The Battle of Darkness and Light - Джон Мильтон

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      Hope. Then said Hopeful, Let us go see.

      Chr. Not I, said Christian: I have heard of this place before now, and how many have there 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.

      Chr. Then said Christian to Hopeful, Let us not stir a step, but still keep on our way.

      Hope. I will warrant you, when Byends comes up, if he hath the same invitation as we, he will turn in thither to see.

      Chr. 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?

      Chr. 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.

      Chr. 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.

      Chr. I know you: Gehazi was your

       HOPEFUL

       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 Byends 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,

      Byends 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.”

      Now I saw that, just on the other side of this plain, the pilgrims came to a place where stood an old monument, hard by the highway-side, at the sight of which they were both concerned, because of the strangeness of the form thereof; for it seemed to them as if it had been a woman transformed into the shape of a pillar. Here, therefore, they stood looking and looking upon it, but could not for a time tell what they should make thereof. At last Hopeful espied, written above upon the head thereof, a writing in an unusual hand; but he being no scholar, called to Christian (for he was learned) to see if he could pick out the meaning: so he came, and after a little laying of the letters together, he found the same to be this, “Remember Lot’s wife.” So he read it to his fellow; after which they both concluded that that was the pillar of salt into which Lot’s wife was turned, for her looking back with a covetous heart when she was going from Sodom for safety. Which sudden and amazing sight gave them occasion for this discourse.

      Chr. Ah, my brother, this is a seasonable sight: it came opportunely to us after the invitation which Demas gave us to come over to view the hill Lucre; and had we gone over, as he desired us, and as thou wast inclined to do, my brother, we had, for aught I know, been made, like this woman, a spectacle for those that shall come after to behold.

      Hope. I am sorry that I was so foolish, and am made to wonder that I am not now as Lot’s wife; for wherein was the difference betwixt her sin and mine? She only looked back, and I had a desire to go see. Let grace be adored; and let me be ashamed that ever such a thing should be in mine heart.

      I saw then that they went on their way to a pleasant river, which David the king called “the river of God;” but John, “the river of the water of life.” Now their way lay just upon the bank of this river: here, therefore, Christian and his companion walked with great delight; they drank also of the water of the river, which was pleasant and enlivening to their weary spirits. Besides, on the banks of this river, on either side, were green trees with all manner of fruit; and the leaves they ate to prevent diseases that are incident to those that heat their blood by travel. On either side of the river was also a meadow, curiously beautified with lilies; and it was green all the year long. In this meadow they lay down and slept, for here they might lie down safely. When they awoke they gathered again of the fruits of the trees, and drank again of the water of the river, and then lay down again to sleep. Thus they did several days and nights.

      So when they were disposed to go on (for they were not as yet at their journey’s end), they ate, and drank, and departed.

      Hope. But how if this path should lead us out of the way?

      That is not likely, said the other. Look, doth it not go along by the wayside? So Hopeful, being persuaded by his fellow, went after him over the stile. When they were gone over, and were got into the path, they found it very easy for their feet; and withal, they, looking before them, espied a man walking as they did, and his name was Vain-Confidence: so they called after him, and asked him whither that way led. He said, To the Celestial Gate. Look, said Christian, did I not tell you so? By this you may see we are right. So they followed, and he went before them. But behold, the night came on, and it grew very dark; so they that were behind lost sight of him that went before.

      He, therefore, that went before (Vain-Confidence by name), not seeing the way before him, fell into a deep pit, which was on purpose there made, by the prince of those grounds, to catch vain-glorious fools withal, and was dashed in pieces with his fall.

      Now, Christian and his fellow heard him fall. So they called to know the matter, but there was none to answer, only they heard a groaning. Then said Hopeful, Where are we now? Then was his fellow silent, as mistrusting that he had led him out of the way; and now it began to rain, and thunder, and lighten, in a most dreadful manner, and the water rose rapidly.

      Then Hopeful groaned in himself, saying, Oh, that I had kept on my way!

      Chr. Who could have thought that this path should have led us out of the way?

      Hope. I was afraid on’t at the very first, and therefore gave you that gentle caution. I would have spoken plainer, but that you are older than I.

      Chr. Good brother, be not offended: I am sorry I have brought thee out of the way, and that I have put thee into such imminent danger. Pray, my brother, forgive me; I did not do it of an evil intent.

      Hope. Be comforted, my brother, for I forgive thee; and believe, too, that this shall be for our good.

      Chr.

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