The careful victor, meanwhile, provided for the wants of his friends on the other side of the Esk. The plunder3 of Percy’s camp was dispatched to them; which being abundant in all kinds of provisions, was more than sufficient to keep them in ample store till they could reach Stirling. From that point, the released chiefs had promised their regent they would disperse4 to their separate estates, collect recruits, and reduce the distracted state of the country into some composed order. Wallace had disclosed his wish, and mode of effecting this renovation5 of public happiness, before he left Stirling. It contained a plan of military organization, by which each youth, able to bear arms, should not only be instructed in the dexterous6 use of the weapons of war, but in the duties of subordination, and above all, have the nature of the rights for which he was to contend explained to him.
“They only require to be thoroughly7 known, to be regarded as inestimable,” added he; “but while we raise around us the best bulwark8 of any nation, a brave and well-disciplined people; while we teach them to defend their liberties, let us see that they deserve them. Let them be men, contending for virtuous9 independence; not savages10, fighting for licentious11 unrestraint. We must have our youth of both sexes, in towns and villages, from the castle to the cot, taught the saving truths of Christianity. From that root will branch all that is needful to make them useful members of the state-virtuous and happy. And, while war is in our hands, let us in all things prepare for peace, that the sword may gently bend into the sickle, the dirk to the pruning-hook.”
There was an expansive providence12 in all this, a concentrating plan of public weal, which few of the nobles had ever even glanced at, as a design conceivable for Scotland. There were many of these warrior13 chiefs who could not even understand it.
“Ah! my lords,” replied he to their warlike objections, “deceive not yourselves with the belief that by the mere14 force of arms, a nation can render itself great and secure. Industry, temperance, and discipline amongst the people; with moderation and justice in the higher orders, are the only aliments of independence. They bring you riches and power, which make it the interest of those who might have been your enemies to court your friendship.”
The graver council at Stirling had received his plan with enthusiasm. And when, on the day of his parting with the released chiefs on the banks of the Esk, with all the generous modesty15 of his nature, he submitted his design to them, rather to obtain their approbation16 as friends, than to enforce it with the authority of a regent; when they saw him, thus coming down from the dictatorship to which his unrivaled talents had raised him, to equal himself still with them, all were struck with admiration17, and Lord Badenoch could not but mentally exclaim, “The royal qualities of this man can well afford this expense of humility19. Bend as he will, he has only to speak, to show his superiority over all, and to be sovereign again.”
There was a power in the unostentatious virtues20 of Wallace, which, declaring themselves rather in their effects than by display, subdued22 the princely spirit of Badenoch; and, while the proud chief recollected23 how he had contemned24 the pretensions25 of Bruce, and could not brook26 the elevation27 of Baliol; how his soul was in arms when, after he had been persuaded to acknowledge the supremacy28 of Edward, the throne was given to one of his rivals; he wondered at himself to find that his very heart bowed before the gentle and comprehensive wisdom of an untitled regent.
Athol alone, of the group, seemed insensible to the benefits his country was deriving29 from its resistless protector; but he expressed his dissent30 from the general sentiment with no more visible sign than a cold silence.
When the messenger from Wallace arrived on the banks of the Esk with so large a booty, and the news of his complete victory over the gallant31 Percy, the exultation32 of the Scottish nobles knew no bounds.
On Badenoch opening the regent’s dispatches, he found they repeated his wish for his brave coadjutors to proceed to the execution of the plan they had sanctioned with their approbation; they were to march directly for Stirling, and on their way dispense33 the superabundance of the plunder amongst the perishing inhabitants of the land. He then informed the earl, that while the guard he had left him with would escort the liberated34 Scots beyond the Forth35, the remainder of the troops should be thus disposed: Lord Andrew Murray was to remain chief in command in Clydesdale; Sir Eustace Maxwell, to give up the wardship36 of Douglas to Sir John Monteith; and then advance into Annandale, to assist Sir Roger Kirkpatrick, who must now have begun the reduction of the castles in the west of that province. At the close of this account, Wallace added, that himself, with his brave band, were going to traverse the English counties to the Tees’ mouth; and should Heaven bless his arms, he would send the produce round by the Berwick fleet, to replenish37 the exhausted38 stores of the Highlands. “Next year,” continued he, “I trust they will have ample harvests of their own.”
And what Wallace said he hoped to do, he did.
The Southrons’ country was panic-struck at the defeat of Percy, his beaten army, flying in all directions before the conquering legions, gave such dreadful and hyperbolical accounts of their might, and of the giant prowess of their leader, that as soon as ever the Scottish spears were seen rising the summit of any hill, or even gleaming along the horizon, every village was deserted40, every cot left without inhabitant; and corn, and cattle, and every kind of property fell into the hands of the Scots.
