Now I saw in my dream, that by this time the pilgrims were got over the
Enchanted Ground, and entering into the country of Beulah, whose air was very
sweet and pleasant, the way lying directly through it, they solaced themselves there for a season.
Yea, here they heard continually the singing of birds, and saw every day the
flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle in the land. In
this country the sun shineth night and day: wherefore this was beyond the
Valley of the Shadow of Death, and also out of the reach of Giant Despair;
neither could they from this place so much as see Doubting Castle. Here they
were within sight of the city they were going to; also here met them some of
the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the shining ones commonly walked,
because it was upon the borders of heaven. In this land also the contract
between the Bride and the Bridegroom was renewed; yea, here, “as the bridegroom
rejoiceth over the bride, so doth God rejoice over them.” Here they had no want
of corn and wine; for in this place they met with abundance of what they had
sought for in all their pilgrimage. Here they heard voices from out of the
city, loud voices, saying, “Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy
salvation cometh! Behold, his reward is with him!” Here all the inhabitants of
the country called them “the holy People, the redeemed of the Lord, sought
out,” etc.
Now, as they walked
in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts more remote from the
kingdom to which they were bound; and drawing near to the city, they had yet a
more perfect view thereof: It was builded of pearls and precious stones, also
the streets thereof were paved with gold; so that, by reason of the natural
glory of the city, and the reflection of the sunbeams upon it, Christian with
desire fell sick; Hopeful also had a fit or two of the same disease: wherefore
here they lay by it a while, crying out because of their pangs, “If you see my
Beloved, tell him that I am sick of love.”
But, being a
little strengthened, and better able to bear their sickness, they walked on
their way, and came yet nearer and nearer, where were orchards, vineyards, and
gardens, and their gates opened into the highway. Now, as they came up to these
places, behold the gardener stood in the way; to whom the pilgrims said, Whose
goodly vineyards and gardens are these? He answered, they are the King’s, and
are planted here for his own delight, and also for the solace of pilgrims. So
the gardener had them into the vineyards, and bid them refresh themselves with
the dainties, he also showed them there the
King’s walks and arbors where he delighted to be: And here they tarried and
slept.
Now I beheld in
my dream, that they talked more in their sleep at this time than ever they did
in all their journey; and, being in a muse thereabout, the gardener said even
to me, Wherefore musest thou at the matter? It is the nature of the fruit of
the grapes of these vineyards, “to go down so sweetly as to cause the lips of
them that are asleep to speak.”
So I saw that
when they awoke, they addressed themselves to go up to the city. But, as I
said, the reflection of the sun upon the city (for the city was pure gold, was so extremely glorious, that they could not as yet with open face behold it,
but through an instrument made for that purpose. So I saw, that as they went on,
there met them two men in raiment that shone like gold, also their faces shone
as the light.
These men asked
the pilgrims whence they came; and they told them. They also asked them where
they had lodged, what difficulties and dangers, what comforts and pleasures,
they had met with in the way; and they told them. Then said the men that met
them, You have but two difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the
City.
