which one of my Lord's most intimate associates fixed there in the day that my burden fell off my shoulders. I will tell you, moreover, that I had then given me a roll sealed, to comfort me by reading as I go on the way: I was also bid to give it in at the Celestial Gate in token of my certain going in after it: all which things I doubt you want, and want them because you came not in at the gate.
To these things they gave him no answer; only they looked upon each other and laughed. Then I saw that they went on all, save that Christian kept before, who had no more talk. but with himself, and that sometimes sighingly, and sometimes comfortably: also he would he often reading in the roll, that one of the Shining Ones gave him, by which he was refreshed,
I beheld then that they all went on till they came to the foot of the Hill Difficulty, at the bottom of which was a spring. There were also in the same place two other ways, besides that which came straight from the gate: one turned to the left hand, and the other to the right, at the bottom of the hill; but the narrow way lay right up the hill, and the name of the going up the side of the hill is called Difficulty. Christian now went to the spring, and drank thereof to refresh himself (Isa. xlix. 10–12); and then he began to go up the hill, saying—
The hill, though high, I covet to ascend—
The difficulty will not me offend;
For I perceive the way to life lies here.
Come, pluck up heart, let's neither faint nor fear!
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.
The other two also came to the foot of the hill; but when they saw that the hill was steep and high, and that there were two other ways to go—and supposing also that these two ways might meet again, with that up which Christian went, on the other side of the hill—therefore they were re-
