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CHAPTER IV

THE PILGRIM RECEIVES A BRIDLE AND SPECTACLES

Hearing this, I was terrified, and thought within myself: "Alas, for my sins have I obtained such companions! That first one (thus my mind devised) spoke of some sort of bridle; the other one is called Falsehood. His queen he calls Vanity (though I think he imprudently blabbed this out); but what is this?"

2. And whilst I thus continue silently and with downcast eyes, and my feet move on somewhat reluctantly, Searchall says: "What, thou fickle one; methinks thou wishest to go back!" And before I could answer he threw a bridle over my neck, and suddenly a bit slipped into my mouth. "Now wilt thou," he said, "go obediently to the spot for which thou hast started?"

(The Bridle of Vanity.)

3. And I look at this bridle, and behold it was stitched together out of straps of pertness, and the bit was made out of the iron of obstinacy; and I understood that I should now no longer behold the world freely as before, but that I should be drawn

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