I answer
you with sincerity, because I would spare you much future pain, and Sir
William Wallace a task that would pierce him to the soul. You confess
that he already knows you love him-that he has received such
demonstrations with coldness. Recollect what it is you love him for,
and then judge if he could do otherwise. Could he approve affections
which a wife transferred to him from her husband, and that husband his
friend?"
"Ah! but he is now dead!" interrupted she; "that obstacle is removed."
"But the other, which you raised yourself!" replied Edwin; "while a
wife, you showed to Sir William Wallace that you could not only indulge
yourself in wishes hostile to your nuptial faith, but divulge them to
him. Ah! my aunt, what could you look for as the consequence of this?
My uncle yet lived when you did this! And that act, were you youthful
as Hebe, and more tender than ever was fabled the queen of love, I am
sure, the virtue of Wallace would never pardon. He never could pledge
his faith to one whose passions had so far silenced her sense of duty;
and did he even love you, he would not, for the empire of the world,
repose his honor in such keeping.
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