Sir John Segrave, who stood leaning on his sword with a disturbed countenance7, interrupted him. “The fate of this day cannot be attributed to any earthly name or hand. I believe my sovereign will allow the zeal8 with which I have served him; and yet thirty thousand as brave men as ever crossed the marshes9, have fallen before a handful of Scots. Three victories, won over Edward’s troops in one day, are not events of a commonplace nature. God alone has been our vanquisher11.”
“I acknowledge it,” cried Wallace; “and that He is on the side of justice, let the return of St. Matthias’ Day ever remind your countrymen!”
When Segrave gave the victory to the Lord of Hosts, he did it more from jealousy12 of what might be Edward’s opinion of his conduct, when compared with Neville’s, than from any intention to imply that the cause of Scotland was justly Heaven-defended. Such are the impious inconsistencies of unprincipled men! He frowned at the reply of Wallace, and turned gloomily away. Neville returned a respectful answer, and their conqueror13 soon after left them.
Edwin, with the Knight14 of the Green Plume15 (who had indeed approved his valor16 by many a brave deed performed at his commander’s side), awaited Wallace’s return from his prisoners’ tent. Ruthven came up with Wallace before he joined them, and told him that Bruce was safe under the care of the sage17 of Ercildown, and that the regent, who had been wounded in the beginning of the day, was also in Roslyn Castle. Wallace then called Edwin to him, giving him orders that all of the survivors18 who had suffered in these three desperate battles, should be collected from amongst the slain19, and carried into the neighboring castles of Hawthorndean, Brunston, and Dalkeith. The rest of the soldiers were commanded to take their refreshment20 still under arms. These duties performed, Wallace turned with the eagerness of friendship and loyalty21 to see how Bruce fared.
The moon shone brightly as his party rode forward. Wallace ascended22 the steep acclivity on which Roslyn Castle stands. In crossing the drawbridge which divides its rocky peninsula from the main land, he looked around and sighed. The scene reminded him of Ellerslie. A deep shadow lay on the woods beneath; and the pensile branches of the now leafless trees bending to meet the flood, seemed mourning the deaths which now polluted its stream. The water lay in profound repose23 at the base of these beautiful craigs, as if peace longed to become an inhabitant of so lovely a scene.
At the gate of the castle its aged24 master, the Lord Sinclair, met Wallace, to bid him welcome.
“Blessed be the saint of this day,” exclaimed he, “for thus bringing our best defender25, even as by a miracle, to snatch us as a brand from the fire! My gates, like my heart, open to receive the true Regent of Scotland.”
“I have only done a Scotchman’s duty, venerable Sinclair,” replied Wallace, “and must not arrogate26 a title which Scotland has transferred to other hands.”
“Not Scotland, but rebellion,” replied the old chief. “It was rebellion against the just gratitude27 of the nation that invested the Black Cummin with the regency; and only some similar infatuation has bestowed28 the same title on his brother. What did he not lose till you, Scotland’s true champion, have reappeared to rescue her again from bondage29?”
“The present Lord Badenoch is an honest and a brave man,” replied Wallace; “and as I obey the power which gave him his authority, I am ready, by fidelity30 to him, to serve Scotland with as vigorous a zeal as ever; so, noble Sinclair, when our rulers cast not trammels on our virtue31, we must obey them as the vicegerents of Heaven.”
Wallace then asked to be conducted to his wounded friend, Sir Thomas de Longueville, for Sinclair was ignorant of the real rank of his guest. Eager to oblige him, his noble host immediately led the way through a gallery, and opening the door of an apartment, discovered to him Bruce, lying on a couch; and a venerable figure, whose silver beard and sweeping32 robes, announced him to be the sage of Ercildown, was bathing the wounded chief’s temples with balsams. A young creature, beautiful as a ministering seraph33, also hung over the prostrate34 chief. She held a golden casket in her hand, out of which the sage drew the unctions he applied35.
At the sound of Wallace’s voice, who spoke36 in a suppressed tone to Ruthven while entering the chamber37, the wounded prince started on his arm to greet his friend; but he as instantly fell back. Wallace hastened forward. When Bruce recovered from the swoon into which the suddenness of his attempt to rise had thrown him, he felt a hand grasping his; he guessed to whom it belonged, and gently pressed it, smiled; a moment afterward38 he opened his eyes, and in a low voice, articulated from his wounded lips:
“My dear Wallace, you are victorious?”
