258 Fe THE PILGRIMS PROGRESS.

mean) that stands at the head of this way, and here also he stood a good while before
he would adventure to knock. When the gate was opened, he would give back, and
give place to others, and say that he was not worthy. For, for all he got before some
to the gate, yet many of them went in before him. There the poor man would stand
shaking and shrinking: I dare say it would have pitied one’s heart to have seen him.
Nor would he go back again. At last, he took the hammer that hanged on. the gate
in his hand, and gave a small rap or two; then One opened to him, but he shrank back
as before. He that opened stepped out after him, and said, “Thou trembling one,
what wantest thou?” With that, he fell down to the ground. He that spoke to him
wondered to see him so faint; so He said to him, “ Peace be to thee: up, for I have
set open the door to thee; come in, for thou art blessed.” With that, he got up, and
went in trembling; and when he was in, he was ashamed to show his face. Well, after’
he had been entertained there a while, as you know how the manner is, he was bid go
on his way, and also told the way he should take. So he came till he came to our
house; but as he behaved himself at the gate, so he did at my master the Interpreter’s
door. He lay thereabout in the cold a good while before he would adventure to call:
yet he would not go back; and the nights were long and cold then. Nay, he hada
note of necessity in his bosom to my master, to receive him and grant him the comfort
of his house, and also to allow him a stout and valiant conductor, because he was him-
self so chicken-hearted a man; and yet, for all that, he was afraid to call at the door.
So he lay up and down thereabouts, till, poor man, he was almost starved ; yea, So:
great was his dejection, though he had seen several others for knocking get in, yet he
was afraid to venture. At last, I think I looked out of the window, and perceiving a
man to be up and down about the door, I went out to him, and asked what he was;
but, poor man, the water stood in his eyes; so I perceived what he wanted. I went
therefore in, and told it in the house, and we showed the thing to our lord: so he
sent me out again, to entreat him to come in; but I dare say I had hard work to do it.
At last he came in; and I will say that for my lord, he carried it wonderful lovingly
to him. There were but few good bits at the table, but some of it was laid upon his
trencher. Then he presented the note; and my lord looked thereon, and said his
desire should be granted. 80, when he had been there a good while, he seemed to
get some heart, and to be a little more comfortable. For my master, you must know,
is one of very tender bowels, specially to them that are afraid; wherefore he carried it
so towards him as might tend most to his encouragement. Well, when he had had a
sight of the things of the place, and was ready to take his journey to go to the City,
my lord, as he did to Christian before, gave him a bottle of spirits, and some com-