place on which stood a cross, and at the foot of it a tomb. Just
as Christian came up to the cross, his load slid from his back,
close to the mouth of the tomb, where it fell in, and I saw it no
more.

Then was Christian glad, and said with a gay heart: He gives me
rest by his grief, and life by his death.

Yet he stood still for a while, for he was struck with awe to
think that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his
load. Three or four times did he look on the cross and the tomb,
and the tears rose to his eyes. As he stood thus and wept, lo,
three Bright Ones came to him, and one of them said: Peace be to
thee! thou hast grace from thy sins. And one came up to him to
strip him of his rags and put a new robe on him, while the third
set a mark on his face, and gave him a roll with a seal on it,
which he bade him look on as he went, and give it at The
Celestial Gate; and then they left him.

Christian gave three leaps for joy, and sang as he went: Ah, what
a place is this! Blest cross! Blest tomb! Nay, blest is the Lord
that was put to shame for me!

He went on thus till he came to a vale where he saw three men who
were in a sound sleep, with chains on their feet. The name of one
was Simple, one Sloth, and the third Presumption. As Christian
saw them lie in this case, he went to wake them, and said: You
are like those that sleep on the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea
is at your feet. Wake, rise, and come with me. Trust me, and I
will help you off with your chains. With that they cast their