The Pilgrim's Regress

John and Reason pass through the valley and emerge into a cold land. He asks Reason whether the Island is real or just his imagination. She explains that she can only reveal what John already knows. He then questions whether his longing for the Island is lust, but Reason reminds him of her earlier riddle about distinguishing copies from originals. She says that all loves might be reflections of a greater love for the Landlord, though the sciences of Zeitgeistheim dismiss this. Reason says that understanding comes from her sisters, Philosophy and Theology, who are disregarded by the sciences.

John, still wearing handcuffs, shares his worry that if humans are disgusting inside, imagination must also be tainted. Reason counters that the giant’s vision was false and that the internal reality comprises feelings and sensations. John realizes that while the ugly images serve a purpose to physicians, they are not an accurate representation of human life. Reason advises that remembering the ugly sights can help him remain humble, as humans should indulge in hubris.

John asks Reason about the second riddle. She explains that the bridge represents Reasoning, highlighting the hypocrisy of the Spirit of the Age, who both allows and disallows argument. The cure is to ask if any reasoning is valid. The Spirit of the Age also accuses the Landlord’s followers of wishful thinking, yet discrediting the Landlord is wish fulfillment for those who deny his existence. John realizes the absurdity of this claim and laughs so hard that the chains fall off. He decides to part ways with Reason, tired by her pace. She advises him to turn left to return to the main road, but John is worried that she might follow him. He eventually reaches a steep hill, where he finds the main road again. He turns right and resumes his journey.

John follows the main road and finds Vertue. Vertue explains that he has been stuck for several days because the road ends at a massive chasm. Vertue suggests that they climb down, but John, uncomfortable with the uncertainty of the climb, rejects this idea. As they talk, an old woman named Mother Kirk appears and offers to carry them down with the power given to her by the Landlord. John suspects that she is a witch, but Vertue believes they should trust her. John questions the Landlord’s logic in allowing a road to lead to such a dangerous place, but Mother Kirk explains that the road was initially whole and tells them how the chasm first appeared.

The Landlord originally farmed the land himself. He then decided to lease it and selected a young married couple as his first tenants. He created a farm for them, promising them perpetual tenancy with the option to leave and live with him in the mountains once one of their sons was ready to take over. However, he warned the couple not to eat the mountain apples. The wife met an estranged son of the Landlord, who had become a powerful landowner in another country. The man persuaded her to eat a mountain apple and then convince her husband to do the same. An earthquake split the land, creating the gorge known as the Grand Canyon.

John questions the Landlord’s reaction to the eating of the forbidden apple. Mother Kirk explains that craving the mountain apples led the man and woman to spread this hunger throughout the land by grafting mountain apples onto other trees, contaminating everything. The contamination necessitated the creation of complicated rules to maintain the poisoned country. Vertue becomes reluctant to accept Mother Kirk’s offer to carry them down, a sentiment echoed by John, who suggests that Mother Kirk seems “insane” and that they should explore the chasm themselves. Mother Kirk warns that while they might find a way down, getting up to the other side could be a different challenge. As night falls, the two young men take a road branching north, which leads away from the cliffs.

John and Vertue follow a light to a house where they seek shelter for the night. A servant, Drudge, welcomes them and introduces them to the house’s owner, Mr. Sensible, who stresses the importance of enjoying life without becoming too attached to its transient pleasures. During their conversation, John and Vertue explain that they’re looking for a way to cross the Grand Canyon. Mr. Sensible questions the purpose of their journey and suggests that happiness lies in appreciating what is at hand rather than seeking the unknown. Despite arguments by Vertue, Mr. Sensible remains firm in his belief that philosophy should enhance the enjoyment of life rather than rigid adherence to logic

During their meal at Mr. Sensible’s house, he takes pride in his homegrown produce, though much of the meal is sourced from neighbors and friends, including Mr. Mammon, Eschropolis, and Mr. Halfways. Some items, like bread and salt, date back to Epicurus, the original builder of the house, while the hock and claret belonged to Horace and Montaigne, respectively. The port, the best drink on the table, originally belonged to Rabelais, who received it as a gift from Mother Kirk. Mr. Sensible makes a speech in Latin, thanking the Landlord despite not believing in him. He explains that acknowledging the Landlord is good manners. Eventually, Mr. Sensible falls asleep, and Drudge carries him to bed. Drudge then returns to lead John and Vertue to their rooms. Afterward, he returns to the dining room, drinks the remaining claret, and tidies the room for breakfast.

John cannot sleep due to the cold, so he dresses and goes outside to the garden, which is, in reality, a barren yard. He finds Drudge scraping together a pile of dust to make radish beds. Drudge explains that Mr. Sensible, who prides himself on gardening, doesn’t work in the garden himself. John discovers that the garden is on the edge of the chasm, which is widening due to frequent landslides. Drudge explains that many of Mr. Sensible’s predecessors, including Mr. Epicurus, died in these landslides. Drudge has served many masters over the years but is considering leaving. He says that he wants to go with John and Vertue on their journey north, to which John tentatively agrees, provided Vertue is also agreeable. Drudge heads back inside to tend to Mr. Sensible.

At breakfast, Mr. Sensible expresses anger over Drudge’s plans to leave. He asks Vertue to take over the cooking, but Vertue and John tell him that they are also leaving. Upset at being left alone, Mr. Sensible implies that it is rude to leave after receiving his hospitality. Vertue, feeling guilty, offers to stay and help, but Mr. Sensible refuses. He decides to move to a hotel until he can install machines from Claptrap that will eliminate the need for human servants. All four men leave the house together, with Mr. Sensible heading in one direction and the other three in another.