Introduction
In John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian has left his home, knowing it will be destroyed, and set out for safety in the Celestial City. Barring his way is Apollyon, a hideous, scaly monster with a dragon’s wings and a lion’s mouth, wreathed in smoke and fire. Christian’s polite request to let him pass so he can pay his respects to the Prince of all the lands only makes the fiend more angry.
THEN Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage, saying, “I am an enemy to this Prince; I hate his Person, his Laws, and People; I am come out on purpose to withstand thee.”*
“Apollyon, beware what you do [said Christian], for I am in the King’s Highway, the way of Holiness, therefore take heed to yourself.”
Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, and said, “I am void of fear in this matter, prepare thyself to die; for I swear by my infernal Den, that thou shalt go no further; here will I spill thy soul.”
And with that he threw a flaming Dart at his breast, but Christian had a Shield in his hand, with which he caught it, and so prevented the danger of that.*
Then did Christian draw [his sword], for he saw ’twas time to bestir him: and Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing Darts as thick as Hail; by the which, notwithstanding all that Christian could do to avoid it, Apollyon wounded him in his head, his hand, and his foot:* This made Christian give a little back; Apollyon therefore followed his work amain,* and Christian again took courage, and resisted as manfully as he could.
* Apollyon (Greek for ‘the destroyer’) appears in the New Testament at Revelation 9:11, where he is also named Abaddon in Hebrew. He is described as ‘the angel of the bottomless pit’, and Bunyan’s description of him in part recalls St John’s picture of the swarm of locusts under his command.
* Christian received his armour and sword from the armoury in the palace Beautiful. See Ephesians 6:10-18.
* That is (say the marginal notes printed in the first edition) in his understanding, his faith, and his conversation. ‘Conversation’ here means one’s manner of life, the company one keeps and one’s relationships.
* ‘Amain’ is an obsolete adverb meaning ‘with force’, from Old English mæġen (strength).
Précis
In John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’, the hero Christian encounters a fiend named Apollyon barring his way. Christian declares his loyalty to his Prince, and his determination to go on. Undaunted, Apollyon hurls a fiery dart. Christian parries it, and then draws his own sword; but a hail of darts follows. Christian is wounded, and suddenly at a disadvantage. (58 / 60 words)
In John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’, the hero Christian encounters a fiend named Apollyon barring his way. Christian declares his loyalty to his Prince, and his determination to go on. Undaunted, Apollyon hurls a fiery dart. Christian parries it, and then draws his own sword; but a hail of darts follows. Christian is wounded, and suddenly at a disadvantage.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: besides, if, or, otherwise, ought, unless, until, whereas.
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