ANSWER. My Christiana, if with such thou meet, But if they frown, I prithee on them smile: Has made them thus despise, or thus retort. Some love no fish, some love no cheese, and some Love not their friends, nor their own house nor home. Some start at pig, slight chicken, love not fowl, More than they love a cuckoo, or an owl; Leave such, my Christiana, to their choice, And seek those who to find thee will rejoice; By no means strive, but in most humble wise, Present thee to them in thy Pilgrim's guise. Go then, my little Book, and show to all That entertain, and bid thee welcome shall; What thou shalt keep close, shut up from the rest, And wish what thou shalt show them may be blest, To them for good, and make them choose to be Pilgrims by better far than thee and me. "Tis like those days wherein the young ones cry'd, Hosanna! when the old ones did deride. Next tell them of old Honest, whom you found With his white hairs, treading the Pilgrim's ground; Yea, tell them how plain-hearted this man was, How after his good Lord he bare the cross : Perhaps with some grey-head this may prevail, With Christ to fall in love, and sin bewail. Tell them also, how Master Fearing went And how, at last, he won the joyful prize. Tell them of Master Feeble-Mind also, Who not before, but still behind would go: Show them also how he'd like t' have been slain, And how one Great-Heart did his life regain. This man was true of heart, though weak in grace, One might true godliness read in his face. Then tell them of Master Ready-to-halt, A man with crutches, but much without fault: And let all know, though weakness was their chance, Forget not Master Valiant-for-the-Truth, That man of courage, though a very youth: Tell every one his spirit was so stout, No man could ever make him face about; And how Great-Heart and he could not forbear, Overlook not Master Despondency, Nor Much-afraid his daughter, though they le H Under such mantles, as may make them look Found that the Lord of Pilgrims was their friend. Those riddles that lie couch'd within thy breast, Now may this little Book a blessing be Is the hearty Prayer of the Author, JOHN BUNYAN THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. PART THE SECOND. Courteous Reader, SOME OME time since, to tell you my DREAM that I had of Christian the Pilgrim, and of his dangerous journey towards the Celestial country, was pleasant to me, and profitable to you. I told you then also what I saw concerning his wife and children, and how unwilling they were to go with him on pilgrimage; insomuch that he was forced to go on his progress without them; for he durst not run the danger of that destruction, which he feared would come, by staying with them in the city of Destruction. Wherefore, as I then showed you, he left them and departed. Now it hath so happened, through the multiplicity of business, that I have been much hindered and kept back from my wonted travels into those parts where he went, and so could not, till now, obtain an opportunity to make further inquiry after whom he left behind, that I might give an account of them. But having had some concerns that way of late, I went down again thitherward. Now having taken up my lodgings in a wood, about a mile off the place, as I slept, I dreamed again. And as I was in my dream, behold an aged gentleman came by where I lay; and because he was to go some part of the way that I was travelling, methought I got up and went with him. So as we walked, and as travellers usually do, I was as if we fell into a discourse, and our talk happened to be about Christian, and his travels: for thus I began with the old man. Sir, said I, what town is that there below, that lieth on the left hand of our way? Then said Mr. Sagacity, for that was his name, It is the city of Destruction, a populous place, but possessed with a very ill-conditioned and idle sort of pecple. I thought that was that city, quoth I: I went once myself through that town; and therefore I know that this report you give of it is true. Sag. Too true; I wish I could speak truth in speaking better of them that dwell therein. Well, sir, quoth I, then I perceive you to be a wellmeaning man, and so one that takes pleasure to hear and tell of that which is good: Pray, did you never hear what happened to a man sometime ago in this town (whose name was Christian) that went on a pilgrimage up towards the higher regions? Sag. Hear of him! ay; and I also heard of the molest→ ations, troubles, wars, captivities, cries, groans, frights, and fears that he met with, and had in his journey; besides, I must tell you, all our country rings of him; there are but few houses that have heard of him and his doings, but have sought after and got the records of his pilgrimage; yea, I think I may say, that this hazardous journey has got many well-wishers to his ways; for though when he was here, he was a fool in every man's mouth, yet now he is gone, he is highly commended of all. For, it is said, he lives bravely where he is; yea, many of them that are resolved never to run his hazards, yet have their mouths water at his gains. They may, quoth I, well think, if they think any thing that is true, that he liveth well where he is: for now he lives at, and in the fountain of life, and has what he has without labour and sorrow, for there is no grief mixed therewith. But pray, what talk have the people about him? Sag. Talk! the people talk strangely about him: some say, that he now walks in white; that he has a chain of gold about his neck; that he has a crown of gold, beset with pearls, upon his head.1 Others say, that the Shining |