Two Pilgrims' Progress; from fair Florence, to the eternal city of Rome — A Closer Reading

That was her Husband. As this Book doth show, _Rare skill he had when he would Sketches take, And from those Sketches prittie Pictures make. She with the Pen could well illuminate, He with the Pencil Nature illustrate. Oh, is't not strange that what they did so well In the Pen way meets in the Name Pen-nell? By which the Proverb doth approved appeare,_ Nomen est Omen,--_as is plain and cleere. Which means to say that every Soule doth Bear A Name well suited to his charactere._

_Now, when this Couple unto Mee did come, And askt me iff I'de write a little Pome, That Tale and Picture as they rouled along Might have some small Accomp'niment of Song, I set my Pen to Paper with Delighte, And quickly had my Thoughts in Black and White. Even as_ JOHN BUNYAN _said he did of yore, So I, because I'd done the like before. Since I was the first man of modern time Who on the bycicle e'er wrote a Rime, How I a Lady in a Vision saw Upon a Wheel like that of Budda's Law, Which kept the Path and went exceeding fast; Loe! now my Vision is fulfilled at last, In this brave writer who with ready Hand Hath guided well the Wheel ore many a Land, Showing the World by her adventurous Course How one may travel fast as any Horse, Without a Steed, and stop where'er ye will, And have for oats or stable nere a Bill._

_Now, for the Book I something have to say (Pray mark Mee well, good Reader, while_ you _may)._ They _say that in the Publick some there bee Who'll take it ill 'cause it doth Parody_ JOHN BUNYAN'S Progress. _That can ne'er be said By any who_ JOHN BUNYAN'S _Booke have read, Since he himself protests against the Whim Of those who said the selfsame thing of him, And thought he lightly treated solemn Things. List the Defence which to this Charge he brings: "This Book will make a Traveler of_ Thee, _If by its Councill_ thou _wilt guided be. And it is writ in such a Dialect As may the Minds of listless Men affect. It seems a_ NOVELTY, _and yet contains Nothing but sound and honest Gospel Strains."_

_Now I can make no more Apologie Than Honest_ JOHN _did make for himself, d'ye see; As for the Rest--if you but cast your Eye Upon the Pictures ere the Booke ye buy, And if of Art you are a clever Judge, The Price for it you'll surely not begrudge. Now, Reader, I have praysed this Booke to Thee, I trust that Thou wilt scan Itt carefullie; 'T will set before thee Portraiture of Townes, Castles and Towres, antient Villes and Downs, How rowling Rivers to y^e Ocean hast, Of Roadside Inns and many a faire Palast, Served up, I ween, with so much gentle Mirthe, Thoulte fairly own thou'st gott_ thy _Money's Worth. If thou art Cheated Mine shall bee the Sinn,-- Turn o'er the Page, my Lady, and Begin!_

_Loe! Vanity Faire!--the Worlde is there, Hee and his Wife beside. Ye may see it afoot, or from the Traine, Or if on a Wheel you ride._

CHARLES GODFREY LELAND,

Who is responsible for our First Work Together, & Who has been the Great-Heart of many a Pilgrimage taken in his Company,

We dedicate this Book._

THE ROAD TO FAIR AND SOFT SIENA 25

FAIR AND SOFT SIENA 45

AN ITALIAN BY-ROAD 61

THROUGH THE WILDERNESS TO A GARDEN 94

WE ARE DETAINED IN MONTEPULCIANO 101

IN THE VAL DI CHIANA 109

LUCA SIGNORELLI'S TOWN 118

TO PERUGIA: BY TRAIN AND TRICYCLE 122

ACROSS THE TIBER TO ASSISI 134

TERNI AND ITS FALLS 155

IN THE LAND OF BRIGANDS 157

ACROSS THE CAMPAGNA 166

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

OVER THE PONTE VECCHIO 14

A PERUGINO LANDSCAPE 24

ON THE ARNO--NEAR EMPOLI 36

A SLIGHT OBSTRUCTION 40

AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS 96

LEAVING MONTEPULCIANO 106

THE BRONZE PONTIFF'S BENEDICTION, PERUGIA 134

A FROWN OF DISAPPROVAL, ASSISI 136

"PIPING DOWN THE VALLEY" 160

FROM VIA FLAMINIA, NEAR PONTE MOLLE 170

TWO PILGRIMS' PROGRESS.

"_They are a couple of far-country men, and, after their mode, are going on Pilgrimage._"