Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/250

246 and to what the King has called him. Here one may think, and break at heat, and melt in one's spirit, until one's eyes become "as the fish-pools in Heshbon." (Song vii. 4.) They that go tightly through this "valley of Baca make it a well; the rain" that God sends down, from heaven upon them that are here "also filleth the pools." (Ps. lxxxiv. 5–7.) This Valley is that from whence also the King will give to his their vineyards (Hos. ii. 15); and they that go through it shall sing, Christian did, for all he met With Apollyon.

'Tis true, Said their guide. I have gone through this valley many a time, and never was better than when here. I have also been a conductor to several pilgrims, and they have confessed the same. "To this man will I look," saith the King, "even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word."

Now they were some to the place where the aforementioned battle was fought. Then said the guide to Chistiana, her children, and Mercy, This is the place: on this ground Christian stood, and up there came Apollyon against him. And look, did I not tell you, here is some of your husband's blood upon these stones to this day! Behold, also, how here and there are yet to be seen upon the place some of the shivers of Apollyon's broken darts. See also how they did heat the ground with their feet they fought, to make good their places against each other; how also, with their by-blows, they did split the very stones in pieces. Verily, Christian did here play the man, and showed himself as stout as Hercules could, had he been, here; even he himself. When Apollyon was beat, he made his retreat to the next valley, that is called the Valley of the Shadow of Death, unto which we shall come anon.

Lo, yonder also stands a monument on which is engraven battle and Christian's victory, to his fame throughout all ages. So, because it stood inst on the wayside before