"Madam Bubble" Not to Be Discouraged
December 21, 2014John Bunyan |
John Bunyan
(1628–1688). The Pilgrim’s Progress.
Vol. 15, pp. 306-318 of
The Harvard Classics
"Madam Bubble,"
or this vain world, presented both herself and her purse to the
wayfarer. Repulsed and scorned, yet she serenely flaunts her bribes
enticingly before his bewildered eyes.
(John Bunyan made
leader of Non-Conformist congregation, Dec. 21, 1671.)
The
Second Part
[…]
So they came upon to another; and
presently Stand-fast said to old Honest,Ho
Father Honest, are you there? Ay, said he, that I
am, as sure as you are there. Right glad am I, said
Mr Stand-fast, that I have found you on this Road.
And as glad am I, said the other, that I espied you upon your Knees.
Then Mr Stand-fast blushed, and said, But why, did
you see me? Yes, that I did, quoth the other, and with my heart was
glad at the sight. Why, what did you think? said Stand-fast. Think,
said Old Honest, what should I think? I thought we
had an honest man upon the Road, and therefore should have his
Company by and by. If you thought not amiss [said Stand-fast]
how happy am I, but if I be not as I should, I alone must bear it.
That is true, said the other, but your fear doth further confirm me
that things are right betwixt the Prince of Pilgrims and your Soul,
for he saith, Blessed is the man that feareth always.
Valiant. Well but
Brother, I pray thee tell us what was it that was the cause of thy
being upon thy Knees even now? Was it for that some special mercy
laid obligations upon thee, or how?
Stand-fast. Why we
are, as you see, upon the Inchanted Ground, and as I was coming
along, I was musing with myself of what a dangerous Road the Road in
this place was, and how many that had come even thus far on
Pilgrimage had here been stopt and been destroyeth. I thought also of
the manner of the Death with which this place destroyed men. Those
that die here, die of no violent Distemper. The Death which such die
is not grievous to them, for he that goeth away in a sleep begins
that Journey with Desire and Pleasure; yea, such acquiesce in the
will of that Disease.
Hon. Then
Mr Honest interrupting of him said, Did you see the
two men asleep in the Arbor?
Stand-fast. Ay, ay,
I saw Heedless and Too-bold there,
and for ought I know, there they will lie till they rot. But let me
go on in my Tale. As I was thus musing, as I said, there was one in
very pleasant attire, but old, who presented herself unto me, and
offered me three things, to wit, her Body, her Purse and her Bed. Now
the truth is, I was both a-weary and sleepy, I am also as poor as
a Howlet, and that perhaps the Witch knew. Well I
repulsed her once and twice, but she put by my repulses, and smiled.
Then I began to be angry, but she mattered that nothing at all. Then
she made offers again, and said, If I would be ruled by her, she
would make me great and happy, for said she, I am the Mistress of the
World, and men are made happy by me. Then I asked her name, and she
told me it was Madam Bubble. This set me further
from her, but she still followed me with Inticements. Then I betook
me, as you see, to my Knees, and with hands lift up and cries, I
pray’d to him that had said he would help. So just as you came up,
the Gentlewoman went her way. Then I continued to give thanks for
this my great Deliverance, for I verily believe she intended no good,
but rather sought to make stop of me in my Journey.
Hon. Without doubt
her Designs were bad. But stay, now you talk of her, methinks I
either have seen her, or have read some story of her.
Stand-fast. Perhaps
you have done both.
Hon. Madam Bubble, is
she not a tall comely Dame, something of a swarthy Complexion?
Stand-fast. Right,
you hit it, she is just such an one.
Hon. Doth she not
speak very smoothly, and give you a Smile at the end of a Sentence?
Stand-fast. You fall
right upon it again, for these are her very Actions.
Hon. Doth she not
wear a great Purse by her side, and is not her Hand often in it
fingering her Mony, as if that was her heart’s delight?
Stand-fast. ’Tis
just so; had she stood by all this while, you could not more amply
have set her forth before me, nor have better described her Features.
Hon. Then he that drew her
picture was a good Limner, and he that wrote of her said true.
