shall be no more crying, nor Sorrow: for He that is
owner of the place will wipe all tears from our eyes. [Isa. 25.6-8;
Rev. 7:17, 21:4]

{28} PLI. And what company shall we have there?

CHR. There we shall be with seraphims and cherubims, creatures that
will dazzle your eyes to look on them. [Isa. 6:2] There also you
shall meet with thousands and ten thousands that have gone before
us to that place; none of them are hurtful, but loving and holy;
every one walking in the sight of God, and standing in his presence
with acceptance for ever. [1 Thess. 4:16,17; Rev. 5:11] In a
word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns [Rev.
4:4], there we shall see the holy virgins with their golden harps
[Rev. 14:1-5], there we shall see men that by the world were cut
in pieces, burnt in flames, eaten of beasts, drowned in the seas,
for the love that they bare to the Lord of the place, all well, and
clothed with immortality as with a garment. [John 12:25; 2 Cor.
5:4]

PLI. The hearing of this is enough to ravish one's heart. But are
these things to be enjoyed? How shall we get to be sharers thereof?

CHR. The Lord, the Governor of the country, hath recorded that in
this book; the substance of which is, If we be truly willing to
have it, he will bestow it upon us freely.

PLI. Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things:
come on, let us mend our pace.

CHR. I cannot go so fast as I would, by reason of this burden that
is on my back.

{29} Now I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk
they drew near to a very miry slough, that was in the midst of the
plain; and they, being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the
bog. The name of the slough was Despond. Here, therefore, they
wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and
Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to
sink in the mire.

{30} PLI. Then said Pliable; Ah! neighbour Christian, where are
you now?

CHR. Truly, said Christian, I do not know.

PLI. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his
fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of?
If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we
expect betwixt this and our journey's end? May I get out again
with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone for me.
And, with that, he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out
of the mire on that side of the slough which was