The Author’s Vindication of his Pilgrim, Found at the End of his Holy War

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 lye 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 lye,

Can say that this is mine, excepting I.

I write not this of any 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.