Page:The pilgrims progress as originally published by John Bunyan ; being a facsimile of the first edition (1878).djvu/24

Rh This Book, will make a Travailer of thee.

If by its Counſel thou wilt ruled be;

It will direct thee to the Holy Land,

If thou wilt its Directions underſtand:

Yea, it will make the ſloathful, active be The Blind also, delightful things to see.

Art thou for something rare, and profitable?

Wouldeſt thou see a Truth within a Fable?

''Art thou forgetful? wouldeſt thou remember''

From New-years-day to the laſt of December?

Then read my fancies, they will ſtick like Burs,

And may be to the Helpleſs, Comforters.

This Book is writ in ſuch a Dialect,

As may the minds of listleſs men affect;

It ſeems a Novelty, and yet contains

Nothing but found, and honeſt Goſpel-ſtrains.

''Wouldſt thou divert thy ſelf from Melancholly? ''

Would'ſt thou be pleaſant, yet be far from folly?

Would'ſt thou read Riddles, & their Explanation?

Or else be drownded in thy Contemplation?

''Dost thou love picking meat? or would'ſt thou see''

A man i'th Clouds, and hear him ſpeak to thee?

Would'ſt thou be in a Dream, and yet not ſleep?

Or would'ſt thou in a moment laugh, and weep?

Would'ſt thou loose thy ſelf, and catch no harm?

And find thy ſelf again without a charm?

Would'ſt read thy self, and read thou know'st not what

And yet know whether thou art bleſt or not,

''By reading the ſame lines? O then come hither,''

and lay my Book, thy Head,and Heart together. JOHN BUNYAN.