World.  Who bid thee go this way to be rid of thy burden?

Chr.  A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist.

{40} World.  I beshrew him for his counsel! there is not a more dangerous and troublesome way in the world than is that unto which he hath directed thee; and that thou shalt find, if thou wilt be ruled by his counsel.  Thou hast met with something, as I perceive, already; for I see the dirt of the Slough of Despond is upon thee; but that slough is the beginning of the sorrows that do attend those that go on in that way.  Hear me, I am older than thou; thou art like to meet with, in the way which thou goest, wearisomeness, painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword, lions, dragons, darkness, and, in a word, death, and what not!  These things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies.  And why should a man so carelessly cast away himself, by giving heed to a stranger?

Chr.  Why, Sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than all these things which you have mentioned; nay, methinks I care not what I meet with in the way, if so be I can also meet with deliverance from my burden.

{41} World.  How camest thou by the burden at first?

Chr.  By reading this book in my hand.

World.  I thought so; and it is happened unto thee as to other weak men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall into thy distractions; which distractions do not only unman men, as thine, I perceive, have done thee, but they run them upon desperate ventures to obtain they know not what.

Chr.  I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden.

{42} World.  But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it? especially since, hadst thou but patience to hear me, I could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into; yea, and the remedy is at hand.  Besides, I will add, that instead of those dangers, thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content.

Chr.  Pray, Sir, open this secret to me.

{43} World.  Why, in yonder village —­ the village is named Morality —­ there dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a man of very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as thine are from their shoulders:  yea, to my knowledge, he hath done a great deal of good this way; ay, and besides, he hath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their burdens.  To him, as I said, thou mayest go, and be helped presently.  His house is not quite a mile from this place, and if he should not be at home himself, he hath a pretty young man to his son, whose name is Civility, that can do it (to speak on) as well as the old gentleman