But day succeeded day, and notwithstanding Bothweil’s embassy, no accounts arrived. The countess had left an emissary in the Scottish camp, who did as she had done before — intercepted5 all messengers from Perthshire.
Indeed, from the first of her flight to Wallace to the hour of her qoitting him, she had never halted in her purpose from any regard to honor. Previous to her stealing from Huntingtower, she had bribed6 the senesehal to say that on the morning of her disappearance7, he had met a knight, near Saint Concal’s Well, coming to the castle; who told him that the Countess of Mar was gone on a secret mission to Norway, and she therefore had commanded him, by that knight, to enjoin8 her sister-in-law, for the sake of the cause most dear to them all, not to acquaint Lord Ruthven, or any of their friends, with her departure, till she should return with happy news for Scotland. The man added, that after declaring this, the knight rode hastily away. But this precaution, which did indeed impose on the innocent credulty of her husband’s sister and his daughter, failed to satisfy the countess herself.
Fearful that Helen might communicate her flight to Wallace, and so excite his suspicion of her not being far from him, from the moment of her joining him at Linlithgow she intercepted every letter from Huntingtower: and when Bruce went to that castle, she continued the practice with double vigilance, being jealous of what might be said of Helen by this Sir Thomas de Longueville, in whom the master of her fate seemed so unreservedly to confide9. To this end, even after she left the camp, all packets from Perthshire were conveyed to her by the spy she had stationed near Wallace; while all which were sent from him to Huntingtower were stopped by the treacherous10 seneschal, and thrown into the flames. No letters, however, ever came from Helen; a few bore Lord Ruthven’s superscription, and all the rest were addressed by Sir Thomas de Longueville to Wallace. She broke the seals of this correspondence, but she looked in vain on their contents. Bruce and his friend, as well as Ruthven, wrote in a cipher11, and only one passage, which the former had by chance written in the common character, could she ever make out. It ran thus:
“I have just returned to Huntingtower, after the capture of Kinfouns. Lady Helen sits by me on one side, Isabella on the other. Isabella smiles on me, like the spirit of happiness. Helen’s look is not less gracious, for I tell her I am writing to Sir William Wallace. She smiles, hut it is with such a smile as that with which a saint would relinquish12 to Heaven the dearest object of its love. ‘Helen,’ said I, ‘what shall I say from you to our friend?’ ‘That I pray for him.’ ‘That you think of him?’ ‘That I pray for him,’ repeated she, more emphatically; ‘that is the way I always think of my preserver.’ Her manner checked me, my dear Wallace, but I would give worlds that you could bring your heart to make this sweet vestal smile as I do her sister!”
Lady Mar crushed the registered wish in her hand; and though she was never able to decipher a word or more of Bruce’s numerous letters (many of which, could she have read them, contained complaints of that silence she had so cruelly occasioned), she took and destroyed them all.
She had ever shunned13 the penetrating14 eyes of young Lord Bothwell, and to have him on the spot when she should discover herself to Wallace, she thought would only invite discomfiture15. Affecting to share the general anxiety respecting the failure of communications from the north, she it was who suggested the propriety16 of sending some one of peculiar17 trust to make inquiries18. By covert19 insinuations, she easily induced Ker to propose Bothwell to Wallace, and, on the very night that her machinations had prevailed, to dispatch him on this embassy; impatient, yet doubting and agitated20, she went to declare herself to the man for whom she had thus sunk herself in shame and falsehood.
Though Wallace heard the denunciation with which she left his presence, yet he did not conceive it was more than the evanescent rage of disappointed passion; and, anticipating persecutions rather from her love than her revenge, he was relieved, and not alarmed, by the intelligence that the Knight of the Green Plume had really taken his departure. More delicate of Lady Mar’s honor than she was of her own, when he met Edwin at the works, he silently acquiesced21 in his belief also, that their late companion was gone with dispatches to the regent, who was now removed to Stirling.
After frequent sallies from the garrison22, in which the Southrons were always beaten back with great loss, the lines of circumvallation were at last finished, and Wallace hourly anticipated the surrender of the enemy. Reduced for want of provisions, and seeing all succors23 cut off by the seizure24 of the fleet, the inhabitants, detesting25 their new rulers, collected in bands; and lying in wait for the soldiers of the garrison, murdered them secretly, and in great numbers. But here the evil did not end; for by the punishments which the governor thought proper to inflict26 by lots on the guilty, or the guiltless (he not being able to discover who were actually the assassins), the distress27 of the town was augmented28 to a horrible degree. Such a state of things could not be long maintained. Aware that should he continue in the fortress29, his troops must assuredly perish, either by insurrection within, or from the enemy without, the Southron commander determined30 no longer to wait the appearance of a relief which might never arrive; and to stop the internal confusion, be sent a flag of truce31 to Wallace, accepting and signing his offered terms of capitulation. By this deed, he engaged to open the gates at sunset, but begged the interval32 between noon and that hour, to allow him time to settle the animosity between his men and the people before he should surrender his brave followers33 entirely34 into the hands of the Scots.
