THE SCENE: Before he became a revolutionary, William Wallace was just another tough-as-nails Scotsman, as is demonstrated in the passage below, where he kills three thieving knights armed with little more than a fishing pole.
THE TEXT: Five of that trooping train in garments green,
Mounted on horseback, having Wallace seen;
To him advanc’d, and blustering language gave,
Then damn’d and swore, “Zounds Scot, thy fish we’ll have.”
Then at him runs, and out his sword does draw,
But Wallace poult-staff [fishing rod] kept the rogue in awe.
That trusty tree, as the poor scoundrel found,
Laid him and sword both quickly on the ground;
Wallace the sword caught fast unto his hand,
Which did the saucy fellow soon command:
Then a back strike, so cleverly he gave,
His neck in two, most clearly there he clave.
The other four alighting from their horse,
Do him attack with all their strength and force:
Yet tho’ they him surround on ev’ry side,
With hand blows he paid them back and side.
Upon the head, so fierce he struck at one,
The shearing sword cut thro’ his collar bone:
Another on the arm, that stood near by,
He struck, till hand and sword on the field did lie.
Three slew he there, two fled with all their might
Unto their horse, in a confounded fright:
Left all their fish, no longer durst remain,
And three fat English bucks upon the plain.
– The Life and Heroick Actions of the Renoun’d Sir William Wallace, Blind Harry, 15th Century AD See Less
