Last of all, the Shepherds brought the little pilgrims to the top of a hill called Mount Clear, from which they could see a very long way indeed. Far in the distance a beautiful light was shining, which dazzled their eyes when they tried to look at it.
“In the midst of that light,” said a Shepherd, “is the Celestial City. If your eyes are strong you will be able to see its gates.”
But the light was brighter than that of the sun at midday, and its glory was too great for human eyes to bear.
“I can only see it shining,” said little Christian.
“It is too bright for you,” said Sincere, “but we have a glass called Faith, which will make it seem clearer.”
Christian took the glass, but the thought of the King’s City, which he had so longed to see, made him tremble, and his hand shook so that he could not hold the glass steadily. Then Hopeful tried, but the tears came into his eyes.
“It dazzles me,” he said, “but I think I can see something like a gate.”
The walk upon the mountains had taken up the whole of the morning, so the Shepherds led the children back to the tents and made them rest a little while before they went away.
“When you have traveled a little farther,” said Experience, “you will very likely meet a man called the Flatterer. He will try to lead you out of the Way of the King, but you must not listen to what he says.”
Then Watchful told them that they would soon come to a place called the Enchanted Ground, where the air made the pilgrims feel very sleepy. “It was a part of the Wicked Prince’s country, and if his servants find you sleeping there, they will carry you away.”
“We will give you this little map,” said Knowledge, putting a sheet of paper into Christian’s hand. “All the places you will have to pass are marked upon it, and if you look at it carefully, you cannot lose your way.”
As Christian and Hopeful went down the mountain path, they talked together of all that the Shepherds had shown them.
“If we could only have seen the Celestial City,” said Christian, “I should have been so glad.”
“Well,” replied Hopeful, “we did see the glory of it, and we know that now it is not very far away.”
At the foot of the mountain the boys came to the corner of a little crooked lane. This lane led from a country called Conceit, and a lad was running along toward the Way of the King when Christian and Hopeful passed.
“Where do you come from?” asked Christian, for the boy soon overtook them.
“From the country beyond the hills,” he replied, “and I am going to the Celestial City.”
“But do you think they will let you in?” said Christian.
“Why not? They let everybody else in.”
“Not everybody. We have our Rolls to show. Did the King send you one?”
“No, but I don’t suppose that will matter. I am His servant, because I always do what He bids me. I have heard that He wishes people to leave their own lands and travel to His City, so I am going, just as you are.”
“But,” said Christian, “the King’s pilgrims ought to come in at the Wicket-gate and pass by the Cross. Then the Shining Ones bring them a white dress and a Roll. I am afraid you didn’t know that.”
“You needn’t make such a fuss about it,” replied the boy, whose name was Ignorance. “I don’t know where you come from, but very likely you were living near to the Wicket-gate, and of course it was convenient for you to enter it. It is a very long way from my home, and nobody ever thinks of going to it. In fact, I don’t believe that anybody knows the way! We have that pleasant green lane, which saves all trouble and makes our pilgrimage shorter.”
Christian scarcely knew what to answer and as Ignorance stopped to gather some fruit the little pilgrims passed on without him. He did not run after them, and Hopeful said, “Shall we wait for him?”
“I think not,” replied Christian. “Perhaps he will join us presently.”
