John Bunyan's Dream Story/Part I/Section 3

by James Baldwin

GIANT DESPAIR

NOW I saw in my dream that not far from the place where the pilgrims lay, there was a castle called Doubting Castle. The owner of that castle was Giant Despair, and it was on his grounds that Christian and Hopeful were now sleeping.

This giant, getting up in the morning early, went out to walk in his fields; and there he beheld the two men asleep, being overwearied with struggling in the storm. He beat with his club upon the ground, and called out to them in a grim and surly voice:

"Wake up there, you! Get up, I say!"

In much alarm, and scarcely knowing where they were, they sprang to their feet and looked him in the face.

"Who are you? And why are you here, trespassing on my grounds?" he gruffly asked.

They told him that they were pilgrims, and that they had lost their way.

"Well," said the giant, "you have trespassed upon my grounds, you have trampled upon and broken my shrubbery, and therefore you must go with me to my castle."

Then, with his great club in his hand, he drove them before him up to the great door of his castle; and he put them into a very dark and loathsome dungeon, where the light of the sun was never seen. There they lay helpless for three days and nights, without one bite of bread or drop of drink or any friend to ask them how they did.

Now, Giant Despair had a wife, and her name was Diffidence. In the evening he told her about the prisoners he had taken, and asked her what he should do with them.

"Who are they?" she asked; "and whither are they going?"

"They say they are pilgrims, and that they are bound for the Celestial City," answered the giant.

"That is a likely story," said the woman. "Tomorrow morning, give them a good beating, and see what they will say then."

So, as soon as he arose the next morning, he took his crab-tree club and went down into the dungeon. There he first began to abuse them by calling them all sorts of wicked names; but they made him no answer.

Then he fell upon them with his club and beat them most savagely until they fell upon the floor and were not able to help themselves in the least. Having done this, he left them alone in the darkness, to moan and groan in their deep distress. And there they lay all that day, expecting only to die.

In the evening the giant's wife asked him what he had done with his prisoners. He told her that he had beaten them without mercy, but that they were still alive and groaning on the floor of the dungeon.

"Why don't you kill them at once?" she asked.

"Truly, that is what I should like to do," answered Giant Despair; "but I don't dare to put myself in danger of the law."

"Well, then, if I were you," said the woman, "I would give them some knives and tell them to kill themselves."

The giant was pleased with this advice, and early the next morning he went down into the dungeon again. He spoke to them in the same surly manner as before, and told them that they need never expect to get out of that place alive.

"You had better make way with yourselves, and so end your misery," he said. And with that, he placed sharp knives and a bottle of poison on the floor beside them.

But Christian answered him meekly: "We are sorry that we trespassed upon your grounds; and, indeed, we should not have done so but for the darkness. If you will kindly allow us to depart, we promise never to trouble you again."

This pleasant speech put the giant into a terrible rage. He rushed upon the helpless men and would have killed them with his club; but as he was going to strike he fell into a fit and lost the use of his hand. For in sunshiny weather he often had such fits.

When, by and by, he came to himself, he arose and left the dungeon quietly. And the pilgrims sat on the floor, and asked each other what they should do.

"Here we shall indeed perish," said Christian, "for there is no one to help us."

"Do you remember how brave you were in other places?" asked Hopeful. "Think how you fought with Apollyon. Think how you faced the terrors of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Think how you played the man at Vanity Fair, and feared neither chain nor cage nor bloody death. So, let us bear up with what patience we can."

The next morning the giant went down into the dungeon again. There he found his two prisoners not only alive but somewhat stronger than before, and the sight of them roused his anger again.

"What! Still alive?" he said gruffly.

Then he opened a little window in the wall of the dungeon and showed them the yard of the castle. It was strown with white bones and skulls, and was indeed a dreadful place to look into.

"Do you see those bones?" said Giant Despair. "They are bones of men who were once pilgrims as you are. They trespassed upon my grounds and I tore them in pieces, just as I shall tear you when I am ready."

Then he gave them another beating and left them in a worse state than before.

"It is strange how much they can endure," he said to his wife. "You would think that with all the beatings I have given them, and with all my advice, they would have come to an end before now."

"I am afraid that they are expecting some one to come and help them," answered the woman. "Or perhaps they have pick-locks in their pockets, and hope to open the doors with them and escape."

