"Where justice grows there grows eke greater grace, Arise, Sir Knight, arise, and leave this hellish place." Escaped from their thralldom, the pilgrims go on till they come to the Delectable Mountains. And here in a brief manner Bunyan has sketched a perfectly lovely scene. "The orchards and vineyards" rise up before us in dewy freshness, and "fountains of water" sparkle in sunny light. How picturesquely Spenser would have clothed the shepherds, who are simply said to have "fed their flocks by the wayside;" how minutely he would have described the pilgrims, who, we are quaintly told, "leaned upon their staves, as is common with weary pilgrims when they stand to talk with any by the way." Yet a picture more suggestive of pastoral beauty could scarcely be drawn. The pilgrims and the shepherds became a part of the landscape, which appears like an Arcadian view under an English sky. In the morning "the shepherds called up Christian and Hopeful to walk with them upon the mountains," where, among other objects, they were shown "the gates of the Celestial City, and some of the glory of the place." Spenser's knight, too, from the top of a high hill, was favored with the view of "a goodly city," which answers to that which Christian saw, and is thus beautifully described: "Whose walls and towers were builded high and strong, Cannot describe, nor wit of man can tell. The city of the Great King called well, Wherein eternal peace and happiness doth dwell. "As he thereon stood gazing he might see When the knight, lost in wonder, asked, "What stately building durst so high extend he was answered "That is The new Jerusalem, that God has built On cursed tree, of that unspotted lamb That for the sins of all the world was kilt. Now are they saints in all that city sam, [together,] In passing, we may here notice a faint family likeness between Bunyan's "very brisk lad," Ignorance, so full of self-conceit, vapid talk, and real worthlessness, and Spenser's amusing and life-like character of Braggadocia. And now we come to scenes upon which Bunyan was prone to look through the perspective glass, which he has put in the hands of his pilgrims. But their hands shook, and the objects they wished to behold, were in consequence not clearly visible. But through the mirror of God's word, they had become very distinct to the mind of Bunyan. He lived in the land of Beulah. This, to him, was not an ideal image, but an actual reality. "His fiction was truth." The air of the country was as "sweet and pleasant" to him as it was to his aged pilgrims. But they are summoned thence to cross the dark river, and he leaves them not. He resolves not only to accompany them to its banks, but to go up with them on the other side. It was a daring attempt, but he probably might have said, with Elizabeth Barrett, "the subject and the glory covering it swept through the gates, and I stood full in it against my will." It was well that the curtain was raised by such reverend hands. Like one with anointed eyes, he goes on to describe "the glorious companions and shining ones" who met the pilgrims joyfully, and bore them to the Celestial City amid heavenly music, unutterably sweet. So our poet, also, in sweet and lofty cadence alludes to supernal sights and sounds, in a manner that justifies one of his admirers in remarking, that "great injustice is done to Spenser when, bewildered in the mazes of his inexhaustable creations, or by the brightness of his exuberant fancy, we see in the Faerie Queen nothing more than a wondrous fairy tale, a wild romance, or a glorious pageant of chivalry. Beyond all this, far within is an inner life, and that is breathed in it from the Bible." "And is there care in heaven, and is there love That may compassion to their evils move? There is, else much more wretched were the case And all his works with mercy doth embrace, To serve to wicked man, to serve his wicked foe! "How oft do they their silver bowers leave To come to succor us that succor want! FOURTH SERIES, VOL. X.-15 How oft do they with golden pinions cleave O why should heavenly God to man have such regard!" 1, 2. When we read these lines we do not wonder that two commentators on the Scriptures quote them in their notes, or that Mr. Wesley recommended the Faerie Queen to be read with other books by a young lady, who had asked him to prescribe a course of reading to her. Christian and Hopeful vanish from our eyes, but the wife and children of Christian tread in his footprints, and again "The pilgrim's staff Gives out green leaves with living dews impearl'd." In the second part of the Pilgrim's Progress we again see traces of Spenser, and gather flowers, perfumed with a diviner air, from the wreaths he was wont to weave. The hospitable reception of Christiana and her children at the house of the Interpreter, where "one smiled, and another smiled, and they all smiled for joy, that Christiana had become a pilgrim," and where they also looked upon the boys, and stroked them over their faces with their hands, in