Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/313

Rh Stand. 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.

Stand. 'Tis just so; had she stood by all this while, you could not more amply have set her forth before me. nor 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. This woman is a witch, and it is by virtue of her scroeries that this ground is enchanted. Whoever doth lay his head down in her lap had as good lay it down on that block over which the axe doth hang; and whoever lay their eyes upon her beauty are accounted the enemies of God. (James iv. 4. 1 John ii. 14. 15.) This is she that maintaineth in their splendour all those that are the enemies of pilgrims. Yea, this is she that hath bought off many a man from a pilgrim's life. She is a great gossiper; she is always, both she and her daughters, at one pilgrims 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 always laugheth poor pilgrims to scorn, but highly commends the rich. If there be one cunning: 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 in some places that she is a goddess, and therefore some do worship her. She has her time and open places for cheating; and she will say and avow it that none can show a good comparable to hers. She promiseth to dwell with children's children, if they will but love her 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