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Now, as they had spent some time here, they made a move to go. Then Joseph, who was Christiana's third, son, said to her: You were to send to the house of Mr. Interpreter to beg him to grant that Mr. Great-heart should go with us as our guide.
Good boy! said Christiana, I had not thought of it.
So she wrote a note, and Interpreter said to the man who brought it: Go, tell them that I will send him.
Great-heart soon came, and he said to Christiana and Mercy, My Lord has sent you some wine and burnt corn, and to the boys figs and dry grapes.
They then set off, and Prudence and Piety went with them. But first Christiana took leave of Watchful, who kept the gate, and put a small coin in his hand while she gave him her thanks for all that he had done for her and her dear boys. She then said to him, Have you seen men go by since we have been here?
Watchful: -- Yes, I have, and there has been a great theft on this high way; but the thieves were caught.
Then Christiana and Mercy said they felt great fear to go on that road.
Matthew: -- Fear not, as long as we have Mr. Great-heart with us to guide us.
I now saw in my dream that they went on till they came to the brow of the hill, when Piety said: O, I must go back to fetch that which I meant to give to Christiana and Mercy, and it was a list of all those things which they had seen at the house where we live. On these, said she, I beg of you to look from time to time...
They now went down the hill to the Vale of Humiliation. It was a steep hill, and their feet slid as they went on; but they took great care, and when they had got to the foot of it, Piety said to Christiana: This is the vale where Christian met with Apollyon and where they had that fierce fight which I know you must hav...
James: -- See, there is a post with words on it, I will go and read them.
So he went, and found that these words were cut on it: Let the slips which Christian met with ere he came here, and the fights he had in this place, warn all those who come to the Vale of Humiliation.
Mr. Great-heart: -- It is not so hard to go up as down this hill, and that can be said of but few hills in this part of the world. But we will leave the good man, he is at rest, and he had a brave fight with the foe; let Him who dwells on high grant that we fare no worse when our strength comes to be put to the test. T...
Now, as they went on, they met a boy who was clad in mean clothes and kept watch on some sheep. He had a fine fresh face, and as he sat on the bank he sang a song.
Hark, said Great-heart, to the words of that boy's song.
So they gave ear to it.
"He that is down need fear no fall, He that is low, no pride, He that is meek at all times shall Have God to be his guide."
Then said Great-heart: Do you hear him? I dare say this boy leads as gay a life as he that is clad in silk, and that he wears more of that plant which they call heart's ease.
Samuel: -- Ask Great-heart in what part of this vale it was that Apollyon came to fight Christian?
Great-heart: -- The fight took place at that part of the plain which has the name of Forgetful Green. And if those who go on their way, meet with a shock, it is when they lose sight of the good which they have at the hand of Him who dwells on high.
Mercy: -- I think I feel as well in this place as I have done in all the rest of our way. This vale has a sweet grace, and just suits my mind; for I love to be in such a spot as this, where there are no coach wheels to make a din. Here one may think a while what he is, whence he came, and for what the King has made him...
Just then they thought that the ground they trod on shook. But the guide bade them be of good cheer, and look well to their feet, lest by chance they should meet with some snare.
Then James felt sick, but I think the cause of it was fear, and Christiana gave him some of the wine which Mr. Interpreter had put in her hands, and three of the pills which Mr. Skill had made up, and the boy soon got well.
They then went on a while, and Christiana said, What is that thing on the road? A thing of such a shape I have not seen in all my life!
Joseph said, What is it?
A vile thing, child, a vile thing! said she.
Joseph: -- But what is it like?
Christiana: -- It is like -- I can't tell what. Just then it was far off, now it is nigh.
Great-heart: -- Well, let them that have the most fear keep close to me.
Then it went out of sight of all of them.
But they had not gone far when Mercy cast a look back, and saw a great beast come fast up to them with a loud roar.
This noise made them all quail with fright save their guide, who fell back and put the rest in front of him. But when the brute saw that Great-heart meant to fight him, he drew back and was seen no more.
Now they had not left the spot long when a great mist fell on them, so that they could not see.
What shall we do? said they.
Their guide told them not to fear, but to stand still, and see what an end he would put to this too.
Then said Christiana to Mercy: Now I see what my poor dear Christian went through; I have heard much of this place. Poor man, he went here in the dead of the night, and no one with him; but who can tell what the Valley of the Shadow of Death should mean, till they come to see it? To be here fills my breast with awe!
Great-heart: It seems now as if the earth and its bars were round us. I would not boast, but I trust we shall still make our way. Come, let us pray for light to Him that can give it.
So did they weep and pray. And as the path was now more smooth, they went straight on.
Mercy: -- To be here is not so sweet as it was at The Gate, or at Mr. Interpreter's, or at the good house where we were last.
Oh, said one of the boys, it is not so bad to go through this place as it is to dwell here for all time; for aught I know we have to go this way that our last home may seem to us the more blest.
Great-heart: -- Well said, Samuel; thou dost now speak like a man.
Samuel: -- Why, if I do in truth get out of this place, I think I shall prize that which is light and good more than I have done all my life.
Great-heart: -- We shall be out by and by.
So on they went.
Joseph: -- Can we not see to the end of this vale yet?
Great-heart: -- Look to your feet, for you will soon be where the snares are.
So they took good heed.
Great-heart: -- Men come here and bring no guide with them; hence it is they die from the snares they meet with in the way. Poor Christian! it is strange he should have got out of this place, and been safe. But God dwelt in his soul, and he had a stout heart, of his own, or else he could not have done it.
Christiana: -- I wish that there were some inn here where we could all take rest.
I Well, said Mr. Honest -- one whom they had just met -- there is such a place not far off.