THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS FROM THIS WORLD TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME; DELIVERED UNDER THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM : WHEREIN ARE DISCOVERED, THE MANNER OF HIS SETTING OUT; HIS DANGEROUS JOURNEY; AND SAFE ARRIVAL AT THE DESIRED COUNTRY: BY JOHN BUNYAN. PART I. "I HAVE USED SIMILITUDES." HOSEA, C. XII. V. X. LONDON: JOHN MAJOR. M.DCCC.XXIX. THE AUTHOR'S APOLOGY FOR HIS BOOK. WHEN at the first I took my pen in hand, Thus for to write, I did not understand And thus it was: I, writing of the way About their journey, and the way to glory, In more than twenty things, which I set down: Like sparks that from the coals of fire do fly. Well, so I did; but yet I did not think Neither did I but vacant seasons spend But to divert myself, in doing this, From worser thoughts, which make me do amiss. And quickly had my thoughts in black and white. Still as I pull'd, it came; and so I penn'd For length and breadth, the bigness which you see. And some said, Let them live; some, Let them die; For, thought I, some I see would have it done, I further thought, if now I did deny If that thou wilt not read, let it alone; Some love the meat, some love to pick the bone; I did too with them thus expostulate : May I not write in such a style as this? In such a method too, and yet not miss My end, thy good? Why may it not be done? Dark clouds bring waters, when the bright bring none. Yea, dark or bright, if they their silver drops Also his snares, lines, angles, hooks, and nets: How does the fowler seek to catch his game? If that a pearl may in a toad's head dwell, Is not without those things that do excel Well, yet I am not fully satisfy'd, That this your book will stand, when soundly try'd. |