Lord Precy lay immovable with wounds in his castle at Alnwick;36 and his hopeless state, by intimidating41 his followers42, contradicted the orders he gave, to face the marauding enemy. Several times they attempted to obey, but as often showed their inability. They collected under arms; but the moment their foe43 appeared, they fled within the castle walls, or buried themselves in deep obscurities amongst the surrounding hills. Not a sheaf in the fields of Northumberland did the Scots leave, to knead into bread for its earl; not a head of cattle to smoke upon his board. The country was sacked from sea to sea. But far different was its appearance from that of the trampled44 valleys of Scotland. There, fire had burned up the soil; the hand of violence had leveled the husbandman’s cottage; had buried his implements45 in the ruins; had sacrificed himself on its smoking ashes! There, the fatherless babe wept its unavailing wants, and at its side sat the distracted widow, wringing46 her hands in speechless misery47; for there lay her murdered husband-here, her perishing child!
36 This famous castle, of so many heroic generations, is still the princely residence of the head of the house of Percy.
With such sights the heart of Wallace had been pierced, when he passed through the lowland counties of his country; nay48, as he scoured49 the highland39 districts of the Grampians, even there had he met the foot of barbarian50 man, and cruel desolation. For thus it was that the Southron garrisons51 had provisional themselves; by robbing the poor of their bread; and, when they resisted, firing their dwellings52, and punishing the refractory54 with death.
But not so the generous enmity of Sir William Wallace. His commission was, not to destroy, but to save; and though he carried his victorious55 army to feed on the Southron plains, and sent the harvests of England to restore the wasted fields of Scotland, yet he did no more. No fire blasted his path; no innocent blood cried against him from the ground! When the impetuous zeal56 of his soldiers, flushed with victory, and in the heat of vengeance57, would have laid several hamlets in ashes, he seized the brand from the destroying party, and throwing it into an adjoining brook: “Show yourselves worthy58 the advantages you have gained,” cried he, “by the moderation with which you use them. Consider yourselves as the soldiers of the all powerful God, who alone has conducted you to victory; for, with a few, has he not enabled us to subdue21 a host? Behave as becomes your high destiny; and debase not yourselves by imitating the hirelings of ambition, who receive, as the wages of their valor59, the base privilege to ravage60 and to murder.
“I wish you to distinguish between a spirit of reprisal61, in what I do, and that of retaliation62, which actuates your present violence. What our enemies had robbed us of, as far as they can restore, I take again. Their bread shall feed our famishing country; their wool clothe its nakedness. But blood for blood, unless the murderer could be made to bleed, is a doctrine63 abhorrent64 to God and to humanity. What justice is there in destroying the habitations and lives of a set of harmless people, because the like cruelty has been committed by a lawless army of their countrymen, upon our unoffending brethren? Your hearts may make the answer. But if they are hardened against the pleadings of humanity, let prudence65 show your interest in leaving those men alive, and with their means unimpaired, who will produce other harvests, if need be, to fill our scantier66 granaries.
“Thus I reason with you, and I hope many are convinced; but they who are insensible to argument must fear authority, and I declare that every man who inflicts67 injury on the houses, or on the persons of the quietest peasantry of this land, shall be punished as a traitor68 to the state.”
According to the different dispositions69 of men, this reasoning prevailed. And from the end of September (the time when Wallace first entered Northumberland), to the month of November, when (having scoured the counties of England, even to the gates of York) he returned to Scotland, not an offense70 was committed which could occasion his merciful spirit regret. It was on All Saints Day when he again approached the Esk; and so great was his spoil that his return seemed more like some vast caravan71 moving the merchandise of half the world, than the march of an army which had so lately passed that river, a famishing, though valourous host.
The outposts of Carlaveroch soon informed Maxwell the lord regent was in sight. At the joyful72 intelligence a double smoke streamed from every watch-hill in Annandale; and Sir Eustace had hardly appeared on the Solway bank, to meet his triumphant73 chief, when the eager speed of the rough knight74 of Torthorald brought him there also. Wallace, as his proud charger plunged75 into the ford18, and the heavy wagons76 groaned77 after him, was welcomed to the shore by the shouts, not only of the soldiers which had followed Maxwell and Kirkpatrick, but by the people who came in crowds to hail their preserver. The squalid hue78 of famine had left every face, and each smiling countenance79, beaming with health, security, and gratitude80, told Wallace more emphatically than a thousand tongues, the wisdom of the means he had used to regenerate81 his country.
