By JOHN BUNYAN,
The Author of the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.
HOSEA xii. 10. I have used Similitudes.
IS ftrange to me, that they that love to tell
to of old, yea, and that do excel
Their equals in hiftoriology,
Speak not of Manfoul's wars, but let them lie
Dead, like old fables, or fuch worthless things,
That to the reader no advantage brings;
When men, let them make what they will their own,
Till they know this, are to themselves unknown.
Of ftories I well know there's divers forts,
Some foreign, fome domeftic; and reports
Are therefore made as fancy leads the writers
(By books a man may guess at the inditers.)
Some will again, of that which never was,
Nor will be, feign (and that without a caufe)
Such matter, raife fuch mountains, tell fuch things
Of men, of laws, of countries, and of kings:
And in their story feem to be fo fage,
And with fuch gravity clothe every page,
That though their frontispiece fays all is vain,
Yet to their way difciples they obtain.
But, readers, I have fomewhat else to do,
Than with vain ftories thus to trouble you;
What here I fay fome men do know fo well,
They can with tears and joy the story tell.
The town of Mansoul is well known to many,
Nor are her troubles doubted of by any
That are acquainted with thefe hiltories
That Manfoul and her wars anatomize.
Then lend thine ear to what I do relate,
Touching the town of Manfoul and her state;
How fhe was loft, took captive, made a flave;
And how against him fet that should her fave:
Yea, how by hoftile ways fhe did oppofe
Her Lord, and with his enemy did clofe :
For they are true; he that will them deny,
Muft needs the best of records vilify :
For my part, I myfelf was in the town,
Both when 'twas fet up, and when pulling down:
I faw Diabolus in his poffeffion,
And Manfoul alfo under his oppreffion :
Yea, I was there when the own'd him for Lord,
And to him did submit with one accord:
When Manfoul trampled upon things divine,
And wallowed in filth as doth a swine;
When the betook herfelf unto her arms,
Fought her Emmanuel, defpis'd his charms,
Then I was there, and did rejoice to fee
Diabolus and Manfoul fo agree.
Let no man then count me a fable-maker,
Nor make my name or credit a partaker
Of their derifion; what is here in view,
Of mine own knowledge I dare fay is true.
I faw the prince's armed men come down
By troops, by thoufands, to befiege the town:
I faw the captains, heard the trumpets found,
And how his forces cover'd all the ground:
Yea, how they fet themselves in battle-ray,
I fhall remember, to my dying day.
I faw the colours waving in the wind,
And they within to mifchief how combin'd
To ruin Manfoul, and to make away
Her primum mobile without delay.
I faw the mounts caft up against the town,
And how the flings were plac'd to beat it down.
I heard the ftones fly whizzing by my ears,
(What longer kept in mind than got in fears ?)
I heard them fall, and faw what work they made,
And how old Mars did cover with his fhade
The face of Manfoul; and I heard her cry,
Wo worth the day, in dying I fhall die.
I faw the batt'ring rams, and how they play'd
To beat up Ear-gate, and I was afraid,
Not only Ear-gate, but the very town,
Would by thefe batt'ring rams be beaten down.
I faw the fights, and heard the captains out,
And in each battle faw who fac'd about :
I saw who wounded were, and who were flain,
And who, when dead, would come to life again.
I heard the cries of those who wounded were,
(While others fought like men bereft of fear)
And when the cry, kill, kill, was in mine ears,
The gutters ran, not fo with blood as tears.
Indeed the captains did not always fight,
But then they would moleft us day and night;
Their cry, up, fall on, let us take the town,
Kept us from fleeping or from lying down.
I was there when the gates were broken ope,
And faw, how Manfoul then was ftript of hope,
I faw the captains march into the town,
How there they fought, and did their foes cut down.
I heard the prince bid Boanerges go
Up to the castle, and there feize his foe;
And faw him and his fellows bring him down,
In chains of great contempt, quite thro' the town.
I faw Emmanuel when he poffefs'd
His town of Manfoul; and how greatly blefs'd
A town his gallant town of Manfoul was
When the receiv'd his pardon, lov'd his laws..
When the Diabolonians were caught,
When try'd, and when to execution brought,
Then I was there; yea, I was standing by
When Manfoul did the rebels crucify.
I alfo faw Manfoul clad all in white,
And heard her Prince call her his heart's delight.
I saw him put upon her chains of gold,
And rings, and bracelets, goodly to behold.
What shall I fay? I heard the people's cries,
And faw the Prince wipe tears from Manfoul's eyes.
I heard the groans and faw the joy of many;
Tell you of all, I neither will, nor can I.
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