Wherefore, my Book, let no discouragement »
Hinder thy travels: behold! thou art sent
To friends, not foes; to friends that will give place
To thee, thy Pilgrims, and thy words embrace.
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.
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?
My Christiana, if with such thou meet,
By all means, in all loving wise them greet;
Render them not reviling for revile;
But if they frown, I pray thee, 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 shew to all
That entertain and bid thee welcome shall,
What thou shalt keep close shut up from the rest :
And wish what thou shalt shew them may be blessid
To them for good, and make them choose to be
Pilgrims by better far than thee and 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's face, and learn maď
'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. 6. nai k.
When little tripping maidens follow God, awol Hoc
And leave old doating sinners to his rod,
"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 f
With Christ to fall in love, and sin bewail.
Tell them also, how Mr. 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;(24) He is a good man, and doth life inherit
Tell them of Mr. Feeble-Mind also,
Who not before, but still behind would.go:
Shew 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 Mr. Ready-to-Halt,
A man with crutches, but without much fault :
Tell them how Mr. Feeble-Mind and he
Did love, and in opinion much agree;
And let all know, though weakness was their chance,
Yet sometimes one would sing, the other dance.
Forget not Mr. Valiant-for-the-Truth,/
That man of courage, though a very youth.
Tell every one his spirit was so stout,
No one could ever make him face about;
And how Great-Heart and he could not forbear,
But pull down Doubting Castle, slay Despair b
! Overlook not Mr. 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 my mysterious lines, let them remain
For those whose nimble fancies shall them gain.
• This character is not introduced into the narrative till after the event had
taken place which he is represented as contributing to effect.
Now may this little Book a blessing be
To those who 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 some persuade, that go astray,
To turn their feet and heart to the right way,
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