Great-heart. This
woman is a Witch, and it is by vertue of her Sorceries that this
ground is inchanted. Whoever doth lay their Head down in her Lap, had
as good lay it down upon that Block over which the Ax doth hang; and
whoever lay their Eyes upon her Beauty, are counted the Enemies of
God. This is she that maintaineth in their splendor all those that
are the Enemies of Pilgrims. Yea, this is she that hath bought off
many a man from a Pilgrim’s Life. She is a great Gossiper, she is
always, both she and her Daughters, at one Pilgrim’s heels or
another, now commending and then preferring the excellencies of this
Life. She is a bold and impudent Slut, she will talk with any man.
She always laugheth poor Pilgrims to scorn, but
highly commends the rich. If there be one cunning to get Mony in a
place, she will speak well of him from house to house. She loveth
Banqueting and Feasting mainly well, she is always at one full Table
or another. She has given it out in some places that she is a
Goddess, and therefore some do worship her. She has her times and
open places of Cheating, and she will say and avow it that none can
shew a good comparable to hers. She promiseth to dwell with
Children’s Children, if they will but love and make much of her.
She will cast out of her Purse Gold like Dust, in some places, and to
some persons. She loves to be sought after, spoken well of, and to
lie in the Bosoms of Men. She is never weary of commending her
Commodities, and she loves them most that think best of her. She will
promise to some Crowns and Kingdoms if they will but take her advice,
yet many has she brought to the Halter, and ten thousand times more
to Hell.
Stand-fast. Oh,
said Stand-fast, what a mercy is it that I did
resist her, for whither might she a drawn me?
Great-heart. Whither,
nay, none but God knows whither. But in general to be sure, she would
a drawn thee into many foolish and hurtful Lusts, which drown
men in Destruction and Perdition.
’Twas she that set Absalom against
his Father, and Jeroboam against his Master. ’Twas
she that persuaded Judas to sell his Lord, and that
prevailed with Demas to forsake the godly Pilgrim’s
Life. None can tell of the Mischief that she doth. She makes variance
betwixt Rulers and Subjects, betwixt Parents and Children, ’twixt
Neighbor and Neighbor, ’twixt a Man and his Wife, ’twixt a Man
and Himself, ’twixt the Flesh and the Heart.
Wherefore good Master Stand-fast, be
as your name is, and when you have done all, stand.
At this Discourse there was among the
Pilgrims a mixture of Joy and Trembling, but at length they brake
out, and sang, Some of the Ditch shy are, yet can
What
danger is the Pilgrim in,
How many are his Foes,
How many ways there
are to sin,
No living mortal
knows.
Lie tumbling on the
Mire;
Some tho’ they shun
the Frying-pan,
Do leap into the Fire.
After this I beheld until they were
come unto the Land of Beulah, where the Sun shineth
Night and Day. Here, because they was weary, they betook themselves a
while to rest. And because this Country was common for Pilgrims, and
because the Orchards and Vineyards that were here belonged to the
King of the Cœlestial Country, therefore they were licensed to make
bold with any of his things. But a little while soon refreshed them
here; for the Bells did so ring, and the Trumpets continually sound
so melodiously, that they could not sleep; and yet they received as
much refreshing as if they had slept their sleep never so soundly.
Here also all the noise of them that walked the Streets, was, More
Pilgrims are come to Town. And another would answer, saying,
And so many went over the Water, and were let in at the Golden Gates
to-day. They would cry again, There is now a Legion of Shining Ones
just come to Town, by which we know that there are more Pilgrims upon
the road, for here they come to wait for them, and to comfort them
after all their Sorrow. Then the Pilgrims got up and walked to and
fro; but how were their Ears now filled with Heavenly Noises, and
their eyes delighted with Cœlestial Visions! In this Land they heard
nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing, smelt nothing, tasted nothing,
that was offensive to their Stomach or Mind; only when they tasted of
the Water of the River over which they were to go, they thought that
tasted a little bitterish to the Palate, but it
proved sweeter when ’twas down.
In this place there was a Record kept
of the names of them that had been Pilgrims of old, and a History of
all the famous Acts that they had done. It was here also much
discoursed how the River to some had had its flowings,and
what ebbings it has had while others have gone over.
It has been in a manner dry for some, while it has overflowed its
banks for others.
