ed with woods, vineyards, fruits of
all sorts, flowers also, with springs and fountains, very delectable
to behold. [Isa. 33:16,17] Then he asked the name of the country.
They said it was Immanuel's Land; and it is as common, said they,
as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest
there from thence, said they, thou mayest see to the gate of the
Celestial City, as the shepherds that live there will make appear.

{138} Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were
willing he should. But first, said they, let us go again into the
armoury. So they did; and when they came there, they harnessed him
from head to foot with what was of proof, lest, perhaps, he should
meet with assaults in the way. He being, therefore, thus accoutred,
walketh out with his friends to the gate, and there he asked the
porter if he saw any pilgrims pass by. Then the porter answered,
Yes.

{139} CHR. Pray, did you know him? said he.

POR. I asked him his name, and he told me it was Faithful.

CHR. Oh, said Christian, I know him; he is my townsman, my near
neighbour; he comes from the place where I was born. How far do
you think he may be before?

POR. He is got by this time below the hill.

CHR. Well, said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and
add to all thy blessings much increase, for the kindness that thou
hast showed to me.

{140} Then he began to go forward; but Discretion, Piety, Charity,
and Prudence would accompany him down to the foot of the hill. So
they went on together, reiterating their former discourses, till
they came to go down the hill. Then said Christian, As it was
difficult coming up, so, so far as I can see, it is dangerous going
down. Yes, said Prudence, so it is, for it is a hard matter for
a man to go down into the Valley of Humiliation, as thou art now,
and to catch no slip by the way; therefore, said they, are we come
out to accompany thee down the hill. So he began to go down, but
very warily; yet he caught a slip or two.

{141} Then I saw in my dream that these good companions, when
Christian was gone to the bottom of the hill, gave him a loaf of
bread, a bottle of wine, and a cluster of raisins; and then he went
on his way.

But now, in this Valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put
to it; for he had gone but a little way, before he espied a foul
fiend coming over the field to meet him; his name is Apollyon. Then
did Christian begin to be af