the gate where the porter
was. Then said Christian to the porter, Sir, what house is this?
And may I lodge here to-night? The porter answered, This house
was built by the Lord of the hill, and he built it for the relief
and security of pilgrims. The porter also asked whence he was,
and whither he was going.

{112} CHR. I am come from the City of Destruction, and am going to
Mount Zion; but because the sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to
lodge here to-night.

POR. What is your name?

CHR. My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was Graceless;
I came of the race of Japheth, whom God will persuade to dwell in
the tents of Shem. [Gen. 9:27]

POR. But how doth it happen that you come so late? The sun is set.

{113} CHR. I had been here sooner, but that, "wretched man that
I am!" I slept in the arbour that stands on the hillside; nay, I
had, notwithstanding that, been here much sooner, but that, in my
sleep, I lost my evidence, and came without it to the brow of the
hill and then feeling for it, and finding it not, I was forced with
sorrow of heart, to go back to the place where I slept my sleep,
where I found it, and now I am come.

POR. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who
will, if she likes your talk, bring you into the rest of the family,
according to the rules of the house. So Watchful, the porter, rang
a bell, at the sound of which came out at the door of the house,
a grave and beautiful damsel, named Discretion, and asked why she
was called.

{114} The porter answered, This man is in a journey from the City
of Destruction to Mount Zion, but being weary and benighted, he
asked me if he might lodge here to-night; so I told him I would call
for thee, who, after discourse had with him, mayest do as seemeth
thee good, even according to the law of the house.

{115} Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going,
and he told her. She asked him also how he got into the way; and
he told her. Then she asked him what he had seen and met with
in the way; and he told, her. And last she asked his name; so he
said, It is Christian, and I have so much the more a desire to lodge
here to-night, because, by what I perceive, this place was built
by the Lord of the hill for the relief and security of pilgrims.
So she smiled, but the water stood in her eyes; and after a
little pause, she said, I will call forth two or three more of the
family. So she ran to the door, a