:

Is now,
It is for men to take a Pilgrim's lot.

with my four sons, to tell you what

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.

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!

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.

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 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 shewed 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 enquiry after whom he

1 This address prepares the reader for a greater variety of experiences and adventures than he meets with in the first part; all of which are different; and the behaviour of the several pilgrims under their various calamities are beautifully described-their conflicts and their consolations, being manifold, convince us, that the ' exercises of every experienced soul are for the most part dissimilar; notwithstanding, if they proceed from the operation of the Spirit,