“And now,” added he, “the embassador of England is at liberty to declare his master’s alternative.”
Le de Spencer again advanced; but the acclamations with which the followers of Wallace acknowledged the nobleness of his answer, excited such an opposite clamor on the side of the Soulis party, that Le de Spencer was obliged to mount a war carriage which stood near, and to vociferate long and loudly for silence before he could be heard. But the first words which caught the ears of his audience acted like a spell, and seemed to hold them in breathless attention.
“Since Sir William Wallace rejects the grace of his liege lord, Edward King of England offered to him this once, and never to be again repeated: thus saith the king in his clemency5 to the earls, barons6, knights7, and commonalty of Scotland! To every one of them, chief and vassal8, excepting the aforesaid incorrigible9 rebel, he, the royal Edward, grants an amnesty of all their past treasons against his sacred person and rule, provided that within twenty-four hours after they hear the words of this proclamation they acknowledge their disloyalty, with repentance10, and laying down their arms, swear eternal fealty11 to their only lawful12 ruler, Edward, the lord of the whole island from sea to sea.” Le de Spencer then proclaimed the King of England to be now on the borders with an army of a hundred thousand men, ready to march with fire and sword into the heart of the kingdom, and put to the rack all of every sex, age, and condition, who should venture to dispute his rights. “Yield,” added he, “while you may yet not only grasp the mercy extended to you, but the rewards and the honors he is ready to bestow14. Adhere to that unhappy man, and by to-morrow’s sunset your offended king will be on these hills, and mercy shall be no more! Death is the doom15 of Sir William Wallace, and a similar fate to every Scot who after this hour dares to give him food, shelter, or succor16. He is the prisoner of King Edward, and thus I demand him at your hands!”
Wallace spoke17 not, but with an unmoved countenance18 looked around upon the assembly. Edwin precipitated19 himself into his arms. Bothwell’s full soul then forced utterance20 from his laboring21 breast:
“Tell your sovereign,” cried he, “that he mistakes. We are the conquerors22 who ought to dictate23 terms of peace! Wallace is our invincible24 leader, our redeemer from slavery, the earthly hope in whom we trust, and it is not in the power of men nor devils to bribe25 us to betray our benefactor26. Away to your king and tell him that Andrew Murray, and every honest Scot, is ready to live or to die by the side of Sir William Wallace.”
“And by this good sword I swear the same!” cried Ruthven.
“And so do I!” rejoined Scrymgeour, “or may the standard of Scotland be my winding-sheet!”
“Or may the Clyde swallow us up, quick!” exclaimed Lockhart of Lee, shaking his mailed hand at the embassadors.
But not another chief spoke for Wallace. Even Sinclair was intimidated27, and like others who wished him well, he feared to utter his sentiments. But most, oh! shame to Scotland and to man, cast up their bonnets28 and cried aloud, “Long live Kind Edward, the only legitimate29 Lord of Scotland!” At this outcry, which was echoed even by some in whom he had confided30, while it pealed31 around him like a burst of thunder, Wallace threw out his arms, as if he would yet protect Scotland from herself. “Oh! desolate32 people,” exclaimed he, in a voice of piercing woe33, “too credulous34 of fair speeches, and not aware of the calamities35 which are coming upon you! Call to remembrance the miseries36 you have suffered, and start, before it be too late, from this last snare37 of your oppressor! Have I yet to tell ye that his embrace is death? Oh! look yet to Heaven and ye shall find a rescue!” Bruce seemed to rise at that moment in pale but gallant38 apparition39 before his soul.57
57 This speech is almost verbatim from one of our old historians.
“Seize that rebellious40 man,” cried Soulis to his marshals. “In the name of the King of England I command you.”
“And in the name of the King of kings I denounce death on him who attempts it!” exclaimed Bothwell, throwing himself between Wallace and the men; “put forth41 a hostile hand toward him, and this bugle42 shall call a thousand resolute43 swords to lay this platform in blood!”
