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indignation； horror； and despair； which； tradition says； was heard to a
preternatural distance； and resembled the cry of a dying lion more than a
human sound。
His friends received him in their arms as he sank utterly exhausted by
the effort； and bore him back to his castle in mute sorrow； while his
daughter at once wept for her brother； and endeavoured to mitigate and
soothe the despair of her father。 But this was impossible； the old man's
only tie to life was rent rudely asunder； and his heart had broken with it。
The death of his son had no part in his sorrow。 If he thought of him at all；
it was as the degenerate boy through whom the honour of his country and
clan had been lost； and he died in the course of three days； never even
mentioning his name； but pouring out unintermitted lamentations for the
loss of his noble sword。
I conceive that the moment when the disabled chief was roused into a
last exertion by the agony of the moment is favourable to the object of a
painter。 He might obtain the full advantage of contrasting the form of the
rugged old man； in the extremity of furious despair； with the softness and
beauty of the female form。 The fatal field might be thrown into
perspective； so as to give full effect to these two principal figures； and
with the single explanation that the piece represented a soldier beholding
his son slain； and the honour of his country lost； the picture would be
sufficiently intelligible at the first glance。 If it was thought necessary to
show more clearly the nature of the conflict； it might be indicated by the
pennon of Saint George being displayed at one end of the lists； and that of
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THE TAPESTRIED CHAMBER
Saint Andrew at the other。
I remain； sir；
Your obedient servant；
THE AUTHOR OF WAVERLEY。
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