Page:The pilgrims progress as originally published by John Bunyan ; being a facsimile of the first edition (1878).djvu/17

 THE

Author's Apology For his BOOK.

hen at the firſt I took, my Pen in hand,

Thus for to write; I did not underſtand

That I at all should make a little Book.

In ſuch a mode Nay, I had undertook

To make another, which when almoſt done;

Before I was aware, I this begun.

And thus it was: I writing of the Way

And Race of Saints, in this our Goſpel-Day

Fell ſuddenly into an Allegory

About their Journey, and the way to Glory,

In more than twenty things, which I ſet down;

This done, I twenty more had in my Crown,

And they again began to multiply,

Like ſparks that from the coals of fire do fly.

Nay then, thought I, if that you breed ſo faſt

I'll put you by your selves, left you at laſt

Should prove ad infinitum, and eat out

The Book that I already am about.

Well, ſo I did; but yet I did not think

To ſhew to all the World my Pen and Ink

In ſuch a mode I only thought to make

I knew not what: nor did I undertake

Thereby to pleaſe my Neighbour no not I;

I did it mine own ſelf to gratiſie.

Neither did I but vacant ſeaſons ſspend

In this my Scribble; nor did I intend Rh