Page:Life of the celebrated Scottish patriot Sir Wm. Wallace.pdf/22

22 had an opportunity of recording his last sayings; and it could scareelyscarcely [sic] be expecctedexpected [sic] that his enemies would do justice to his memory, nor to his conduct, when enduring those torments which proclaim the cruel and ungenerous spirit of Edward to succeeding ages. Few princes have had such a favourable opportunity of immortalizing their fame, by treating kindly, or liberating, an illustrious captive; but although Edward secured the death of Wallace, Scotland was not deserted.

Tyranny usually defeats its purposes. The barbarous manner in which Wallace was treated, and the fixing of his divided body to the city gates of the country for which he had done so much, roused every spark of Scottish valour and independence; exasperated the whole nation against Edward, animated them to rally ronndround [sic] the standard of Robert BrueeBruce [sic]; to avenge the death of Wallace; shake off the tyrant's yoke, and to place the rightful sovereign on the Scottish throne. (See Life of Robert Bruce, No. 37 of the series.)

The writer of a more extended history says―"It may be attributed to the partiality of a Scottish pen, but the candid reader is left to judge, if any of the heroes of antiquity can be compared to WalaccWallace [sic]. Compare their beginning, progress, and achievements, with those of our Scottish warrior: Alexander governed the warlike kingdom of MaeedonMacedon [sic]; soon had all Greece under his command: and when he overcame the Persians, he only vanquished women and eunnchseunuchs [sic]. Cæsar had to encounter Romans; but he had Romans to lead against them, and a veteran and well-disciplined army, against an indolent and jarring senate, a voluptuous and effeminate youth, who, instead of being inured to the sword, durst not look at