Giant Despair; nor could they from this place so much as see
Doubting Castle.

Now were they in sight of Zion, and here some of the Bright Ones
came to meet them. Here, too, they heard the voice of those who
dwelt in Zion, and had a good view of this land of bliss, which
was built of rare gems of all hues, and the streets were laid
with gold. So that the rays of light which shone on Christian
were too bright for him to bear, and he fell sick, and Hopeful
had a fit of the same kind. So they lay by for a time, and wept,
for their joy was too much for them.

At length, step by step, they drew near to Zion, and saw that the
gates were flung back.

A man stood in the way, to whom Christian and Hopeful said: Whose
vines and crops are these?

He told them they were the king's and were put there to give joy
to those who should go on the road. So he bade them eat what
fruit they chose, and took them to see the king's walks; where
they slept.

Now I saw in my dream that they spoke more in their sleep than
they had done all the rest of the way, and I could but muse at
this, but the man said: Why do you muse at it? The juice from the
grapes of this vine is so sweet as to cause the lips of them that
sleep to speak.

I then saw that when they woke, they would fain go up to Zion;