22

THE AUTHOR'S APOLOGY FOR HIS BOOK.

And some said, “ Let them live ;” some, “ Let them die ;””
Some said, “ John, print it;” others said, “ Not so;”
Some said “Tt might do good ;” others said, “ No.”
Now was I in a strait, and did not see
Which was the best thing to be done by me:
At last I thought, Since ye are thus divided,
I print it will, and so the case decided.
For, thought I, some, I see, would have it done,
Though others in that channel do not run:
To prove, then, who advisdd for the best,
Thus I thought fit to put it to the test.
I further thought, if now I did deny
Those that would have it, these to gratify,
I did not know but hinder them I might
Of that which would to them be great delight.
For those which were not for its coming: forth,
I said to them, Offend you I am loth.
Yet, since your brethren pleastd with it be,
Forbear to judge till you do further see.
If that thou wilt not read, let it alone:
Some love the meat, some love to pick the bone,
Yea, that I might them better palliate,
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
Cause to descend, the earth, by yielding crops,
Gives praise to both, and carpeth not at either,
But treasures up the fruit they yield together ;
Yea, so commixes both, that in their fruit
None can distinguish this from that: they suit
Her well when hungry; but, if she be full,
She spews out both, and makes their blessings null,
You see the ways the fisherman doth take
To catch the fish; what engines doth he make!
Behold how he engageth all his wits;
Also his snares lines, angles hooks and nets:
Yet fish there be that neither hook, nor line,
Nor snare, nor net, nor engine can make thine:
They must be groped for, and be tickled too,
Or they will not be catched, whate’er you do.
How does the fowler seek to catch his game
By divers means! all which one cannot name:
His guns, his nets, his lime-twigs, light, and bell;