilgrim.' How!' said the porter, was he your husband?' and these his children; and this,' (pointing to MERCY) is one of my town's-women.' Then the porter rang his bell, as at such time he is wont, and there came to the door one of the damsels, whose name was HUMBLE-MIND. And to her the porter said, Go tell it within, that CHRISTIANA, the wife • of CHRISTIAN, and her children are come hither on pilgrimage.' She went in, therefore, and told it. But, oh, what noise for gladness was therein, when the damsel did but drop that out of her mouth! So they came with haste to the porter, for CHRISstood still at the door. Then some of the ve said unto her, Come in, CHRISTIANA, thou wife of that good man, come in, thou woman, come in, with all that are with thee.' went in, and they followed her that were her THEY ARE ENTERTAINED, AND GO TO REST. 63 children and her companions. Now when they were gone in, they were had into a large room, and bid to sit down so they sat down, and the chief of the house were called to see and welcome the guests. Then they came in, and, understanding who they were, did salute each other with a kiss, and said, Welcome, ye vessels of the grace of God, welcome unto us who are your faithful friends.'. Now, because it was somewhat late, and because the pilgrims were weary with their journey, and also made faint with the sight of the fight, and the terrible lions, they desired as soon as might be, to prepare to go to rest. 'Nay,' said those of the family, refresh yourselves with a morsel of meat:' for they had prepared for them a lamb, with the accustomed sauce thereto1. For the porter had heard before of their coming, and had told it to them within. So when they had supped, and ended their prayer with a psalm, they desired they might go to rest. But let us,' said CHRISTIANA, if we may be When so bold as to choose, be in that chamber that was my husband's, when he was here.' So they had them up thither, and they all lay in a room3. they were at rest, CHRISTIANA and MERCY entered into discourse about things that were convenient. CHR. Little did I think once, when my husband went on pilgrimage, that I should ever have followed him. MER. And you as little thought of lying in his bed, and in his chamber to rest, as you do now. |