“Why, sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than all these things.”

“But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it?  Hadst thou but patience to listen, I could direct thee how to get what thou desirest, without the danger that thou in this way wilt run thyself into.”

“Sir, I pray that thou wilt tell me this secret.”

“Why, in yonder village there dwells a gentleman, who is very wise, and who has skill to help men off with burdens like thine from their shoulders.  To him thou mayest go to be helped at once.  His house is not quite a mile from this place, and if thou dost not desire to go back to the City of Destruction, as indeed I would not wish thee, thou mayest send for thy wife and children to come to thee to this village.  There are houses now standing empty, one of which thou mayest have without great cost.  Food is there also, cheap and good, and what will make thy life the more happy is, that thou shalt live beside honest neighbors, in respect and comfort.”

Now the Christian puzzled, but he thought, “If what Mr. Worldly Wiseman says is true, my wisest plan is to take his advice.”

“Sir,” said Christian, “which is my way to this honest man’s house?”

“Do you see yonder high hill?”

“Yes, very well.”

“By that hill you must go, and the first house you come to is his.”

So Christian turned out of his way to go to the house for help.  But behold, when he was now close to the hill, it seemed so steep, and also that side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over, that Christian was afraid to venture farther, lest the hill should fall on his head.  Wherefore he stood still, and knew not what to do.  Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in his way.  There came also flashes of fire out of the hill, that made Christian afraid that he should be burned.  Here therefore he did quake for fear.  And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. Worldly Wiseman’s counsel.  Then he saw Evangelist coming to meet him, at the sight also of whom he began to blush for shame.  So Evangelist drew nearer and nearer, and coming up to him, he looked upon him with a severe and dreadful countenance.

“What dost thou here, Christian?” said he.  At which words Christian knew not what to answer, wherefore at first he stood speechless before him.  Then said Evangelist, “Art not thou the man I found crying without the walls of the City of Destruction?”

“Yes,” said Christian, “I am the man.”

“Did I not direct thee the way to the little Wicket-gate?”

“Yes,” said Christian.

“How is it, then, that thou art so quickly turned out of the way?”

“I met with a gentleman as soon as I had got over the Slough of Despond, who told me that in yonder village I might find a man who could take off my burden.”

“What was he like?”