In this place the Children of the Town
would go into the King’s Gardens and gather Nosegays for the
Pilgrims, and bring them to them with much affection. Here also
grew Camphire with Spikenard and Saffron
Calamus and Cinnamon, with all its Trees
of Frankincense Myrrh and Aloes, with
all chief Spices. With these the Pilgrim’s Chambers were perfumed
while they stayed here, and with these were their Bodies anointed, to
prepare them to go over the River when the time appointed was come.
Now while they lay here and waited for
the good hour, there was a noise in the Town that there was a Post
come from the Cœlestial City, with matter of great importance to
one Christiana the Wife of Christian the
Pilgrim. So enquiry was made for her, and the house was found out
where she was. So the Post presented her with a Letter, the contents
whereof was, Hail, good Woman, I bring thee Tidings that the
Master calleth for thee, and expecteth that thou shouldest stand in
his presence in Cloaths of Immortality, within this ten days.
When he had read this Letter to her,
he gave her therewith a sure token that he was a true Messenger, and
was come to bid her make haste to be gone. The token was
an Arrow with a point sharpened with Love, let
easily into her heart, which by degrees wrought so effectually with
her, that at the time appointed she must be gone.
When Christiana saw
that her time was come, and that she was the first of this Company
that was to go over, she called for Mr Great-heart her
Guide, and told him how matters were. So he told her he was heartily
glad of the News, and could have been glad had the Post come for him.
Then she bid that he should give advice how all things should be
prepared for her Journey. So he told her, saying, Thus and thus it
must be, and we that survive will accompany you to the River-side.
Then she called for her Children, and
gave them her Blessing, and told them that she yet read with comfort
the Mark that was set in their Foreheads, and was glad to see them
with her there, and that they had kept their Garments so white.
Lastly, she bequeathed to the Poor that little she had, and commanded
her Sons and her Daughters to be ready against the Messenger should
come for them.
When she had spoken these words to her
Guide and to her Children, she called for Mr Valiant-for-truth, and
said unto him, Sir, you have in all places shewed yourself
true-hearted, be faithful unto Death, and my King will give you a
Crown of Life. I would also entreat you to have an eye to my
Children, and if at any time you see them faint, speak comfortably to
them. For my Daughters, my Sons’ Wives, they have been faithful,
and a fulfilling of the Promise upon them will be their end. But she
gave Mr Stand-fast a Ring.
Then she called for old Mr Honest, and
said of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no
Guile. Then said he, I wish you a fair day when you set out for
Mount Zion, and shall be glad to see that you go
over the River dry-shod. But she answered, Come wet, come dry, I long
to be gone, for however the Weather is in my Journey, I shall have
time enough when I come there to sit down and rest me and dry me.
Then came in that good man
Mr Ready-to-halt to see her. So she said to him, Thy
Travel hither has been with difficulty, but that will make thy Rest
the sweeter. But watch and be ready, for at an hour when you think
not, the Messenger may come.
After him came in Mr Dispondency and
his Daughter Much-afraid, to whom she said, You
ought with thankfulness for ever to remember your Deliverance from
the hands of Giant Despair and out of Doubting
Castle.The effect of that Mercy is, that you are brought with
safety hither. Be ye watchful and cast away Fear, be sober and hope
to the end.
Then she said to Mr Feeble-mind, Thou
wast delivered from the mouth of Giant Slay-good, that
thou mightest live in the Light of the Living for ever, and see thy
King with comfort. Only I advise thee to repent thee of thine aptness
to fear and doubt of his goodness before he sends for thee, lest thou
shouldest when he comes, be forced to stand before him for that fault
with blushing.
Now the day drew on
that Christiana must be gone. So the Road was full
of People to see her take her Journey. But behold all toe Banks
beyond the River were full of Horses and Chariots, which were come
down from above to accompany her to the City Gate. So she came forth
and entered the River, with a beckon of Farewell to those that
followed her to the River-side. The last word she was heard to say
here was, I come Lord, to be with thee and bless thee.
So her Children and Friends returned
to their place, for that those that waited for Christiana had
carried her out of their sight. So she went and called, and entered
in at the Gate with all the Ceremonies of Joy that her
Husband Christian had done before her.
At her departure her
Children wept, but Mr Great-heart and Mr Valiant
played upon the well-tuned Cymbal and Harp for Joy. So all
departed to their respective places.
