Part 17.

   Now I saw in my dream, that Christian went not forth alone; for there

   was one whose name was Hopeful, (being so made by the beholding of

   Christian and Faithful in their words and behavior, in their sufferings

   at the fair,) who joined himself unto him, and entering into a

   brotherly covenant, told him that he would be his companion. Thus one

   died to bear testimony to the truth, and another rises out of his ashes

   to be a companion with Christian in his pilgrimage. This Hopeful also

   told Christian, that there were many more of the men in the fair that

   would take their time, and follow after.

   So I saw, that quickly after they were got out of the fair, they

   overtook one that was going before them, whose name was By-ends; so

   they said to him, What countryman, sir? and how far go you this way? He

   told them, that he came from the town of Fair-speech, and he was going

   to the Celestial City; but told them not his name.

   From Fair-speech? said Christian; is there any good that lives there?

    Prov. 26:25.

   By-Ends: Yes, said By-ends, I hope so.

   Christian: Pray, sir, what may I call you? said Christian.

   By-Ends: I am a stranger to you, and you to me: if you be going this

   way, I shall be glad of your company; if not, I must be content.

   Christian: This town of Fair-speech, said Christian, I have heard of;

   and, as I remember, they say it's a wealthy place.

   By-Ends: Yes, I will assure you that it is; and I have very many rich

   kindred there.

   Christian: Pray, who are your kindred there, if a man may be so bold?

   By-Ends: Almost the whole town; and in particular my Lord Turn-about,

   my Lord Time-server, my Lord Fair-speech, from whose ancestors that

   town first took its name; also, Mr. Smooth-man, Mr. Facing-both-ways,

   Mr. Any-thing; and the parson of our parish, Mr. Two-tongues, was my

   mother's own brother, by father's side; and, to tell you the truth, I

   am become a gentleman of good quality; yet my great-grandfather was but

   a waterman, looking one way and rowing another, and I got most of my

   estate by the same occupation.

   Christian: Are you a married man.

   By-Ends: Yes, and my wife is a very virtuous woman, the daughter of a

   virtuous woman; she was my Lady Feigning's daughter; therefore she came

   of a very honorable family, and is arrived to such a pitch of breeding,

   that she knows how to carry it to all, even to prince and peasant. Tis

   true, we somewhat differ in religion from those of the stricter sort,

   yet but in two small points: First, we never strive against wind and

   tide. Secondly, we are always most zealous when religion goes in his

   silver slippers; we love much to walk with him in the street, if the

   sun shines and the people applaud him.

   Then Christian stepped a little aside to his fellow Hopeful, saying, it

   runs in my mind that this is one By-ends, of Fair-speech; and if it be

   he, we have as very a knave in our company as dwelleth in all these

   parts. Then said Hopeful, Ask him; methinks he should not be ashamed of

   his name. So Christian came up with him again, and said, Sir, you talk

   as if you knew something more than all the world doth; and, if I take

   not my mark amiss, I deem I have half a guess of you. Is not your name

   Mr. By-ends of Fair-speech?

   By-Ends: This is not my name, but indeed it is a nickname that is given

   me by some that cannot abide me, and I must be content to bear it as a

   reproach, as other good men have borne theirs before me.

   Christian: But did you never give an occasion to men to call you by

   this name?

   By-Ends: Never, never! The worst that ever I did to give them an

   occasion to give me this name was, that I had always the luck to jump

   in my judgment with the present way of the times, whatever it was, and

   my chance was to get thereby: but if things are thus cast upon me, let

   me count them a blessing; but let not the malicious load me therefore

   with reproach.

   Christian: I thought, indeed, that you were the man that I heard of;

   and to tell you what I think, I fear this name belongs to you more

   properly than you are willing we should think it doth.

   By-Ends: Well if you will thus imagine, I cannot help it; you shall

   find me a fair company-keeper, if you will still admit me your

   associate.

   Christian: If you will go with us, you must go against wind and tide;

   the which, I perceive, is against your opinion: you must also own

   Religion in his rags, as well as when in his silver slippers; and stand

   by him, too, when bound in irons, as well as when he walketh the

   streets with applause.

   By-Ends: You must not impose, nor lord it over my faith; leave me to my

   liberty, and let me go with you.

   Christian: Not a step farther, unless you will do, in what I propound,

   as we.

   Then said By-ends, I shall never desert my old principles, since they

   are harmless and profitable. If I may not go with you, I must do as I

   did before you overtook me, even go by myself, until some overtake me

   that will be glad of my company.

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