Having dispatched his assent35 to this request of the governor’s, Wallace retired36 to his own tent. That he had effected his purpose without the carnage which must have ensued had he again stormed the place, gratified his humanity; and congratulating himself on such a termination of the siege, he turned with more than usual cheerfulness toward a herald37, who brought him a packet from the north. The man withdrew, and Wallace broke the seal; but what was his astonishment38 to find it a citation39 for himself to repair immediately to Stirling, “to answer,” it said,
“certain charges brought against him, by an authority too illustrious to be set aside without examination!” He had hardly read this extraordinary mandate40 when Sir Simon Fraser, his second in command, entered, and~, with consternation41 in his looks, put an open letter into his hand. It ran as follows:
“Sir Simon Fraser — Allegations of treason against the liberties of Scotland having been preferred against Sir William Wallace, until he clears himself of these charges to the thanes of Scotland here assembled, you, Sir Simon Fraser, are directed to assume, in his stead, the command of the forces which form the blockade of Berwick, and, as the first act of your duty, you are ordered to send the accused toward Stirling under a strong guard, within an hour after you receive this dispatch.
“(Signed)
John Cummin,
“Earl of Badenoch, Lord Regent of Scotland.
“Stirling Castle.”
Wallace returned the letter to Fraser with an undisturbed countenance43. “I have received a similar order from the regent,” said he; “and though I cannot guess the source whence these accusations44 spring, I fear not to meet them, and shall require no guard to speed me forward to the scene of my defense46. I am ready to go, my friend, and happy to resign the brave garrison, that has just surrendered, to your honor and lenity.” Fraser answered that he should be emulous to follow his example in all things, and to abide47 by his agreements with the Southron governor. He then retired to prepare the army for the departure of their commander, and, much against his feelings, to call out the escort that was to attend the calumniated48 chief Stirling.
When the marshal of the army read to the officers and men the orders of the regent, a speechless consternation seized on one part of the troops, and as violent an indignation agitated the other to tumult49. The veterans, who had followed the chief of Ellerslie from the first hour of his appearing as a patriot50 in arms, could not brook51 this aspersion52 upon their leader’s honor; and had it not been for the vehement53 exhortations54 of the no less incensed55, though more moderate, Scrymgeour and Lockhart, they would have risen in instant revolt. Though persuaded to sheathe56 their half-drawn swords, they could not be withheld57 from immediately quitting the field, and marching directly to Wallace’s tent. He was conversing58 with Edwin when they arrived; and, in some measure, he had broken the shock to him of so dishonoring a charge on his friend, by his being the first to communicate it. While Edwin strove to guess who could be the inventor of so dire42 a falsehood against the truest of Scots, he awakened59 an alarm in Wallace for Bruce, which could not be excited for himself, by suggesting that perhaps some intimation had been given to the most ambitious of the thanes, respecting the arrival of their rightful prince. “And yet,” returned Wallace, “I cannot altogether suppose that; for even their desires of self-aggrandizement could not torture my share in Bruce’s restoration to his country into anything like treason our friend’s rights are too undisputed for that; and all I should dread60, by a premature61 discovery of his being in Scotland, would be secret machinations against his life. There are men in this land who might attempt it; and it is our duty, my dear Edwin, to suffer death upon the rack, rather than betray our knowledge of him. “But,” added he, with a smile, “we need not disturb ourselves with such thoughts — the regent is in our prince’s confidence; and did this accusation45 relate to him, he would not, on such a plea, have arraigned62 me as a traitor63.”
Edwin again revolved64 in his mind the nature of the charge and who the villain65 could be who had made it; and, at last suddenly recollecting66 the Knight of the Green Plume, he asked if it were not possible that he, a stranger who had so sedulously67 kept himself from being known, might be the traitor?
“I must confess to you,” continued Edwin, “that this knight, who ever appeared to dislike your closest friends, seems to me the most probable instigator68 of this mischief69; and is, perhaps, the author of the strange failure of communication between you and Bruce! Accounts have not arrived, ever since Bothwell went; and that is more than natural. Though brave in his deeds, this unknown way prove only the more subtle spy and agent of our enemies.”
Wallace changed color at these suggestions, but merely replied:
“A few hours will decide your suspicion, for I shall lose no time in confronting my accuser.”
“I go with you,” said Edwin; “never while I live, will I consent to lose sight of you again!”
