He was humbled by the man
he hated; and while a sense of the disgrace he had incurred tore his
proud soul, he had not dignity enough to acknowledge the generosity of
his enemy in again giving him a life which his treachery had so often
forfeited. Having taken the dagger, he wreaked the exasperated
vengeance of his malice upon the senseless steel, and breaking it
asunder, threw the pieces into the air; while turning from Wallace with
an affected disdain, he exclaimed to the shivered weapon, "You shall
not betray me again!"
"Nor you betray our honors, Lord de Valence," exclaimed Earl de
Warenne; "and therefore, though the nobleness of the William Wallace
leaves you at large after this outrage on his person, we will assent
our innocence of connivance with the deed; and, as lord warden of this
realm, I order you under arrest till we pass the Scottish lines."
"'Tis well," cried Hilton, "that such is your determination, my lord,
else no honest man could have continued in the same company with one
who has so tarnished the English name."
"No!" cried his brother baron, venerable Blenkinsopp, reining up his
steed; "I would forfeit house and lands first.
Pages:
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617