At last the hour arrived when a messenger, whom Lord Mar6 had sent out for the purpose, returned on full speed with information that the regent was passing the Carron. At these tidings the animated7 old earl called out his retinue8, mounted his coal-black steed, and ordered a sumptuous9 charger to be caparisoned with housings wrought10 in gold by the hands of Lady Mar and her ladies. The horse was intended to meet Wallace and to bring him into the city. Edwin led it forward. In the rear of the Earls Mar and Badenoch came all the chieftains of the country, in gallant11 array. Their ladies, on splendid palfreys, followed the superb car of the Countess of Mar; and, preceding the multitudes of Stirling, left the town a desert. Not a living being seemed now within its walls except the Southron prisoners, who had assembled on the top of the citadel12 to view the return of their conqueror13.
Helen remained in Snawdoun, believing that she was the only soul left in that vast palace. She sat musing14 on the extraordinary fate of Wallace, a few months ago a despised outlaw15, at this moment the idol16 of the nation! And then turned to herself — the wooed of many a gallant heart, and now devoted17 to one, whom, like the sun, she must ever contemplate18 with admiration19, while he should pass on above her sphere, unconscious of the devotion which filled her soul.
The distant murmur20 of the populace thronging21 out of the streets toward the Carse, gradually subsided22; and at last she was left in profound silence. “He must be near,” thought she, “he whose smile is more precious to me than the adulation of all the world besides, now smiles upon every one! All look upon him, all hear him, but I-and I-ah, Wallace, did Marion love thee dearer?” As her devoted heart demanded this question, her tender and delicate soul shrunk within herself, and deeply blushing, she hid her face in her hands. A pause of a few minutes-and a sound as if the skies were rent, tore the air; a noise, like the distant roar of the sea, succeeded; and soon after, the shouts of an approaching multitude shook the palace to its foundations. Helen started on her feet; the tumult23 of voices augmented24; the sound of coming squadrons thundered over the ground. At this instant every bell in the city began its peals25, and the door of Helen’s room suddenly opened — Lady Ruthven hurried in. “Helen,” cried she, “I would not disturb you before; but as you were to be absent, I would not make one in Lady Mar’s train; and I come to enjoy with you the return of our beloved regent!”
Helen did not speak, but her eloquent27 countenance28 amply told her aunt what were the emotions of her heart; and Lady Ruthven taking her hand, attempted to draw her toward an oriel window which opened to a view of the High Street; but Helen, shrinking from the movement, begged to be excused. “I hear enough,” said she, “my dear aunt; sights like these overcome me; let me remain where I am.”
Lady Ruthven was going to remonstrate29, when the loud huzzas of the people and soldiers, accompanied by acclamations of “Long live victorious Wallace, our prince and king!” struck Helen back into her seat, and Lady Ruthven darting30 toward the window, cried aloud, “He comes, Helen, he comes! His bonnet31 off his noble brow. Oh! how princely does he look! — and now he bows. Ah, they shower flowers upon him from the houses on each side of the street; how sweetly he smiles and bows to the ladies as they lean from their windows! Come, Helen, come, if you would see the perfection of majesty32 and modesty33 united in one!”
Helen did not move; but Lady Ruthven stretching out her arm, in a moment had drawn34 her within view of Wallace. She saw him attended as a conqueror and a king; but with the eyes of a benefactor and a brother he looked on all around. The very memory of war seemed to vanish before his presence, for all there was love and gentleness. Helen drew a quick sigh, and closing her eyes, dropped against the arras. She now heard the buzz of many voices, the rolling peal26 of acclamations, but she distinguished35 nothing; her senses were in tumults36; and had not Lady Ruthven seen her disorder37, she would have fallen motionless to the floor. The good matron was not so forgetful of the feelings of a virtuous38 youthful heart, not to have discovered something of what was passing in that of her niece. From the moment in which she had suspected that Wallace had made a serious impression there, she dropped all trifling39 with his name. And now that she saw the distressing40 effects of that impression, with revulsed feelings she took the fainting Helen in her arms, and laying her on a couch, by the aid of volatiles restored her to recollection. Seeing she recovered, she made no observation on this emotion, and Helen leaned her head and wept upon the bosom41 of her aunt. Lady Ruthven’s tears silently mingled42 with hers; but she said within herself, “Wallace cannot be always insensible to so much excellence43!”
As the acclaiming45 populace passed the palace on their way to the citadel, whither they were escorting their regent, Helen remained quiet in her leaning position; but when the noise died away into hoarse46 murmurs47, she raised her head, and glancing on the tear-bathed face of her affectionate aunt, said, with a forced smile, “My more than mother, fear me not! I am grateful to Sir William Wallace; I venerate48 him as the Southrons do their St. George, but I need not your tender pity.” As she spoke49, her beautiful lip quivered, but her voice was steady.
“My sweetest Helen,” replied Lady Ruthven, “how can I pity her for whom I hope everything.”
“Hope nothing for me,” returned Helen, understanding by her looks what her tongue had left unsaid, “but to see me a vestal here, and a saint in heaven.”
“What can my Helen mean?” replied Lady Ruthven; “who would talk of being a vestal with such a heart in view as that of the Regent of Scotland? and that it will be yours, does not his eloquent gratitude50 declare?”
