CONCLUSION.

Now, Reader, I have told my Dream to thee,
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 the veil, Turn up my metaphors, and do not fail.

There, if thou seekest them, such things thou'lt 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

SECOND PART

OF THE

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS

FROM THIS WORLD TO THAT

WHICH IS TO COME.

DELIVERED

UNDER THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM:

WHEREIN IS SET FORTH

THE MANNER OF THE SETTING OUT OF CHRISTIAN'S WIFE AND CHILDREN; THEIR DANGEROUS JOURNEY; AND SAFE ARRIVAL AT

THE DESIRED COUNTRY.

WITH PICTORIAL

REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SCENES THROUGH WHICH

THEY PASSED ON THEIR JOURNEY;

BY

A FELLOW TRAVELLER.

"I HAVE USED SIMILITUDES."-Hosea xii. 10.

SOME time since, to tell you my dream that I had of Christian the Pilgrim, and of his dangerous journey toward 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 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 whence he went; and so could not, till now, obtain an opportunity to make further enquiry 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 lodgings in a wood, about a mile off the place, as I slept, I dreamed again.