Chapter 4 THE WICKET-GATE.

So Christian went on with haste, nor spake he to a man by the way; nor if a man spoke to him, would he deign him a word; so in course of time Christian got up to the gate. Now at the top of the gate there were writ these words:

"Knock, and it shall ope to you."

Hence he did knock more than once or twice.

At last there came a grave man to the gate, whose name was Goodwill, who sought to know who was there? and whence he came? and what he would have?

Chr.-"Here is a poor vile wight; I come from the City of Destruction, but am bound for Mount Zion, that I may get safe from the wrath to come. I would, for this cause, sir, know if you will let me in."

"I will, with all my heart," said he; and with that he drew back the gate.

So when he was got in, the man of the gate said to him, "Who told him to come to that place?"

Chr.-"Evangelist bid me come here and knock, as I did; and he said that you, sir, would tell me what I must do."

Good.-"But how is it that no one came with you?"

Chr.-"For that none of those who dwelt near me saw their plight as I saw mine."

Good.-"Did one or more of them know that you meant to come here?"

Chr.-"Yes; my wife and bairns saw me at the first, and did call to me to turn round."

Good.-"But did none of them go in quest of you, to urge you to go back?"

Chr.-"Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable; but when they saw that they could not gain their end, Obstinate went back, and did rail the while, but Pliable came with me a short way."

Good.-"But why did he not come through?"

Chr.-"We, in truth, came on side by side till we came to the Slough of Despond, in the which he fell souse. But as he got out on that side next to his own house, he told me I should hold the brave land for him. So he went his way, and I came mine."

Then said Goodwill, "Ah, poor man!"

"In sooth," said Christian, "I have said the truth of Pliable; but I, too, did turn on one side to go in the way of death, and I was led to this by the base arts of one Mr. Worldly-wiseman."

CHRISTIAN AT THE WICKET-GATE.

Good.-"Oh, did he light on you? What! he would have had you seek for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality: they are both of them true cheats. But were you led by him?"

Chr.-"Yes, as far as I durst. I went to find out Mr. Legality, till I thought the mount that stands by his house would have come down on my head."

Good.-"That mount has been the death of a host, and will be the death of still more."

Chr.-"Why, in truth, I do not know what hap had come to me there, had not Evangelist by good luck met me once more, while I did muse in the midst of my dumps: but it was God's grace that he came to me twice, for else I could not have got to this place."

Good.-"We shut out none, and take no note of what they have done up to the time they come here: 'they in no wise are cast out': and hence, good Christian, come a wee way with me, and I will teach thee in what way thou must go. Look right in front of thee; dost thou see this strait way? That is the way thou must go."

"But," said Christian, "are there no turns or bends by which one who has not trod it may lose his way?"

Good.-"Yes, there are some ways butt down on this; and they are bent and wide: but thus thou canst judge the right from the wrong, that the first is straight and not broad."

Then Christian strove to gird up his loins, and to set out on his way. So he with whom he had held speech told him, "That by that he had gone some way from the gate he would come at the house of the Interpreter, at whose door he should knock, and he would show him good things."

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