THE PILGRIMS AT VANITY FAIR. ; 107

and beat them, and besmeared them with dirt, and then put them into the cage, that
they might be made a spectacle to all the men of the fair. There, therefore, they lay
for some time, and were made the objects of any man’s sport, or malice, or revenge;
the great one of the fair laughing still at all that befell them. But, the men being
patient, and “not rendering railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing,” and giving
good words for bad, and kindness for injuries done, some men in the fair that were
more observing and less prejudiced than the rest, began to check and blame the baser
sort for their continual abuses done by them to the men. They, therefore, in an
angry manner, let fly at them again, counting them as bad as the men in the cage, and
telling them that they seemed confederates, and should be made partakers of their
misfortunes. The others replied, that, for aught they could see, the men were quiet and
sober, and intended nobody any harm; and that there were many that traded in their
fair that were more worthy to be put into the cage, yea, and pillory too, than were the
men that they had abused. Thus, after divers words had passed on both sides (the
men behaving themselves all the while very wisely and soberly before them), they fell
to some blows, and did harm to one another. Then were these two poor men brought
before their examiners again, and there charged as being guilty of the late hubbub
that had been in the fair. So they beat them pitifully, and hanged irons upon them,
and led them in chains up and down the fair, for an example and terror to others, lest
any should speak in their behalf, or join themselves unto them. But Christian and
Faithful behaved themselves yet more wisely, and received the ignominy and shame
that were cast upon them with so much meekness aad patience, that it won to their
side (though but few in comparison of the rest) several of the men in the fair. This
put the other party in yet a greater rage, insomuch that they concluded the death of
these two men. Wherefore they threatened that neither cage nor irons should serve
their turn, but that they should die for the abuse they had done, and for deluding the
men of the fair.

Then were they remanded to the cage again, until further order should be taken with
them. So they put them in, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Here, therefore, they called again to mind what they had heard from their faithful
friend Evangelist, and were more confirmed in their way and sufferings, by what he
told them would happen to them. They also now comforted cach other, that whose
lot it was to suffer, even he should have the best of it; therefore each man secretly
wished he might have that preferment. But, committing themselves to the all-wise
disposal of Him that ruleth all things, with much content they abode in the condition

in which they were, until they should be otherwise disposed of.