A fearful pause reigned
throughout the Southron ranks. They did not know but that the enraged
Scots would now fall on them, and, in spite of their regent,
exterminate them on the spot. The troops were running forward when
Wallace's messengers arrived and checked them, and himself, calling to
Edwin, stopped his further chastisement of the recovering earl.
"Edwin, you have done wrong," cried he; "give me that weapon which you
have sullied by raising it against a prisoner totally in our power."
With a vivid blush the noble boy resigned the weapon to his general;
yet, with an unappeased glance on the prostrate De Valence, he
exclaimed, "But have you not granted life twice to this prisoner? and
has he not, in return, raised his hand against his life and Lady Helen?
You pardon him again! and in the moment of your clemency, he insults
the Lord Regent of Scotland in the face of both nations! I could not
hear this and live without making him feel that you have those about
you who will not forgive such crimes."
"Edwin," returned Wallace, "had not the lord regent power to punish?
And if he see right to hold his hand, those who strike for him invade
his dignity.
Pages:
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619