He said, “I think I do.”

Then said Evangelist, “Keep that light in thine eye, and go up directly thereto, so shalt thou see the gate.  When thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do.”

So I saw in my dream that the man began to run.  Now he had not run far from his own door when his wife and children, seeing it, began to cry after him to return.  But the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, “Life, life, eternal life!” So he looked not behind him, but fled towards the middle of the plain.  The neighbors also came out to see him run.  And as he ran some mocked, others threatened, and some cried after him to return.  Among those that did so were two that were resolved to fetch him back by force.  The name of the one was Obstinate, and the name of the other was Pliable.  Now by this time the man was got a good distance from them, but they had made up their minds to follow him, which they did, and in a little time overtook him.

Then said the man, “Neighbors, wherefore are you come?”

They said, “To persuade you to go back with us.”

But he said, “That can by no means be.  You dwell in the City of Destruction, the place where I was born.  Be content, good neighbors, and go along with me.”

“What!” said Obstinate, “and leave our friends and our comforts behind us!”

“Yes,” said Christian, for that was his name.

“What do you seek, since you leave all the world to find it?” said Obstinate.

“I seek a treasure that never fades away.  It is laid up in heaven and is safe there,” said Christian.  “Read it so, if you will, in my book.”

“Tush!” said Obstinate, “away with your book.  Will you go back with us or no?”

“No, not I,” said the other, “because I have just set out.”

“Come then, Neighbor Pliable, let us turn again and go home without him.”

Then said Pliable, “If what the good Christian says is true, the things he looks after are better than ours.  My heart makes me wish to go with him.  But, my good Christian, do you know the way you are going?”

“I am directed by a man, whose name is Evangelist, to speed me to a little gate that is before us, where we shall be told about the way.”

“Come then, good neighbor,” said Pliable, “let us be going.”  Then they went both together.

“And I will go back to my place,” said Obstinate.  “I will be no companion of such mistaken and foolish fellows.”

Now I saw in my dream that when Obstinate was gone back, Christian and Pliable went talking over the plain.  “I will tell you what my book says of the country to which we are going, and of the people we shall meet there,” said Christian.

“But do you think the words of your book are certainly true?” said Pliable.

“Yes,” said Christian, “for it was written by Him who cannot lie.”

“Well,” said Pliable, “tell me about this country.”