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The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson-Part33_Robert Southey(1774-1843)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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decisive successes in Egypt; in consequence of which, the common council

voted their thanks to the army and navy for bringing the campaign to so



glorious a conclusion. When Nelson, after the action of Cape St.

Vincent, had been entertained at a city feast, he had observed to the



lord mayor, "that, if the city continued its generosity, the navy would

ruin them in gifts." To which the lord mayor replied, putting his hand



upon the admiral's shoulder: "Do you find victories and we will find

rewards." Nelson, as he said, had kept his word, had doubly fulfilled



his part of the contract, but no thanks had been voted for the battle of

Copenhagen; and feeling that he and his companions in that day's glory



had a fair and honourable claim to this reward, he took the present

opportunity of addressing a letter to the lord mayor, complaining of the



omission and the injustice. "The smallest services," said he, "rendered

by the army or navy to the country, have always been noticed by the



great city of London with one exception--the glorious 2nd of April--a

day when the greatest dangers of navigation were overcome; and the



Danish force, which they thought impregnable, totally taken or

destroyed, by the consummate skill of our commanders, and by the



undaunted bravery of as gallant a band as ever defended the rights of

this country. For myself, if I were only personallyconcerned, I should



bear the stigma, attempted to be now first placed upon my brow, with

humility. But, my lord, I am the natural guardian of the fame of all the



officers of the navy, army, and marines who fought, and so profusely

bled, under my command on that day. Again I disclaim for myself more



merit than naturally falls to a successful commander; but when I am

called upon to speak of the merits of the captains of his Majesty's



ships, and of the officers and men, whether seamen, marines, or

soldiers, whom I that day had the happiness to command, I then say, that



never was the glory of this country upheld with more determined bravery

than on that occasion: and if I may be allowed to give an opinion as a



Briton, then I say, that more important service was never rendered to

our king and country. It is my duty, my lord, to prove to the brave



fellows, my companions in danger, that I have not failed at every

proper place to represent, as well as I am able, their bravery and



meritorious conduct."

Another honour, of greater import, was withheld from the conquerors.



The king had given medals to those captains who were engaged in the

battles of the 1st of June, of Cape St. Vincent, of Camperdown, and of



the Nile. Then came the victory at Copenhagen, which Nelson truly

called the most difficult achievement, the hardest-fought battle, the



most glorious result that ever graced the annals of our country. He, of

course, expected the medal; and in writing to Earl St. Vincent, said,



"He longed to have it, and would not give it up to be made an English

duke." The medal, however, was not given:--"For what reason," said



Nelson, "Lord St. Vincent best knows." Words plainly implying a

suspicion that it was withheld by some feeling of jealousy; and that



suspicion estranged him, during the remaining period of his life, from

one who had at one time been essentially, as well as sincerely, his



friend; and of whose professional abilities he ever entertained the

highest opinion.



The happiness which Nelson enjoyed in the society of his chosen

friends was of no long continuance. Sir William Hamilton, who was far



advanced in years, died early in 1803; a mild, amiable, and

accomplished man, who has thus in a letter described his own philosophy:



"My study of antiquities," he says, "has kept me in constant thought of

the perpetualfluctuation of everything. The whole art is really to live



all the DAYS of our life; and not with anxious care disturb the sweetest

hour that life affords--which is the present. Admire the Creator, and



all His works, to us incomprehensible; and do all the good you can upon

earth; and take the chance of eternity without dismay." He expired in



his wife's arms, holding Nelson by the hand; and almost in his last

words, left her to his protection; requesting him that he would see






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