[416]: But hold, it lasted not, for before I had well dined, the trouble began to go off my mind, and my heart returned to its old course; but oh, how glad was I that this trouble was gone from me, and that the fire was put out, that I might sin again without control! Wherefore, when I had satisfied nature with my food, I shook the sermon out of my mind, and to my old custom of sports and gaming I returned with great delight.
But the same day, as I was in the midst of a game of cat, and having struck it one blow from the hole, just as I was about to strike it the second time, a voice did suddenly dart from heaven into my soul, which said, 'Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to heaven, or have thy sins and go to hell?' At this I was put to an exceeding maze; wherefore, leaving my cat upon the ground, I looked up to heaven, and was as if I had, with the eyes of my understanding, seen the Lord Jesus looked down upon me, as being very hotly displeased with me, and as if he did severely threaten me with some grievous punishment for those and other ungodly practices.
[417]: At this reproof I was silenced, and put to secret shame, and that, too, as I thought, before the God of heaven; wherefore, while I stood there, hanging down my head, I wished that I might be a little child again, that my father might learn me to speak without this wicked way of swearing; for, thought I, I am so accustomed to it, that it is in vain to think of a reformation, for that could never be. But how it came to pass I know not, I did from this time forward so leave my swearing, that it was a great wonder to myself to observe it; and whereas before I knew not how to speak unless I put an oath before, and another behind, to make my words have authority, now I could without it speak better, and with more pleasantness, than ever I could before.
[418]: Voici l'abrégé des événements: Du haut du ciel, une voix a crié vengeance contre la cité de la Destruction où vit un pécheur nommé Chrétien. Effrayé, il se lève parmi les railleries de ses voisins et part pour n'être point dévoré par le feu qui consumera les criminels. Un homme secourable, Évangéliste, lui montre le droit chemin. Un homme perfide, Sagesse-Mondaine, essaye de l'en détourner. Son camarade Maniable, qui l'avait d'abord suivi, s'embourbe dans le marais du Découragement et le quitte. Pour lui, il avance bravement à travers l'eau trouble et la boue glissante, et parvient à la porte étroite, où un sage interprète l'instruit par des spectacles sensibles et lui indique la voie de la cité céleste. Il passe devant une croix et le lourd fardeau des péchés qu'il portait à ses épaules se détache et tombe. Il grimpe péniblement la colline escarpée de la Difficulté, et parvient dans un superbe château, où Vigilant, le gardien, le remet aux mains de ses sages filles, Piété, Prudence, qui l'avertissent et l'arment contre les monstres d'enfer. Il trouve la route barrée par un de ces démons, Apollyon, qui lui ordonne d'abjurer l'obéissance du roi Céleste. Après un long combat, il le tue. Cependant la route se rétrécit, les ombres tombent plus épaisses, les flammes sulfureuses montent le long du chemin: c'est la vallée de l'Ombre de la Mort. Il la franchit, et arrive dans la ville de la Vanité, foire immense de trafics, de dissimulations et de comédies, où il passe les yeux baissés sans vouloir prendre part aux fêtes ni aux mensonges. Les gens du lieu le chargent de coups, le jettent en prison, le condamnent comme traître et révolté, brûlent son compagnon Fidèle. Échappé de leurs mains, il tombe dans celles d'un Géant, Désespoir, qui le meurtrit, le laisse sans pain dans un cachot infect, et, lui présentant des poignards et des cordes, l'exhorte à se délivrer de tant de malheurs. Il parvient enfin sur les montagnes Heureuses, d'où il aperçoit la divine cité. Pour y entrer, il ne reste à franchir qu'un courant profond où l'on perd pied, où l'eau trouble la vue, et qu'on appelle la rivière de la Mort.
[419]: I saw then in my dream, so far as this valley reached, there was on the right hand a very deep ditch. That ditch is it into which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both there miserably perished. Again, behold on the left hand, there was a very dangerous quagg into which, if even a good man falls, he finds no bottom for his foot to stand on....
The pathway was here also exceedingly narrow, and therefore good Christian 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 top over into the mire on the other; also, when he sought to escape the mire, without great carefulness he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Then he went on, and I heard him here sigh bitterly: for, besides the danger mentioned above, the pathway was here so dark, that often times when he lift up his foot to set forward, he knew not where or upon what he should set it next.
About the midst of this valley, I perceived the mouth of Hell to be; and it stood also hard by the way-side. Now, thought Christian, what shall I do? And ever and anon the flame and smoke would come out in such abundance, with sparks and hideous noises, that he was forced to put up his sword, and betake himself to another weapon called All-prayer: so he cried in my hearing: «O Lord, I beseech thee; deliver my soul!»—Thus he went a great while. Yet still the flame would be reaching toward him; also he heard doleful voices, and rushing to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he would be torn in pieces, or trodden down like mire in the street....
[420]: Then the water stood in my eyes, and I asked further: But Lord, may such a great sinner as I am be indeed accepted of thee, and be saved by thee? And I heard him say: And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.... And now was my heart full of joy, mine eyes full of tears, and mine affections running over with love to the name, people, and ways of Jesus Christ....
It made me see that all the world, notwithstanding all the righteousness thereof, is in a state of condemnation. It made me see that God the Father, though he be just, can justly justifie the coming sinner. It made me greatly ashamed of the vileness of my former life, and confounded me with the sense of my own ignorance; for there never came thought into my heart before now that shewed me so the beauty of Jesus Christ. It made me love an holy life, and long to do something for the honour and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus. Yea, I thought, that had I now a thousand gallons of blood in my body, I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus.
[421]: Then the interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dust, because never swept; the which, after he had reviewed a little while, the interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the interpreter to a damsel that stood by: Bring hither water and sprinkle the room; the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.