The Holy War | Page 3

wouldst with my heifer plough; It lies there in the window. Fare thee well,
My next may be to ring thy passing-bell.
JOHN BUNYAN.

AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.

Some say the 'Pilgrim's Progress' is not mine, Insinuating as if I would shine In name and
fame by the worth of another, Like some made rich by robbing of their brother. Or that so
fond I am of being sire, I'll father bastards; or, if need require, I'll tell a lie in print to get

applause. I scorn it: John such dirt-heap never was, Since God converted him. Let this
suffice To show why I my 'Pilgrim' patronize. It came from mine own heart, so to my
head, And thence into my fingers trickled; Then to my pen, from whence immediately On
paper I did dribble it daintily. Manner and matter, too, was all mine own, Nor was it unto
any mortal known Till I had done it; nor did any then By books, by wits, by tongues, or
hand, or pen, Add five words to it, or write half a line Thereof: the whole, and every whit
is mine. Also for THIS, thine eye is now upon, The matter in this manner came from
none But the same heart, and head, fingers, and pen, As did the other. Witness all good
men; For none in all the world, without a lie, Can say that this is mine, excepting I I write
not this of my ostentation, Nor 'cause I seek of men their commendation; I do it to keep
them from such surmise, As tempt them will my name to scandalize. Witness my name, if
anagram'd to thee, The letters make--'Nu hony in a B.'
JOHN BUNYAN.

A RELATION OF THE HOLY WAR.

In my travels, as I walked through many regions and countries, it was my chance to
happen into that famous continent of Universe. A very large and spacious country it is: it
lieth between the two poles, and just amidst the four points of the heavens. It is a place
well watered, and richly adorned with hills and valleys, bravely situate, and for the most
part, at least where I was, very fruitful, also well peopled, and a very sweet air.
The people are not all of one complexion, nor yet of one language, mode, or way of
religion, but differ as much as, it is said, do the planets themselves. Some are right, and
some are wrong, even as it happeneth to be in lesser regions.
In this country, as I said, it was my lot to travel; and there travel I did, and that so long,
even till I learned much of their mother tongue, together with the customs and manners of
them among whom I was. And, to speak truth, I was much delighted to see and hear
many things which I saw and heard among them; yea, I had, to be sure, even lived and
died a native among them, (so was I taken with them and their doings,) had not my
master sent for me home to his house, there to do business for him, and to oversee
business done.
Now there is in this gallant country of Universe a fair and delicate town, a corporation
called Mansoul; a town for its building so curious, for its situation so commodious, for its
privileges so advantageous, (I mean with reference to its origin,) that I may say of it, as
was said before of the continent in which it is placed, There is not its equal under the
whole heaven.
As to the situation of this town, it lieth just between the two worlds; and the first founder
and builder of it, so far as by the best and most authentic records I can gather, was one
Shaddai; and he built it for his own delight. He made it the mirror and glory of all that he
made, even the top-piece, beyond anything else that he did in that country. Yea, so
goodly a town was Mansoul when first built, that it is said by some, the gods, at the
setting up thereof, came down to see it, and sang for joy. And as he made it goodly to
behold, so also mighty to have dominion over all the country round about. Yea, all were
commanded to acknowledge Mansoul for their metropolitan, all were enjoined to do
homage to it. Aye, the town itself had positive commission and power from her King to
demand service of all, and also to subdue any that anyways denied to do it.

There was reared up in the midst of this town a most famous and stately palace; for
strength, it might be called a castle; for pleasantness, a paradise; for largeness, a place