Analysis of The Palace Called Beautiful

"He lifted up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately palace before him, the name of which was 'Beautiful'. Looking very narrowly before him as he went, he espied two lions in the way."—Pilgrim's Progress.

He wandered on a weary way,
    A weary way he wandered on;
Till eagerness and fortitude—
    Till all but hope were gone.

The night fell dark around his steps,
    And terrible is falling night,
For cheerful thoughts of enterprise
    Attend on morning’s light.

And there were Lions in the way—
    The lion mighty in his wrath—
No marvel that the traveller shrank
    From such a dreary path.

Then spake the Porter of the house,
    The house that was so fair,
The house whose name was Beautiful,
    And bade him not despair.

Chained were the Lions on his way,
    And he could safely pass along,
If that he had a steadfast hope,
    And if his faith were strong.

He entered in the lovely place;
    Four maidens at the door,
With wine, and bread, and pleasant words,
    His fainting soul restore.

Next morn they furnished him with arms,
    That in the sunshine glowed.
Who were the maidens setting forth
    The Christian on his road?

Prudence and Piety, intent
    On every work of Love,
And Charity, whose youthful heart
    Is tender as the dove.