138 THE PILGRIM’S PROGEESS.

CHAPTER IX.

ND I slept, and dreamed again, and saw the same two pilgrims going down the

  

mountains along the highway towards the city. Now, a little below these
(®7 mountains, on the left hand, lieth the country of Conceit ; from which country
~ 2” there comes into the way in which the pilgrims walked a little crooked lane.
Here, therefore, they met with a very brisk lad, that came out of that country, and his
name was Ignorance. So Christian asked him from what parts he came, and whither
he was going.

Ienor. Sir, I was born in the country that lieth off there a little on the left hand,
and I am going to the Celestial City.

Curis. But how do you think to get in at the gate? for you may find some difficulty
there.

Ianor. “ As other people do,” said he.

Curis. But what have you to show at the gate, that may cause that the gate should
be opened to you?

Tawor. I know my Lord’s will, and have been a good liver; I pay every man his
own; I pray, fast, pay tithes, and give alms, and have left my country for whither I
am going.

Curis. But thou camest not in at the wicket-gate that is at the head of this way:
thou camest in hither through that same crooked lane; and therefore I fear, however
thou mayest think of thyself, when the reckoning day shall come, thou wilt have laid
to thy charge that thou art a thief and a robber, instead of getting admittance into the
city.

Iavor. Gentlemen, ye be utter strangers to me: I know you not: be content to
follow the religion of your country, and I will follow the religion of mine. I hope all
will be well. And, as for the gate that you talk of, all the world knows that that is a
great way off of our country. I cannot think that any man in all our parts doth so
much as know the way to it; nor need they matter whether they do or no, since we
have, as you see, a fine, pleasant green lane, that comes down from our ‘country, the
next way into the way. |

When Christian saw that the man was wise in his own conceit, he said to Hopeful,
whisperingly, “There is more hope of a fool than of him.’”*” And said, moreover,