Help With Quotation

[novelsryou]

Help me understand this quote.

"My sword I give to him that will succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My works and scars I carry with me to be a witness for me that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder. So he passed over and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side..."

~Pilgrim's Progress~

I have the book but don't think I can read it though I might be willing to try. The quote was George S Patton's favorite from the book. I've been reading a lot of WWII stuff lately.

Thanks, Lonnie

[bounty]

novels its been quite awhile since ive read pilgrims progress, i dont have my copy here with me and i dont remember that quote. but from the context, i am thinking it is referring to when christian (the main character) is at the river (a symbol in the book for the passing over from life to death). the "his" and the "rewarder" christian is referring to is jesus. the sword, the scars, the works, etc, are indicative of that his life was full of battles for righteousness sake and against the evil he encountered along the way.

does that help?

[novelsryou]

Thanks bounty, that's what I thought, not the details you gave but basically, just wanted to be sure. Patton thought he was a reincarnated warrior, thought he'd fought battles in ancient Carthage and would have liked nothing better than to die in battle but instead he died of complications from a broken neck as a result of a car accident three months after VE day.

[patrickbeverley]

Pilgrim's Progress is an intensely metaphorical book, so little should be taken at face value, and much depends on personal interpretation. But here's my view:

"My sword I give to him that will succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it."

In other words, if you are prepared to carry on the work I have done in the world, you can have the material objects (symbolised by a sword) that I used to do that work. On the other hand, immaterial things -- such as courage and skill -- cannot be left in a will, because you have to get those things for yourself.

"My works and scars I carry with me to be a witness for me that I have fought his battles who now will be my rewarder."

I will take the credit for my actions, and the scars which prove I have been brave, so God may see that I have served him.

"So he passed over and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side..."

So Christian died, and in heaven he was greeted like a hero.

[bounty]

Thanks bounty, that's what I thought, not the details you gave but basically, just wanted to be sure. Patton thought he was a reincarnated warrior, thought he'd fought battles in ancient Carthage and would have liked nothing better than to die in battle but instead he died of complications from a broken neck as a result of a car accident three months after VE day.

youre welcome---and as patrickbeverly's answer gives some insight too, i hope other people will still chime in. if i may, let me encourage you to read the book. its a challenging read from a grammar and language perspective but its also a profound book meant to change lives. and i understand, next to the bible, its the second most purchased book in history...

[patrickbeverley]

Not quite, Bounty. The top ten goes:

The Bible
Quotations from Chairman Mao (aka The Little Red Book)
The Koran
Don Quixote
Xinhua Chinese Dictionary
The Book of Common Prayer
Pilgrim's Progress
The Count of Monte Cristo
Scouting for Boys
Foxe's Book of Martyrs

PP may only be at number seven, but it has still sold an impressive 250 million copies since its publication in 1678.

[bounty]

life often throws research methods problems at us...smiles...its certainly hard to know the truth...

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=356034

[wessexgirl]

Not quite, Bounty. The top ten goes:

The Bible
Quotations from Chairman Mao (aka The Little Red Book)
The Koran
Don Quixote
Xinhua Chinese Dictionary
The Book of Common Prayer
Pilgrim's Progress
The Count of Monte Cristo
Scouting for Boys
Foxe's Book of Martyrs

PP may only be at number seven, but it has still sold an impressive 250 million copies since its publication in 1678.

I thought Shakespeare and Dickens were at the top of the most bought books worldwide?