as men do who expect to die

Sir Steven Runciman on the fall of Constantinople:

... Constantine told his hearers that the great assault was to begin. To his Greek subjects he said that a man should always be ready to die either for his faith or his country or his family or his sovereign.... He then walked slowly around the chamber, asking each of them to forgive him if ever he had caused offense. They followed his example, embracing one another,.... Later in the evening, the Emperor himself rode on his Arabian steed to the great Cathedral and made his peace with God. Then he returned through the dark streets to his palace at Blachernae and summoned his household. Of them, as he had done his ministers, he asked forgiveness for any unkindness that he might have shown them, and he bade them good-bye.