But, oh! how this return, and specially this last clause of it, that the prisoners must go out to the Prince into the camp, brake all their loins in pieces!  Wherefore, with one voice they set up a cry that reached up to the heavens.  This done, each of the three prepared himself to die; (and the Recorder said unto them, ’This was the thing that I feared;’) for they concluded that to-morrow, by that the sun went down, they should be tumbled out of the world.  The whole town also counted of no other, but that, in their time and order, they must all drink of the same cup.  Wherefore the town of Mansoul spent that night in mourning, and sackcloth and ashes.  The prisoners also, when the time was come for them to go down before the Prince, dressed themselves in mourning attire, with ropes upon their heads.  The whole town of Mansoul also showed themselves upon the wall, all clad in mourning weeds, if, perhaps, the Prince with the sight thereof might be moved with compassion.  But, oh! how the busy-bodies that were in the town of Mansoul did now concern themselves!  They did run here and there through the streets of the town by companies, crying out as they ran in tumultuous wise, one after one manner, and another the quite contrary, to the almost utter distraction of Mansoul.

Well, the time is come that the prisoners must go down to the camp, and appear before the Prince.  And thus was the manner of their going down:  Captain Boanerges went with a guard before them, and Captain Conviction came behind, and the prisoners went down, bound in chains, in the midst.  So I say, the prisoners went in the midst, and the guard went with flying colours behind and before, but the prisoners went with drooping spirits.

Or, more particularly, thus:  The prisoners went down all in mourning:  they put ropes upon themselves; they went on, smiting themselves on the breasts, but durst not lift up their eyes to heaven.  Thus they went out at the gate of Mansoul, till they came into the midst of the Prince’s army, the sight and glory of which did greatly heighten their affliction.  Nor could they now longer forbear, but cry out aloud, ’O unhappy men!  O wretched men of Mansoul!’ Their chains, still mixing their dolorous notes with the cries of the prisoners, made the noise more lamentable.

So, when they were come to the door of the Prince’s pavilion, they cast themselves prostrate upon the place; then one went in and told his Lord that the prisoners were come down.  The Prince then ascended a throne of state, and sent for the prisoners in; who, when they came, did tremble before him, also they covered their faces with shame.  Now, as they drew near to the place where he sat, they threw themselves down before him.  Then said the Prince to the Captain Boanerges, ’Bid the prisoners stand upon their feet.’  Then they stood trembling before him, and he said, ’Are you the men that heretofore were the servants of Shaddai?’ And they said,