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The Holy War – John Bunyan

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up their eyes to heaven. Thus they went out at the gate of Mansoul, till they<br />

came into the midst of the Prince's army, the sight and glory of which did<br />

greatly heighten their affliction. Nor could they now longer forbear, but cry<br />

out aloud, O unhappy men! O wretched men of Mansoul! <strong>The</strong>ir chains still<br />

mixing their dolorous notes with the cries of the prisoners, made noise more<br />

lamentable.[25]<br />

So, when they were come to the door of the Prince's pavilion, they cast<br />

themselves prostrate upon the place. <strong>The</strong>n one went in and told his Lord that<br />

the prisoners were come down. <strong>The</strong> Prince then ascended a throne of state,<br />

and sent for the prisoners in; who when they came, did tremble before him,<br />

also they covered their faces with shame. Now as they drew near to the place<br />

where he sat, they threw themselves down before him. <strong>The</strong>n said the Prince<br />

to the Captain Boanerges, Bid the prisoners stand upon their feet. <strong>The</strong>n they<br />

stood trembling before him, and he said, Are you the men that heretofore<br />

were the servants of Shaddai? And they said, Yes, Lord, yes. <strong>The</strong>n said the<br />

Prince again, Are you the men that did suffer yourselves to be corrupted and<br />

defiled by that abominable one Diabolus? And they said, We did more than<br />

suffer it, Lord; for we chose it of our own mind. <strong>The</strong> Prince asked further,<br />

saying, Could you have been content that your slavery should have continued<br />

under his tyranny as long as you had lived? <strong>The</strong>n said the prisoners, Yes,<br />

Lord, yes; for his ways were pleasing to our flesh, and we were grown aliens<br />

to a better state. And did you, said he, when I came up against this town of<br />

Mansoul, heartily wish that I might not have the victory over you? Yes,<br />

Lord, yes, said they. <strong>The</strong>n said the Prince, And what punishment is it, think<br />

you, that you deserve at my hand for these and other your high and mighty<br />

sins? And they said, Both death and the deep,[26] Lord; for we have<br />

deserved no less. He asked again if they had aught to say for themselves,<br />

why the sentence that they confessed that they had deserved should not be<br />

passed upon them? And they said, We can say nothing, Lord; thou art just,<br />

for we have sinned. <strong>The</strong>n said the Prince, And for what are those ropes on<br />

your heads? <strong>The</strong> prisoners answered, <strong>The</strong>se ropes* are to bind us withal to<br />

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