The Pilgrim's Progress (Part I)

Section 4 - Valley of Humiliation

LEAVING THE HILL

Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should; but first, said they, let us go again into the armoury: so they did. And when he came there, they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way. He, being therefore thus equipped, walked out with his friends to the gate, and there he asked the porter if he saw any pilgrims pass by; then the porter answered, Yes.

Chr. Pray did you know him? said he.

Watchful, the Porter. I asked him his name, and he told me it was FAITHFUL.

Chr. "Oh," said CHRISTIAN, "I know him; he is my townsman, my near neighbour; he comes from the place where I was born. How far do you think he may be before?"

Watch. He is got by this time below the hill.

Chr. "Well," said CHRISTIAN, "good porter, the Lord be with thee, and add to all thy blessings much increase for the kindness that thou hast showed to me!"

Then he began to go forward; but DISCRETION, PIETY, CHARITY, and PRUDENCE, would accompany him down to the foot of the hill. So they went on together, reiterating their former discourses, till they came to go down the hill. Then said CHRISTIAN, "As it was difficult coming up, so (so far as I can see) it is dangerous going down."

"Yes," said PRUDENCE, "so it is; for it is a hard matter for a man to go down into the Valley of Humiliation , as thou art now, and to catch no slip by the way; therefore," said they, "are we come out to accompany thee down the hill." So he began to go down, but very warily; yet he caught a slip or two.

Then I saw in my dream that these good companions, when CHRISTIAN was gone down to the bottom of the hill, gave him a loaf of bread, a bottle of wine, and a cluster of raisins; and then he went on his way.