Render them not reviling for revile;

But, if they frown, I pr'ythee on them smile:
Perhaps 'tis nature, or some ill report,

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
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, may make them choose to be
Pilgrims better by far than thee or me.

Go then, I say, tell all men who thou art;
Say, I am Christiana; and my part
Is now, with my four sons, to tell you what
It is for men to take a Pilgrim's lot.

Go, also, tell them who and what they be
That now do go on pilgrimage with thee,
Say, Here's my neighbour Mercy; she is one
That has long time with me a Pilgrim gone;
Come, see her in her virgin face, and learn
'Twixt idle ones and Pilgrims to discern.
Yea, let young damsels learn of her to prize
The World which is to come, in any wise.
When little tripping maidens follow God,
And leave old doting sinners to his rod,

'Tis like those days wherein the young ones cried, Hosanna to whom 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 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.

Tell them of Master Feeble-mind also,
Who not before, but still behind would go.
Shew them also, how he had like 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;
Tell them how Master Feeble-mind and he
Did love, and in opinions much agree

And let all know, though weakness was their chance,
Yet sometimes one could sing, the other dance.
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,
But put down Doubting Castle, slay Despair.
Overlook not Master Despondency,

Nor Much-afraid his daughter, though they lie
Under such mantles, as may make them look
(With some) as if their God had them forsook.
They softly went, but sure; and, at the end,
Found that the Lord of Pilgrims was their friend.

When thou hast told the world of all these things,
Then turn about, my Book, and touch these strings;
Which, if but touched, will such music make,
They'll make a Cripple dance, a Giant quake.
Those riddles that lie couch'd within thy breast,
Freely propound, expound; and for the rest
Of thy mysterious lines, let them remain
For those whose nimole fancies shall them gain.
Now, may this LITTLE BOOK a blessing be
To those that love this LITTLE BOOK and me;
And may its buyer have no cause to say,
His money is but lost, or thrown away.
Yea, may this SECOND PILGRIM yield that fruit,
As may with each good Pilgrim's fancy suit •
And may it persuade some that go astray,
To turn their foot and heart to the right way,

Is the hearty prayer of the Author,
JOHN BUNYAN.

OME time since, to tell you my dream that I had of Christian the Pilgrim, and of his dangerous journey toward 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 Progrese 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 whence he went; and so could not, till now, obtain an opportunity to make further inquiry after whom he left behind, that I might give you 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 illconditioned and idle sort of people.

I thought that was the City, quoth I: I went once myself through that town, and therefore 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 well-meaning 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 some time ago of 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 molestations, 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 his hazardous journey has got a many well-wishers to his ways; for though, when he was here, he was Fool in every man's mouth, yet, now he is gone, he is highly commended of all. For 't 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.

Christians are well spoken of when gone, though called fools while they

are here.

They may, quoth I, well think, if they think any thing that is rue, that he liveth well where he is: for he now 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

hat he now walks in white ;* that he has a chain of gold about nis neck; that he has a crown of gold, beset with pearls, upon his head. Others say, that the Shining Ones that sometimes showed themselves to him in his journey are become his companions, and that he is as familiar with them in the place where he is, as here one neighbour is with another. Besides, 'tis confidently affirmed concerning him, that the King of the place where he is, has bestowed upon him already a very rich and pleasant dwelling at Court, and that he every day eateth and drinketh, and walketh and talketh with him, and receiveth of the smiles and favours of him that is Judge of all there. Moreover, it is expected of some, that his Prince, the Lord of that Country, will shortly come into these parts, and will know the reason, if they can give any, why his neighbours set so little by him, and had him so much in derision, when they perceived that he would be a Pilgrim. that now he is so in the affections of his Prince, that his Sovereign is so much concerned with the indignities that were cast upon Christian when he became a Pilgrim, that he will look upon all as if done unto him self; and no marvel, for 't was for the love that he had to his Prince that he ventured as he did.

For they say Christian's King will take Christian's part.

I dare say, quoth I; I am glad on't; I am glad for the poor Man's sake, for that now he has rest from his labour, and for that he now reapeth the benefit of his tears with joy; and for that he is got beyond the gunshot of his enemies, and is out of the reach of them that hate him.§ I also am glad, for that a rumour of these things is noised abroad in this Country; who can tell but that it may work some good effect on some that are left behind? But pray, sir, while it is fresh in my mind, do you hear any thing of his Wife and Children? Poor hearts, I wonder in my mind what they do.

wife

Sag. Who? Christiana and her sons! They Good tidings of are like to do as well as Christian did himself; for Christian's though they all played the fool at first, and would and children. by no means be persuaded by either the tears or entreaties of Chris tian, yet second thoughts have wrought wonderfully with them, so they have packed up, and are also gone after him.

• Rev. iii. 4. † Zech. iii. 7. ↑ Jude 14, 15. § Rev. xiv. 13. Psalm. cxxvi. 5, 6.