3. 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 May well be guess'd at by his wat'ry eyes. Some things are of that nature, as to make One's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache: When Jacob saw his Rachel with the sheep, He did at the same time both kiss and weep.

Whereas some say, a cloud is in his head,
That doth but show his wisdom's covered
With his own mantle, and to stir the mind
To search well after what it fain would find.
Things that seem to be hid in words obscure,
Do but the godly mind the more allure,
To study what those sayings should contain,
That speak to us in such a cloudy strain.

I also know a dark similitude
Will on the curious fancy more intrude,
And will stick faster in the heart and head,
Than things from similies not borrowed.

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, my Pilgrim, 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.

4. 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 iray?

ANSWER.

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 prithee 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 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.

Go then, I say, tell all men who thou art: Say, I am Coristiana, 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 Pilgriins 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 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,
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, tho' much down in spirit;
He is a good man, and doth life inherit.

Tell them of Mister Feeble-Mind also,
Who not before, but still behind would go:
Show them also how he'd ake t'have been slain,
And how one Great-Heart did his life regain.
This man was true of heart, tho' 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 opinion much agree;

And let all know, tho' weakness was their chance,
Yet sometimes one would sing, the other dance.

Forget not Master Valiant-for-the-truth, That man of courage, tho' 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, tho' 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 nimble fancies shall them gain.

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,

Is the hearty Prayer of the AUTHOR,

JOHN BUNYAN.

The Pilgrim's Progress.

PART THE SECOND.

CHAP. I.

Christiana with her four Sons, and a Neighbour, set out on Pilgrimage.

COURTEOUS READER,

SOME time since, to tell you my DREAM that I

had of Christian the Pilgrim, and of his dangerous, journey towards the Coelestial 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 as opportunity to make further inquiry after whom he