Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/224

220 Great. So it is, as you may well perceive, if you will go a little to the wall.

Mer. No, no; let them hang, and their names rot, and their crimes live for ever against them. I think it a high favour that they were hanged before we came hither; who knows else what they might have done to such poor women as we are? Then she turned it into a song, saying,—

Thus they went on till they came at the foot of the Hill Difficulty, where again the good Mr. Great-heart took an occasion to tell them what happened there when Christian himself went by. So he had them first to the spring. Lo, said he, this is the spring that Christian drank of before he went up this hill; and then it was clear and good, but now it is dirty with the feet of some that are not desirous that pilgrims here should quench their thirst. (Ezek. xxxiv. 18.) Thereat Mercy said, And why so envious, trow? But, said the guide, it will do, if taken up and put into a vessel that is sweet and good; for then the dirt will sink to the bottom, and the water by itself come out more clear. Thus, therefore, Christiana and her companions were compelled to do. They took it up, and put it into an earthen pot, and so let it stand, till the dirt was gone to the bottom, and then they drank thereof.

Next he showed them, the two by-ways that were at the foot of the, hill, where Formality and Hypocrisy lost themselves. And, said be, these are dangerous paths: two were here castaway when. Christian came by. And although, as you see, these ways are since stopped up with chains, posts,