“Completely so, my prince and king,” returned he, in the same tone; “all is now plain before you; speak but the word, and render Scotland happy!”
“Not yet; oh, not yet!” whispered he. “My more than brother, allow Bruce to be himself again before he is known in the land of his fathers! This cruel wound in my head must heal first, and then I may again share your dangers and your glory! Oh, Wallace, not a Southron must taint39 our native lands when my name is proclaimed in Scotland!”53
53 It is a curious circumstance, that when the body of Bruce was discovered a few years ago in the abbey of Dunfermline, his head retained all its teeth excepting two in front, evidently originally injured by a stroke of violence. Beside this, the evidence remained in the bone of the chest of the fact of its having been cut open after his death, for the heart to be taken out, according to his dying command, to be sent to the Holy Land.
Wallace saw that his prince was not in a state to bear argument, and as all had retired far from the couch when he approached it, in gratitude for this propriety40 (for it had left him and his friend free to converse41 unobserved), he turned toward the other inmates42 of the chamber. The sage advanced to him, and recognizing in Wallace’s now manly43 form the fine youth he had seen with Sir Ronald Crawford at the claiming of the crown, he saluted44 him with a paternal45 affection, tempering the sublime46 feelings with which even he approached the resistless champion of his country, and then beckoning47 the beautiful girl who had so compassionately48 hung over the couch of Bruce, she drew near the sage. He took her hand: “Sir William Wallace,” said he, “this sweet child is the youngest daughter of the brave Mar10, who died in the field of glory on the Carron. Her grandfather, the stalwart knight of Thirlestane, fell a few weeks ago, defending his castle, and I am almost all that is left to her, though she has, or had a sister, of whom we can learn no tidings.” Isabella, for it was she, covered her face to conceal49 her emotions.
“Dear lady,” said Wallace, “these venerable heroes were both known to and beloved by me. And now that Heaven has resumed them to itself, as the last act of friendship that I, perhaps, may be fated to pay to their offspring, I shall convey you to that sister whose matchless heart yearns50 to receive so dear a consolation51.”
To disengage Isabella’s thoughts from the afflicting52 remembrances, now bathing her fair cheeks with tears, Ercildown put a cup, of the mingled53 juice of herbs, into her hand, and commissioned her to give it to their invalid54. Wallace now learned that his friend’s wound was not only in the head, accompanied by a severe concussion55, but that it must be many days before he could remove him from his bed without danger. Anxious to release him from even the scarcely breathed whispers of his martial56 companions, who stood at some distance from his couch, Wallace immediately proposed leaving him to rest, and beckoning the chiefs, they followed him out of the apartment.
On the following morning he was aroused at daybreak by the abrupt57 entrance of Andrew Lord Bothwell into his tent. The well-known sounds of his voice made Wallace start from his pillow, and extend his arms to receive him.
“Murray! My brave, invaluable58 Murray!” cried he, “thou art welcome once more to the side of thy brother in arms. Thee and thine must ever be first in my heart!”
The young Lord Bothwell returned his warm embrace in silent eloquence59; but sitting down by Wallace’s couch, he grasped his hand, and pressing it to his breast, said, “I feel a happiness here which I have never known since the day of Falkirk. You quitted us, Wallace, and all good seemed gone with you, or buried in my father’s grave. But you return! You bring conquest and peace with you, you restore our Helen to her family, you bless us with yourself! And shall you not see again the gay Andrew Murray? It must be so, my friend, melancholy60 is not my climate, and I shall now live in your beams.”
“Dear Murray!” returned Wallace, “this generous enthusiasm can only be equaled by my joy in all that makes you and Scotland happy.”
He then proceeded to confide61 to him all that related to Bruce; and to describe the minutiae62 of those plans for his establishment, which had only been hinted in his letters from France. Bothwell entered with ardor63 into these designs, and regretted that the difficulty he found in persuading the veterans of Lanark to follow him to any field where they did not expect to find their beloved Wallace, had deprived him of the participation64 of the late danger and new glory of his friend.
“To compensate65 for that privation,” replied Wallace, “while our prince is disabled from pursuing victory in his own person, we must not allow our present advantages to lose their expected effects. You shall accompany me through the Lowlands, where we must recover the places which the ill-fortune of James Cummin has lost.”
