"If the army had fled, why that sort of thing happens in the world," said Volodyovski; "but here the leaders left the camp first, as if on purpose to lighten the victory for the enemy and give the army to slaughter."
"True, true!" said Vershul. "It is said even that they did this on purpose."
"On purpose? By the wounds of Christ, that cannot be!"
"It is said they did so on purpose; but why? Who can discover, who can guess?"
"May their graves crush them, may their race perish, and only a memory of infamy remain behind them!" said Zagloba.
"Amen!" said Skshetuski.
"Amen!" said Volodyovski.
"Amen!" repeated Pan Longin.
"There is one man who can save the fatherland yet, if they give him the baton and the remaining power of the Commonwealth. There is only one, for neither the army nor the nobles will hear of another."
"The prince!" said Skshetuski.