Author's Apology For His Book Poem Rhyme Scheme

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John Bunyan

Author's Apology For His Book Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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WHEN at the first I took my pen in hand	A
Thus for to write I did not understand	A
	-
That I at all should make a little book	B
In such a mode nay I had undertook	B
	-
To make another which when almost done	C
Before I was aware I this begun	C
	-
And thus it was I writing of the way	D
And race of saints in this our gospel day	D
	-
Fell suddenly into an allegory	E
About their journey and the way to glory	E
	-
In more than twenty things which I set down	F
This done I twenty more had in my crown	F
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And they again began to multiply	G
Like sparks that from the coals of fire do fly	G
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Nay then thought I if that you breed so fast	H
I'll put you by yourselves lest you at last	H
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Should prove ad infinitum I and eat out	I
The book that I already am about	I
	-
Well so I did but yet I did not think	J
To show to all the world my pen and ink	J
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In such a mode I only thought to make	K
I knew not what nor did I undertake	K
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Thereby to please my neighbor no not I	G
I did it my own self to gratify	G
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Neither did I but vacant seasons spend	L
In this my scribble nor did I intend	L
	-
But to divert myself in doing this	M
From worser thoughts which make me do amiss	M
	-
Thus I set pen to paper with delight	N
And quickly had my thoughts in black and white	N
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For having now my method by the end	L
Still as I pull'd it came and so I penned	L
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It down until it came at last to be	E
For length and breadth the bigness which you see	E
	-
Well when I had thus put mine ends together	O
I show'd them others that I might see whether	O
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They would condemn them or them justify	G
And some said let them live some let them die	G
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Some said John print it others said Not so	P
Some said It might do good others said No	P
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Now was I in a strait and did not see	E
Which was the best thing to be done by me	E
	-
At last I thought Since ye are thus divided	Q
I print it will and so the case decided	R
	-
For thought I some I see would have it done	C
Though others in that channel do not run	C
	-
To prove then who advised for the best	S
Thus I thought fit to put it to the test	S
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I further thought if now I did deny	G
Those that would have it thus to gratify	G
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I did not know but hinder them I might	N
Of that which would to them be great delight	N
	-
For those which were not for its coming forth	T
I said to them Offend you I am loath	U
	-
Yet since your brethren pleased with it be	E
Forbear to judge till you do further see	E
	-
If that thou wilt not read let it alone	V
Some love the meat some love to pick the bone	V
	-
Yea that I might them better palliate	N
I did too with them thus expostulate	N
	-
May I not write in such a style as this	M
In such a method too and yet not miss	M
	-
My end thy good Why may it not be done	C
Dark clouds bring waters when the bright bring none	C
	-
Yea dark or bright if they their silver drops	W
Cause to descend the earth by yielding crops	W
	-
Gives praise to both and carpeth not at either	O
But treasures up the fruit they yield together	O
	-
Yea so commixes both that in their fruit	N
None can distinguish this from that they suit	N
	-
Her well when hungry but if she be full	X
She spews out both and makes their blessing null	Y
	-
You see the ways the fisherman doth take	K
To catch the fish what engines doth he make	K
	-
Behold how he engageth all his wits	Z
Also his snares lines angles hooks and nets	A2
	-
Yet fish there be that neither hook nor line	B2
Nor snare nor net nor engine can make thine	B2
	-
They must be groped for and be tickled too	N
Or they will not be catch'd whate'er you do	N
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How does the fowler seek to catch his game	C2
By divers means all which one cannot name	C2
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His guns his nets his lime twigs light and bell	D2
He creeps he goes he stands yea who can tell	D2
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Of all his postures yet there's none of these	E2
Will make him master of what fowls he please	E2
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Yea he must pipe and whistle to catch this	M
Yet if he does so that bird he will miss	M
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If that a pearl may in toad's head dwell	D2
And may be found too in an oyster shell	D2
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If things that promise nothing do contain	F2
What better is than gold who will disdain	F2
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That have an inkling to of it there to look	B
That they may find it Now my little book	B
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Though void of all these paintings that may make	K
