Then Christian and Hopeful outwent them again, and went till they came at a delicate
plain, called Ease, where they went with much content; but that plain was but
narrow, so they were quickly got over it. Now at the farther side of that plain
was a little hill, called Lucre, and in that hill a silver-mine, which some of
them that had formerly gone that way, because of the rarity of it, had turned
aside to see; but going too near the brim of the pit, the ground, being
deceitful under them, broke, and they were slain: some also had been maimed
there, and could not, to their dying day, be their own men again.
Then I saw in my
dream, that a little off the road, over against the silver-mine, stood Demas
(gentleman-like) to call passengers to come and see; who said to Christian and
his fellow, Ho! turn aside hither, and I will show you a thing.
Christian: What
thing so deserving as to turn us out of the way to see it?
Demas: Here is a
silver-mine, and some digging in it for treasure; if you will come, with a
little pains you may richly provide for yourselves.
Hopeful: Then
said Hopeful, let us go see.
Christian: Not I,
said Christian: I have heard of this place before now, and how many there have
been slain; and besides, that treasure is a snare to those that seek it, for it
hindereth them in their pilgrimage.
Then Christian
called to Demas, saying, Is not the place dangerous? Hath it not hindered many
in their pilgrimage?
Demas: Not very
dangerous, except to those that are careless; but withal he blushed as he
spake.
Christian: Then
said Christian to Hopeful, Let us not stir a step, but still keep on our way.
Hopeful: I will
warrant you, when By-ends comes up, if he hath the same invitation as we, he
will turn in thither to see.
Christian: No
doubt thereof, for his principles lead him that way, and a hundred to one but
he dies there.
Demas: Then Demas
called again, saying, But will you not come over and see?
Christian: Then
Christian roundly answered, saying, Demas, thou art an enemy to the right ways of
the Lord of this way, and hast been already condemned for thine own turning
aside, by one of his Majesty’s judges, and why seekest thou to bring us
into the like condemnation? Besides, if we at all turn aside, our Lord the King
will certainly hear thereof, and will there put us to shame, where we would
stand with boldness before him.
Demas cried
again, that he also was one of their fraternity; and that if they would tarry a
little, he also himself would walk with them.
Christian: Then
said Christian, What is thy name? Is it not the same by which I have called
thee?
Demas: Yes, my
name is Demas; I am the son of Abraham.
Christian: I know
you; Gehazi was your great-grandfather, and Judas your father, and you have
trod in their steps; it is but a devilish prank that thou usest: thy father was
hanged for a traitor, and thou deservest no better reward. Assure thyself, that when we come to the King, we will tell him of this thy
behavior. Thus they went their way.
By this time
By-ends and his companions were come again within sight, and they at the first
beck went over to Demas. Now, whether they fell into the pit by looking over
the brink thereof, or whether they went down to dig, or whether they were
smothered in the bottom by the damps that commonly arise, of these things I am
not certain; but this I observed, that they were never seen again in the way.
Then sang Christian,
“By-ends and silver Demas both agree;
One calls, the other runs, that he may be
A sharer in his lucre: so these two
Take up in this world, and no farther go.”
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