fhould be a Fool of the greatest fort, if I fhould have no Heart to flrike in with the Opportunity. And for that you tell me of all these Troubles, that I am like to meet with in the Way, they are so far from being to me a Difcouragement, A Pertinent that they fhew I am in the right. The Reply to flefly Bitter must come before the Sweet, and that Reafonings. alfo will make the Sweet the fweeter.

Wherefore fince you came not to my House in God's Name, as I faid; I pray you be gone, and do not difquiet me farther.

Then Timorous alfo reviled her, and faid to her Fellow, Come, Neighbour. Mercy, let us leave her in her own Hands, fhe fcorns our Counfel and Company. But Mercy was at a ftand, and could not Mercy's Bow-fo readily comply with her Neighbour, els yearn over and that for a twofold Reafon, ift, Her Christiana.

Timorousforjakes ber, but Mercy cleaves to her.

Bowels yearned over Chriftiana. So fhe faid within herself, If my Neighbour will be gone, I will go a little way with her, and help her. 2dly, Her Bowels yearned over her own Soul, (for what Chriftiana had faid, had taken some hold upon her Mind.) Wherefore the faid within herself again, I will yet have more Talk with this Chriftiana, and if I find Truth and Life in what fhe fhall fay, myself with my Heart fhall also go with her. Wherefore Mercy began thus to reply to her Neighbour Timorous.

Mercy. Neighbour, I did indeed come with you to fee Chriftiana this Morning; and fince he is, as you fee, a taking her laft Farewel of the Country, I think to

walk

walk this Sun-fhiny Morning, a little with her, to help her on that Way. But she told her not of the fecond Reason, but kept it to herself.

Tim. Well, I fee you have a Mind to go a Fooling too; but take Heed in Time and be wife; while we are out of Danger, we are out; but when we are in, we are in. So Mrs. Timorous returned to her Houfe, and Chriftiana betook herself to her Journey. But when Timorous was Timorous got home to her House, the fends for acquaints her lome of her Neighbours, to wit, Mrs. Friends what Bat's-Eyes, Mrs. Inconfiderate, Mrs. Light- ftiana intends mind, and Mrs. Know-nothing. So, when to do. they were come to her Houfe, fhe falls to telling of the Story of Chriftiene, and of her intended Journey. And thus fhe began her Tale.

Tim. Neighbours, having but little to do this Morning, I went to give Chriftiana a Vifit; and when I came at the Door, I knocked, as you know it is our Custom: And the answered, If you come in God's Name, come in. So in I went, thinking all was well: But when I came in, I found her preparing herself to depart the Town, fhe, and also her Children. So I asked her, what was her Meaning by that? And the told me in fhort, That fhe was now of a Mind to go on Pilgrimage, as did her Hufband. She told me alfo a Dream that fhe had, and how the King of the Country where her Hufband was, had fent her an inviting Letter to come thither.

Then faid Mrs. Know-nothing, and what Mrs. Knows do you think he will go ?

nothing.

Mrs. Bat's

Eyes.

Mrs. Inconfi derate.

Mrs. Light

Wanton,

like to have

Tim. Ay, go fhe will, whatever come of it; and methinks I know it by this; for that which was my great Argument to perfuade her to ftay at home (to wit, the Troubles fhe was like to meet with in the Way) is one great Argument with her, to put her forward on her Journey. For fhe told me in fo many Words, The Bitter goes before the Sweet: Yea, and forafmuch as it doth, it makes the Sweet the fweeter.

Mrs. Bat's-Eyes. Oh, this blind and foolish Woman, faid fhe; and will she not take Warning by her Hufband's Afflictions? For my Part, I fee, if he were here again, he would reft him content in a whole Skin, and never run fo many Hazards for nothing.

Mrs. Inconfiderate alfo replied, faying, Away with fuch Fantaftical Fools from the Town; a good Riddance, for my Part, I fay, of her; fhould fhe ftay where the dwells, and retain this Mind, who could live quietly by her? for fhe will either be dumpish or unneighbourly, to talk of fuch Matters as no wife Body can abide : Wherefore, for my Part, I fhall never be forry for her Departure; let her go, and let better come in her Room: It was never a good World fince thefe whimfical Fools dwelt in it.

Then Mrs. Light-mind added as followmind,Madam eth; Come, put this kind of Talk away. he that bad I was Yesterday at Madam Wanton's, where we were as merry as the Maids. For been too hard who do you think fhould be there, but for Faithful I and Mrs. Love-the-Flesh, and three or in time payt, Par. 1..102.

four

four more, with Mrs. Lechery, Mrs. Filth, and fome others: So there we had Mufic, and Dancing, and what elfe was meet to fill up the Pleasure. And I dare fay, my Lady herself is an admirable wellbred Gentlewoman, and Mr. Lechery is as pretty a Fellow. By this Time Chriftiana was got on her Way, and Mercy went along with her: So as they went, her Chil- Discourse bedren being there alfo, Chriftiana began to tween Mercy difcourfe. And, Mercy, faid Chriftiana, I and good Chritake this as an unexpected Favour, that thou shouldeft fet Foot out of Doors with me, to accompany me a little in my Way.

ftiana.

Mercy. Then faid young Mercy (for the Mercy inclines was but young) If I thought it would to go." be to Purpose to go with you, I would never go near the Town.

Christ. Well, Mercy, faid Chriftiana, caft Chriftiana in thy Lot with me, I well know what would have will be the End of our Pilgrimage; my her Neighbour Hufband is where he would not but be with her. for all the Gold in the Spanish Mines. Nor fhalt thou be rejected, though thou goeft but upon my Invitation. The King who hath fent for me and Children, is one that delighteth in Mercy. Befides, if thou wilt, I will hire thee, and thou shalt go along with me as my Servant. Yet we will have all Things in common betwixt thee and me, only go along with me.

Mercy. But how fhall I be afcertained Mercy doubts that I also fhould be entertained? Had I of Acceptance. this Hope from one that can tell, I would make no Stick at all, but would go, being helped by him that can help, though the Way was never fo tedious. R 2

Chrift.

Chriftiana al- Chrift. Well, loving Mercy, I will tell lures her to the thee what thou fhall do; go with me to Gate, which is Christ, and the Wicket-gate, and there I will further promifes there enquire for thee; and if there thou fhalt to enquire for not meet with Encouragement, I will be content that thou return to thy Place; I alfo will pay thee for thy Kindness which thou fheweft to me and my Children in the accompanying of us in our Way as thou doft.

ber.

Mercy. Then will I go thither, and will Mercy prays. take what fhall follow; and the Lord grant that my Lot may there fall, even as the King of Heaven fhall have his Heart upon

Chriftiana

me.

Chriftiana then was glad at her Heart, glad of Mer- not only that fhe had a Companion, bur cy's Company alfo for that fhe had prevailed with this poor Maid to fall in Love with her own Salvation. So they went on together, and Mercy began to weep. Then faid Chriftiana, Wherefore weepeth my Sister fo?

Mercy grieves for her carnal Relations.

Chriftian's

Mercy. Alas! faid fhe, who can but lament, that shall but rightly confider what a State and Condition my poor Relations are in, that yet remain in our finful Town: And that which makes my Grief the more, is because they have no Inftruction, nor any to tell them what is to come.

Chrift. Bowels become Pilgrims: And Prayers were thou doft for thy Friends, as my good anfwered for Chriftian did for me when he left me; he his Relations, mourned for that I would not heed nor after he was

dead.

regard him, but his Lord and ours did gather up his Tears, and put them into his Bottle, and now both I and thou, and thefe my fweet Babes, are reaping the