THE RIVER OF THLE WATER OF LIFE. 127

the leaves they ate to prevent surfeits, and other diseases that are incident to those that
heat their blood by travels. On either side of the river was also a meadow, curiously
beautified with lilies, and it was green all the year long. In this meadow they lay down

and slept, for here they might lie down safely."

When they awoke, they gathered
again of the fruit of the trees and drank again of the water of the river, and they lay

down again to sleep. This they did several days and nights. ‘Then they sang:

‘*Behold ye, how these crystal streams do glide,
To comfort pilgrims by the highway-side ;
The meadows green, besides their fragrant smell,
Yield dainties for them; and he who can tell
What pleasant fruit, yea, leaves, these trees do yield,
Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field.”’

So, when they were disposed to go on (for they were not as yet at their journey’s
end), they ate and drank, and departed.
Now, I beheld in my dream that they had not journeyed far, but the river and the

 

way for a time parted, at which they were not 5
a little sorry; yet they durst not go out of
the way. Now the way from the river was
rough, and their feet tender by reason of their
travels; so the souls of the pilgrims were
much discouraged because of the way.”
Wherefore, still as they went on they wished
for a better way. Now, a little before them
there was, on the left hand of the road, a
meadow, and a stile to go over into it, and
that meadow is called By-path Meadow.
Then said Christian to his fellow, “If this
meadow lieth along by our wayside, let’s go
over it.” Then he went to the stile to see;
and behold, a path lay along by the way on
the other side of the fence. “It is according

 

to my wish,” said Christian; “here is the

 

 

easiest going. Come, good Hopeful, and let

Vain-Confidence.

us go over.”
Horr. But how if this path should lead us out of the way ?
Curis. “That is not likely,” said the other. “Look, doth it not go along by the