They went on here, each man with his fword drawn in his hand, for they knew it was a dangerous place. Also they cheered up one another as well as they could; Mr. Great-heart commanded Feeble-mind to come up after him, and Mr. Defpondency was under the eye of Mr. Valiant.

Now they had not gone far before a great mist and darkness fell upon them all; fo that they could scarce, for a great while, fee one another. Wherefore they were forced, for fome time, to feel for one another by words; for they walked not by fight. Any one must think, that here was but forry going for the best of them all; but how much worse for the women and children, who were tender both of feet and heart. Yet fo it was, that through the encouraging words of him who led the way in the front, and of him who brought them up behind, they made a pretty good shift to wag along. The way was also here very wearifome through dirt and flabbiness. Nor was there, on all this ground, fo much as one inn, or victualling-house, wherein to refresh the feebler fort. Here therefore was grunting, and puffing, and fighing: one tumbled over a bush; another sticks faft in the dirt; the children, fome of them lofe their fhoes in the mire; one cries out, I am down; and another, Halloo, where are you? And a third, The bushes have got fuch fast hold on me, I think I cannot get away from them. Then they came to an arbour, warm, and promifing much refreshment to the pilgrims: for it was

finely wrought above head, beautified with greens, furnished with benches and fettles.

It had in it a foft couch, where the weary might lean. This, you must think, all things confidered, was tempting; for the pilgrims already began to be foiled with the badness of the way; but there was not one of them who made fo much as a motion to ftop there. Yea, for aught I could perceive, they continually gave fo good heed to the advice of their guide, and he did fo faithfully tell them of dangers, and of the nature of dangers when they were at them, that ufually when they were nearest to them, they did most pluck up their spirits, and hearten one another to deny the flesh. This arbour was called the Slothful's Friend, on purpose to allure, if it might be, fome of the pilgrims to take up their reft there when weary.

I saw then in my dream, that they went on in this folitary 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 which 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 ftruck a light (for he never travelled without his tinder-box), and takes a view of his book or map, which bids him be careful in that place to turn to the right-hand. Had he not here been careful to look in his map, they had in all probability been fmothered in the mud; for just a little before them, and that at the end of the cleanest way

too,

too, was a pit, none knows how deep, full of nothing but mud, made there on purpose to destroy pilgrims.

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 in this Enchanted Ground till they came to the place where was another arbour, and it was built by the highway-fide. And in that arbour lay two men, whofe names were Heedlefs and Toobold. These two went thus far on pilgrimage; but being wearied with their journey, they fat down here to rest themselves, and fo fell fast asleep. When the pilgrims faw them, they ftood ftill, and shook their heads; for they knew that the fleepers were in a pitiful cafe. Then they confulted what to do, whether to go on, and leave them in their fleep, or step up to them, and try to wake them. 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 fit down nor 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 feems did know them), but there was no voice, nor anfwer. Then the guide did shake them, and do what he could to disturb them. Then faid one of them, I will pay you when I take my money: at which the guide fhook his head. I will fight fo long as I can hold E e 2

my

my fword in my hand, faid the other. At that one of the children laughed.

Then faid Chriftiana, What is the meaning of this? The guide faid, They talk in their fleep; 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 fea did beat upon him, and he slept as one upon the mast of a fhip: When I awake, I will seek it again. You know, when men talk in their fleep, they fay any thing, but 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 pilgrimage, and fitting down here. This is the mischief on it, when heedlefs ones go on pilgrimage; twenty to one but they are ferved thus: for this Enchanted Ground is one of the laft refuges which the enemy to pilgrims has; wherefore it is, as you fee, 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 fo defirous to fit down, as when they are weary? And when fo like to be weary, as when almost at their journey's end? Therefore it is, I fay, that the Enchanted Ground is placed fo nigh to the land Beulah, and fo near the end of their race. Wherefore let pilgrims look to themselves, left it happen to them, as it has done to thefe, who, as you fee, are fallen asleep, and none can awake them.

Then the pilgrims defired with trembling to go

forward,

forward, only they prayed their guide to ftrike a light, that they might go the rest of their way by the help of the light of a lanthorn. So he struck a light, and they went, by the help of that, through the reft of this way, though the darkness was very great.

But the children began to be forely weary, and cried out unto him who loveth pilgrims, to make their way more comfortable. By the time they had gone a little farther, a wind arofe, which drove away the fog, and the air became more clear.

Yet they were not off the Enchanted Ground by a great way, only now they could fee one another better, and the way wherein they should walk.

Now, when they were almost at the end of this ground, they perceived that, a little before them, there was a folemn noise, of one who was much concerned. So they went on, and looked before them; and behold they faw, as they thought, a man upon his knees, with hands and eyes lift up, and speaking, as they thought, earnestly to one who was above: they drew nigh, but could not tell what he faid; fo they went foftly till he had done. When he had done, he got up, and began to run towards the celeftial city. Then Mr. Great-heart called after him, faying, Soho, friend, let us have your company, if you are going, as I fuppose you are, to the celeftial city. The man ftopped, and they came up to him. But as foon as Mr. Honest saw

him, he faid, I know this man. Then faid Mr. Valiant-for-truth, Prithee, who is it? It is one, said