And though it occurred to him at once how senseless was his prayer that they should not be killed by the oak that had already fallen, he repeated it, knowing that he could do nothing better than utter that senseless prayer.
E sebbene pensasse subito come fosse insensata la propria implorazione perché i suoi non fossero uccisi dalla quercia caduta in quel momento, la ripeté, sapendo che non poteva far nulla di meglio di quella preghiera insensata.