It were better for me to have died by his weapon at first, beside the broken bridge, than to have lived his slave, going in dread of him, with a slave's hatred in my heart.

So now I prayed for spirit enough to defend my honour and that of my country, which I had borne to hear reviled without striking a blow for it.

Never again might I dree this extreme shame and dishonour.

On this head I addressed myself, as was fitting, to the holy Apostle St.Andrew, our patron, to whom is especially dear the honour of Scotland.
Then, as if he and the other saints had listened to me, I heard sounds of horses' hoofs, coming up the road from Chinon way, and also voices.
These, like the others of the night before, came nearer, and I heard a woman's voice gaily singing.

And then awoke such joy in my heart as never was there before, and this was far the gladdest voice that ever yet I heard, for, behold, it was the speech of my own country, and the tune I knew and the words.
"O, we maun part this love, Willie, That has been lang between; There's a French lord coming over sea To wed me wi' a ring; There's a French lord coming o'er the sea To wed and take me hame!" "And who shall the French lord be, Elliot ?" came another voice, a man's this time, "though he need not cross the sea for you, the worse the luck.
Is it young Pothon de Xaintrailles?
Faith, he comes often enough to see how his new penoncel fares in my hands, and seems right curious in painting." It may be deemed strange that, even in this hour, I conceived in my heart a great mislike of this young French lord, how unjustly I soon well understood.
"O, nae French lord for me, father, O, nae French lord for me, But I'll ware my heart on a true-born Scot, And wi' him I'll cross the sea." "Oh, father, lo you, I can make as well as sing, for that is no word of the old ballant, but just came on to my tongue!" They were now right close to me, and, half in fear, half in hope, I began to stir and rustle in the grass, for of my stifled groaning had hitherto come no profit.