True picture of Madam Bubble.

Standfast. Perhaps you have done both. Hon. Madam Bubble! is she not a tall, comely dame, something of a swarthy complexion?

Standfast. Right, you hit it, she is just such an

one.

Họn. Doth she not speak very smoothly, and give you a smile at the end of every sentence? Standfast. You fall right upon it again, for these are her very actions.

Hon. Doth she not wear a great purse by her side? And is not her hand often in it, fingering her money, as if that was her heart's delight?

Standfast. 'Tis just so: had she stood by all this while, you could not more amply have set her forth before me, and have better described her features.

Hon. Then he that drew her picture was a good limner, and he that wrote of her, said true.

Great-heart. This woman is a witch, and it is by virtue of her sorceries, that this ground is enchanted; whoever doth lay their head down in her lap, had as good lay it down upon that block over which the axe doth hang; and whoever fixes their eyes upon her beauty, are counted the enemies of God.

This is she that maintaineth in their splendor all those that are enemies of pilgrims. Yea, this is she that brought off many a man from a pilgrim's life. She is a great gossiper; she is always, both she and her daughters, at one pilgrim's heels, or another, now commending, and then preferring, the excellencies of this life. She is a bold and impudent slut; she will talk with any man. She laugheth poor pilgrims to scorn; but highly commends the rich. If there be but one cunning enough to get money in a place, she will speak well of him from house to house; she loveth banqueting and feasting mainly well; she is always at one full table or another. She has given it out at some places, that she

A true picture of Madam Bubble.

is a goddess, and therefore some do worship her. She has her time and open places of cheating; and she will say and avow it, that none can shew a good comparable to her's. She promiseth to dwell with children's children, if they would but love and make much of her. She will cast out of her purse gold like dust, in some places, and to some persons. She loves to be sought after, spoken well of, and to lie in the bosoms of men. She is never weary of commending her commodities, and she loves them most that think best of her. She will promise crowns and kingdoms, if they will but take her advice; yet many hath she brought to the halter, and ten thousand times more to hell.

Standfast. Oh! said Stand fast, what a mercy it is that I did resist her! for whether might she have drawn me!

Great-heart. Whither! nay, none but God knows. But in general, she would have drawn thee into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition."

66

It was she that set Absalom against his father, and Jereboam against his master. It was she that persuaded Judas to sell his Lord, and that prevailed with Demas to forsake the godly pilgrim's life: none can tell of the mischief that she doth. She makes variance betwixt rulers and subjects, betwixt parents and children, betwixt neighbour and neighbour, betwixt a man and his wife, betwixt a man and himself, betwixt the flesh and the spirit.

Wherefore, good Master Standfast, be as your name is; and, when you have done all, stand.

At this discourse, there was among the pilgrims, a mixture of joy and trembling; but at length they brake out and sang:

"What danger is a pilgrim in!
"How many are his foes!

The pilgrims arrive at the land of Beulah.

"How many ways are there to sin,
"No living mortal knows.

"Some in the ditch spoil'd are, yea, can
"Lie tumbling in the mire;

"Some, tho' they shun the frying pan,
Do leap into the fire."

After this, I beheld until they were come unto the land of Beulah, where the sun shineth night and day.

Here, because they were weary, they betook themselves awhile to rest; and because this country was common for pilgrims, and because the orchards and vineyards that were here belonged to the King of the celestial country, therefore they were licensed to make bold with any of his things. But a little while soon refreshed them here; for the bells did so ring, and the trumpets continually sounded so melodiously, that they could not sleep, and yet they received as much refreshing, as if they slept their sleep never so soundly.

Here also the noise of them that walked in the streets was, More pilgrims are come to town. And another would answer, saying, And so many went over the water, and were let in at the golden gates to-day. They would cry again, there is now a legion of shining ones just come to town; by which we know that there are more pilgrims upon the road; for here they come to wait for them, and comfort them after their sorrow.

Then the pilgrims got up, and walked to and fro: but how were their eyes now filled with celestial visions? In this land, they heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing, smelt nothing, tasted nothing, that was offensive to the stomach, or mind: only when they tasted of the water of the river, over which they were to go, they thought that it tasted a little bitterish to the palate, but it proved sweet when it was down.

401

Christiana is summoned to pass the river.

In this place there was a record kept of the names of them that had been pilgrims of old, and a history of all the famous acts they had done.

It was here also much discoursed, how the river It has been in a to some has its flowings, and what ebbings it has had while others have gone over. manner, dry for some, while it has overflowed its banks for others.

In this place, the children of the town would go into the King's gardens, and gather nosegays for the pilgrims, and bring to them with affection.

Here also grew camphire, and spikenard, saffron, calamus, and cinnamon, with all its trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, with all the chief spices. With these the pilgrim's chambers were perfumed, while they staid here; and with these were their bodies anointed, to prepare them to go over the river, when the time appointed was come.

Now while they lay here, and waited for the good hour, there was a noise in the town, that a post was come from the Celestial City, with matters of great importance to one Christiana, the wife of Christian the pilgrim.

So inquiry was made for her, and the house was found out where she was; so the post presented her with a letter: the contents were: Hail! good woman! I bring thee tidings, that the Master calleth for thee, and expecteth that thou shouldst stand in his presence, in clothes of immortality, within these ten days,

her

gave When he had read this letter to her, he therewith a true token that he was a true messenger, and was come to bid her make haste to be gone. The token was, "An arrow sharpened with love let easily into her heart, which by degrees, wrought so effectually with her, that at the time appointed she must be gone."

3 F

She exhorts her children and companions.

When Christiana saw that her time was come, and that she was the first of this company that was to go over, she called for Mr. Great-heart her guide, and told him how matters were. So he told her, He was heartily glad of the news, and could have been glad if the post had come for him.

Then she bid that he should give advice how all things should be prepared for her journey.

So he told her saying, Thus and thus it must be, and we that survive will accompany you to the river side.

Then she called for her children, and gave them her blessing and told them that she had read with comfort the mark that was set in their fore-heads, and was glad to see them with her there, and that they had kept their garments so white.

Lastly, she bequeathed to the poor that little she had, and commanded her sons and daughters to be ready against the messenger should come for them.

When she had spoken these words to her guide, and to her children, she called for Mr. Valiant-fortruth, and said unto him, Sir, you have in all places shewed yourself true hearted; be faithful unto death, and my King will give you a crown of glory. I would also intreat you to have an eye to my children; and if at any time you see them faint, speak comfortably to them. For my daughters, my sons' wives, they have been faithful, and a fulfilling of the promise upon them, will be their end. But she gave Mr. Standfast a ring.

Then she called for old Mr. Honest, and said to him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"

Then said he, I wish you a fair day, when you set out for Mount Zion, and shall be glad to see that you go over the river dry-shod.

But she answered, Come wet, come dry, I long to