THE SCENE: If there’s even a grain of truth in the below passage from an epic poem, William Wallace was an absolute beast in battle.
THE TEXT: The hardy chief unsheath’d his conquering sword,
Besought the aid of heav’n, then gave the word.
Fiercely he met his bold attacking foes,
And quick as lightning deal his fatal blows.
With horrid din the temper’d edges clash,
On coats of steel, whence hasty sparkles flash;
But messy armour, and defensive shield,
Must to the nervous arm of Wallace yield.
Like a swoll’n current, rushing from a hill,
Which does with wreck the lower valleys fill:
Thus through the martial press, he made a lane;
Who durst oppose, no sooner did than slain:
Forty of which infatuately bold,
With gaping wounds, upon the earth lay cold.
Bathed in blood, and panting for revenge,
Hastily they meet again, and deaths exchange.
The youthful captain of the Scot in ire,
Us’d to the wars, exerts his glorious fire,
Runs through the crowd, mows them down like grass,
Whilst he invulnerable stands like brass.
– The Life and Heroick Actions of the Renoun’d Sir William Wallace, Blind Harry, 15th Century AD
