On that spot of holy contest she preserved his life from an
assassin's poison, by daring the sacrifice of her own! But she lived
to bless him, and to be blessed herself! While Sir William Wallace,
also a Christian knight, anointed by virtue and his cause, hath only
done for his own country and its trampled land what King Edward then
did for Christendom in Palestine. And he was roused to the defense, by
a deed worse than ever infidel inflicted! The wife of his bosom--who
had all of angel about her, but that of her mortal body--was stabbed by
a murderous Southron governor in Scotland, because she would not betray
her husband to his desolating brand! I would relate this on my knees,
to your royal Edward, and call on the spirit of his sainted queen to
enforce my suit, by the memory of her love and her devotedness."
Helen, who had risen in her energy of speech and supplication, suddenly
paused, clasped her hands, and stood with upward eyes, looking as if
she beheld the beatified object of her invocation.
"Dearest sister of my soul!" cried Wallace, who had forborne to
interrupt her, taking her clasped hands in his, "thy knees shall never
bend to any less than to the blessed Lord of all mankind, for me! Did
He will my longer pilgrimage on this earth, of which my spirit is
already weary, it would not be in the power of any human tyrant to hold
me in these bonds.
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