70 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

me. One of them testified that my sins were forgiven me; another stripped me of my
rags,and gave me this broidered coat which you see; and the third set the mark which
you see in my forehead, and gave me this sealed roll. (And, with that, he plucked it
out of his bosom.)

Prery. But you saw more than this, did you not?

Curis. The things that I have told you were the best; yet some other matters I
saw; as namely, I saw three men, Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, lie asleep, a little
out of the way as I came, with irons upon their heels; but do you think I could wake
them? I also saw Formalist and Hypocrisy come tumbling over the wall, to go, as.
they pretended, to Zion; but they were quickly lost, even as I myself did tell them,
but they would not believe. But, above all, I found it hard work to get up this hill,
and as hard to come by the lions’ mouths; and truly, if it had not been for the good
man the Porter, that stands at the gate, I do not know but that, after all, I might have
gone back again; but now I thank God I am here, and I thank you for receiving
of me.

Then Prudence thought good to ask him a few questions, and desired his answer to
them.

Pru. Do you think sometimes of the country from whence you came?

Curis. Yes, but with much shame and detestation. Truly, if I had been mindful
of that country from whence I came out, I might have had an opportunity to have
returned; but now I desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

Pru. Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things that then you were
conversant withal ?

Curis. Yes, but greatly against my will; especially my inward and carnal cogita-
tions, with which all my countrymen, as well as myself, were delighted. But now all
those things are my grief; and, might I but choose mine own things, I would choose
never to think of those things more; but when I would be doing that which is best,
that which is worst is with me.*

Pru. Do you not find sometimes as if those things were vanquished, which at other
times are your perplexity ?

Curis. Yes, but that is but seldom; but they are to me golden hours in which such
things happen to me.

Pru. Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances, at times, as if
they were vanquished ?

Curis. Yes; when I think what I saw at the cross, that will do it; and when I look
upon my broidered coat, that will do it; also when I look into the roll that I carry in