William Wallace, You've come to the right place then ...

Je suis tombée amoureuse de l'Ecosse non pas dès mon arrivée mais pendant que je survolais les Borders. J'aime son histoire, son patrimoine artistique, les accents mélancoliques  de la cornemuse, ses paysages somptueux, la solitude et la pluie... J'ai toujours eu un faible pour les auteurs écossais : Walter Scott bien sûr, mais aussi Robert Louis Stevenson, Arhtur Conan Doyle, James Matthew Barrie, Robert Burns.  J'ignorais tout du grand patriote William Wallace avant le film de Mel Gibson, Braveheart. Ce fut un vrai coup de foudre pour ce héros. Wallace est partout présent en Ecosse, à Edimbourg, évidemment, mais aussi à Stirling et vraiment un peu partout.

(à gauche, statue de William Wallace à l'entrée  du château d'Edimbourgh)





J'ai choisi ces quelques poésies qui lui rendent hommage, et que j'aime à relire régulièrement.

Life of Sir William Wallace

(Blind Harry)

Of our ancestors, brave true ancient Scots,
Whose glorious scutcheons knew no bars or blots;
But blood untainted circled ev'ry vein,
And ev'ry thing ignoble did disdain;
Of such illustrious patriots and bold,
Who stoutly did maintain our rights of old,
Who their malicious, invet'rate foes,
With sword in hand, did gallantly oppose:
And in their own, and nation's just defence,
Did briskly check the frequent insolence
Of haughty neighbours, enemies profest,
Picts, Danes, and Saxons, Scotland's very pest;
Of such, I say, I'll brag and vaunt so long
As I have power to use my pen or tongue;
And sound their praises in such modern strain
As suiteth best a Scot's poetic vein,
First, here I honour, in particular,
Sir William Wallace, much renown'd in war,
Whose bold progenitors have long time stood,
Of honourable and true Scottish blood.




Scots, Wha Hae  de Robert Burns   

Scots, Wha Hae.
Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed
Or to victorie!

Now's the day, and now's the hour:
See the front o' battle lour,
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and slaverie!

Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha will fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave? -
Let him turn, and flee!

Wha for Scotland's King and Law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand or freeman fa',
Let him follow me!

By oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain our dearest veins
But they shall be free!

Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Let us do or dee!
   
Traduction anglaise

Scots, Who Have.
Scots, who have with Wallace bled,
Scots, who Bruce has often led,
Welcome to your gory bed
Or to victory!

Now is the day, and now is the hour:
See the front of battle lour (impending),
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and slavery!

Who will be a traitor knave?
Wha will fill a coward's grave?
Who so base as be a slave? -
Let him turn, and flea!

Who for Scotland's King and Law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand or freeman fall,
Let him follow me!

By oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain our dearest veins
But they shall be free!

Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty is in every blow!
Let us do or die!