CHRISTIANA PREPARES TO CROSS THE RIVER OF DEATH. 307

town!” And another would answer, saying, “And so many went over the water, and
were let in at the golden gates, to-day!” They would cry again, “There is nowa
legion of Shining Ones just come to town, by which we know that there are more
pilgrims upon the road; for here they come to wait for them, and comfort them after

all their sorrow!”

Then the pilgrims got up, and walked to and fro. But low were
their ears now filled with heavenly voices, and their eyes delighted with celestial
visions! In this land they heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing, smelt nothing,
tasted nothing, that was offensive to their stomach or mind; only when they tasted of
the water of the river over which they were to go, they thought that it tasted a little
bitterish to the palate, but it proved sweeter when it was down.

Tn this piace there was a record kept of the names of them that had been pilgrims
of old, and a history of all the famous acts that they had done. It was here also much
discoursed, how the river to some had had its flowings, and what ebbings it had had
while others have gone over. It has been in a manner dry for some, while it has over-
flowed its banks for others.

In this place, the children of the town would go into the King’s gardens, and gather
nosegays for the pilgrims, and bring them to them with much affection. Here also
grew camphire, with spikenard, and saffron, calamus, and cinnamon, with all the trees
of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, with all chief spices. With these the pilgrims’
chambers were perfumed while they stayed here; and with these were their bodies
anointed, to prepare them to go over the river, when the time appointed was come.

Now, while they lay here, and waited for the good hour, there was a noise in the
town that there was a post come from the Celestial City with matter of great import-
ance to one Christiana, the wife of Christian the pilgrim. So inquiry was made for
her, and the house was found out where she was. So the post presented her with a
letter; the contents whereof were, “ Hail, good woman! I bring thee tidings that the
Master calleth for thee, ard expecteth that thou shouldest stand in His presence, in
clothes of immortality, within these ten days.”

When he had read this letter to her, he gave her therewith a sure token that he was
a true messenger, and was come to bid her make haste to be gone. The token was
an arrow, with a point sharpened with love, let easily into her heart, which by degrees
wrought so effectually with her, that at the time appointed she must he gone.

When Christiana saw that her time was come, and that she was the first of this
company that was to go over, she called for Mr. Great-heart, her guide, and told him
how matters were. So he told her he was heartily glad of the news, and could have
been glad had the post come for him. Then she bid that he should give advice how