ad joined the way, and this
path slowly turned, and at last turned them so far from the City that
they wished to go to, that in a little time their faces were turned
away from it. Yet they still followed him. But by and by before they
knew what had happened, he led them both into a net, in which they
were so entangled that they knew not what to do. Then the white robe
fell off the black man's back, and they knew that he was the Flatterer
and had brought them into his net. Wherefore there they lay, crying
some time, for they could not get themselves out. And as they lay
weeping in the net, they saw a Shining One coming toward them with a
whip of small cord in his hand. When he was come to the place where
they were, he asked them whence they came, and what they were doing
there.

They told him that they were poor pilgrims going to Zion, but were led
out of their way by a black man clothed in white. "He bid us," said
they, "follow him, for he was going thither too."

Then said the Shining One, "It is a Flatterer that has clothed himself
like an angel of light." So he rent the net and let the men out. And
he said to the pilgrims, "Follow me," and he led them back to the way
which they had left when they followed the Flatterer.

The one with the whip then asked them where they slept last night.

They said, "With the Shepherds on the Delectable Mountains."

He asked them if the Shepherds had not given them a note, telling them
about the way. They answered, "Yes," but they had forgotten to read
it. He asked them also if the Shepherds did not tell them to beware of
the Flatterer. They answered, "Yes," but they did not think that this
man who spoke so well could be he. Then I saw in my dream that the
Shining One commanded them to lie down. And he took his whip, and when
he had whipped them he said, "As many as I love I rebuke and punish,
be careful therefore and repent."

This done, he bid them go on their way and take good heed to the other
directions of the Shepherds. So they thanked the Shining One for all
his kindness, and went gladly along the right way. Now I saw in my
dream that when the pilgrims had got safely over the Enchanted Ground,
they entered a beautiful country where the air was very sweet and
pleasant. Every day they heard continually the singing of birds, and
every day they saw the flowers appear in the earth. In this country
the sun shineth night and day, and here they were within sight of the
City to w