It with this or the other man to take	K
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Is not without those things that do excel	D2
What do in brave but empty notions dwell	D2
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Well yet I am not fully satisfied	N
That this your book will stand when soundly tried	N
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Why what's the matter It is dark What though	P
But it is feigned What of that I trow	P
	-
Some men by feigned words as dark as mine	B2
Make truth to spangle and its rays to shine	B2
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But they want solidness Speak man thy mind	N
They drown the weak metaphors make us blind	N
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Solidity indeed becomes the pen	G2
Of him that writeth things divine to men	G2
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But must I needs want solidness because	H2
By metaphors I speak Were not God's laws	H2
	-
His gospel laws in olden time held forth	T
By types shadows and metaphors Yet loth	I2
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Will any sober man be to find fault	N
With them lest he be found for to assault	N
	-
The highest wisdom No he rather stoops	J2
And seeks to find out what by pins and loops	J2
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By calves and sheep by heifers and by rams	K2
By birds and herbs and by the blood of lambs	K2
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God speaketh to him and happy is he	E
That finds the light and grace that in them be	E
	-
But not too forward therefore to conclude	N
That I want solidness that I am rude	N
	-
All things solid in show not solid be	E
All things in parable despise not we	E
	-
Lest things most hurtful lightly we receive	L2
And things that good are of our souls bereave	L2
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My dark and cloudy words they do but hold	N
The truth as cabinets inclose the gold	N
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The prophets used much by metaphors	M2
To set forth truth yea who so considers	N2
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Christ his apostles too shall plainly see	E
That truths to this day in such mantles be	E
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Am I afraid to say that holy writ	N
Which for its style and phrase puts down all wit	N
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Is everywhere so full of all these things	O2
Dark figures allegories Yet there springs	O2
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From that same book that lustre and those rays	P2
Of light that turn our darkest nights to days	P2
	-
Come let my carper to his life now look	B
And find there darker lines than in my book	B
	-
He findeth any yea and let him know	P
That in his best things there are worse lines too	N
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May we but stand before impartial men	G2
To his poor one I durst adventure ten	G2
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That they will take my meaning in these lines	Q2
Far better than his lies in silver shrines	Q2
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Come truth although in swaddling clothes I find	N
Informs the judgment rectifies the mind	N
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Pleases the understanding makes the will	R2
Submit the memory too it doth fill	R2
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With what doth our imagination please	E2
Likewise it tends our troubles to appease	E2
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Sound words I know Timothy is to use	S2
And old wives' fables he is to refuse	T2
	-
But yet grave Paul him nowhere doth forbid	N
The use of parables in which lay hid	N
	-
That gold those pearls and precious stones that were	O
Worth digging for and that with greatest care	U2
	-
Let me add one word more O man of God	N
Art thou offended Dost thou wish I had	N
	-
Put forth my matter in another dress	V2
Or that I had in things been more express	V2
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Three things let me propound then I submit	N
To those that are my betters as is fit	N
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I find not that I am denied the use	S2
Of this my method so I no abuse	S2
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Put on the words things readers or be rude	N
In handling figure or similitude	N
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In application but all that I may	D
Seek the advance of truth this or that way	D
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Denied did I say Nay I have leave	L2
Example too and that from them that have	W2
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God better pleased by their words or ways	P2
Than any man that breatheth now a days	P2
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Thus to express my mind thus to declare	U2
Things unto thee that excellentest are	X2
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I find that men as high as trees will write	N
Dialogue wise yet no man doth them slight	N
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For writing so Indeed if they abuse	S2
Truth cursed be they and the craft they use	S2
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To that intent but yet let truth be free	E
To make her sallies upon thee and me	E
	-
Which way it pleases God for who knows how	Y2
Better than he that taught us first to plough	Y2
	-
To guide our minds and pens for	Z2