token of their kind reception," and "bade all welcome to their master's house," may be very well expressed in Spenser's own words: "Where them does meet a Franklin fair and free, And in his speeches and behaviour he Did labor lively to express the same, And gladly did them guide, till to the hall they came." Book I, Canto X, v. 6. Conducted by their guide to the Palace Beautiful, they are laid to sleep in the Chamber of Peace, where they are soothed with music such as Spenser describes: "An heavenly noise, Heard sound through all the palace pleasantly, Like as it had been many an angels' voice Singing before the Eternal Majesty Yet wist no creature whence that heavenly sweet Proceeded, yet each one felt secretly ravish'd with rare impression on his sprite." Book I, Canto XII, v. 39. Did Bunyan bethink him of Una's request to Charissa, to "school her knight in the virtuous rules of the house," when he makes Prudence ask Christiana's leave to catechise her children? Charissa and Prudence resemble each other in being prone to teach "Every good behest Of love and righteousness."-Book I, Canto X, v. 23. Perhaps this is the place to speak, although we attach but little importance to the fact, of the coincidence in names which appears in the Pilgrim's Progress and the Faerie Queen. There would naturally be an accordance where each author personifies abstract virtues and vices. They both have an Ignorance, an Hypocrisy, a Humility, a Despair; and the name of Sans Foy, though so different in character, cannot fail to recall the Little Faith of Bunyan. For "my old Lord Lechery" of Vanity Fair we have "Lechery Upon a bearded goat," in Spenser. Of Mercy, the sweet maiden who, Ruth-like, leaves her people and her country to cling to Christiana, we are told, "her custom was to make coats and garments to give to the poor," and, "when she had nothing to do for herself, she would be making of hose and garments for others, and bestow them upon them that had need." And of one of Spenser's personages it is said, "Her name was Mercy, well known over all, To be both gracious and eke liberal."-Book I, Canto X, v. 34. At the House Beautiful the eldest son of Christiana fell sick. "His sickness was sore upon him," says Bunyan, in his homeliest manner; "he was pulled as it were both ends together." He had eaten fruit which he should not have touched; and the knight of Spenser is also a sufferer for indulgence in forbidden pleasures: 66 his torment was so great That like a lion he would cry and roar, And rend his flesh."-Book 1, Canto X, v. 28. Mr. Skill, "an ancient and well-approved physician," was hastily sent for to administer to Matthew; and for the knight they "Straightway sent with careful diligence, To fetch a leech; the which had great insight In that disease, And well could cure the same."-Book I, Canto X, v. 23. The ensuing lines of Spenser, as may be seen by comparing the two accounts, describe the course taken by Matthew's physician as accurately as possible, only that Bunyan goes into more particulars. All that noy'd his heavy sprite Well search'd, eftsoon he 'gan apply relief When the party of pilgrims were preparing to leave the place in which they had been so kindly entertained, many rarities were shown them. Among these was "a golden anchor." "So they bade Christiana take it down, for said they, 'You shall have it with you, for it is of absolute necessity that you should, that you may lay hold of that within the vail."" Of the knight it is said, 66 wise Sperenza gave him comfort sweet, And taught him how to take assuréd hold Upon her silver anchor.”—Book I, Canto X, v. 22. Again we enter the Valley of Humiliation, but it seems different from the place through which Christian walked. For Christiana and Mercy it is a spot all placid and serene, where the little shepherd boy wears "the herb called heart's-ease in his bosom," and where a man shall be free from the noise and from the 66 hurryings of this life." "I love to be in such places," said Mercy, "where there is no rattling with coaches, nor rumbling of wheels." A pleasant dale that lowly lay says Spenser of a similar place. From this lovely spot they came to the Valley of the Shadow of Death, through which they passed, terrified by undefined shapes of horror, like to those "Legions of spirits out of darkness dread," which were called forth by Hypocrisy to do his bidding.—Book I, Canto I, v. 38. At the end of the valley Giant Maul issues from his cave, and comes toward the travelers. "Mr. Great Heart went to meet him, and as he went he drew his sword, but the giant had a club. So without more ado they fell to it," says Bunyan. "Therewith the giant buckled him to fight, Inflamed with scornful wrath and high disdain, And lifting up his dreadful club on hight All arm'd with ragged snubbs and knotty grain, says Spenser, describing a like engagement, (Book I, Canto VIII, v. 7.) "The first blow struck Mr. Great Heart down upon one of his knees," but he, "recovering himself, laid about him in full, lusty |