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and arrives at the House Beautiful.

his remembrance; and thus he began to condole with himself: O thou sinful sleep! how for thy sake am I like to be benighted in my journey! I must walk without the sun, darkness must cover the path of my feet, and I must hear the noise of doleful creatures, because of my sinful sleep! Now also he remembered the story that Mistrust and Timorous had told him, of their being frighted with the sight of the lions. Then said Christian to himself again, These beasts range in the night for their prey, and if they should meet with me in the dark, how should I shift them? how should I escape being by them torn in pieces? Thus he went on his way. But while he was thus bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, he lift up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful, and it stood just by the highway-side.

So I saw in my dream, that he made haste, and went forward, that if possible he might get lodging there. Now before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off the Porter's lodge; and looking very narrowly before him as he went, he espied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the danger that Mistrust and Timorous were driven back by. (The lions were chained, but he saw not the chains.) Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go back after them; for he thought nothing but death was before him. But the Porter of the lodge, whose name was Watchful, perceiving that Christian made a halt, as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying, "Is thy strength so small? (Mark iv. 40.) Fear not the lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of those that have none: keep in the midst of the path, and no hurt shall come unto thee."

Then I saw that he went on trembling for fear of the lions; but taking good heed to the directions of the Porter, he heard them roar, but they did him no harm. Then he clapped his hands, and went on till

Entertainment of Christian

he came and stood before the gate where the Porter was. Then said Christian to the Porter, "Sir, what house is this? and may I lodge here to night?" The Porter answered, "This house was built by the Lord of the hill, and he built it for the relief and security of pilgrims." The Porter also asked whence he was, and whither he was going.

CHR. I am come from the city of Destruction, and, am going to mount Zion; but because the sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to lodge here to-night. PORT. What is your name?

CHR. My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was Graceless: I came of the race of Japheth, whom God will persuade to dwell in the tents of Shem. (Gen. ix. 27.)

PORT. But how doth it happen that you came so late? The sun is set.

CHR. I had been here sooner, but that, wretched man that I am, I slept in the harbour, that stands on the hill side! Nay, I had, notwithstanding that, been here much sooner, but that in my sleep I lost my evidence, and came without it to the brow of the hill; and then feeling for it, and finding it not, I was forced with sorrow of heart to go back to the place where I slept my sleep, where I found it; and now I am

come.

PORT. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who will, if she like your talk, bring you in to the rest of the family, according to the rules of the house. So Watchful the Porter rang a bell, at the sound of which came out of the door of the house a grave and beautiful damsel, named Discretion, and asked why she was called.

The Porter answered, "This man is on a journey from the city of Destruction to mount Zion; but being weary and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here to-night so I told him I would call for thee, who, after discourse had with him, mayst do as seemeth thee good, even according to the law of the house.

:

at the House Beautiful.

Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going; and he told her. She asked him also how he got into the way; and he told her. Then she asked him what he had seen and met with in the way; and he told her. And at last she asked his name. So he said, "It is Christian; and I have so much the more a desire to lodge here to-night, because, by what I perceive, this place was built by the Lord of the hill for the relief and security of pilgrims." So she smiled, but the water stood in her eyes; and after a little pause she said, "I will call forth two or three more of the family." So she ran to the door, and called out Prudence, Piety, and Charity, who after a little more discourse with him, had him into the family; and many of them meeting him at the threshhold of the house, said, " Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; this house was built by the Lord of the hill, on purpose to entertain such pilgrims in." Then he bowed his head, and followed them into the house. So when he was come in and had sat down, they gave him something to drink, and consented together that until supper was ready, some of them should have some particular discourse with Christian, for the better improvement of time; and they appointed Piety, and Prudence, and Charity, to discourse with him; and thus they began.

PIETY. Come, good Christian, since we have been so loving to you as to receive you into our house this night, let us, if perhaps we may better ourselves thereby, talk with you of all things that have happened to you in your pilgrimage.

CHR. With a very good will; and I am glad that you are so well disposed.

PIETY. What moved you at first to betake yourself to a pilgrim's life?

CHR. I was driven out of my native country by a dreadful sound that was in my ears; to wit, that unavoidable destruction did attend me, if I abode in that place where I was.

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