Then said
Christian to his fellow, Now I call to remembrance that which was told
me of a thing that happened to a good man hereabout. The name of the man was
Little-Faith; but a good man, and he dwelt in the town of Sincere. The thing
was this. At the entering in at this passage, there comes down from
Broadway-gate, a lane, called Dead-Man’s lane; so called because of the murders
that are commonly done there; and this Little-Faith going on pilgrimage, as we
do now, chanced to sit down there and sleep. Now there happened at that time to
come down the lane from Broadway-gate, three sturdy rogues, and their names
were Faint-Heart, Mistrust, and Guilt, three brothers; and they, espying
Little-Faith where he was, came galloping up with speed. Now the good man was
just awaked from his sleep, and was getting up to go on his journey. So they
came up all to him, and with threatening language bid him stand. At this,
Little-Faith looked as white as a sheet, and had neither power to fight nor fly.
Then said Faint-Heart, Deliver thy purse; but he making no haste to do it, (for
he was loth to lose his money,) Mistrust ran up to him, and thrusting his hand
into his pocket, pulled out thence a bag of silver. Then he cried out, Thieves,
thieves! With that, Guilt, with a great club that was in his hand, struck
Little-Faith on the head, and with that blow felled him flat to the ground,
where he lay bleeding as one that would bleed to death. All this while the
thieves stood by. But at last, they hearing that some were upon the road, and
fearing lest it should be one Great-Grace, that dwells in the town of
Good-Confidence, they betook themselves to their heels, and left this good man
to shift for himself. Now, after a while, Little-Faith came to himself, and
getting up, made shift to scramble on his way. This was the story.
Hopeful: But did they take from him all that ever he had?
Christian: No; the place where his jewels were they never
ransacked; so those he kept still. But, as I was told, the good man was much
afflicted for his loss; for the thieves got most of his spending-money. That
which they got not, as I said, were jewels; also, he had a little odd money
left, but scarce enough to bring him to his journey’s end. Nay, (if I was not
misinformed,) he was forced to beg as he went, to keep himself alive, for his
jewels he might not sell; but beg and do what he could, he went, as we say,
with many a hungry belly the most part of the rest of the way.
Hopeful: But is it not a wonder they got not from him his
certificate, by which he was to receive his admittance at the Celestial Gate?
Christian: It is a wonder; but they got not that, though
they missed it not through any good cunning of his; for he, being dismayed by
their coming upon him, had neither power nor skill to hide any thing; so it was
more by good providence than by his endeavor that they missed of that good
thing.
Hopeful: But it must needs be a comfort to him they got not
this jewel from him.
Christian: It might have been great comfort to him, had he
used it as he should; but they that told me the story said that he made but
little use of it all the rest of the way, and that because of the dismay that
he had in their taking away his money. Indeed, he forgot it a great part of the
rest of his journey; and besides, when at any time it came into his mind, and
he began to be comforted therewith, then would fresh thoughts of his loss come
again upon him, and these thoughts would swallow up all.
Hopeful: Alas, poor man, this could not but be a great grief
to him.
Christian: Grief? Aye, a grief indeed! Would it not have
been so to any of us, had we been used as he, to be robbed and wounded too, and
that in a strange place, as he was? It is a wonder he did not die with grief,
poor heart. I was told that he scattered almost all the rest of the way with
nothing but doleful and bitter complaints; telling, also, to all that overtook
him, or that he overtook in the way as he went, where he was robbed, and how;
who they were that did it, and what he had lost; how he was wounded, and that
he hardly escaped with life.
