Evening star., 1927-11-23
Copyright. 1879
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE FIGHT WITH APOLLYON
By JOHN RUNYAN.

John Bunyan. 16@s-16ss; is famous ,,eH in in
EnrIish literature for his mastery OF the type tp
Of notion known as allegory. He wrote the
!piIrrin,'s Froyress.' the most famous al
lcgory IN the English lanEnaSef e. Cbris,ian Cr
rom thi world that which IS 70 Coi1G ~
the form of dream-descriong E !E ue
hv following the Faith. The presenI, tplsoue ;.,
is one of the best known IN tne ,rnr,s ,
AmEnSd AAhonndnS to the Chief Of sin
ners" and Life and Death OF MI. Dau''''"
Rut now. in this Valley, of Humlll'
,tion moor Christian was hard put
to il. for he had gone but a little way
before he espied foul tiend coming
over the field to meet him. His name
was Anollyon. Then did Christian be'
yin TO be afraid. and to cast In ms
mind whether to go back or 10 stailo
his ground. But he considered again
tbat he had no armor on MS park'
Therefore he thought tina. to turn tne
hacl, to the fiend might give MN tne
greater advantage with ease 10 pierce
him with darts. Therefore he resolved
to venture and stand his ground; tor'
thought he. had | no more IN mine
eve than the saving OF my me- IL
would be the best way to stand.
So he went on. and Apollyon met
him Now the monster was hldeous
IN behold. He was clothed with
scales. like a fish; he had wings like
q dragon. feet like a bear. and OUT
Of his belly came fire and smoke, ana
his mouth was as the mouth or non
When he was come up to Christian.
he beheld him with a disdainfuI
countenance. and thus began to ques'
ton: -, .,,o
"Whence came you?" asked Aplo'
lvon. "Whither are you bound!
II come from the City Of Destruc'
ton" answered Christian. "whlch Is
the place Of all evil. and am gong
TO the City of Zion
"Rv this | perceive thou art one
Of my subjects" said the fend, LOT
all that country il mine, and / am
the prince and god of it. How IS IL,
then. that thou hast run away from
thv king? Were it not that / hope
thou mayest do me more service, l
would strike thee now, at one blow,
to the ground"
Il was born, indeed, in your DO
minions," said Christian, but your
service was hard, and your wages
such as a man could not live on. Tor
the wal ges of sin is death There.
fore, when I was come to years. l
did as other considerate persons DO
look out If perhaps I might mend
myself" -,
There Is no prince that will light
ly lose his subjects" asserted Apo''
lvon. "Neither will l as yet lose thee.
But since thou complainest OF tiny
service and wages, be content to go
back-what our country will afford ]
do here promise to give thee.
But have let myself to another,
said Christian, "even to the King
of princes. How can l, with fairness,
go back to thee?'
"Thou hast done in this, according
to the proverb. change bad Tor
worse" said Apollyon. But 1t Is
ordinarily for those that have pro-
fessed themselves his servants. after
a while to give him the slip. and re-
turn again to me. Do thou so too,
and all shall be we'll"
II have given him my faith" said
Christian at this, land sworn my al
legiance to him. How, then. can l
go from this. and not be hanged as
a traitor?'
Thou didst the same to me, and
vet ] am willing to pass by all. II
tnOu now VIII lui IL oSdih "'" So' -
back"
What ! promised thee was in my
homage. and, besides, / count the
prince under whose banner now
stand Is able to absolve me. Yea,
and to pardon also what l did as to
nv compliance with thee" added
Christian. Besides, o thou destroy
ing Apollyon. to speak truth. like
his services, his wages, his sevants.
his government. his company and
country better than thine. There
fore, leave off. for ! am his servant
and l will follow him."
ApolIyon tried again. Remember.
he said, chow many come to an Ill end
in his services. For l destroy trans
gressors against me and my ways.
And / help and save those who serve
me-"