While he
was yet there, an invitation arrived from the Countess of Mar,
requesting his presence at an entertainment which, by her husband's
consent, she meant to give that night at Snawdoun, to the Southron
lords before their departure for England.
"I fear you dare not expend your strength on this party?" inquired
Wallace, turning to Montgomery.
"Certainly not," returned he; "but I shall see you amidst your noble
friends, at some future period. When the peace your arms must win, is
established between the two nations, I shall then revisit Scotland; and
openly declare my friendship for Sir William Wallace."
"As these are your sentiments," replied Wallace, "I shall hope that you
will unite your influence with that of the brave Earl of Gloucester, to
persuade your king to stop this bloodshed; for it is no vain boast to
declare, that he may bury Scotland beneath her slaughtered sons, but
they never will again consent to acknowledge any right in an usurper."
"Sanguinary have been the instruments of my sovereign's rule in
Scotland," replied Montgomery; "but such cruelty is foreign to his
gallant heart; and without offending that high-souled patriotism, which
would make me revere its possessor, were he the lowliest man in your
legions, allow me, noblest of Scots, to plead one word in vindication
of him to whom my allegiance is pledged.
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