, "I have received commands to give you a sight of it, in
order that you may see your error in being discontented with your
station, and your own country. Come with me," he added, "for a
peregrination," and at the word he snatched me up, just as the dawn was
beginning to break, far above the topmost tower of the castle; we rested
in the firmament upon the ledge of a light cloud to gaze upon the rising
sun; but my heavenly companion, was far more luminous than the sun, but
all his splendour was upward, by reason of a veil which was betwixt him
and the nether regions. When the light of the sun became stronger, I
could see, between the two luminaries, the vast air-encircled world, like
a little round bullet, very far beneath us. "Look now," said the angel,
giving me a different telescope from that which I had on the mountain.
When I peeped through this I saw things in a manner altogether different
from that in which I had seen them before, and in a much clearer one. I
saw a city of monstrous size, and thousands of cities and kingdoms within
it; and the great ocean, like a moat, around it, and other seas, like
rivers, intersecting it.

By dint of long gazing I could see that it was divided into three
exceedingly large streets; each street with a large, magnificent gate at
the bottom, and each gate with a fair tower over it. Upon each tower
there was a damsel of wonderful beauty, standing in the sight of the
whole street; and the three towers appeared to reach up behind the walls
to the skirts of the castle afore-mentioned. Crossing these three huge
streets I could see another; it was but little and mean in comparison
with them, but it was clean and neat, and on a higher foundation than the
other streets, proceeding upward towards the east, whilst the three
others ran downward towards the north to the great gates. I now ventured
to enquire of my companion whether I might be permitted to speak.
"Certainly," said the angel, "speak out! but listen attentively to my
answers, so that I may not have to say the same thing to you more than
once." "I will, my lord," said I. "Now pray, what place is the castle
yonder in the north?" "The castle above in the air," said he, "belongs
to Belial, prince of the power of the air, and governor of all the great
city below: it is called Delusive Castle, for Belial is a great deluder,
and by his wiles he keeps under his banner all you see, with the
exception of the little street yonder.