"Well, I never thought of that," said the giant. "To-morrow morning I will search them."

Now, a little before day, Christian sprang up quickly and cried out, "What a fool I am! Here I am lying in this dungeon when I might as well be walking at liberty. I have a key here in my bosom. It is called Promise, and I'm quite sure it will open any lock in Doubting Castle."

"That's good news, brother," said Hopeful. "Try it, and let us see what it will do."

Christian took the key from his bosom and began to try at the dungeon door. Quickly the bolts moved back, and the door opened.

Then Christian and Hopeful both went out; and when they had come to the outer door of the castle, they unlocked that also.

They crossed the courtyard softly, and came to the great iron gate. Christian fitted the key into the lock, but it took all his strength to turn it. At length they pushed the gate open; but it made such a creaking on its hinges that Giant Despair heard it, and came rushing out in pursuit of his prisoners.

But when he had nearly overtaken them he fell into another fit, and they escaped him. So they went on until they came to the stile; and having climbed it, they were again in the King's highway, and so were safe once more.

"I hope no other pilgrims will ever fall into the hands of that giant," said Hopeful.

"But they may do so," answered Christian. "The stile is easy to climb, and the grounds by the castle are very inviting."

"Let us put up a sign to warn those who may come after us," said Hopeful.

So they set up a pillar close by the stile; and upon one side of the pillar they wrote these words:

Over this Stile
is the way to
DOUBTING CASTLE
which is kept by
GIANT DESPAIR
who despises the King of the Celestial Country,
and seeks to destroy his
HOLY PILGRIMS.

Having put up this warning, they went again upon their way; and as they went they sang,

"We wandered from the King's highway
⁠To seek an easier road;
But wandering thus, we came unto
⁠A giant's grim abode.

"O Pilgrims, who may follow us,
⁠We bid you walk with care,
Lest you like us do fall into
⁠The power of Giant Despair."

THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS

NOW I saw in my dream that the pilgrims came at length to the Delectable Mountains. These are the mountains which belong to the Lord of the Celestial Land, and which Christian had seen afar off when at the House Beautiful.

Very joyfully did the two weary ones go up into these mountains. And there they beheld the gardens and orchards, the vineyards and fountains of water. There also they drank and washed themselves; and they ate freely of the grapes of the vineyard.

Now there were on the tops of these mountains shepherds feeding their flocks, and they stood by the side of the highway. The pilgrims, therefore, as they came up, were fain to speak with them. So they stopped and rested, each leaning upon his staff, as weary pilgrims do when talking with any one on the road.

"Whose Delectable Mountains are these?" asked Christian.

The eldest of the shepherds answered, "They belong to Immanuel, the Lord of the Celestial Land, and they are within sight of his city. These sheep are also his, and he loves them."

"Is this the way to the Celestial City?" asked Hopeful.

"The way you are in is the right way," answered the shepherd.

"How far is it thither?"

"It is too far for any but those who will surely get there."

"Is the way safe or dangerous?"

"It is safe for those who deserve to be safe, but dangerous to the unworthy."

Then the shepherds, whose names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, took them by the hand and welcomed them to the Delectable Mountains. They led them to their tent and gave them food and drink.

"Now stay with us a while, and let us become acquainted," they said.

"They Walked a While and saw Many Wonderful Views"

So the pilgrims tarried with them, and slept in their tent that night; for they were very weary.

In the morning the shepherds called Christian and Hopeful, and asked them to walk out a little way upon the mountains. So they walked a while, and saw many wonderful views.

They saw in the distance a dreadful hill called Error. The sides of it were very steep, and the shepherds said that many a man had tried to climb to its top and had perished.

Then the shepherds led them to the summit of a hill called Caution; and there they saw a path which led straight down to Doubting Castle and the grounds of Giant Despair.

At last they led them to a very high hill called Clear. "From this spot we will show you the gates of the Celestial City," they said.

Now the eldest of the shepherds, whose name was Knowledge, had a wonderful spyglass in which things that are far away appear as very close at hand. He put this spyglass into Christian's hands and bade him look through it, if indeed he had the skill to do so.

Christian put it to his eye and looked; and after him Hopeful did likewise. But their hearts were so moved by what they had already been told that their hands shook and they could not look steadily through the glass. They thought, however, that they saw something like a gate, and also some of the glory of the place.

