88 Wallace'* afe. 



it seemed as if all hope as respects the future weal of 

 Scotland was about to be extinguished; yet, if the 

 noble youth to whom he spoke would but arouse him- 

 self, he might oppose successfully the power and abilities 

 of Edward. Wallace urged him further to consider, that 

 the Most High rarely offered a more glorious prize 

 before the view either of virtue or ambition, than 

 the acquisition of a crown, with the defence of national 

 independence. That for his own part, while life remained, 

 he should regard neither his own ease, nor yet the 

 hardships to which he was exposed; that Scotland 

 was dearer to him than the closest ties that entwine 

 themselves around a brave man's heart, and that he 

 was determined, as far as in him lay, to prolong, not 

 her misery, but her independence, and to save her if pos- 

 sible from receiving the chains of a haughty victor. 

 Bruce felt that what he said was true. From that moment 

 he repented of his engagement with Edward, and opening 

 his eyes to the honourable path, which the noble-minded 

 Wallace had pointed out to him, he secretly determined 

 to embrace the cause, however desperate, of his oppressed 

 country. 



Armies met again ; other battles followed, and for two 

 miserable years did the Scots and English fight hand to 

 hand for the liberty or subjugation of Scotland. Edward 

 at length triumphed, and Wallace became his prisoner. 

 The boy of Ellerslie, he, who in after life thought only to 

 preserve his country from spoliation ; who was determined, 



