dation. There
is an individuality about the "Prison Meditations" which imparts to it a
personal interest, which is entirely wanting in the other two works,
which may be characterized as metrical sermons, couched in verse of the
Sternhold and Hopkins type. A specimen or two will suffice. The "Four
Last Things" thus opens:--

"These lines I at this time present
To all that will them heed,
Wherein I show to what intent
God saith, 'Convert with speed.'
For these four things come on apace,
Which we should know full well,
Both death and judgment, and, in place
Next to them, heaven and hell."

The following lines are from "Ebal and Gerizim":--

"Thou art like one that hangeth by a thread
Over the mouth of hell, as one half dead;
And oh, how soon this thread may broken be,
Or cut by death, is yet unknown to thee.
But sure it is if all the weight of sin,
And all that Satan too hath doing been
Or yet can do, can break this crazy thread,
'Twill not be long before among the dead
Thou tumble do, as linked fast in chains,
With them to wait in fear for future pains."

The poetical effusion entitled "Prison Meditations" does not in any way
rise above the prosaic level of its predecessors. But it can be read
with less weariness from the picture it presents of Bunyan's prison life,
and of the courageous faith which sustained him. Some unnamed friend, it
would appear, fearing he might flinch, had written him a letter
counselling him to keep "his head above the flood." Bunyan replied in
seventy stanzas in ballad measure, thanking his correspondent for his
good advice, of which he confesses he stood in need, and which he takes
it kindly of him to send, even though his feet stand upon Mount Zion, and
the gaol is to him like a hill from which he could see beyond this world,
and take his fill of the blessedness of that which remains for the
Christian. Though in bonds his mind is free, and can wander where it
will.

"For though men keep my outward man
Within their locks and bars,
Yet by the faith of Christ, I can
Mount higher than the stars."

Meanwhile his captivity is sweetened by the thought of what it was that
brought him there:--

"I here am very much refreshed
To think, when I was out,
I preached life, and peace, and rest,
To sinners round about.

My business then was souls to save
By preaching grace and faith,
Of which the c