After this they returned to the shepherds' tent, and there they refreshed themselves for their journey. And when they were ready to depart, the kind shepherds went a little way with them, and taking them by the hand, bade them farewell.

"I give you a pocket map of the way," said Knowledge. "Whenever you are in doubt, look at it."

"Beware of the Flatterer," said Experience.

"Take heed that you do not sleep in the Enchanted Land," said Watchful.

"God speed you on your way," said Sincere.

Then, turning, the shepherds went back to their sheep, and the pilgrims went on their way.

THE FLATTERER

NOW I saw in my dream that the two pilgrims went down the mountain along the King's highway. Near the foot of the mountain they saw a crooked little lane which opened into the highway; and as they were wondering whither it led, they saw a finger board at the side of it on which was written

THIS WAY LIETH THE LAND OF CONCEIT

While they were reading the sign, a very brisk young man came down the lane into the highway.

"Good morning, strangers," said he. "Whither are you going?"

"We are on our way to the Celestial City," answered Christian. "Who are you, and whither are you bound?"

"People call me Ignorance," answered the young man, "though I don't know why I should have that name. I have come out of the Land of Conceit, and I, too, am going to the Celestial City."

"Do you think you will get into the city?" asked Christian.

"Well, I don't know," answered Ignorance. "Other good people get in, and I think I can do so."

"Why didn't you come into the highway through the wicket gate?" asked Hopeful.

"The wicket gate is a long way from our country," answered the young man. "And indeed, what is the use of a wicket gate when one can come in by way of a pleasant green lane like this?"

Then the pilgrims walked onward, and Ignorance followed them a long way, calling to them now and then to ask a question.

They went on till they came to a place where another road joined itself to the King's highway. It seemed as straight and as well-built as the highway itself; and they were not sure which was the right road and which was the wrong.

As they stood, uncertain which way to go, a man dark of skin but wearing a snow-white robe came up with them.

"Well, my worthy friends," said he, "whither are you journeying?"

"We are journeying to the Celestial City," answered Christian. "But these two roads are so nearly alike that we know not which to take."

"I am going thither," said the man, "and I know the way very well. If you will follow me, I will be your guide."

So they followed him. But he led them by a way which after a while began to turn a little and a little away from the city. It kept turning until in time their faces looked away from the Celestial Land; yet they kept on following him.

"You are very wise men," said the stranger, "and there is no one who can walk with surer steps than you."

But after a time they found themselves caught in a net. The net was so tangled about them that they could not get out. Then the white robe fell off the dark man's back, and they saw where they were.

They lay struggling and helpless for some time. "Now," said Christian, "I see my error. We have been following the Flatterer. For is it not written that 'he that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet'?"

"Didn't the shepherds warn us against this fellow?" said Hopeful. "And didn't they give us a pocket map of the way?"

Thus they lay bewailing and blaming themselves in the net.

After a long time they looked up and saw a Shining One coming towards them with a whip of cords in his hand. He came up and asked them who they were and how they came to be there.

"We are pilgrims to the Celestial City," answered Christian; "but we were led out of our way by a dark man clothed in white. He told us to follow him, for he knew the way."

"The dark man was Flatterer in the garb of an angel of light," said the Shining One; and he cut the net to pieces and set the men free.

"Now follow me," said he, "and I will set you in your way again."

So he led them back to the King's highway. Then he asked them sharply,

"Did you not stay a little while with the shepherds on the Delectable Mountains?"

They answered, "We did."

"And did not one of the shepherds give you a pocket map on which was shown every part of the King's highway?"

"He did," answered Christian.

"Did you, when you were uncertain, look at this map and read the directions that are printed upon it?"

"Alas, no!" they both answered.

"Why?"

"We forgot about it."

"Did the shepherds warn you against any person?"

"Yes, against the Flatterer. But this man talked so pleasantly that we did not imagine it was he."

Then the Shining One bade them lie down upon the ground; and he whipped them sorely with his whip of cords. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten," he said.

Then he raised them up, and bade them go on their way; and they thanked him for his kindness and went softly along the right road, rejoicing that their faces were once more set towards the Celestial Land.

THE ENCHANTED LAND

THEN I saw in my dream that they went till they came into a certain country where the air was such as to make them feel very drowsy. The soft breezes, which scarcely stirred the leaves, were laden with sweet perfumes, and the mossy banks in the shade of the trees invited to rest.

