But while he was 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 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 dangers 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 at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that
Christian made a halt, as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying, Is thy
strength so small? 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 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.
Christian: 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.
The Porter: What
is your name?
Christian: 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.
The Porter: But
how does it happen that you come so late? The sun is set.
Christian: I had
been here sooner, but that, wretched man that I am, I slept in the arbor 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 not finding it, 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.
The Porter: Well,
I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who will, if she likes 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, mayest do
as seemeth thee good, even according to the law of the house.
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 threshold 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.
