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
That I at all should make a little Book.
In ſuch a mode Nay, I had undertook
To make another, which when almoſt done;
Before I was aware, I this begun.
And thus it was: I writing of the Way
And Race of Saints, in this our Goſpel-Day
Fell ſuddenly into an Allegory
About their Journey, and the way to Glory,
In more than twenty things, which I ſet down;
This done, I twenty more had in my Crown,
And they again began to multiply,
Like ſparks that from the coals of fire do fly.
Nay then, thought I, if that you breed ſo faſt
I'll put you by your selves, left you at laſt
Should prove ad infinitum, and eat out
The Book that I already am about.
Well, ſo I did; but yet I did not think
To ſhew to all the World my Pen and Ink
In ſuch a mode I only thought to make
I knew not what: nor did I undertake
Thereby to pleaſe my Neighbour no not I;
I did it mine own ſelf to gratiſie.
Neither did I but vacant ſeaſons ſspend