Soulis, followed by his knights, pressed forward to execute his treason himself. Scrymgeour, Ruthven, Lockhart, and Ker rushed before their friend. Edwin, starting forward, drew his sword, and the clash of steel was heard. Bothwell and Soulis grappled together, the falchion of Ruthven gleamed amidst a hundred swords, and blood flowed around. The voice, the arm of Wallace, in vain sought to enforce peace; he was not heard, he was not felt in the dreadful warfare44; Ker fell with a gasp45 at his feet, and breathed no more. At such a sight the soul-struck Wallace wrung46 his hands, and exclaimed in bitter anguish47, “Oh, my country! was it for these horrors that my Marion died? that I became a homeless wretch48, and passed my days and nights in fields of carnage? Venerable Mar13, dear and valiant49 Graham! is this the consummation for which you fell?” At that moment Bothwell having disabled Soulis, would have blown his bugle to call up his men to a general conflict, but Wallace snatched the horn from his hand, and springing upon the very war-carriage which Le de Spencer had proclaimed Edward’s embassy, he drew forth his sword, and stretching the mighty50 arm that held it over the throng51, with more than mortal energy he exclaimed, “Peace! men of Scotland, and for the last time hear the voice of William Wallace.” A dead silence immediately ensued, and he proceeded: “If you have aught of nobleness within ye, if a delusion52 more fell than witchcraft53 have not blinded your senses, look beyond this field of horror, and behold54 your country free. Edward, in these apparent demands, sues for peace. Did we not drive his armies into the sea? And were we resolved, he never could cross our borders more. What is it then you do, when you again put your necks under his yoke55? Did he not seek to bribe me to betray you? And yet, when I refuse to purchase life and the world’s rewards in such baseness, you — you forget that you are free-born Scots, that you are the victors, and he the vanquished56; and you give, not sell, your birthright to the demands of a tyrant57! You yield yourselves to his extortions, his oppressions, his revenge! Think not he will spare the people he would have sold to purchase his bitterest enemy, or allow them to live unmanacled who possess the power of resistance. On the day in which you are in his hands you will feel that you have exchanged honor for disgrace, liberty for bondage58, life for death! Me you abhor59, and may God in your extremest hour forget that injustice60, and pardon the faithful blood you have shed this day! I draw this sword for you no more. But there yet lives a prince, a descendant of the royal heroes of Scotland, whom Providence61 may conduct to be your preserver. Reject the proposals of Edward, dare to defend the freedom you now possess, and that prince will soon appear to crown your patriotism62 with glory and happiness!”
“We acknowledge no prince but King Edward of England!” cried Buchan. “His countenance our glory, his presence our happiness!”
The exclamation63 was reiterated64 by a most disgraceful majority on the ground. Wallace was transfixed.
“Then,” cried Le de Spencer in the first pause of the tumult65, “to every man, woman, and child throughout the realm of Scotland, excepting Sir William Wallace, I proclaim, in the name of King Edward, pardon and peace.”
At these words several hundred Scottish chieftains dropped on their knees before Le de Spencer, and murmured their vows67 of fealty. Indignant, grieved, Wallace took his helmet from his head, and throwing his sword into the hand of Bothwell, “That weapon,” cried he, “which I wrested68 from this very King Edward, and with which I twice drove him from our borders, I give it to you. In your hands it may again serve Scotland, I relinquish69 a soldier’s name, on the spot where I humbled70 England three times in one day, where I now see my victorious71 country deliver herself, bound, into the grasp of the vanquished! I go without sword or buckler from this dishonored field, and what Scot, my public or private enemy, will dare to strike the unguarded head of William Wallace?” As he spoke, he threw his shield and helmet to the ground, and leaping from the war-carriage, took his course, with a fearless and dignified step, through the parting ranks of his enemies, who, awe-struck, or kept in check by a suspicion that others might not second the attack they would have made on him, durst not lift an arm or breathe a word as he passed.
Wallace had adopted this manner of leaving the ground, in hopes, if it were possible, to awaken72 the least spark of honor in the breasts of his persecutors, to prevent the bloodshed which must ensue between his friends and them, should they attempt to seize him. Edwin and Bothwell immediately followed him; but Lockhart and Scrymgeour remained to take charge of the remains73 of the faithful Ker, and to observe the tendency of the tumult which began to murmur66 amongst the lower orders of the bystanders.
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1
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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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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3
congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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5
clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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6
barons
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| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
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7
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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8
vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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9
incorrigible
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| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
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10
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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11
fealty
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| n.忠贞，忠节 | |
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12
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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13
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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14
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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15
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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16
succor
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| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
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17
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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18
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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19
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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20
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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21
laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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22
conquerors
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| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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23
dictate
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| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
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24
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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25
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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26
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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27
intimidated
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| v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的 | |
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28
bonnets
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| n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 )；（烟囱等的）覆盖物；（苏格兰男子的）无边呢帽；（女子戴的）任何一种帽子 | |
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29
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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30
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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31
pealed
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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33
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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34
credulous
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| adj.轻信的，易信的 | |
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35
calamities
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| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
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36
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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37
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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38
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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39
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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40
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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41
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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42
bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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43
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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44
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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45
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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46
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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47
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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48
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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49
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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50
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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51
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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52
delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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53
witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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54
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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55
yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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56
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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57
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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58
bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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59
abhor
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| v.憎恶；痛恨 | |
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60
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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61
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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62
patriotism
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| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
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63
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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64
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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66
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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67
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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68
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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69
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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70
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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71
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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72
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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73
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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