It was at this moment that the tumultuous approach of the Lanark veterans was heard from without. The whole band rushed into the tent; and Stephen Ireland, who was foremost, raising his voice above the rest, exclaimed:
“They are the traitors70, my lord, who accuse you! It is determined, by our corrupted71 thanes, that Scotland shall be sacrificed, and you are to be made the first victim. Think they, then, that we will obey such parricides? Lead us on, thou only worthy72 of the name of regent, and we will hurl73 these usurpers from their thrones.”
This demand was reiterated74 by every man present — was echoed by hundreds who surrounded the tent. The Bothwell men and Ramsay’s followers joined the men of Lanark, and the mutiny against the orders of the regent became general. Wallace walked out into the open field, and mounting his horse, rode forth75 amongst them. At sight of him the air resounded76 with acclamations, unceasingly proclaiming him their only leader, but, stretching out his arm to them, in token of silence, they became profoundly still.
“My friends and brother soldiers,” cried he. “as you value the honor of William Wallace, as you have hitherto done this moment yield him implicit77 obedience78.”
“Forever!” shouted the Bothwel1 men.
“We never will obey any other!” rejoined his faithful Lanark followers, and, with an increased uproar79, they demanded to be led to Stirling.
His extended hand again stilled the storm, and he resumed:
“You shall go with me to Stirling, but as my friends only: never as the enemies of the Regent of Scotland. I am charged with treason; it is his duty to try me by the laws of my country; it is mine to submit to the inquisition. I fear it not, and I invite you to accompany me; not to brand me with infamy80, by passing between my now darkened honor and the light of justice — not to avenge81 an iniquitous82 sentence denounced on a guiltless man — but to witness my acquittal; and in that my triumph over them, who, through my breast would strike at what is greater than I.”
At this mild persuasive83 every upraised sword dropped before him, and Wallace, turning his horse into the path which led toward Stirling, his men, with a silent determination to share the fate of their master, fell into regular marching order, and followed him. Edwin rode by his side, equally wondering at the unaffected composure with which he sustained such a weight of insult, and at the men who could be so unjust as to lay it upon him.
At the west of the camp, the detachment appointed to guard Wallace in his arrest came up with him. It was with difficulty that Fraser could find an officer who would command it; and he who did at last consent, appeared before his prisoner with downcast eyes; seeming rather the culprit than the guard. Wallace, observing his confusion, said a few gracious words to him; and the officer, more overcome by this than be could have been with reproaches, burst into tears and retired into the rear of his men.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
knight
|
|
| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
plume
|
|
| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sterling
|
|
| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
mar
|
|
| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
intercepted
|
|
| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
bribed
|
|
| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
disappearance
|
|
| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
enjoin
|
|
| v.命令；吩咐；禁止 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
confide
|
|
| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
treacherous
|
|
| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
cipher
|
|
| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
relinquish
|
|
| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
shunned
|
|
| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
penetrating
|
|
| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
discomfiture
|
|
| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
propriety
|
|
| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
inquiries
|
|
| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
covert
|
|
| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
acquiesced
|
|
| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
garrison
|
|
| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
succors
|
|
| 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 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
24
seizure
|
|
| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
detesting
|
|
| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
inflict
|
|
| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
Augmented
|
|
| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
fortress
|
|
| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
truce
|
|
| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
interval
|
|
| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
assent
|
|
| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
herald
|
|
| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
citation
|
|
| n.引用，引证，引用文；传票 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
mandate
|
|
| n.托管地；命令，指示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
consternation
|
|
| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
dire
|
|
| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
accusations
|
|
| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
accusation
|
|
| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
defense
|
|
| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
abide
|
|
| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
calumniated
|
|
| v.诽谤，中伤( calumniate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
tumult
|
|
| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
patriot
|
|
| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
brook
|
|
| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
aspersion
|
|
| n.诽谤，中伤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
vehement
|
|
| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
exhortations
|
|
| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
incensed
|
|
| 盛怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
sheathe
|
|
| v.（将刀剑）插入鞘；包，覆盖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
withheld
|
|
| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
conversing
|
|
| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
premature
|
|
| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
arraigned
|
|
| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
revolved
|
|
| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
recollecting
|
|
| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
sedulously
|
|
| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
instigator
|
|
| n.煽动者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
traitors
|
|
| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
corrupted
|
|
| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
hurl
|
|
| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
reiterated
|
|
| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
resounded
|
|
| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
implicit
|
|
| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
uproar
|
|
| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
infamy
|
|
| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
avenge
|
|
| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
iniquitous
|
|
| adj.不公正的；邪恶的；高得出奇的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
persuasive
|
|
| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |