The Pilgrims arrive at the Enchanted Ground.

By this time they were got to the Enchanted Ground, where the air naturally tends to make one drowsy. And that place was all grown over with briars and thorns, excepting here and there, where was an enchanted arbour, upon which if a man sit, or in which if a man sleep, it is a question, say some, whether ever he shall rise or wake again in this world. Over this forest therefore they went, and Mr. Great-heart went before, for that he was the guide; and Mr. Valiant-for-truth came behind, being rear-guard, for fear lest peradventure some fiend, or dragon, or giant, or thief, should fall upon their rear, and so do mischief. They went on here, each man with his sword drawn in his hand; for they knew it was a dangerous place. Also they cheered up one another as well as they could. Feeble-mind, Mr. Great-heart commanded should come up after him; and Mr. Despondency was under the eye of Mr. Valiant,

Now they had not gone far, but a great mist of darkness fell upon them all; so that they could scarce, for a great while, one see the other. Wherefore they were forced, for some time, to feel for one another by words; for they walked not by sight. But any one must think, that here was but sorry going for the best of them all; but how much worse for the women and children, who both of feet and heart were but tender! Yet so it was, that through the encouraging words of him who led in the front, and of him who brought them up behind, they made a pretty good shift to move along.

The way was also here very wearisome, through dirt and slabbiness. Nor was there, on all this ground, so much as one inn or victualling-house wherein to refresh the feebler sort. Here, therefore,

and zeal of Valiant, is written in a superior style to any of our author's other poetry.

The Dangers of the Enchanted Ground.

was nothing but groaning, and puffing, and sighing. One tumbled over a bush, another stuck fast in the dirt, and the children, some of them, lost their shoes in the mire-while one cried out, "I am down;" and another, "Ho, where are you?" and a third, "The bushes have got such fast hold of me, that I think I cannot get away from them."

Then they came to an arbour, warm, and promising much refreshment to the pilgrims; for it was finely wrought above head, beautified with greens, and furnished with benches and settles. It had in it a soft couch, on which the weary might lean. This, you must think, all things considered, was tempting; for the pilgrims already began to be foiled with the badness of the way: but there was not one of them that made so much as a motion to stop there. Yea, for aught I could perceive, they continu ally gave so good heed to the advice of their guide, and he did so faithfully tell them of dangers, and of the nature of the dangers when they were at them, that usually when they were nearest to them, they did most pluck up their spirits, and hearten one another to deny the flesh. This harbour was called The Slothful's Friend, and was made on purpose to allure, if it might be, some of the pilgrims to take up their rest here, when weary.

I saw then in my dream, that they went on in this solitary ground, till they came to a place at which a man is apt to lose his way. Now, though when it was light their guide could well enough tell how to miss those ways that lead wrong, yet in the dark he was put to a stand. But he had in his pocket a map of all the ways leading to or from the celestial city; wherefore he struck a light, (for he never goes without his tinder-box,) and took a view of his book or map, which bid him be careful in that place to turn to the right hand. And had he not here been careful to look into his map, they had in all probability

The Pilgrims meet Heedless and Too-bold.

been smothered in the mud; for a little before them, and that at the end of the cleanest way too, was a pit, none knows how deep, full of nothing but mud, there made on purpose to destroy the pilgrinus in.

Then thought I with myself, Who that goeth on pilgrimage but would have one of these 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 there was another arbour, which was built by the highway-side. And in that arbour 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 step to them and try to wake them. So they concluded to go to them and awake them; that is, if they could; but with this caution, namely, to take heed that they themselves did not sit down and embrace the offered benefit of that arbour.

So they went in, and spake to the men, and called each by his name, for the guide it seems did know

Having shewn the victory which faith obtains over temptations to sin against God, our author now describes its influence in preserving christians from the allurements, and supporting them amidst the difficulties, to which they are exposed from their intercourse with the world. Believers are not exempt from worldly trials, and they are occasionally exposed to its temptations. Thorns and briars may be in their path; darkness and distress may afflict their minds; and fascinating objects may entice their attention. They are however safe, while they walk by the directions, and in the light, of the holy scriptures: "Thy word," says the psalmist, " is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path," Ps. cxix. 105.

The Dangers of the Enchanted Ground,

hem; but there was no voice nor answer. Then the guide shook them, and did 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 as long as I can hold my sword in my hand," said the other. At that, one of the children laughed.

Then said Christiana, "What is the meaning of this?" The guide said, "They talkin 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, Prov. xxiii. 34, 35. "When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again." You know when men talk in their sleep, they say any thing; and their words are not governed either by faith or reason. There is an incoherency in their words now, as there was before betwixt their going on pilgrim. age and sitting down here. This then is the mischief of it;-when heedless ones go on pilgrimage, twenty to one but they are served thus. For this Enchanted Ground is one of the last refuges that the enemy of 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 nigh to the land of Beulah, and so near to the end of their race. Wherefore let pilgrims look to themselves, lest it happen to

a Professors who are "heedless and too-bold," careless and vain-confident, are led into sloth and carnal security, from which no human power can awake them, however inconsistent such a state of mind is with their profession as strangers and pilgrims 'n the earth.

The Pilgrims meet with Standfast.

them, as it has done to these, who, as you see, are fallen asleep, and none can awake them."

Then the pilgrims desired with trembling to go forward; only they prayed their guide to strike a light, that they might go the rest of their way by the help of the light of a lantern. So he struck a light, and they went by the help of that through the rest of this way, though the darkness was very great, (2 Pet. i. 19.) But the children began to be sorely weary and they cried unto him that loveth pilgrims to make their way more comfortable. So by that they had gone a little further, a wind arose, which drove away the fog, so that the air became more clear. Yet they had still a great way to go on the Enchanted Ground; only now they could see one another better, and the way wherein they should walk.

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When they were almost at the end of this ground, they heard a little before them a solemn noise of one that was much concerned. So they went on, and looked before them and behold they saw, as they thought, a man upon his knees, with hands and eyes lifted up, and speaking, as they thought, earnestly to one that was above. They drew nigh, but could not tell what he said; so they went softly till he had done. When he had done, he got up, and began to run towards the Celestial City. Then Mr. Great-heart called after him, saying, "Soho, friend, let us have your company, if you are going, as I suppose you are,

b It is the policy of the devil to try professors with the "enchantments" of the world, after other snares have lost their influence; and it is deeply affecting to know, that some persons who have resisted other temptations, have been drawn aside from the path of duty by worldly ease and prosperity, even towards the end of life.

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." They who seek deliverance from the trials and snares of Jife, will find that God heareth and answerett prayer; and though they may not at once, according to their desires, be taken out of the world, they will be kept from the evil that is in it.