The Pilgrimage

I travell'd on, seeing the hill, where lay

                    My expectation.

      A long it was and weary way:

      The gloomy cave of Desperation

I left on th' one, and on the other side

                    The Rock of Pride.

And so I came to Phansies medow strow'd

                    With many a flower:

      Fain would I here have made abode,

      But I was quicken'd by my houre.

So to Care's cops I came, and there got through

                    With much ado.

That led me to the wilde of Passion; which

                    Some call the wold;

      A wasted place, but sometimes rich.

      Here I was robb'd of all my gold,

Save one good Angell, which a friend had tied

                    Close to my side.

At length I got unto the gladsome hill,

                    Where lay my hope,

      Where lay my heart; and climbing still,

      When I had gain'd the brow and top,

A lake of brackish waters on the ground

                    Was all I found.

With that abash'd and struck with many a sting

                    Of swarming fears,

      I fell, and cry'd, Alas, my King;

      Can both the way and end be tears?

Yet taking heart I rose, and then perceiv'd

                    I was deceiv'd:

My hill was further: so I flung away,

                    Yet heard a crie

      Just as I went, None goes that way

      And lives: If that be all, said I,

After so foul a journey death is fair,

                    And but a chair.

(line 17: Save one good Angell...): An English gold coin issued from 1470 to 1634, varying in value from 6s. 8d. to 10s. and bearing on its obverse a figure of the archangel Michael killing a dragon.The "Angell" replaced the 'ryal', or Rose Noble, which was first issued by Edward IV.