Then Hopeful began to be very dull and heavy of sleep. And he said to Christian, "I can scarcely hold open my eyes, I am so drowsy; let us lie down here and take a short nap."

But Christian answered, "Let us do no such thing, lest sleeping, we never wake again!"

"Why so, my brother?" said Hopeful. "Sleep is sweet to the weary traveler and to the laboring man. A little nap might greatly refreshen us." "Listen to me, Hopeful," said Christian. "Do you not remember that one of the shepherds warned us to beware of falling asleep in the Enchanted Land? Therefore, let us keep awake and watch, lest evil befall us."

"You are right, brother," said Hopeful. "If I had been here alone I should have given up to sleep, and perhaps I should have been in danger of death. The wise man was right when he said, 'Two are better than one.'"

"Well," said Christian, "let us by all means keep awake; and to drive away this drowsiness, let us talk with each other about our journey and the place whither we are bound."

"With all my heart," said Hopeful.

So they walked on, and as they walked they talked. But the air was heavy, and there was ever a sound of sweet music in their ears, which, if they had listened to, would have lulled them to sleep. Yet as often as Hopeful showed signs of drowsiness, Christian would shake him a little and cry,

"Wake up, brother!"

Then they would walk onward, sweetly conversing about the things that were uppermost in their minds; and by and by, when Christian himself began to be overcome, Hopeful in his turn would cry,

"Wake up, brother!"

Thus they walked onward, cheering and comforting and warning each other, until they were safely through the Enchanted Land.

THE LAND OF BEULAH

NOW I saw in my dream that the pilgrims went on, and by and by entered into the country of Beulah. This was indeed a pleasant land and a healthful one. For the air was very sweet, and the sun shone night and day.

There they heard always the singing of birds; they saw every day the flowers blooming in wood and field; they heard the cooing of turtle doves and the songs of running brooks.

So in this land the pilgrims tarried a while and solaced themselves. For the Land of Beulah is beyond the Valley of the Shadow of Death. It is also out of reach of Giant Despair, and Doubting Castle cannot so much as be seen from its hilltops.

But the pilgrims were here within sight of the city they were going to; and as they rested themselves, some of the people of that city came out to see them. For in this land the Shining Ones came often to walk, because it was on the borders of the Celestial Country.

Here the pilgrims had no want of corn and wine; for in this place was an abundance of all the things they had sought in their pilgrimage. And as they walked onward, their joy became greater, day by day. Then, as they drew nearer the city, they began to have a more perfect view of it.

They saw that it was builded of pearls and precious stones, and that the streets were paved with gold. Then, as they beheld somewhat of its natural glory and the sunbeams that enlightened it, Christian could scarcely wait to enter it. His desire was so great that he fell sick; and Hopeful also had a fit of the same disease.

Therefore, they lay for a while in the Land of Beulah, looking wistfully over towards the Celestial Gate, and crying out because of their great desire. But after a time, being better able to hold themselves, they arose and went on. They went on and came yet nearer and nearer, where were orchards and vineyards and beautiful gardens.

Now as they passed these places, they saw the gardener standing in the way. They asked him, "Whose goodly vineyards and gardens are these?"

"They are the King's," he answered. "They are planted here for his own delight and for the solace of pilgrims."

Then he led them into the vineyards and bade them refresh themselves with the dainty fruit that hung clustering on the vines. He showed them also the King's walks, and the pleasant arbors where he delighted to be. And here they tarried a while and slept. And sweet dreams came to them in their sleep, and they talked aloud of the joys that were in store for them.

In the morning when they awoke they turned their steps once more towards the city. But the sunbeams which rested upon it were so extremely glorious that they could not look that way with open face. So, as they went, they had need to look through glasses that had been made for that purpose.

Then I saw, as they went on, that two men in shining raiment came forth to meet them; and the faces of these men shone as the light. These men asked the pilgrims whence they came; and they told them. They asked them where they had lodged; and they told them. They asked them what dangers they had met and what difficulties they had overcome; and they told them.

"There are still two difficulties which you must surmount, and then you will be in the city," said the men.

"Will you not walk with us until we come to our journey's end?" asked Christian and Hopeful.

"That we will do," answered the men; "but it is by your own faith that you must go on in safety to the Celestial Gate."

