214 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

When the Interpreter had done, he takes them out into his garden again, and had
them to a tree, whose inside was all rotten and gone, and yet it grew and had leaves.

Then said Merey, “ What means this? ”

“This tree,” said he, “ whose outside is fair, and whose inside is rotten, is that to
which many may be compared that are in the garden of God, who with their mouths
speak high in behalf of God, but indeed will do nothing for Him; whose leaves are
fair, but their heart good for nothing but to be tinder for the devil’s tinder-box.”

Now supper was ready, the table spread, and all things set on the board; so they
sat down, and did eat when one had given thanks. And the Interpreter did usually
entertain those that lodged with him with music at meals; so the minstrels played.
There was also one that did sing, and a very fine voice he had. His song was

this:
‘The Lord is only my support,
And He that doth me feed ;
How can I then want anything
Whereof I stand in need?”

When the song and music were ended, the Interpreter asked Christiana what it was
that first did move her to betake herself to a pilgrim’s life. Christiana answered,
“ First, the loss of my husband came into my mind, at which I was heartily grieved ;
but all that was, but natural affection. Then, after that, came the troubles and pil-
grimages of my husband into my mind, and also how like a churl I had carried it to
him as to that. So guilt took hold of my mind, and would have drawn me into the
pond, but that, opportunely, I had a dream of the well-being of my husband, and a
letter sent by the King of that country where my husband dwells, to come to him.
The dream and the letter together so wrought upon my mind, that they forced me to
this way.”

Inter. But met you with no opposition afore you set out of doors?

Cur. Yes, a neighbor of mine, one Mrs. Timorous: she was akin to him that
would have persuaded my husband to go back for fear of the lions. She all-to-be-
fooled me for, as she called it, my intended desperate adventure; she also urged what
she could to dishearten me from it—the hardship and troubles that my husband met
with in the way; but all this I got over pretty well. But a dream that I had of
two ill-looked ones, that I thought did plot how to make me miscarry in my journey,
that hath troubled me much: yea, it still runs in my mind, and makes me afraid of
every one that I meet, lest they should meet me to do me a mischief, and to turn me
out of my way. Yea, I may tell my Lord, though I would not have everybody know

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