CHAPTER XVII.
THE ENCHANTED GROUND AND THE WAY DOWN TO IT.
AND I slept and dreamt once more, and saw the same two wights go downthe mounts, by the high road that led to the town. Now nigh the base ofthese mounts, on the left hand, lies the land of Conceit, from whichland there comes, right in the way in which the men trod, a small lanewith twists and turns. Here, then, they met with a brisk lad that cameout of that land, and his name was Ignorance. So Christian would knowfrom what parts he came, and whence he was bound.
_Ignor._--"Sir, I was born in the land that lies off there a short wayon the left hand, and I am bound to the Celestial City."
_Chr._--"But how do you think to get in at the gate? for you may findsome let there."
"As some good folk do," said he.
_Chr._--"But what have you to show at that gate, that the gate shouldbe flung wide to you?"
_Ignor._--"I know my Lord's will, and have led a good life; I pay eachman his own; I pray, fast, pay tithes, and give alms; and have left myland for the place to which I go."
_Chr._--"But thou didst not come in at the Wicket-gate that is at thehead of this way; thou didst come in here through that same lane withthe twists and turns; and hence, I fear, in spite of what thou dostthink of thy right, when the last day shall come, thou wilt have laidto thy charge that thou art a thief, in lieu of a free pass to thetown."
_Ignor._--"Sirs, ye be not known to me in the least; I know you not;you be led by the faith of your land, and I will be led by the faith ofmine. I hope all will be well. And as for the gate that you talk of,all the world knows that that is a great way off our land. I do notthink that one man in all our parts doth so much as know the way to it;nor need they care if they do or no; since we have, as you see, a fine,gay, green lane, that comes down from our land, the next road thatleads to the way."
Then Christian met with a brisk lad who said his namewas Ignorance.--Page 82.
_Pilgrim's Progress._]
When Christian saw that the man was wise in his own eyes, he said toHopeful in a soft voice, "'There is more hope of a fool than of him'";and said, in like way, "'When he that is a fool walks by the way, hissense fails him, and he saith to each one that he is a fool.' What!shall we talk more with him, or move on now, and so leave him to thinkof what he hath erst heard, and then stop once more for him in a while,and see if by slow steps we can do aught of good to him?" Then saidHopeful, "It is not good, I think, to say so to him all at once; letus pass him by, if you will, and talk to him by and by, just as he has'strength to bear it.'"
So they both went on, and Ignorance came in their track. Now, whenthey had left him a short way, they came to a dark lane, where theymet a man whom some fiends had bound with strong cords, and took backto the door that they saw on the side of the hill. Now good Christiancould not help but shake, and so did Hopeful, who was with him; yet,as the fiends led off the man, Christian did look to see if he knewhim; and he thought it might be one Turnaway, that dwelt in the town ofApostacy. But he did not well see his face, for he did hang his headlike a thief that is found. But when he had gone past, Hopeful gave alook at him, and saw on his back a card, with these words, "Vile cheat,that has left his faith."
So they went on, and Ignorance went in their track. They went tillthey came at a place where they saw a way put right in their way, anddid seem, at the same time, to lie as straight as the way which theyshould go. And here they knew not which of the two to take, for bothdid seem straight in front of them: hence they stood to think. And asthey thought of the way, lo, a man black of flesh, but clad with alight robe, came to them, and did ask them why they stood there. Theysaid they were bound to the Celestial City, but knew not which of theseways to take. "Go with me," said the man; "it is to that place I ambent." So they went with him in the way that but now came to the road,which each step they took did turn and turn them so far from the townthat they sought to go to, that in a short time their heads did turnoff from it; yet they went with him. But by and by, ere they well knewof it, he led them both in the bounds of a net, in which they were bothso caught that they knew not what to do; and with that the white robefell off the black man's back: then they saw where they were. For whichcause there they lay in tears some time, for they could not get theirlimbs out.
Then said Christian to his friend, "Now do I see that I am wrong. Didnot the Shepherds bid us take heed of the Flatterer? As are the wordsof the Wise Man, so we have found it this day, 'A man that fawns on hisfriend spreads a net for his feet.'"
