’Twas thirty fathoms in depth; in breadth twenty.
“Halt, dear brothers and let us cast lots,
He on whom the lot will fall, let him go in,”
The lot falls on John, the youngest.
They bind John and let him down:
“Draw, dear brothers, draw me out,
Here there is no water; but only a Spirit.”
“We are drawing, John, we are drawing; but thou stirrest not.”
“The serpent has wound itself round my body, the Spirit is holding me.
Come, set the Black One also to help you.”