BY JOHN BUNYA N,
AUTHOR OF THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.
I have used Similitudes, HOSEA xii. 10.
PRINTED BY W. DARLING, ADVOCATES CLOSE
"TIS Arange to me, that they that love to tell Things done of old, yea, and that do excell
Their equals in Hiftoriology,
Speak not of Manfoul's wars, but let them lie
Dead, like old fables, or fuch worthlefs things,
That to the reader no advantage brings:
When men, let them make what they will their own,
Till they know this, are to themfelves unknown.
Of Rories I well know there's divers forts,
Some foreign, fome domeftic; and reports
Are thereof made as fancy leads the writers;
(By books a man may guefs 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 ftory feem to be fo fage,
And with fuch gravity clothe ev'ry page,
That though their frontifpiece 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 Manfoul is well known to many,
Nor are her troubles doubted of by any
That are acquainted with thefe hiftories
That Manfoul and her wars anatomise.
Then lend thine ear to what I do relate
Touching the town of Manfoul and her ftate,
How the was loft, took captive, made a flave,
And how against him fet that fhould her fave:
Yea, how by hoftile ways fhe did oppofe
For they are true, he that will them deny
Muft needs the beft of records vilify.
For my part, I (myself) 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 fubmit with one accord.
When Manfoul trampled upon things divine,
And wallowed in filth as doth a fwine;
When the betook herself unto her arms,
Fought her Emanuel, defpis'd his charms,
Then I was there, and did rejoice to fee.
Diabolous and Manfoul fo ill agree.
Let no man then count me a fable-maker,
Nor make my name or credit 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 themfelves 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 tones fly whizzing by mine ears,
(What longer kept in mind than got in fears!)
I heard them fall, and faw what work they made,
And how old Mors did cover with his fhade
The face of Manfoul; and I heard her cry,
W worth the day, in dying I fhall die.
I faw the battering 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 battering rams be beaten down.
I faw the fights, and heard the captains, fhout,
And in each battle faw who fac'd about:
I faw who wounded were, and who were flain,
And who, when dead, would come to life again.
I heard the cries of thofe that 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 Emanuel 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 ftanding 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 faw him put upon her chains of gold,f
And rings, and bracelets, goodly to behold.
What thall 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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