"Have her I will, or her in pieces tear." Mansoul! it was the very seat of war: Wherefore her troubles greater were by far Than only where the noise of war is heard, Or where the shaking of a sword is fear'd: Or only where small skirmishes are fought, Or where the fancy fighteth with a thought. She saw the swords of fighting men made red, And heard the cries of those with them wounded: Must not her frights, then, be much more by far Than their that to such doings strangers are? Or theirs that hear the beating of a drum, But not made fly for fear from house and home? Mansoul not only heard the trumpet's sound, But saw her gallants gasping on the ground: Wherefore we must not think that she could rest With them, whose greatest earnest is but jest: Or where the blust'ring threat'nings of great wars Do end in parleys, or in wording jars. Mansoul! her mighty wars, they did portend Her weal or woe, and that world without endWherefore she must be more concern'd than they Whose fears begin and end the selfsame day; Or where none other harm doth come to him That is engag'd, but loss of life or limb, As all must needs confess that now do dwell In Universe, and can this story tell. Count me not, then, with them that, to amaze The people, set them on the stars to gaze, Insinuating with much confidence, That each of them is now the residence Of some brave creatures: yea, a world they will Have in each star, though it be past their skill To make it manifest to any man, That reason hath, or tell his fingers can. But I have too long held thee in the porch, * As please the mind will, and will feed the eyes The JOHN BUNYAN. * He refers to the notes and Scripture references, usually printed in the margin, but, in this edition, embodied in the text. AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER. SOME say the "Pilgrim's Progress" is not mine, Insinuating as if I would shine In name and fame by the worth of another, I'll father bastards; or, if need require, It came from mine own heart, so to my head Manner and matter, too, was all mine own; By books, by wits, by tongues, or hand, or pen 16 An Advertisement to the Reader. Add five words to it, or write half a line : Thereof the whole, and every whit is mine. The matter in this manner came from none For none in all the world, without a lie, I write not this of any ostentation, JOHN BUNYAN. THE HOLY WAR. IN my travels as I walked through many regions and countries, it was my chance to happen into that famous continent of Universe. A very large and spacious country it is; it lieth between the two poles, and just amidst the four points of the heavens. It is a place well watered, and richly adorned with hills and valleys, bravely situate, and for the most part, at least, where I was, very fruitful, also well peopled, and a very sweet air. The people are not all of one complexion, nor yet of one language, mode, or way of religion, but differ as much as, it is said, do the planets themselves. Some are right, and some are wrong, even as it happeneth to be in lesser regions. In this country, as I said, it was my lot to travel; and there travel I did, and that so long, even till I learned much of their mother tongue, together with the customs and manners of them among whom I was. And, B |