The Bard then comes to the Street of Pleasure, where all manner of
seductive joys abound. He passes through scenes of debauchery and
drunken riot, and comes to a veritable Bedlam, where seven good fellows--
a tinker, a dyer, a smith and a miner, a chimney-sweep, a bard and a
parson--are enjoying a carousal. He beholds the Court of Belial's second
daughter, Hypocrisy, and sees a funeral go by where all the mourners are
false. A noble lord appears, with his lady at his side, and has a talk
with old Money-bags who has lent him money on his lands--all three being
apt pupils of Hypocrisy.
The Angel then takes him to the churches of the City; and first they come
to a pagan temple where the human form, the sun and moon, and various
other objects are worshipped. Thence they come to a barn where
Dissenters imitate preaching, and to an English church where many
practise all manner of hypocrisy. The Bard then leaves the City of
Destruction and makes for the celestial City. He beholds one man part
from his friends and, refusing to be persuaded by them, hasten towards
Emmanuel's City. The gateway is narrow and mean, while on the walls are
watchmen urging on those that are fleeing from Destruction.
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