_Hope._--"They, too, gave us some notes as to the way, so that we maybe the more sure to find it; but in that we have not thought to read."
Then did Hopeful tell Christian his experience, andChristian said: "Let us not sleep, as some do; but let us watch andpray."--Page 86.
_Pilgrim's Progress._]
Thus they lay in sad plight in the net. At last they saw a Bright Onecome nigh to where they were, with a whip of small cords in his hand.When he was come to the place where they were, he did ask them whencethey came, and what they did there? They told him they were poor wightsbound to Zion, but were led out of their way by a black man clad inwhite, "who bid us," said they, "go with him, for he was bound to thatplace too." Then said he with the whip, "It is one who fawns, a falseguide who wore the garb of a sprite of light." So he rent the net,and let the men out. Then said he to them, "Come with me, that I mayset you in your way once more": so he led them back to the way they hadleft to go with the Flatterer. Then he did ask them and said, "Wheredid you lie the last night?" They said, "With the Shepherds on theMounts of Joy." He did ask, then, if they had not of those men a noteas a guide for the way. They said, "Yes." "But did you not," said he,"when you were at a stand, pluck out and read your note?" Quoth they,"No." He did ask them, "Why?" They said, "They did not think of it." Hewould know, too, "If the Shepherds did not bid them take heed of theFlatterer?" They said, "Yes; but we thought not," said they, "that thisman of fine speech had been he."
Then I saw in my dream that he told them to lie down; which when theydid, he gave them sore stripes, to teach them the good way in whichthey should walk. This done, he bids them go on their way, and takegood heed to the next hints of the Shepherds.
I then saw in my dream, that they went on till they came to a landwhose air did tend to make one sleep. And here Hopeful grew quite dulland nigh fell to sleep: for which cause he said to Christian: "I do nowgrow so dull that I can scarce hold ope mine eyes; let us lie down hereand take one nap."
"By no means," said Christian, "lest if we sleep we wake not more."
_Hope._--"Why, my friend? Sleep is sweet to the man that toils: it maygive us strength if we take a nap."
_Chr._--"Do you not know that one of the Shepherds bid us take heed ofthe Enchanted Ground? He meant by that, that we should take care andnot go to sleep. 'Let us not sleep, as do some; but let us watch and beof sound mind.'"
_Hope._--"I know I am in fault; and, had not you been with me here, Ihad gone to sleep and run the risk of death. I see it is true that thewise man saith, 'Two are more good than one.' Up to this time thou hastbeen my ruth and thou shalt 'have a good meed for thy pains.'"
HOPEFUL TELLS CHRISTIAN HIS EXPERIENCE.]
I saw then in my dream, that Hopeful gave a look back, and sawIgnorance, whom they had left in their wake, come in their track."Look," said he to Christian, "how far yon youth doth lag in the rear."
"Come on, man, why do you stay back so?" said Christian."I like to walk alone," said Ignorance.--Page 87.
_Pilgrim's Progress._]
_Chr._--"Ay, ay, I see him: he cares not to be with us."
_Hope._--"But I trow it would not have hurt him had he kept pace withus to this time."
_Chr._--"That is true: but I wot he doth not think so."
_Hope._--"That I think he doth: but, be it so or no, let us wait forhim." So they did.
Then Christian did call to him, "Come you on, man: why do you stay backso?"
_Ignor._--"I like t
o walk in this lone way; ay, more a great deal thanwith folk: that is, save I like them much."
Then said Christian to Hopeful (but in a soft voice), "Did I not tellyou he sought to shirk us? But, be this as it may, come up, and let ustalk off the time in this lone place."
Then, when he had a long speech with Ignorance, Christian spoke thus tohis friend, "Well, come, my good Hopeful, I see that thou and I mustwalk side by side once more."
So I saw in my dream, that they went on fast in front, and Ignorance,he came with lame gait in their track. Then said Christian to hisfriend, "I feel much for this poor man: it will of a truth go hard withhim at last."