the tapestried chamber(挂花毯的房间)-第6部分
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THE TAPESTRIED CHAMBER
conceived； as it would seem； that his son was scarce yet entitled by age
and experience to be entrusted with the two…handed sword； by the use of
which he had himself been so dreadfully distinguished。
At length an English champion； one of the name of Foster （if I rightly
recollect）； had the audacity to send a challenge to the best swordsman in
Liddesdale； and young Armstrong； burning for chivalrous distinction；
accepted the challenge。
The heart of the disabled old man swelled with joy when he heard that
the challenge was passed and accepted； and the meeting fixed at a neutral
spot； used as the place of rencontre upon such occasions； and which he
himself had distinguished by numerous victories。 He exulted so much in
the conquest which he anticipated； that； to nerve his son to still bolder
exertions； he conferred upon him； as champion of his clan and province；
the celebrated weapon which he had hitherto retained in his own custody。
This was not all。 When the day of combat arrived； the Laird's Jock；
in spite of his daughter's affectionate remonstrances； determined； though
he had not left his bed for two years； to be a personal witness of the duel。
His will was still a law to his people； who bore him on their shoulders；
wrapped in plaids and blankets； to the spot where the combat was to take
place； and seated him on a fragment of rock； which is still called the
Laird's Jock's stone。 There he remained with eyes fixed on the lists or
barrier； within which the champions were about to meet。 His daughter；
having done all she could for his accommodation； stood motionless beside
him； divided between anxiety for his health； and for the event of the
combat to her beloved brother。 Ere yet the fight began； the old men gazed
on their chief； now seen for the first time after several years； and sadly
compared his altered features and wasted frame with the paragon of
strength and manly beauty which they once remembered。 The young
men gazed on his large form and powerful make as upon some
antediluvian giant who had survived the destruction of the Flood。
But the sound of the trumpets on both sides recalled the attention of
every one to the lists； surrounded as they were by numbers of both nations
eager to witness the event of the day。 The combatants met in the lists。 It
is needless to describe the struggle： the Scottish champion fell。 Foster；
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THE TAPESTRIED CHAMBER
placing his foot on his antagonist； seized on the redoubted sword； so
precious in the eyes of its aged owner； and brandished it over his head as a
trophy of his conquest。 The English shouted in triumph。 But the
despairing cry of the aged champion； who saw his country dishonoured；
and his sword； long the terror of their race； in the possession of an
Englishman； was heard high above the acclamations of victory。 He
seemed for an instant animated by all his wonted power； for he started
from the rock on which he sat； and while the garments with which he had
been invested fell from his wasted frame； and showed the ruins of his
strength； he tossed his arms wildly to heaven； and uttered a cry of
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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