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when He had read them, said, "Where are the men?" To whom it was answered, "They are standing without the gate." The King then commanded to open the gate, "That the righteous nation," said He, "which keepeth the truth may enter in."

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Now I saw in my dream that these two men went in at the gate: and lo! as they entered, they were transfigured, and they had raiment put on them that shone like gold. There was also that met them with harps and crowns, and gave them to them-the harps to praise withal, and the crowns in token of honour. Then I heard in my dream that all the bells in the city rang again for joy, and that it was said unto them, "ENTER YE INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD." I also heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying, "BLESSING AND HONOUR, AND GLORY, AND POWER, BE UNTO HIM THAT SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB FOR EVER AND EVER."

Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked after them, and behold the City shone like the sun; the streets also were paved with gold, and in them walked many men, with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps to sing praises withal. There were also of them that had wings, and they answered one another without intermission, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord." And after that, they shut up the gates; which when I had seen, I wished myself among them.

Now, while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head to look back, and saw Ignorance come up to the

THE FATE OF IGNORANCE.

189

river side; but he soon got over, and that without half the difficulty which the two other men met with. For it happened that there was then in that place one Vain-hope, a ferryman, that with his boat helped him over; so he, as the others I saw, did ascend the hill, to come up to the gate, only he came alone; neither did any man meet him with the least encouragement. When he was come up to the gate, he looked up to the writing that was above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should have been quickly granted to him; but he was asked by the men that looked over the top of the gate, "Whence came you? and what would you have?" He answered, "I have eaten and drank in the presence of the King, and He has taught in our streets." Then they asked him for his certificate, that they <might go in and show it to the King; so he fumbled in his bosom for one, and found none. Then said they, "Have you none?" But the man answered not a word. So they told the King, but He would not come down to see him, but commanded the two Shining Ones that conducted Christian and Hopeful to the City, to go out and take Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, and take him away. Then they took him up, and carried him through the air, to the door that I saw in the side of the hill, and put him 「in there. Then I saw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction!

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So I awoke, and behold it was a dream,

REMARKS ON THE FOREGOING.
BY THE AUTHOR.

Now, Reader, I have told my dream to tice;
See if thou canst interpret it to me,
Or to thyself, or neighbour; but take heed
Of misinterpreting; for that, instead
Of doing good, will but thyself abuse:
By misinterpreting, evil ensues.

Take heed also, that thou be not extreme
In playing with the outside of my dream:
Nor let my figure or similitude
Put thee into a laughter or a feud.
Leave this for boys and fools; but as for thee,
Do thou the substance of my matter see.

Put by the curtains, look within my veil,
Turn up my metaphors, and do not fail,
There, if thou seekest them, such things to find
As will be helpful to an honest mind.

What of my dross thou findest there, be bold
To throw away, but yet preserve the gold;
What if my gold be wrapped up in ore?-
None throws away the apple for the core.
But if thou shalt cast all away as vain,
I know not but 'twill make me dream again.

THE END.

Butler & Tanner, Printers, Frome, and 35, Ludgate Hill, E.C.

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