THE RIVER OF DREAD

NOW I saw in my dream that they went on together until they came in sight of the gate. I further saw that between them and the gate there was a river and there was no bridge to go over; and the river was very deep.

When the pilgrims came to this river, they were much disheartened; but the men who were with them said, "You must go through, or you cannot get to the gate."

Christian was greatly cast down by this answer, and began to wish that he might draw back and escape. But Hopeful took him by the hand and cheered him with comforting words. Then as they came to the water's edge, they asked the men how deep the river was.

"You will find it deeper or shallower, as you put your trust in the King," was the answer.

So they stepped in. Then Christian felt himself beginning to sink, and he cried out, "O Hopeful, my friend, I sink in deep waters. The billows go over my head; the waves cover me!"

But Hopeful answered, "Be of good cheer, my brother! My feet are on the bottom, and it is good."

Still Christian cried out in his despair, "I shall perish in this river. I shall never see the Celestial Land—the land of milk and honey."

Hopeful, therefore, had much ado to keep his brother's head above water. Indeed, sometimes he would be quite gone down; and in a little while he would rise up again half dead.

But all the time, Hopeful tried to cheer him. "Brother, I see the gate," he said. "I see the men standing by to welcome us."

"It is you for whom they wait," answered Christian. "They wait for you and not me. You have been Hopeful ever since I knew you."

"And so have you," answered Hopeful. "Remember how you have kept your face turned always toward the Celestial Land."

Then I saw in my dream that Christian was silent for a time as though in deep thought. And Hopeful said, "Be of good cheer. We shall soon be on the other side. I see the Prince of the Celestial Land."

"I see him, too," cried Christian; "and he tells me, 'When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.'"

Soon the water became shallower, and Christian found the bottom good ground to walk upon. So they went on, cheerfully and with hopeful hearts; and thus they got over.

THE END OF THE JOURNEY

THEN I saw in my dream that the pilgrims being come out of the water, two Shining Ones met them and saluted them. And all went walking along together towards the gate.

Now the city stood upon a mighty hill, but the pilgrims went up with ease; for the Shining Ones led them and helped them. They had also left their heavy garments behind in the river; for though they went in with them, they came out without them.

So they went up lightly and with speed, though the city was higher than the clouds. They went up through the clear air, talking sweetly as they went; for they were comforted because they had safely crossed the river and were being led by such glorious companions. The Shining Ones talked to them on the way and told them about the beauty and the grandeur of the place. "You are now going," they said, "to the paradise of our Lord. There you shall see the tree of life and eat of its never-fading fruits. There you shall be clothed with glory and with majesty; and there you shall see the King as he is. There your friends will meet you, even those who have come before; and you shall with joy receive every one that follows into the holy place after you."

Now as they were drawing near the gate, a great company came out to meet them. And the two Shining Ones said, "These are the men that have loved our Lord and have left all for his sake. He has sent us to fetch them, and we have brought them thus far on their journey."

Then there was a great shout of welcome; and the King's trumpeters saluted them with music loud and sweet. And the great company surrounded them on every side. Some went before, some behind, and all walked on together towards the gate.

But before they came to it, they had another view of the city itself; and the pilgrims thought that they heard the bells therein ringing sweetly to welcome them. And so they went on, and the watchmen at the gate looked over and saw them and asked who they were.

"These pilgrims," answered a Shining One, "are come from the City of Destruction for the love that they bear to the King of this place."

Then Christian and Hopeful gave their passports to the keepers of the gate; and the command was given that they should enter.

Now I saw in my dream that these two men went in at the gate: and lo, they were transfigured, and they had raiment put on that shone like gold. Then I heard all the bells in the city ring out for joy; and a voice sweeter than any earthly music said unto them

"Enter ye into the joy of your Lord."

So I awoke, and behold it was a dream.

THE CONCLUSION

NOW, Reader, I have told my dream to thee;
See if thou canst interpret it to me,
Or to thyself, or neighbor; but take heed
Of misinterpreting; for that, instead
Of doing good, will but thyself abuse:
By misinterpreting, evil ensues. ...
What of my dross thou findest here, be bold
To throw away; but yet preserve the gold.
What if my gold be wrappèd up in ore?—
None throws away the apple for the core.
But if thou shalt cast all away as vain,
I know not but 'twill make me dream again.

—John Bunyan.