Neither did I but vacant seasons spend

 In this my scribble; nor did I intend

 But to divert myself in doing this

 From worser thoughts which make me do amiss.

Thus, I set pen to paper with delight,

 And quickly had my thoughts in black and white.

 For, having now my method by the end,

 Still as I pulled, it came; and so I penned

 It down: until it came at last to be,

 For length and breadth, the bigness which you see.

Well, when I had thus put mine ends together,

 I shewed them others, that I might see whether

 They would condemn them, or them justify:

 And some said, Let them live; some, Let them die;

 Some said, JOHN, print it; others said, Not so;

 Some said, It 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 you are thus divided,

 I print it will, and so the case decided.