256

PREFACE TO THE SECOND PART.

Of things as good, as rich, as profitable,

For young, for old, for stagg'ring, and for stable.

OBJECTION III.

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 similes 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, 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.

OBJECTION IV.

first:

But some love not the method of your
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,
By all means, in all loving wise, them greet;
Render them not reviling for revile;

But if they frown, I pr'ythee on them smile:

PREFACE TO THE SECOND PART.

257

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 cuckow or an owl.
Leave such, my Christiana, to their choice,
And seek those, who to find they 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 that thou shalt show them may be bless'd
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 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 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 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;
He is a good man, and doth life inherit.

258

PREFACE TO THE SECOND PART.

Tell them of Mr. 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 Mr. Ready-to-halt,

A man with crutches, but much without 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 put down Doubting Castle; slew Despair!
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,

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. II.

CHAPTER I.

CHRISTIANA WITH HER FOUR SONS, AND A NEIGHBOUR, SET OUT ON PILGRIMAGE.

COURTEOUS COMPANIONS,

SOME time since, to tell you a 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

* Though the second part of the Pilgrim's Progress will not strike the reader with the novelty of the first, because the same scenes are repeated; yet they are presented with such agreeable variations, as make it an equal source of profit and delight. The author explains, in this part, what was left more dark in the first, as he tells us in his Preface. On this account the Explanatory Notes will be brief on those parts already noticed, while the newer matter will be more largely improved. The second part is peculiarly adapted to direct and encourage female Christians, and young per sons; and it is hoped, will be particularly attended to by such. It is perhaps needless to remark, that no reasonable doubt can be entertained as to the authenticity of this work: Mr. Bunyan cannot be imitated; and the sweet simplicity that characterizes the first part, is equally obvious in the second.

260 SAGACITY'S ACCOUNT OF THE CITY DESTRUCTION.

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 you an account of them. But, having had some concerns that way of late, I went down again thitherward. Now having taken up my lodging 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 people.

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 some time ago in this town (whose name was Christian,) that went on a pil grimage up towards the higher regions?