In process of time there came a Post
to the Town again, and his business was with Mr Ready-to-halt. So
he enquired him out, and said to him, I am come to thee in the name
of him whom thou hast loved and followed, tho’ upon Crutches; and
my Message is to tell thee that he expects thee at his Table to sup
with him in his Kingdom the next day after Easter, wherefore
prepare thyself for this Journey.
Then he also gave him a Token that he
was a true Messenger, saying, I have broken thy golden bowl,
and loosed thy silver cord.
After this Mr Ready-to-halt called
for his fellow Pilgrims, and told them, saying, I am sent for, and
God shall surely visit you also. So he desired Mr Valiant to
make his Will. And because he had nothing to bequeath to them that
should survive him but his Crutches and his good Wishes, therefore
thus he said, These Crutches I bequeath to my Son that shall
tread in my steps, with a hundred warm wishes that he may prove
better than I have done.
Then he thanked Mr Great-heart for
his Conduct and Kindness, and so addressed himself to his Journey.
When he came at the Brink of the River he said, Now I shall
have no more need of these Crutches, since yonder are Chariots and
Horses for me to ride on. The last words he was heard to say
was, Welcome Life. So he went his way.
After this Mr Feeble-mind had
Tidings brought him that the Post sounded his Horn at his
Chamber-door. Then he came in and told him, saying, I am come to tell
thee that thy Master has need of thee, and that in very little time
thou must behold his Face in Brightness. And take this as a Token of
the Truth of my Message, Those that look out at the Windows
shall be darkened.
Then Mr Feeble-mind called
for his Friends, and told them what Errand had been brought unto him,
and what Token he had received of the Truth of the Message. Then he
said, Since I have nothing to bequeath to any, to what purpose should
I make a Will? As for my feeble mind, that I will
leave behind me, for that I have no need of that in the place whither
I go. Nor is it worth bestowing upon the poorest Pilgrim; wherefore
when I am gone, I desire that you, Mr Valiant, would
bury it in a Dunghill. This done, and the day being come in which he
was to depart, he entered the River as the rest. His last words
were, Hold out Faith and Patience. So he went over
to the other side.
When days had many of them passed
away, Mr. Dispondency was sent for. For a Post was
come, and brought this Message to him, Trembling man, these
are to summon thee to be ready with thy King by the next Lord’s
day, to shout for Joy for thy Deliverance from all thy Doubtings.
And said the Messenger, That my
Message is true take this for a Proof; so he gave him The
Grasshopper to be a Burden unto him. Now Mr
Dispondency’s Daughter whose name was Much-afraid said
when she heard what was done, that she would go with her Father. Then
Mr Dispondency said to his Friends, Myself and my
Daughter, you know what we have been, and how troublesomely we have
behaved ourselves in every Company. My Will and my Daughter’s is,
that our Disponds and slavish Fears be by no man ever received from
the day of our Departure for ever, for I know that after my Death
they will offer themselves to others. For to be plain with you, they
are Ghosts, the which we entertained when we first began to be
Pilgrims, and could never shake them off after; and they will walk
about and seek entertainment of the Pilgrims, but for our sakes shut
ye the doors upon them.
When the time was come for them to
depart, they went to the Brink of the River. The last words of
Mr Dispondency were, Farewell Night, welcome
Day. His Daughter went through the River singing, but none
could understand what she said.
Then it came to pass a while after,
that there was a Post in the town that enquired for Mr Honest. So
he came to his house where he was, and delivered to his hand these
lines, Thou art commanded to be ready against this day
seven-night to present thyself before thy Lord at his Father’s
house. And for a Token that my Message is true, All thy
Daughters of Musick shall be brought low. Then
Mr Honest called for his Friends, and said unto
them, I die, but shall make no Will. As for my Honesty, it shall go
with me; let him that comes after be told of this. When the day that
he was to be gone was come, he addressed himself to go over the
River. Now the River at that time overflowed the Banks in some
places, but Mr Honest in his lifetime had spoken to
one Good-conscience to meet him there, the which he
also did, and lent him his hand, and so helped him over. The last
words of Mr Honest were, Grace reigns. So
he left the World.
After this it was noised abroad that
Mr Valiant-for-truth was taken with a Summons by the
same Post as the other, and had this for a Token that the Summons was
true, That his Pitcher was broken at the Fountain. When
he understood it, he called for his Friends, and told them of it.
