Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/84

80 Faith. Well, then, said Faithful, what is that one thing that we shall at this time found our discourse upon?

Talk. What you will: I will talk of things heavenly, of things earthly; things moral, or things evangelical; things sacred, or things profane; things past, or things to come; things foreign, or things, at home; things more essential, or things circumstantial, provided that all be done to our profit.

Faith. Now did Faithful begin to wonder; and stepping to Christian (for he walked all this while by himself), he said to him, but softly, What a brave companion we have got! Surely this man will make a very excellent pilgrim.

Chr. At this Christian modestly smiled, and said, This man, with whom you are so taken, will, beguile with this tongue of his twenty of them that know him not.

Faith. Do you know him, then?

Chr. Know him! yes, better than he knows himself.

Faith. Pray, what is he?

Chr. His name is Talkative: he dwelleth in our, town. I wonder that you should be a stranger to him; only I consider that our town is large.

Faith. Whose son is he? and whereabout doth he dwell?

Chr. He is the son of one Say-well; he dwelt in Prating Row; and he is known to all that are acquainted with him by the name of Talkative of Prating Row; and, notwithstanding his fine tongue, he is but a sorry fellow.

Faith. Well, he seems to be a very pretty man.

Chr. That is, to them that have not a thorough acquaintance with him, for he is best abroad; near home he is ugly enough. Your saying that he is a pretty man, brings to my mind what I have observed in the work of the painter, whose pictures show best at a distance, but very near more unpleasing.

Faith. But I am ready to think you do but jest, because you smiled.

Chr. God forbid that I should jest (though I smiled) in this matter, or that I should accuse any falsely. I will give you