Now I saw in my dream that the Christian had to go up a steep hill in order to continue on the path he was travelling. He came to a spring and drank thereof to refresh himself and then began to go up the hill, l saying;
“The hill, though high, I covet to ascend,
The difficulty will not me offend;
For I perceive the way to life lies here:
Come, pluck up heart; let’s neither faint nor fear:
Better, though difficult, the right way go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.”
I looked after Christian, to see him go up the hill, where I perceived he fell from running and from clambering upon his hands and knees, because of the steepness of the place. Christian met travellers along the way who warned him of danger ahead. He became much perplexed and knew not what to do so he sat down. He fell asleep and rose a while later realising the folly of wasting time since he needed lodging before the night fell. He went on his way weary and discouraged. And behold there was a very stately palace before him, as he walked a short while, the name of which was Beautiful. It was very misty so he did not see the house from afar. He made haste towards the house hoping he might find lodging there for the night. Now before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage and he espied two lions in the way. Then he was afraid and started to turn back. The porter, who saw him, cried out to him and assured him that it was safe to come to the house as the lions were chained. Christian proceeded to the house and the porter beckoned the Lady of the House for Christian to ask for lodging. The Lady of the House answered the door and asked whence he was, and whither he was going, also who he met on the way and he told her. She then invited him inside saying; “Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; this house was built by the Lord of the hill, for the relief and security of pilgrims such as thee’.
