{302} Then I saw in my dream, that the Shepherds had them to another place, in a bottom, where was a door in the side of a hill, and they opened the door, and bid them look in.  They looked in, therefore, and saw that within it was very dark and smoky; they also thought that they heard there a rumbling noise as of fire, and a cry of some tormented, and that they smelt the scent of brimstone.  Then said Christian, What means this?  The Shepherds told them, This is a by-way to hell, a way that hypocrites go in at; namely, such as sell their birthright, with Esau; such as sell their master, with Judas; such as blaspheme the gospel, with Alexander; and that lie and dissemble, with Ananias and Sapphira his wife.  Then said Hopeful to the Shepherds, I perceive that these had on them, even every one, a show of pilgrimage, as we have now; had they not?

{303} Shep.  Yes, and held it a long time too.

Hope.  How far might they go on in pilgrimage in their day, since they notwithstanding were thus miserably cast away?

Shep.  Some further, 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.

{304} 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 gates of the Celestial City, if they have skill to look through our perspective glass.  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.

{305} Then they essayed to look, but the remembrance of that last thing that the Shepherds had shown them, made their hands shake; by means of which impediment, 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.  Then they went away, and sang this song —­

Thus, by the Shepherds, secrets are reveal’d,
Which from all other men are kept conceal’d. 
Come to the Shepherds, then, if you would see
Things deep, things hid, and that mysterious be.

{306} 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 sleep not upon the Enchanted Ground.  And the fourth bid them God-speed.  So I awoke from my dream.

{307} 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.