Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/10

6 Thereby to please my neighbour; no, not I;

I did it mine own self to gratify.

Neither did I but vacant seasons spend

In this my scribble; nor did I intend

But to divert myself, in doing this,

From worser thoughts, which make me do amiss.

Thus I set pen to paper with delight,

And quickly had my thoughts in black and white.

For having now my method by the end,

Still as I pull'd, it came; and so I penn'd

It down; until at last it came to be,

For length and breadth, the bigness which you see.

Well, when I had put my ends together

I show'd them others, that I might see whether

They would condemn them, or them justify;

And some said, Let them live; some, Let them die:

Some said John, print it; others said, Not so:

Some said, do good; others said, No.

Now was I in a strait, and did not see

Which was the best thing to be done by me:

At last I thought, Since you are thus divided,

I print it will; and so the case decided.

For thought, some I see would have it done,

Though other in that channel do not run:

To prove them, who advised for the best,

Thus I thought fit to put it to the test.

I further thought, if now did deny

Those that would have it, thus to gratify,

I did not know but hinder them I might

Of that which would to them be great delight.