146 7 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

So they went on, and Ignorance followed. They went then till they came at a place
where they saw a way put itself into their way, and seemed withal to lie as straight as
the way which they should go; and here they knew not which of the two to take, for
both seemed straight before them; therefore here they stood still to consider. And,
as they were thinking about the way, behold, a man, black of flesh, but covered with
a very light robe, came to them, and asked them why they stood there. They
answered they were going to the Celestial City, but knew not which of these ways to
take. “ Follow me,” said the man; “it is thither that Iam going.” So they followed
him to the way that but now came into the road, which by degrees turned and turned
them so from the city that they desired to go to, that, in a little time, their faces were
turned away from it; yet they followed him. But by-and-bye, before they were aware,
he led them both within the compass of a net, in which they were both so entangled
that they knew not what to do; and with that, the whité robe fell off the black man’s
back. ‘Then they saw where they were. Wherefore, there they lay crying some time,
for they could not get themselves out.

Curis. Then said Christian to his fellow, “ Now do I see myself in an error. Did
not the shepherds bid us beware of flatterers? As is the saying of the Wise Man, so
we have found it this day: ‘A man that flattereth his neighbor, spreadeth a net at
his feet.’ ”

Horr. They also gave us a note of directions about the way, for our more sure
finding thereof; but therein we have also forgotten to read, and have not kept our-
selves from the paths of the destroyer. Here David was wiser than we; for saith he,
“Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths

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of the destroyer. Thus they lay bewailing themselves in the net. At last they
espied a Shining One coming towards them with a whip of small cord in his hand.
When he was come to the place where they were, he asked them whence they came,
and what they did there. They told him that they were poor pilgrims going to Zion,
but were led out of their way by a black man clothed in white, “ Who bid us,” said
they, “follow him, for he was going thither too.” Then said he with the whip, “It is
Flatterer, a false prophet, that hath transformed himself into an angel of light.” Su
he rent the net, and let the men out. Then said he to them, “ Follow me, that I may
set you in your way again.” So he led them back to the way which they had left to
follow the Flatterer. Then he asked them, saying, “ Where did you lie the last night?”
They said, “ With the shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains.” He asked them
then if they had not of those shepherds a note of direction for the way. They answered,
“Yes.” “ But did you not,” said he, “when you were at a stand, pluck out and read