Then in my dream I saw that when they had got to the foot of the hill, these good friends of Christian's gave him a loaf of bread, a flask of wine, and a bunch of dry grapes; and then they left him to go on his way.
But now in this Vale of Humiliation poor Christian was hard put to it, for he had not gone far, ere he saw a foe come in the field to meet him, whose name was Apollyon. Then did Christian fear, and he cast in his mind if he would go back or stand his ground. But Christian thought that as he had no coat of mail on his back, to turn round might give Apollyon a chance to pierce it with his darts. So he stood his ground, For, thought he, if but to save my life were all I had in view, still the best way would be to stand.
So he went on, and Apollyon met him with looks of scorn.
Apollyon.—Whence come you, and to what place are you bound?
Christian.—I am come from The City of Destruction, which is a place of all sin, and I am on my way to Zion.
Apollyon.—By this I see you are mine, for of all that land I am the Prince. How is it, then, that you have left your king? Were it not that I have a hope that you may do me more good, I would strike you to the ground with one blow.
Christian.—I was born in your realm, it is true, but you drove us too hard, and your wage was such as no man could live on.
Apollyon.—No prince likes to lose his men, nor will I as yet lose you; so if you will come back, what my realm yields I will give you.
Christian.—But I am bound by vows to the King of Kings; and how can I, to be true, go back with you?
Apollyon.—You have made a change, it seems, from bad to worse; but why not give Him the slip, and come back with me?