Garden and Dog
Garden and dog
Now there was, on the other side of the Wall that fenced in the way up which Christiana and her companions were to go, a garden, and that garden belonged to him whose was that barking dog of whom mention was made before. And some of the Fruit-Trees that grew in that Garden shot their branches over the wall; and being mellow, they that found them did gather them up, and oft eat of them to their hurt. So Christiana's boys, as boys are apt to do, being pleased with the trees, and with the fruit that did hang thereon, did plash them, and began to eat. Their mother did also chide them for so doing, but still the boys went on.
Well, said she, my sons, you transgress, for that fruit is none of ours; but she did not know that they did belong to the enemy; I'll warrant you if she had, she would have been ready to die for fear. But that passed, and they went on their way.
Now by that they were gone about two bow-shots from the place that let them into the way, they espied two very ill-favoured ones coming down apace to meet them. With that Christiana and Mercy her friend covered themselves with their vails, and so kept on their journey; the children also went on before, so that at last they met together. Then they that came down to meet them, came just up to the women as if they would embrace them; but Christiana said, Stand back, or go peaceably by as you should. Yet these two, as men that are deaf, regarded not Christiana's words, but began to lay hands upon them. At that Christiana waxing very wroth, spurned at them with her feet. Mercy also as well ash as she could, did what she could to shift them. Christiana again said to them, Stand back, and be gone, for we have no money to lose, being Pilgrims as ye see, and such too as live upon the charity of our friends.
Ill-favoured: Then said one of the two of the men, We make no assault upon you for your money, but are come out to tell you, that if you will grant one small request which we shall ask, we will make women of you for ever.
Christiana: Now Christiana imagining what they should mean, made answer again, We will neither hear, nor regard, nor yield to what you shall ask. We are in haste, cannot stay, our business is a business of Life and Death.
So again she and her companions made a fresh assay to go past them, but they letteth them in their way.
Ill-favoured: And they said, We intend no hurt to your lives, 'tis another thing we would have.
Christiana: Ah, quoth Christiana, you would have us body and soul, for I know 'tis for that you are come; but we will die rather upon the spot, than suffer ourselves to be brought into such snares as shall hazard our well-being hereafter.
And with that they both shrieked out, and cried, Murder, murder: and so put themselves under those Laws that are provided for the protection of women. But the men still made their approach upon them, with design to prevail against them: they therefore cried out again. Now they being, as I said, not far from the Gate in at which they came, their voice was heard from where they was, thither. Wherefore some of the House came out, and knowing that it was Christiana's tongue they made haste to her relief. But by that they was got within sight of them, the women were in a very great scuffle, the children also stood crying by. Then did he that came in for their relief call out to the ruffians, saying, What is that thing that you do? Would you make my Lord's people to transgress?
He also attempted to take them, but they did make their escape over the wall into the garden of the man to whom the great dog belonged; so the dog became their protector. This Reliever then came up to the women, and asked them how they did. So they answered, We thank thy Prince, pretty well, only we have been somewhat affrighted; we thank thee also for that thou camest in to our help, for otherwise we had been overcome.
Interpretation:
The boys of Christiana ate the prohibited fruits in the garden which did not belong to them. Christian women have to take special care of their children so that they may not consume such prohibited fruits such as illicit sex, alcohol, addictions to smart phones, internet, etc. In educational institutes, children should be advised not to freely mingle with opposite sex and not to have boy or girl friends.
Ill-favoured men are symbolical of persons with carnal lusts that tempt women to commit fornication with men. Christiana and Mercy resisted these men in a very great scuffle and put themselves under those laws of the Bible that are provided for the spiritual protection of women. Women facing such temptations need to wrestle in prayers with the evil spirits of lust and fornication. Their mind builds a castle of fantasies as they watch cinema movies or pornographic pictures. Nowadays, godly women destined for the Celestial City lay dead on their way to the Celestial City as they succumbed to these temptations. There are mostly deceived in the cyber world as they communicate with unknown persons of opposite sex.
If Christian women follow the instructions of the Bible in regard to their modest dress code and modest life style, they would not face any such temptation from such ill-favoured ones. Then they have to cry out to the Lord to help them in their distress. The Lord does help a woman seeking His help either by sending a messenger to her or by enlightening her mind through a scripture portion so that she may come out of this temptation.