Great-heart. With a good will. I suppose you have heard how Christian of old did meet with Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation; and also what hard work he had, to go through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Also I think you cannot but have heard how Faithful was put to it with Madam Wanton, with Adam the first, with one Discontent, and Shame, four as deceitful villains as a man can meet with upon the road.
Hon. Yes, I have heard of all this; but indeed, good Faithful was hardest put to it with Shame; he was an unwearied one.
Great-heart. Aye; for, as the Pilgrim well said, he of all men had the wrong name.
Hon. But pray, Sir, where was it that Christian and Faithful met Talkative? That same was also a notable one.
Great-heart. He was a confident fool, yet many follow his ways.
Hon. He had like to have beguiled Faithful.
Great-heart. Aye, but Christian put him into a way quickly to find him out. Thus they went on till they came at the place where Evangelist met with Christian and Faithful, and prophesied to them of what should befall them at Vanity Fair.
Great-heart. Then said their guide, Hereabouts did Christian and Faithful meet with Evangelist, who prophesied to them of what troubles they should meet with at Vanity Fair.
Hon. Say you so? I dare say it was a hard chapter that then he did read unto them.
Great-heart. It was so; but he gave them encouragement withal. But what do we talk of them? they were a couple of lion-like men; they had set their faces like flint. Don’t you remember how undaunted they were when they stood before the judge?
Hon. Well, Faithful bravely suffered.
Great-heart. So he did, and as brave things came on it; for Hopeful and some others, as the story relates it, were converted by his death.
Hon. Well, but pray go on; for you are well acquainted with things.
Great-heart. Above all that Christian met with after he had passed through Vanity Fair, one By-ends was the arch one.
Hon. By-ends! What was he?
Great-heart. A very arch fellow; a downright hypocrite. One that would be religious which way ever the world went; but so cunning, that he would be sure neither to lose nor suffer for it. He had his mode of religion for every fresh occasion; and his wife was as good at it as he. He would turn and change from opinion to opinion; yea, and plead for so doing too. But, so far as I could learn, he came to an ill end with his by-ends; nor did I ever hear that any of his children were ever of any esteem with any that truly feared God.
Now, by this time, they were come within sight of the town of Vanity, where Vanity Fair is kept. So, when they saw that they were so near the town, they consulted with one another, how they should pass through the town; and some said one thing, and some another. At last Mr. Great-heart said, I have, as you may understand, often been a conductor of pilgrims through this town; now I am acquainted with one Mr. Mnason, a Cyprusian by nation, an old disciple, at whose house we may lodge. If you think good, said he, we will turn in there.
Content, said old Honest; Content, said Christiana; Content, said Mr. Feeble-mind; and so they said all. Now, you must think, it was eventide by that they got to the outside of the town; but Mr. Great-heart knew the way to the old man’s house. So thither they came; and he called at the door, and the old man within knew his tongue so soon as ever he heard it; so he opened, and they all came in. Then said Mnason their host, How far have ye come today? So they said, From the house of Gaius our friend. I promise you, said he, you have gone a good stitch, you may well be a weary; sit down. So they sat down.
Great-heart. Then said their guide, Come, what cheer, Sirs? I dare say you are welcome to my friend.
Mnason. I also, said Mr. Mnason, do bid you welcome, and, whatever you want, do but say, and we will do what we can to get it for you.
Hon. Our great want, a while since, was harbour and good company, and now I hope we have both.
Mnason. For harbour, you see what it is; but for good company, that will appear in the trial.
Great-heart. Well, said Mr. Great-heart, will you have the Pilgrims up into their lodging?
Mnason. I will, said Mr. Mnason. So he had them to their respective places; and also showed them a very fair dining-room, where they might be, and sup together, until time was come to go to rest.
Now, when they were set in their places, and were a little cheery after their journey, Mr. Honest asked his landlord, if there were any store of good people in the town?