Yea, I was there when she own’d him for lord, And to him did submit with one accord. When Mansoul trampled upon things divine, And wallowed in filth as doth a swine; When she betook herself unto her arms, Fought her Emmanuel, despis’d his charms; Then I was there, and did rejoice to see Diabolus and Mansoul so agree. Let no men, then, count me a fable-maker, Nor make my name or credit a partaker Of their derision: what is here in view, Of mine own knowledge, I dare say is true. I saw the Prince’s armed men come down By troops, by thousands, to besiege the town; I saw the captains, heard the trumpets sound, And how his forces covered all the ground. Yea, how they set themselves in battle-’ray, I shall remember to my dying day. I saw the colours waving in the wind, And they within to mischief how combin’d To ruin Mansoul, and to make away Her primum mobile without delay. I saw the mounts cast up against the town, And how the slings were placed to beat it down: I heard the stones fly whizzing by mine ears, (What longer kept in mind than got in fears?) I heard them fall, and saw what work they made. And how old Mors did cover with his shade The face of Mansoul; and I heard her cry, ‘Woe worth the day, in dying I shall die!’ I saw the battering-rams, and how they play’d To beat open Ear-gate; and I was afraid Not only Ear-gate, but the very town Would by those battering-rams be beaten down. I saw the fights, and heard the captains shout, And in each battle saw who faced about; I saw who wounded were, and who were slain; And who, when dead, would come to life again. I heard the cries of those that wounded were, (While others fought like men bereft of fear,) And while the cry, ‘Kill, kill,’ was in mine ears, The gutters ran, not so with blood as tears. Indeed, the captains did not always fight, But then they would molest us day and night; Their cry, ‘Up, fall on, let us take the town,’ Kept us from sleeping, or from lying down. I was there when the gates were broken ope, And saw how Mansoul then was stripp’d of hope; I saw the captains march into the town, How there they fought, and did their foes cut down. I heard the Prince bid Boanerges go Up to the castle, and there seize his foe; And saw him and his fellows bring him down, In chains of great contempt quite through the town. I saw Emmanuel, when he possess’d His town of Mansoul; and how greatly blest A town his gallant town of Mansoul was, When she received his pardon, loved his laws. When the Diabolonians were caught, When tried, and when to execution brought, Then I was there; yea, I was standing by When Mansoul did the rebels crucify. I also saw Mansoul clad all in white,