Maxwell had prepared the fortress82 of Lochmaben, once the residence of Bruce, for the reception of the regent. And thither83 Wallace was conducted, in prouder triumph than ever followed the chariot-wheels of Caesar. Blessings84 were the clarions that preceeded him; and hosts of people, whom he had saved when ready to perish, were voluntary actors in his pageant85.
When he arrived in sight of the two capacious lochs, which spread like lucid86 wings on each side of the castle, he turned to Graham. “What pity,” said he, “that the rightful owner of his truly regal dwelling53 does not act as becomes his blood! He might now be entering its gates as king, and Scotland find rest under its lawful87 monarch88.”
“But he prefers being a parasite89 in the court of a tyrant,” replied Sir John; “and from such a school, Scotland would reject its king.”
“But he has a son,” replied Wallace; “a brave and generous son! I am told by Lord Montgomery, who knew him in Guienne, that a nobler spirit does not exist. On his brows, my dear Graham, we must hope one day to see the crown.”
“Then only as your heir, my lord regent,” interrupted Maxwell; “for while you live, I can answer for it that no Scot will acknowledge any other ruler.”
“I will first eat my own sword,” cried Kirkpatrick.
At this moment the portcullis of the gate was raised, and Maxwell falling back to make way for the regent, Wallace had not time to answer a sentiment, now so familiar to him by hearing it from every grateful heart, that he hardly remarked its tendency, a fact the more easily to be believed, from the ambition of such reward never receiving acceptance in his well-principled mind.
Ever pressing toward establishing the happiness of his country, he hastened over the splendid repast that was prepared for him; and dispensing90 with the ceremonials with which the zeal of Maxwell sought to display his respect for the virtues and station of his commander, he retired91 with Graham to write dispatches, and to apportion92 shares of the spoil to the necessities of the provinces. In these duties, his wakeful eye was kept open the greatest part of the night. They for whom he labored93 slept securely! That thought was rest to him. But they closed not their eyes without praying for the sweet repose94 of their benefactor95. And he found it; not in sleep, but in that peace of heart which the world cannot give.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
reapers
|
|
| n.收割者，收获者( reaper的名词复数 )；收割机 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
sickle
|
|
| n.镰刀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
plunder
|
|
| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
disperse
|
|
| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
renovation
|
|
| n.革新，整修 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
dexterous
|
|
| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
bulwark
|
|
| n.堡垒，保障，防御 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
virtuous
|
|
| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
licentious
|
|
| adj.放纵的，淫乱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
modesty
|
|
| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
approbation
|
|
| n.称赞；认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
Ford
|
|
| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
humility
|
|
| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
subdue
|
|
| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
recollected
|
|
| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
contemned
|
|
| v.侮辱，蔑视( contemn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
25
pretensions
|
|
| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
brook
|
|
| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
elevation
|
|
| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
supremacy
|
|
| n.至上；至高权力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
deriving
|
|
| v.得到( derive的现在分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
dissent
|
|
| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
exultation
|
|
| n.狂喜，得意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
dispense
|
|
| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
liberated
|
|
| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
wardship
|
|
| 监护，保护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
replenish
|
|
| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
highland
|
|
| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
intimidating
|
|
| vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
foe
|
|
| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
trampled
|
|
| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
implements
|
|
| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
wringing
|
|
| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
scoured
|
|
| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
barbarian
|
|
| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
garrisons
|
|
| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
dwellings
|
|
| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
refractory
|
|
| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
victorious
|
|
| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
zeal
|
|
| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
vengeance
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
valor
|
|
| n.勇气，英勇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
ravage
|
|
| vt.使...荒废，破坏...；n.破坏，掠夺，荒废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
reprisal
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，报复性劫掠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
retaliation
|
|
| n.报复，反击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
doctrine
|
|
| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
abhorrent
|
|
| adj.可恶的，可恨的，讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
prudence
|
|
| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
scantier
|
|
| adj.（大小或数量）不足的，勉强够的( scanty的比较级 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
inflicts
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
dispositions
|
|
| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
offense
|
|
| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
caravan
|
|
| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
joyful
|
|
| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
triumphant
|
|
| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
knight
|
|
| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
wagons
|
|
| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
hue
|
|
| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
regenerate
|
|
| vt.使恢复，使新生；vi.恢复，再生；adj.恢复的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
fortress
|
|
| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
blessings
|
|
| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
pageant
|
|
| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
lucid
|
|
| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
lawful
|
|
| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
monarch
|
|
| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
parasite
|
|
| n.寄生虫；寄生菌；食客 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
dispensing
|
|
| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
apportion
|
|
| vt.（按比例或计划）分配 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
labored
|
|
| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
benefactor
|
|
| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |