"
**Albin was the ancient name of Scotland.
Wallace did not hear this last sentiment of Murray's, as it was spoken
in a lowered voice in the ear of Kirkpatrick. "I perfectly agree with
you," was the knight's reply; "and in the true Roman style, may the
death of every Southron now in Scotland, and as many more as fate
chooses to yield us, be the preliminary games of his coronation!"
Wallace, who heard this, turned to Kirkpatrick with a mild rebuke in
his eye. "Balaam blessed, when he meant to curse!" said he; "but some
curse, when they mean to bless. Such prayers are blasphemy. For, can
we expect a blessing on our arms, when all our invocations are for
vengeance rather than victory?"
"Blood for blood is only justice!" returned Murray; "and how can you,
noble Wallace, as a Scot, and as a man, imply any mercy to the villains
who stab us to the heart?"
"I plead not for them," replied Wallace, "but for the poor wretches who
follow their leaders, by force, to the field of Scotland; I would not
inflict on them the cruelties we now resent. It is not to aggrieve,
but to redress, that we carry arms. If we make not this distinction,
we turn courage into a crime; and plant disgrace, instead of honor,
upon the warrior's brow.
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