Pilgrim's Progress

The Delectable Mountains

By John Bunyan

Now I saw in my dream, that the pilgrims came at length to the Delectable Mountains. These are the mountains which belong to the Lord of the Celestial Land, and which Christian had seen afar off when at the House Beautiful.

Very joyfully did the two weary ones go up into these mountains. And there they beheld the gardens and orchards, the vineyards and fountains of water. There also they drank and washed themselves; and they ate freely of the grapes of the vineyard.

Now there were on the tops of these mountains, shepherds feeding their flocks, and they stood by the side of the highway. The pilgrims, therefore, as they came up, were glad to speak with them. So they stopped and rested, each leaning upon his staff, as weary pilgrims do when talking with anyone on the road.

"Whose Delectable Mountains are these?" asked Christian.

The eldest of the shepherds answered, "They belong to Immanuel, the Lord of the Celestial Land, and they are within sight of his city. These sheep are also his, and he loves them."

"Is this the way to the Celestial City?" asked Hopeful.

"The way you are in is the right way," answered the shepherd.

"How far is it thither?"

"It is too far for any but those who will surely get there."

"Is the way safe — or dangerous?"

"It is safe for those who deserve to be safe — but dangerous to the unworthy."

Then the shepherds, whose names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere — took them by the hand and welcomed them to the Delectable Mountains. They led them to their tent and gave them food and drink.

"Now stay with us a while, and let us become acquainted," they said.

So the pilgrims tarried with them, and slept in their tent that night; for they were very weary.

In the morning the shepherds called Christian and Hopeful, and asked them to walk out a little way upon the mountains. So they walked a while, and saw many wonderful views.

They saw in the distance a dreadful hill called ERROR. The sides of it were very steep, and the shepherds said that many a man had tried to climb to its top — and had perished.

Then the shepherds led them to the summit of a hill called CAUTION. And there they saw a path which led straight down to Doubting Castle and the grounds of Giant Despair.

At last they led them to a very high hill called CLEAR. "From this spot we will show you the gates of the Celestial City," they said.

Now the eldest of the shepherds, whose name was Knowledge, had a wonderful spyglass in which things that are far away appear as very close at hand. He put this spyglass into Christian's hands and bade him look through it, if indeed he had the skill to do so.

Christian put it to his eye and looked; and after him Hopeful did likewise. But their hearts were so moved by what they had already been told that their hands shook, and they could not look steadily through the glass. They thought, however, that they saw something like a gate — and also some of the glory of the place.

After this they returned to the shepherds' tent, and there they refreshed themselves for their journey. And when they were ready to depart, the kind shepherds went a little way with them, and taking them by the hand, bade them farewell.

"I give you a pocket map of the way," said Knowledge. "Whenever you are in doubt, look at it."

"Beware of the Flatterer," said Experience.

"Take heed that you do not sleep in the Enchanted Land," said Watchful.

"God speed you on your way," said Sincere.

Then, turning, the shepherds went back to their sheep — and the pilgrims went on their way.