Thus they
lay bewailing themselves in the net. At last they espied a Shining One
coming towards them with a whip of small cords in his hand. When he was come to
the place where they were, he asked them whence they came, and what they did
there. They told him that they were poor pilgrims going to Zion, but were led
out of their way by a black man clothed in white, who bid us, said they, follow
him, for he was going thither too. Then said he with the whip, It is Flatterer,
a false apostle, that hath transformed himself into an angel of light. So he rent the net, and let the men out. Then said
he to them, Follow me, that I may set you in your way again. So he led them
back to the way which they had left to follow the Flatterer. Then he asked
them, saying, Where did you lie the last night? They said, With the shepherds
upon the Delectable Mountains. He asked them then if they had not of the
shepherds a note of direction for the way. They answered, Yes. But did you not,
said he, when you were at a stand, pluck out and read your note? They answered,
No. He asked them, Why? They said they forgot. He asked, moreover, if the
shepherds did not bid them beware of the Flatterer. They answered, Yes; but we
did not imagine, said they, that this fine-spoken man had been he.
Then I saw in my dream, that he commanded them to lie down;
which when they did, he chastised them sore, to teach them the good way wherein
they should walk, and as he chastised them, he said,
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent.” This done, he bids them to go on their way, and take good heed to the other
directions of the shepherds. So they thanked him for all his kindness, and went
softly along the right way, singing,
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“Come hither, you that walk along the way,
See how the pilgrims fare that go astray:
They catched are in an entangling net,
Cause they good counsel lightly did forget:
’Tis true, they rescued were; but yet, you see,
They’re scouged to boot; let this your caution be.”
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