Murray gladly embraced this opportunity of again sharing the field with Wallace, and the chiefs joined Bruce. Bothwell was presented to his young sovereign, and Douglas entering, the discourse66 turned on their different posts of duty. Wallace suggested to his royal friend, that as his restoration to health could not be so speedy as the cause required, it would be necessary not to await that event, but begin the recovery of the border counties before Edward could reinforce their garrisons67. Bruce sighed; but with a generous glow suffusing68 his pale face, said:
“Go, my friend! Bless Scotland which way you will, and let my ready acquiescence69 convince future ages, that I love my country beyond my own fame; for her sake I relinquish to you the whole glory of delivering her out of the hands of the tyrant70 who has so long usurped71 my rights. Men may say when they hear this, that I do not merit the crown you will put upon my head; that I have lain on a couch while you fought for me; but I will bear all obloquy72 rather than deserve its slightest charge, by withholding73 you an hour from the great work of Scotland’s peace.”
“It is not for the breath of men, my dear prince,” returned Wallace, “that either you or I act. It is sufficient for us that we effect their good, and whether the agent be one or the other, the end is the same. Our deeds and intentions have one great Judge, and He will award the only true glory.”
Such were the principles which filled the hearts of these two friends, worthy74 of each other, and alike honorable to the country that gave them birth. Gordon had won their confidence, and watched by his prince’s pillow.
Though the wounded John Cummin remained possessed75 of the title of regent, Wallace was virtually endowed with the authority. Whatever he suggested was acted upon as by a decree — all eyes looked to him as to the cynosure76 by which every order of men in Scotland were to shape their course. The jealousies77 which had driven him from his former supreme78 seat, seemed to have died with their prime instigator79, the late regent; and no chief of any consequence, excepting Soulis and Athol, who had retired in disgust to their castles, breathed a word of opposition80 to the general gratitude.
Wallace having dictated81 his terms and sent his prisoners to England, commenced the march that was to clear the Lowlands of the foe82. His own valiant83 band, headed by Scrymgeour and Lockhart of Lee,54 rushed toward his standard, with a zeal that rendered each individual a host in himself. The fame of his new victories, seconded by the enthusiasm of the people and the determination of the troops, soon made him master of all the lately lost fortresses84.
54 The crusading ancestor of this Lockhart was the bringer of the famous Lee penny from the Holy Land, and from his sprung the three brave branches of the name — Lockhart of Lee, Lockhart of Carnwarth, and Lockhart of Drydean.
Hardly four weeks were consumed in these conquests, and not a rood of land remained south of the Tay in the possession of England, excepting Berwick. Before that often-disputed stronghold, Wallace drew up his forces to commence a regular siege. The governor, intimidated85 by the powerful works which he saw the Scottish chief forming against the town, dispatched a messenger to Edward with the tidings; not only praying for succors86, but to inform him that if he continued to refuse the peace for which the Scots fought, he would find it necessary to begin the conquest of the kingdom anew.
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1
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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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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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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vanquisher
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| 征服者，胜利者 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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arrogate
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| v.冒称具有...权利，霸占 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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seraph
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| n.六翼天使 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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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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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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47
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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48
compassionately
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| adv.表示怜悯地，有同情心地 | |
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49
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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50
yearns
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的第三人称单数 ) | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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afflicting
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| 痛苦的 | |
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53
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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54
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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55
concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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56
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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58
invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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minutiae
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| n.微小的细节，细枝末节；（常复数）细节，小事( minutia的名词复数 ) | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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suffusing
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的现在分词 ) | |
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acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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usurped
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| 篡夺，霸占( usurp的过去式和过去分词 )； 盗用； 篡夺，篡权 | |
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obloquy
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| n.斥责，大骂 | |
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withholding
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| 扣缴税款 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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cynosure
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| n.焦点 | |
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jealousies
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| n.妒忌( jealousy的名词复数 )；妒羡 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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instigator
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| n.煽动者 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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84
fortresses
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| 堡垒，要塞( fortress的名词复数 ) | |
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85
intimidated
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| v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的 | |
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86
succors
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| n.救助，帮助（尤指需要时）( succor的名词复数 )v.给予帮助( succor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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