Pilgrim's Progress

THE END OF THE PILGRIMS' JOURNEY
How Christian and Hopeful Reached the Celestial City

Christian and Hopeful afterwards came to the Delectable Mountains. Here they were welcomed by the shepherds. The shepherds, whose names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, had them to their tents and gave them good counsel as to their way, and showed them through their perspective glass the gates of the Celestial City.

So they went on, and behold a man, black of flesh but covered with a very light robe, came to them, and, learning that they were bound to the Celestial City, bade them follow him, for it was thither, he said, that he was going.
Now, the name of this man was Flatterer, and by-and-by, before they were aware, he led them both within the compass of a net. Then in their distress they remembered the shepherds had warned them of the man.

At last they espied a Shining One coming towards them, with a whip of small cord in his hand. When the Shining One was told that they were poor pilgrims going to Zion, he rent the net, put them in the way again, and, having chastised them, bade them go on and remember the other warnings of the shepherds.

They went on till they came into a certain country, whose air tended to make one drowsy if he came a stranger into it. Hopeful was for falling asleep, but Christian remembered that this must be the Enchanted Ground, of which they had been warned. And so, to prevent themselves from falling into a sleep from which there was no awakening, they fell to good discourse.

In time they were got over the Enchanted Ground, and entered into the country of Beulah, whose air was very sweet and pleasant. The way lying directly through this country, they solaced themselves there for a season. Here they heard continually the singing of birds, and saw every day the flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle-dove in the land.

In this country the sun shineth night and day; wherefore this was beyond the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and also out of the reach of Giant Despair, neither from this place could they so much as see Doubting Castle. Here they were within sight of the city they were going to, also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof. And drawing near to the city they had yet a more perfect view thereof.

It was builded of pearls and precious stones, also the street thereof was paved with gold; so that by reason of the natural glory of the city, and the reflection of the sunbeams upon it, Christian with desire fell sick. Hopeful also had a fit or two of the same disease.
But being a little strengthened, they went on, and as they went they were met by two men in raiment that shone like gold, also their faces shone as the light.