HOPE. How far might they go on in pilgrimage in their day, since they notwithstanding were thus miserably cast away?
SHEP. Some farther, and some not so far as these mountains.
Then said the pilgrims one to another, "We have need to cry to the Strong for strength."
SHEP. Ay, and you will have need to use it when you have it, too.
By this time the pilgrims had a desire to go forward, and the shepherds a desire they should; so they walked together towards the end of the mountains. Then said the shepherds one to another, "Let us here show to the pilgrims the gate of the Celestial City, if they have skill to look through our perspective glass."[6] The pilgrims then lovingly accepted the motion; so they had them to the top of a high hill called Clear, and gave them their glass to look.
[6] "Perspective glass" is an old name for a telescope or spy-glass.
Then they tried to look; but the remembrance of that last thing, that the shepherds had showed them, made their hands shake, by means of which hindrance they could not look steadily through the glass; yet they thought they saw something like the gate, and also some of the glory of the place. Thus they went away, and sang this song:
"Thus by the shepherds secrets are revealed, Which from all other men are kept concealed. Come to the shepherds, then, if you would see Things deep, things hid, and that mysterious be."
When they were about to depart, one of the shepherds gave them a note of the way. Another of them bid them beware of the Flatterer. The third bid them take heed that they slept not upon the Enchanted Ground. And the fourth bid them God speed.
And I slept, and dreamed again, and saw the same two pilgrims going down the mountains along the highway towards the city. Now, a little below these mountains, on the left hand, lieth the country of Conceit; from which country there comes into the way in which the pilgrims walked a little crooked lane. Here, therefore, they met with a very brisk lad, that came out of that country, and his name was Ignorance. So Christian asked him from what parts he came, and whither he was going.
IGNOR. Sir, I was born in the country that lieth off there a little on the left hand, and I am going to the Celestial City.