MERCY AND MRS. TIMOROUS VISIT CHRISTIANA. 191

This Timorous was daughter to him that met Christian upon the Hill Difficulty,
and would have had him go back for fear of the lions.

Tia. For what journey, I pray you?

Cur. Even to go after my good husband. And with that she fell a weeping.

Tru. I hope not so, good neighbor. Pray, for your poor children’s sake, do not so
unwomanly cast away yourself.

Cur. Nay, my children shall go with me; not one of them is willing to stay behind.

Tit. I wonder in my very heart what or who has brought you into this mind!

Cur. Oh, neighbor, knew you but as much as I do, I doubt not but that you would
go with me.

Tru. Prithee, what new knowledge hast thou got that so worketh off thy mind trom
thy friends, and that tempteth thee to go nobody knows where?

Cur. Then Christiana replied, “I have been sorely afflicted since my husband’s
departure from me, but especially since he went over the river. But that which
troubleth me most is my churlish carriages to him when he was under his distress.
Besides, Tam now as he was then: nothing will serve me but going on pilgrimage.
I was a-dreaming last night that I saw him. Oh that my soul was with him! IIe
dwelleth in the presence of the King of the country; he sits and eats with Him at
His table; he has become a companion of immortals, and has a house now given him
to dwell in, to which the best palaces on earth, if compared, seem to me but as a
dunghill.”” The Prince of the place has also sent for me, with promises of entertain-
ment if I shall come to Him; His messenger was here even now, and has brought me
a letter which invites me to come.” And with that she plucked out the letter, and
read it, and said to them, “ What now will you say to this?”

Tim. Oh, the madness that hath possessed thee and thy husband, to run yourselves
upon such difficulties! You have heard, I am sure, what your husband did meet with,
even in a manner at the first step that he took on his way, as our neighbor Obstinate
can yet testify, for he went along with them; yea, and Pliable too; until they, like
wise men, were afraid to go any farther. We also heard, over and above, how he met
with the lions, Apollyon, the Shadow of Death, and many other things. Ner is the
danger he met with at Vanity Fair to be forgotten by thee. For if he, though a man,
was so hard put to it, what canst thou, being but a poor woman, do? Consider also
that these four sweet babes are thy children, thy flesh and thy bones. Wherefore,
though thou shouldest be so rash as to cast away thyself, yet, for the sake of the fruit
of thy body, keep thou at home.

But Christiana said unto her, “Tempt me not, my neighbor. I have now a price