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28 to espouse it. On looking round the prison, he saw three of his soldiers bound, and standing at his back; and he said, "My fellows, how are you in this misfortune? Tell me (if you know), how came we thus?" They neither of them answered; but, casting their eyes upon the ground, hung their heads in silence. When Christian pressed them further, one said to the other, "Do you tell the captain—my throat aches." And he, who was an old veteran, said, "My lord, you have heard my voice often thunder in the war; but I have to tell a childish tale, unfit for a man's breast to send forth, or a man's ear to hear; so I will suit it to the story. My eyes are wet, too, and fretted, for I spy nothing but ruin where I have seen honour. But enough of this. Oh, yet any thing rather than come to the matter; but, as well as I may, with powers impaired with grief and shame, I'll tell it. Ope thine ears, and brace thy heart, for I will tell this tale but once, and to you only; and, sooth, none will believe it. We four, here, are the greatest sacrifice that honour and a great cause ever registered: we are not man's soldiers now, but God's; for man deserts us. I take the praise that is due to us, for it fills our hearts, without the help of the world. Captain, there is one thing called gold, and