284 THE PILGRIMS PROGRESS.

They went on, therefore, after this a good way farther, talking of Christian and
Faithful, and how Hopeful joined himself to Christian after that Faithful was dead.

Now they were come up with the Hill Lucre, where the silver mine was which
took Demas off from his pilgrimage, and into which, as some think, By-ends fell and
perished ; wherefore they considered that. But, when they were come to the old
monument that stood over against the Hill Lucre, to wit, the pillar of salt, that stood
also within view of Sodom and its stinking lake, they marvelled, as did Christian
before, that men of that knowledge and ripeness of wit as they were, should be so
blind as to turn aside here. Only they considered again, that nature is not affected
with the harms that others have met with, specially if that thing upon which they look
has an attracting virtue upon the foolish eye.

 

CHAPTER VIIL

THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS AND THE SHEPHERDS.

SAW now that they went on till they came at the river that was on this side of
the Delectable Mountains; to the river where the fine trees grow on both

 

sides, and whose leaves, if taken inwardly, are good against surfeits; where
the meadows are green all the year long, and where they might lie down
safely.

By this river-side, in the meadow, there were cotes and folds for sheep, a house built
for the nourishing and bringing up of those lambs, the babes of those women that go on
pilgrimage. Also there was here One that was entrusted with them, who could have
compassion, and that could gather these lambs with His arm, and carry them in His
bosom, and that could gently lead those that were with young.”

Now, to the care of this Man Christiana admonished her four daughters to commit
their little ones, that by these waters they might be honsed, harbored, succored, and
nourished, and that none of them might be lacking in time to come. This Man, if
any of them go astray or be lost, He will bring them again; He will also bind up that
which was broken, and will strengthen them that are sick." Here they will never