was on
the right hand a very deep ditch, that, to wit, dismally known to
some as the Last Ditch, whereinto the blind have oftentimes urged
the blind, even threatening therein to plunge and perish, rather
than acknowledge certain things which subsequently they nevertheless
proceeded pretty peaceably to accept. Again, behold, on the left hand,
there was a very dangerous quag or bog, into which if even a good, or
grand, man falls, he finds no bottom for his foot to stand on.

The pathway was here also exceedingly narrow, and therefore the
Pilgrim was the more put to it; for when he sought, in the dark, to
shun the ditch on the one hand, he was ready to tip over into the bog
on the other; also, when he sought to escape the bog, without great
carefulness, he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went
on, and I heard him sigh bitterly, for, besides the dangers mentioned
above, the pathway was here so dark that ofttimes, when he lifted up
his foot to go forward, he knew not where or upon what he should set
it next.

[Illustration: A PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.]

"Now," thought the Pilgrim, "what shall I do?" And ever and anon the
flame and smoke would come out in such abundance, with sparks and
hideous noises (things that cared not for the Pilgrim's sword) that he
was forced to put up his blade, and betake himself to another weapon
called Tactics. Thus he went on a good while, yet still the flames
would be reaching towards him; also, he heard doleful voices, and
rushings to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he should be torn in
pieces, or trodden down like mire in the streets. This frightful sight
was seen, and these direful noises were heard by him for a long while
together; and coming to a place where he thought he heard a great
company of fierce opponents (as it were a numerous and influential
Deputation, or a prodigious Procession) coming forward to meet him,
he stopped, and began to muse what he had best to do. Sometimes he had
half a thought to go back; then again he thought he might be half-way
through the Valley. He remembered, also, how he had already vanquished
many a danger, and that the peril of going back might be much
more than to go forward. So he resolved to go on; yet the bogies,
hobgoblins, and dragons of the pit seemed to come nearer and nearer,
besetting him with boding warnings, angry expostulations, and menacing
outcries from both sides of his strait and perilous pathway, as well
from the bog tha