THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, IN THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM. The Jail. This world. am certainly informed that this our As I walked through the wilderness lieth hard upon me; moreover, I of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den,* and laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags standing in a cer-serably come to ruin, tain place, with his face from his except (the which yet own house, a book in his hand, and I see not) some way of escape can a great burden upon his back, Isa. be found, whereby we may be delxiv. 6; Luke xiv. 33; Psa. xxxviii.livered. At this his relations were 4. I looked, and saw him open the sore amazed; not for that they bebook, and read therein; and as he lieved that what he had said to read, he wept and trembled; and them was true, but because they not being able longer to contain, thought that some phrensy distemhe brake out with a lamentable cry, per had got into his head; theresaying, What shall I do?" Acts fore, it drawing towards night, and ii. 37; xvi. 30; Hab. i. 2, 3. they hoping that sleep might settle his brains, with all haste they got him to bed. But the night was as troublesome to him as the day; wherefore, instead of sleeping, he spent it in sighs and tears. So when the morning was come, they would know how he did. He told them, Worse and worse: he also set to talking to them again; but they began to be hardened. They also thought to drive away Carnal physic his distemper by harsh for a sick soul. and surly carriage to him: sometimes they would deride, sometimes they would chide, and sometimes In this plight, therefore, he went home, and restrained himself as long as he could, that his wife and children should not perceive his distress; but he could not be silent long, because that his trouble increased. Wherefore at length he brake his mind to his wife and children; and thus he began to talk to them. O my dear wife, said he, and you the children of my bowels, I, your dear friend, am in myself undone by reason of a burden that Bedford jall, in which the author was a prisoner for conscience sake. |