THE AUTHOR'S WAY OF SENDING FORTH HIS SECOND PART OF THE PILGRIM. Go now, my little Book, to every place, If they bid thee come in, then enter thou, With all thy boys; and then, as thou know'st how, Unto him; yea, his Wife and Children are. Tell them, that they have left their house and home; Are turned Pilgrims; seek a World to come; That they have met with hardships in the way; That they do meet with troubles night and day; That they have trod on serpents; fought with Devils ; Yea, tell them also of the next who have, Though they meet with rough winds and swelling tides, How brave a calm they will enjoy at last, Who to their Lord, and by his ways hold fast. Perhaps, with heart and hand, they will embrace Thee, as they did my Firstling; and will grace Thee and thy fellows with such cheer and fare, As show will, they of Pilgrims lovers are. FIRST OBJECTION. But how, if they will not believe of me; That I am truly thine? 'cause some there be That counterfeit the Pilgrim and his name, Seek, by disguise, to seem the very same; And by that means have wrought themselves into The hands and houses of I know not who. ANSWER. 'Tis true, some have, of late, to counterfeit My Pilgrim, to their own my title set; Yea, others half my name, and title too, If such thou meet'st with, then thine only way, If, after all, they still of you shall doubt, Or that you seek good people to beguile SECOND OBJECTION. But yet, perhaps I may inquire for him Of those who wish him damned life and limb. What shall I do, when I at such a door For Pilgrims ask, and they shall rage the more? ANSWER. Fright not thyself, my Book, for such bugbears Are nothing else but ground for groundless fears. My Pilgrim's book has travell'd sea and land, Yet could I never come to understand That it was slighted or turn'd out of door, By any Kingdom, were they rich or poor. In France and Flanders, where men kill each other, My Pilgrim is esteem'd a friend, a brother. In Holland too, 'tis said, as I am told, My Pilgrim is, with some, worth more than gold. My Pilgrim should familiar with them be. 'T is in New England under such advance, If you draw nearer home, it will appear, With welcome Pilgrim; ycá, they can't refrain Or shows his head in any company. Brave gallants do my Pilgrim hug and love, Young Ladies and young Gentlewomen too, The very Children that do walk the street, 'If they do but my holy Pilgrim meet, They that have never seen him, yet admire Yea, some who did not love him at the first, Of things as good, as rich, as profitable, THIRD OBJECTION. But some there be that say, He laughs too loud; And some do say, His head is in a cloud. Some say, His words and stories are so dark, They know not how, by them, to find his mark. ANSWER. One may, I think, say, both his laughs and cries Will on the fancy more itself intrude, Wherefore, my Book, let no discouragement Besides, what my First Pilgrim left conceal'd, Thou, my brave Second Pilgrim, hast reveal'd; What Christian left lock'd up, and went his way, Sweet Christiana opens with her key. FOURTH OBJECTION. But some love not the method of your first: Romance they count it; throw't away as dust. If I should meet with such, what should I say? Must I slight them as they slight me, or nay? ANSWER. My Christiana, if with such thou meet, Render them not reviling for revile; But, if they frown, I pr'ythee 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 or 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 Go then, I say, tell all men who thou art; Go, also, tell them who and what they be 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 his Cross. Perhaps with some gray head this may prevail With Christ to fall in love, and sin bewail. Tell them also, how Master Fearing went On pilgrimage, and how the time he spent In solitariness, with fears and cries; And how, at last, he won the joyful prize. He was a good man, though much down in spirit; He is a good man, and doth life inherit. |