164 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

God rejoice over them.” Ilere they had no want of corn and wine; for in this place
they met with abundance of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage. Here
they heard voices from out of the City, loud voices, saying, “Say ye to the daughter
of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh! Behold, His reward is with Him!” Here
all the inhabitants of the country called them “ The holy people, and redeemed of the
Lord,” “sought out,” ete.

Now, as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts more remote
from the kingdom to which they were bound; and drawing near to the City, they had
yet a more perfect view thereof. It was builded of pearls and precious stones, also the
streets thereof were paved with gold; so that by reason of the natural glory of the
City, and the reflection of the sunbeams upon it, Christian with desire fell sick ; Hopeful
also had a fit or two of the same disease: wherefore here they Jay by it awhile, crying
out because of their pangs, “If you see my Beloved, tell Him that I am sick of love.”

But being a little strengthened, and better able to bear their sickness, they walked
on their way, and came yet nearer and nearer, where were orchards, vineyards, and
gardens, and their gates opened into the highway. Now, as they came up to these
places, behold, the gardener stood in the way; to whom the pilgrims said, “ Whose
goodly vineyards and gardens are these?” He answered, “They are the King’s, and
are planted here for His own delight, and also for the solace of pilgrims.” So the
gardener had them into the vineyards, and bid them refresh themselves with the
dainties.2% He also showed them there the King’s walks, and the arbors where He
delighted to be; and here they tarried and slept.

Now I beheld in my dream, that they talked more in their sleep at this time than
ever they did in all their journey; and being in a muse thereabout, the gardener said
even to me, “ Wherefore musest thou at the matter? It is the nature of the fruit of
the grapes of these vineyards to go down so sweetly as to cause the lips of them that
are asleep to speak.”

So I saw, when they awoke they addressed themselves to go up to the City. But,
as I said, the reflection of the sun upon the City (for the City was pure gold) * was
so extremely glorious, that they could not, as yet, with open face behold it, but through

an instrument made for that purpose.”?

So I saw that, as they went on, there met
them two men in raiment that shone like gold, also their faces shone as the light.
These men asked the pilgrims whence they came; and they told them. They also
asked them where they had lodged, what difficulties and dangers, what comforts and
pleasures, they had met in the way ; and they told them. Then said the men that met

them, “ You have but two difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the City.”