Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/247

Rh haunted with some foul fiend or evil spirit; when, alas! it is for the fruit of their own doing that such things do befall them there.

This Valley of Humiliation of itself as fruitful a place as any the crow flies over; and I am persuaded, if we could hit upon it, we might ﬁnd somewhere hereabouts something that might give us an account why Christian was so hardly beset in this place.

Then James said to his mother, Lo, yonder stands a pillar, and it looks as if something was written thereon; let us go and see what it is. So they went, and found there written, Let Christian's slips, before he came hither, and the battles that he met with in this place, be a warning to those that come after."

Lo, said their guide, did not I tell you. that there was something; hereabouts that would give intimation of the reason why Christian was so hard beset in this place? Then, turning himself to Christiana, he said, No disparagement to Christian, more than to many others Whose hap and lot it was. For it is easier going up than down this hill; and that can be said but of few hills in all these parts of the world. But we will leave the good man, he is at rest; he also had a brave victory over his enemy: let Him grant that dwelleth above, that we fare no worse, when we come to be tried, than he.

But we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. It is the best and most fruitful niece of ground in all these parts. It is fat ground, and, as you see, consisteth much in meadows; and its, man was to come here in summer-time, as we do now, if he knew not anything before thereof, and if he also delighted himself in the sight of his eyes, he might see that which would he delightful to him. Behold how green this valley is; also how beautified with lilies. (Song ii. 1.) I have known many labouring men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation