288 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

Now, the shepherds seeing so great a train follow Mr. Great-heart (for with him
they were well acquainted), they said unto him, “Good sir, you have got a goodly
company here; pray, where did you find all these?”

Then Mr. Great-beart replied:

“First, here is Christiana and her train,
Her sons, and her sons’ wives, who, like the wain,
Keep by the pole, and do by compass steer
From sin to grace ; else they had not been here.
Next, here’s old Honest come on pilgrimage,
Ready-to-balt too, who I dare engage
True-hearted is, and so is Feeble-mind,
Who willing was not to be left behind.
Despondeney, good man, is coming after,
And go also is Much-afraid his daughter.
May we have entertainment here, or must
We farther go? Let’s know whereon to trust.’’

Then said the shepherds, “This is a comfortable company. You are welcome to
us, for we have for the feeble, as well as for the strong. Our Prince has an eye to
what is done to the least of these; therefore infirmity must not be a block to our
entertainment.” * So they had them to the palace door, and then said unto them,
“Come in, Mr. Feeble-mind; come in, Mr. Ready-to-halt ; come in, Mr. Despondency
and Mrs. Much-afraid, his daughter. These, Mr. Great-heart,” said the shepherds to
the guide, “we call in by name, for that they are most subject to draw back; but as
for you and the rest that are strong, we leave you to your wonted liberty.”

Then said Mr. Great-heart, “This day I see that grace doth shine in your faces,
and that you are my Lord’s shepherds indeed; for that you have not pushed these
diseased neither with side nor shoulder, but have rather strewed their way into the
palace with flowers, as you should."

So the feeble and weak went in, and Mr. Great-heart and the rest did follow When
they were also sat down, the shepherds said to those of the weaker sort, “ What is it
that you would have? for,” said they, “all things must be managed here for the sup-
porting of the weak, as well as the warning of the unruly.” So they made them a
feast of things easy of digestion, and that were pleasant to the palate, and nourishing ;
the which when they had received, they went to their rest, each one respectively unto
his proper place.

When morning was come, because the mountains were high and the day clear, and
because it was the custom of the shepherds to show the pilgrims before their departure
some rarities; therefore, after they were ready and had refreshed themselves, the