“No, my aunt,” answered Helen, casting down her eyes; “gratitude is eloquent where love would be silent. I am not so sacrilegious as to wish that Sir William Wallace should transfer that heart to me, which the blood of Marion forever purchased. No; should these people compel him to be their king, I will retire to some monastery51, and forever devote myself to God and to prayers for my country.”
The holy composure which spread over the countenance and figure of Helen, as she uttered this, seemed to extend itself to the before eager mind of Lady Ruthven; she pressed her tenderly in her arms, and kissing her: “Gentlest of human beings!” cried she, “whatever be thy lot, it must be happy.”
“Whatever it be,” answered Helen, “I know that there is an Almighty52 reason for it; I shall understand it in the world to come, and I cheerfully acquiesce53 in this.”
“Oh! that the ears of Wallace could hear thee!” cried Lady Ruthven.
“They will, some time, my gracious aunt,” answered she, with an angelic smile.
“When? where, dearest?” asked Lady Ruthven, hoping that she began to have fairer anticipations54 for herself. Helen answered not; but pointing to the sky, rose from her seat with an air as if she were really going to ascend55 to those regions which seemed best fitted to receive her pure spirit. Lady Ruthven gazed on her in speechless admiration; and without a word, or an impeding56 motion, felt Helen softly kiss her hand, and with another seraphic smile, glide57 gently from her into her closet, and close the door.
Far different were the emotions which agitated58 the bosoms59 of every person present at the entry of Sir William Wallace. All but himself regarded it as the triumph of the King of Scotland. And while some of the nobles exulted60 in their future monarch61, the major part felt the demon62 of envy so possess their souls, that they who, before his arrival, were ready to worship his name, now looked on the empire to which he seemed borne on the hearts of the people, with a rancorous jealousy63, which from that moment vowed64 his humiliation65, or the fall of Scotland. The very tongues which in general acclaim44, called loudest, “Long live our king!” belonged to those who, in the secret recesses66 of their souls, swore to work his ruin, and to make these full-blown honors the means of his destruction. He had in vain tried to check what his moderate desires deemed the extravagant67 gratitude of the people; but finding his efforts only excited still louder demonstrations68 of their love, and knowing himself immovable in his resolution to remain a subject of the crown, he rode on composedly toward the citadel.
Those ladies who had not retired69 from the cavalcade70 to hail their regent a second time from their windows, preceded him in Lady Mar’s train to the hall, where she had caused a sumptuous feast to be spread to greet his arrival. Two seats were placed under a canopy71 of cloth of gold, at the head of the board. The countess stood there in all the splendor72 of her ideal rank, and would have seated Wallace in the royal chair on her right hand, but he drew back.
“I am only a guest in this citadel,” returned he; “and it would ill become me to take the place of the master of the banquet.”
As he spoke, he looked on Lord Mar, who, understanding the language of his eyes, which never said the thing he would not, without a word took the kingly seat, and so disappointed the countess. By this refusal she still found herself as no more than the Governor of Stirling’s wife, when she had hoped a compliance73 with her cunning arrangement would have hinted to all that she was to be the future queen of their acknowledged sovereign. They knew Wallace, saw his unshaken resolution in this apparently74 slight action; but others who read his design in their own ambition, translated it differently, and deemed it only an artful rejection75 of the appendages76 of royalty77, to excite the impatience78 of the people to crown him in reality.
As the ladies took their seats at the board, Edwin, who stood by the chair of his beloved lord, whispered:
“Our Helen is not here.”
Lady Mar overheard the name of Helen, but she could not distinguish Wallace’s reply; and fearing that some second assignation of more happy termination than that of the chapel79 might be designed, she determined80 that if Edwin were to be the bearer of a secret correspondence between the man she loved and the daughter she hated, to deprive them speedily of so ready an assistant.
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1
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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11
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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14
musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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15
outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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16
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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17
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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18
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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19
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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20
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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21
thronging
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的现在分词 ) | |
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22
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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23
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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24
Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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25
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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27
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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remonstrate
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| v.抗议，规劝 | |
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30
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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31
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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32
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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33
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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34
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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35
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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36
tumults
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| 吵闹( tumult的名词复数 )； 喧哗； 激动的吵闹声； 心烦意乱 | |
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37
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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38
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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40
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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41
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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42
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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43
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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44
acclaim
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| v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞 | |
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45
acclaiming
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| 向…欢呼( acclaim的现在分词 )； 向…喝彩； 称赞…； 欢呼或拥戴（某人）为… | |
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46
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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47
murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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48
venerate
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| v.尊敬，崇敬，崇拜 | |
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49
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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50
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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51
monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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52
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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53
acquiesce
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| vi.默许，顺从，同意 | |
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54
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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55
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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56
impeding
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| a.(尤指坏事)即将发生的，临近的 | |
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57
glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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58
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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59
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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60
exulted
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| 狂喜，欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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62
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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63
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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64
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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66
recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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67
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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68
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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70
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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72
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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73
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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74
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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75
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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76
appendages
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| n.附属物( appendage的名词复数 )；依附的人；附属器官；附属肢体（如臂、腿、尾等） | |
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77
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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78
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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79
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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80
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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