"Balaam blessed, when he meant to curse!" said he; "but some curse, when they mean to bless.

Such prayers are blasphemy.

For, can we expect a blessing on our arms, when all our invocations are for vengeance rather than victory ?" "Blood for blood is only justice!" returned Murray; "and how can you, noble Wallace, as a Scot, and as a man, imply any mercy to the villains who stab us to the heart ?" "I plead not for them," replied Wallace, "but for the poor wretches who follow their leaders, by force, to the field of Scotland; I would not inflict on them the cruelties we now resent.

It is not to aggrieve, but to redress, that we carry arms.

If we make not this distinction, we turn courage into a crime; and plant disgrace, instead of honor, upon the warrior's brow." "I do not understand commiserating the wolves who have so long made havoc in our country," cried Kirkpatrick; "methinks such maidenly mercy is rather or of place." Wallace turned to him with a smile: "I will answer you, my valiant friend, by adopting your own figure.