"
Isabella, affrighted at the furies which raged in his eyes, but yet
more terrified at the perils attendant on his desperate resolution,
threw herself at his feet, and implored him to stay for her sake.
"No," cried Bruce, "not for thy life, Isabella, which is dearer to me
than my own! not to save this ungrateful country from the doom it
merits would I linger one moment from the side of him who has fought,
bled, and suffered for me and mine, who is now treated with ignominy,
and sentenced to die, for my delinquency! Had I consented to proclaim
myself on my landing, secure with Bruce the king envy would have feared
to strike; but I must first win a fame like his! And while I lay here,
they tore him from the vain and impotent Bruce! But, Almighty pardoner
of my sins!" cried he, with vehemence, "grant me strength to wrest him
from their grip, and I will go barefoot to Palestine, to utter all my
gratitude!"
Isabella sunk weeping into the arms of her aunt. And the venerable
Ercildown, wishing to curb an impetuosity which could only involve its
generous agent in a ruin deeper than that it sought to revenge, with
more zeal than judgment, urged to the prince the danger into which such
boundless resentment would precipitate his own person.
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