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CHAPTER XXIII

THE PILGRIM BEHOLDS THE CASTLE OF FORTUNE, AND FIRSTLY THE ENTRANCE TO IT

(Virtue is now but a Ruined Gate to Fame.)

Now when we approach this our dear castle, I first see crowds of men who were streaming thitherward from all the streets of the town; they walked round, endeavouring to spy out how they could reach the summit. Now to that castle only one lofty narrow gate led, but it had fallen into ruins, was covered up with earth, and overgrown with thorns. It was, meseems, called Virtue. Concerning it I was told that in olden times it had been built as the sole entrance to the castle, but that through some accident it had soon afterwards been covered up with earth; therefore some other smaller gates had been made, while this one was abandoned as being inaccessible and too difficult to enter.

(The Side Entrances.)

2. They therefore broke through the walls and made small gates at both sides, and looking at them I see on them inscriptions such as Hypocrisy, Lie,

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