treasury (for we went where we list notwithstanding doors and locks).
There we saw myriads of fair women, all kinds of beverages, fruits and
dainties, stringed instruments and books of songs,--harps, pipes, odes
and carols, all sorts of games,--backgammon, dice {20a} and cards;
pictures of various lands, towns and persons, inventions and amusing
tricks; all kinds of waters, perfumes, pigments and spots to make the
ugly fair, and the old look young, and the leman's malodorous bones smell
sweet for the nonce. In short, the shadow of pleasure and the guise of
happiness in every conceivable form was to be found there; and sooth to
say, I almost think I too had been enticed by the place had not my friend
instantly hurried me away far from the three alluring towers to the top
end of the streets, and set me down near an immense palatial castle, the
front view of which seemed fair, but the further side was mean and
terribly ugly, though it was scarcely to be seen at all. It had a myriad
portals--all splendid without but rotten within. "An't please you, my
lord," asked I, "what is this wondrous place?" "This is the court of
Belials' second daughter whose name is Hypocrisy; here she keeps her
school, and there is no man or woman throughout the whole city who has
not been a pupil of hers, and most of them have imbibed their learning
remarkably well; so that her lessons are discernible as a second nature
intertwined with all their thoughts, words, and deeds from very childhood
almost." I had been looking awhile on the falsity of every part of the
edifice when a funeral came by with many weeping and sighing, and many
men and horses in mourning trappings; and shortly the poor widow, veiled
so as not to see this cruel world any more, came along with piping voice
and weary sighs, and fainting fits at intervals. In truth, I could not
help but weep a little out of pity for her. "Nay, nay," said the Angel,
"keep thy tears for a more worthy occasion; these voices are only what
Hypocrisy has taught, and these mourning weeds were fashioned in her
great school. Not one of these weep sincerely; the widow, even before