Then said he, I am going to my Fathers, and tho’ with great
difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the
Trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My Sword I give to him
that shall succeed me in my Pilgrimage, and my Courage and Skill to
him that can get it. My Marks and Scars I carry with me, to be a
witness for me that I have fought his Battles who now will be my
Rewarder. When the day that he must go hence was come, many
accompanied him to the Riverside, into which as he went he
said, Death, where is thy Sting? And as he went down
deeper he said, Grave, where is thy Victory? So he
passed over, and all the Trumpets sounded for him on the other side.
Then there came forth a Summons for
Mr Stand-fast, (This Mr Stand-fast was
he that the rest of the Pilgrims found upon his Knees in the
Inchanted Ground) for the Post brought it him open in his hands. The
contents whereof, were, that he must prepare for a Change of
Life, for his Master was not willing that he should be so far from
him any longer. At this Mr. Stand-fast was put
into a muse. Nay, said the Messenger, you need not doubt of the truth
of my Message, for here is a Token of the Truth thereof, Thy
Wheel is broken at the Cistern. Then he called to him
Mr Great-heart who was their Guide, and said, unto
him, Sir, altho’ it was not my hap to be much in your good Company
in the days of my Pilgrimage, yet since the time I knew you, you have
been profitable to me. When I came from home, I left behind me a Wife
and five small Children, let me entreat you at your return, (for I
know that you will go and return to your Master’s house, in hopes
that you may yet be a Conductor to more of the holy Pilgrims) that
you send to my Family, and let them be acquainted with all that hath
and shall happen unto me. Tell them moreover of my happy Arrival to
this place, and of the present late blessed condition that I am in.
Tell them also of Christian and Christiana his
Wife, and how she and her Children came after her Husband. Tell them
also of what a happy end she made, and whither she is gone. I have
little or nothing to send to my Family, except it be Prayers and
Tears for them; of which it will suffice if thou acquaint them, if
peradventure they may prevail.
When Mr. Stand-fast had
thus set things in order, and the time being come for him to haste
him away, he also went down to the River. Now there was a great Calm
at that time in the River; wherefore Mr Stand-fast, when
he was about half-way in, he stood awhile, and talked to his
Companions that had waited upon him thither. And he said,
This River has been a Terror to many,
yea, the thoughts of it also have often frighted me. But now methinks
I stand easy, my Foot is fixed upon that upon which the Feet of the
Priests that bare the Ark of the Covenant stood, while Israel went
over this Jordan. The Waters indeed are to the
Palate bitter and to the Stomach cold, yet the thoughts of what I am
going to and of the Conduct that waits for me on the other side, doth
lie as a glowing Coal at my Heart.
I see myself now at the end of my
Journey, my toilsome days are ended. I am going now to see that Head
that was crowned with Thorns, and that Face that was spit upon for
me.
I have formerly lived by Hear-say and
Faith, but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with
him in whose Company I delight myself.
I have loved to hear my Lord spoken
of, and wherever I have seen the print of his Shoe in the Earth,
there I have coveted to set my Foot too.
His Name has been to me as a
Civit-box, yea, sweeter than all Perfumes. His Voice to me has been
most sweet, and his Countenance I have more desired than they that
have most desired the Light of the Sun. His Word I did use to gather
for my Food, and for Antidotes against my Faintings. He has held me,
and I have kept me from mine iniquities, yea, my Steps hath he
strengthened in his Way.
Now while he was thus in Discourse,
his Countenance changed, his strong man bowed under him, and after he
had said, Take me, for I come unto thee,he ceased to be
seen of them.
But glorious it was to see how the
open Region was filled with Horses and Chariots, with Trumpeters and
Pipers, with Singers and Players on stringed Instruments, to welcome
the Pilgrims as they went up, and followed one another in at the
beautiful Gate of the City.
As for Christian’s Children,
the four Boys that Christiana brought with her, with
their Wives and Children, I did not stay where I was till they were
gone over. Also since I came away, I heard one say that they were yet
alive, and so would be for the Increase of the Church in that place
where they were for a time.
Shall it be my Lot to go that way
again, I may give those that desire it an account of what I here am
silent about; mean-time I bid my Reader Adieu.
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