er; he said, through the river: and I do not
remember he asked me any more questions, but bid me welcome, and led
me into the house, my guide going in with me, through many turnings
and windings into a great hall. Mine eyes went to and fro as I went
about the house; and in the great hall, there I saw many people, who
bade me welcome, but none knew the anguish of my soul; for I began
to question whether I was not again beguiled: for I found the house
foul and dirty, in almost every part, and so belined with spiders and
cobwebs, that I thought in myself it had never been swept clean since
it was built. And some things I met withal that displeased me yet
worse, as ye shall hear; howbeit, a good bed was provided for me to
rest upon if I could; and I having little stomach, after I saw how it
was made ready, went to bed, and disposed myself to sleep as I could.
But, alas! sleep departed from me, and my spirits were grievously
vexed, and my cogitations were many and grievous. Sometimes I thought
of the paintings without, and how that suited not with the dirtiness
that was within; and, if I was deceived, what course I should take.

[Illustration: The nearer we drew to it, the more my joy increased;
and when I came in view of it, I pleased myself extremely with looking
at it, and viewing the towers and turrets that were upon it, and the
excellent carvings and paintings, with which it was adorned; and there
was as much art in setting it forth as could be imagined.]

After long and tedious thinking, I pleased myself with this: it may be
better to-morrow. So I fell into a slumber a pretty while; but in the
morning before I arose, I heard two or three contending about some
accounts, in which one laid fraud to the other's charge; the other
instead of vindicating himself, fell to twitting him in the teeth,
with something of the like kind: they grew so hot in words, that one
threatened to turn the other out of doors, and drive him back through
the river, and never suffer him to come into the house any more.

[Illustration: I was not again beguiled: for I found the house foul
and dirty, in almost every part, and so belined with spiders and
cobwebs, that I thought in myself it had never been swept clean since
it was built.]

My heart was ready to burst with sorrow; and in the anguish of my
spirit I arose and went to them, and told them, I little thought to
have found such doings, or heard such language, in the house of God.
I fear, s