The Second part of The pilgrims progress from this present world of wickedness and misery to an eternity of holiness and felicity : exactly described under the similitude of a dream, relating the manner and occasion of his setting out from, and difficult and dangerous journey through the world, and safe arrival at last to eternal happiness.
Bunyan, John, 1628-1688. Pilgrim's progress., T. S.
Pilgrim.
Thou by this Pilgrim shewst the way
T' an Empire of Eternal Day:
An Empire not with Slaughter gain'd,
Nor yet by Force or Fraud maintain'd:
An Empire Bright, serene and clear
As the bespangled Hemispere;
Whose Beauteous Glories ever shine
With Raies Immortally Divine:
Transcending all the Pageant Pride
Of Monarchs Semi-Deified.
Where all a mutual Glory share,
And each a Royal Crown doth wear.
Where Faction, Hate and Envy cease,
ETERNITY's the date of Peace.
No proud Oppressor Lords it there,
Nor Prisoners Cryes afflict the Ear:
Their Ear's not fed with feigned loves,
Or Warbles of the evening Groves;
But ravish'd with Celestial Songs
Of glorious and Triumphant throngs,
The bright-wing'd Seraphims Adore,
And mighty Angels make the Chore.
Page [unnumbered]Exalted Saints praise Heav'ns great King,
And all their Halelujahs Sing.
Needs must the Musick there excel
Where every soul's a Philomel;
Inspir'd, not with feeble Breath,
But Airs above the reach of Death.
When this poor mole-hill Earth shall tumble,
And into Dust and ashes crumble,
When in a Vniversal Fire,
All worldly Empires shall expire:
Gasping Crown'd-Heads, lie down in Anguish,
And see their Tottering Glories languish.
When evil Shepherds, and their flocks,
Shall shelter crave of falling Rocks.
Shivering Princes trembling crave
The help of once despised slave.
Th' All-conquering Souldier stands dismaid,
Of all his Trophies unaraid.
When gilded Palaces shall have
With Cottages an equal Grave:
And the Worlds Axletree shall crack,
And blaze in the last General Wrack,
Then shall thy Pilgrims Rock remain
Vnshaken by the Hurricane,
A safe retreat, for those whose care
Shall Mansions in that place prepare.
But those who do intend to go
On Pilgrimage, thou letst them know
What they'l meet with on the Road
Vnto this happy blest Abode.
Page [unnumbered]The way's not all strewd' with flowers,
With Fountains, Walks and Bowers;
The daies are not easie, nor the nights
Crown'd with downy soft Delights.
No Jessamies perfume the Air,
But Pleasures are all banisht there:
And many Troubles they will find
Vpon the Road you have design'd,
Through which by help of thy Advice,
They'l find the way to Paradice.
When all their troubles vanish strait,
At their First entrance of the Gate:
And through the tedious way they pass,
They've a sure Guide, and cordial Glass,
Nere failing Comforts to the Soul,
Tho she be tost from Pole to Pole.
Short-sighted ones may sometimes faint,
When they the Glorious Prospect want:
But when they have got a Pisgah's veiw
Of the blest place directed to,
They'l pass the Wilderness and find
Th' Aegyptian Host left far behind;
And Canaan will their wants supply,
When David leads, Philistims fly.
And they in full shall then receive
The Glories which they now Believe:
In which blest State they'l still remain,
Triumph and Joy, and Ever Reign.
R. B.
