The Pilgrims Progress | Page 8

country that
can take it off my shoulders; therefore am I going this way, as I told
you, that I may be rid of my burden.
WORLD. Who bid thee go this way to be rid of thy burden?
CHR. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable
person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist.
{40} WORLD. I beshrew him for his counsel! there is not a more
dangerous and troublesome way in the world than is that unto which he
hath directed thee; and that thou shalt find, if thou wilt be ruled by his
counsel. Thou hast met with something, as I perceive, already; for I see
the dirt of the Slough of Despond is upon thee; but that slough is the
beginning of the sorrows that do attend those that go on in that way.
Hear me, I am older than thou; thou art like to meet with, in the way
which thou goest, wearisomeness, painfulness, hunger, perils,

nakedness, sword, lions, dragons, darkness, and, in a word, death, and
what not! These things are certainly true, having been confirmed by
many testimonies. And why should a man so carelessly cast away
himself, by giving heed to a stranger?
CHR. Why, Sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than
all these things which you have mentioned; nay, methinks I care not
what I meet with in the way, if so be I can also meet with deliverance
from my burden.
{41} WORLD. How camest thou by the burden at first?
CHR. By reading this book in my hand.
WORLD. I thought so; and it is happened unto thee as to other weak
men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall
into thy distractions; which distractions do not only unman men, as
thine, I perceive, have done thee, but they run them upon desperate
ventures to obtain they know not what.
CHR. I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden.
{42} WORLD. But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so
many dangers attend it? especially since, hadst thou but patience to
hear me, I could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest,
without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into; yea, and
the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add, that instead of those dangers,
thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content.
CHR. Pray, Sir, open this secret to me.
{43} WORLD. Why, in yonder village -- the village is named Morality
-- there dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very judicious
man, and a man of very good name, that has skill to help men off with
such burdens as thine are from their shoulders: yea, to my knowledge,
he hath done a great deal of good this way; ay, and besides, he hath
skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their
burdens. To him, as I said, thou mayest go, and be helped presently.

His house is not quite a mile from this place, and if he should not be at
home himself, he hath a pretty young man to his son, whose name is
Civility, that can do it (to speak on) as well as the old gentleman
himself; there, I say, thou mayest be eased of thy burden; and if thou art
not minded to go back to thy former habitation, as, indeed, I would not
wish thee, thou mayest send for thy wife and children to thee to this
village, where there are houses now stand empty, one of which thou
mayest have at reasonable rates; provision is there also cheap and good;
and that which will make thy life the more happy is, to be sure, there
thou shalt live by honest neighbours, in credit and good fashion.
{44} Now was Christian somewhat at a stand; but presently he
concluded, if this be true, which this gentleman hath said, my wisest
course is to take his advice; and with that he thus further spoke.
{45} CHR. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house?
WORLD. Do you see yonder hill?
CHR. Yes, very well.
WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come at is
his.
{46} So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's house
for help; but, behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed
so high, and also that side of it that was next the wayside did hang so
much over, that Christian was afraid to venture further, lest the hill
should fall on his head; wherefore there he stood still and wotted not
what to do. Also his