酷兔英语
    当前位置:
  1. 首页
  2. 文章
  3. 娱乐英语
  4. 原版小说
  5. 正文

The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson-Part37_Robert Southey(1774-1843)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

0 收藏 0 分享 0 赞

章节正文
文章总共2页
so perseveringly pursued.

Unremitting exertions were made to equip the ships which he had



chosen, and especially to refit the VICTORY, which was once more to bear

his flag. Before he left London he called at his upholsterer's, where



the coffin which Captain Hallowell had given him was deposited; and

desired that its history might be engraven upon the lid, saying that it



was highly probable he might want it on his return. He seemed, indeed,

to have been impressed with an expectation that he should fall in the



battle. In a letter to his brother, written immediately after his

return, he had said: "We must not talk of Sir Robert Calder's battle--I



might not have done so much with my small force. If I had fallen in with

them, you might probably have been a lord before I wished; for I know



they meant to make a dead set at the VICTORY." Nelson had once regarded

the prospect of death with gloomysatisfaction: it was when he



anticipated the upbraidings of his wife, and the displeasure of his

venerable father. The state of his feelings now was expressed in his



private journal in these words: "Friday night (Sept. 13), at half-past

ten, I drove from dear, dear Merton; where I left all which I hold dear



in this world, to go and serve my king and country. May the great GOD,

whom I adore, enable me to fulfil the expectations of my country! and if



it is His good pleasure that I should return, my thanks will never cease

being offered up to the throne of His mercy. If it is His good



providence to cut short my days upon earth, I bow with the greatest

submission; relying that he will protect those so dear to me whom I may



leave behind! His will be done. Amen! Amen! Amen!"

Early on the following morning he reached Portsmouth; and having



despatched his business on shore, endeavoured to elude the populace by

taking a by-way to the beach; but a crowd collected in his train,



pressing forward to obtain a sight of his face: many were in tears, and

many knelt down before him and blessed him as he passed. England has had



many heroes; but never one who so entirely possessed the love of his

fellow-countrymen as Nelson. All men knew that his heart was as humane



as it was fearless; that there was not in his nature the slightest alloy

of selfishness or cupidity; but that with perfect and entire devotion he



served his country with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with

all his strength; and, therefore, they loved him as truly and as



fervently as he loved England. They pressed upon the parapet to gaze

after him when his barge pushed off, and he was returning their cheers



by waving his hat. The sentinels, who endeavoured to prevent them from

trespassing upon this ground, were wedged among the crowd; and an



officer who, not very prudently upon such an occasion, ordered them to

drive the people down with their bayonets, was compelled speedily to



retreat; for the people would not be debarred from gazing till the last

moment upon the hero--the darling hero of England!



He arrived off Cadiz on the 29th of September--his birthday. Fearing

that if the enemy knew his force they might be deterred from venturing



to sea, he kept out of sight of land, desired Collingwood to fire no

salute and hoist no colours, and wrote to Gibraltar to request that the



force of the fleet might not be inserted there in the GAZETTE. His

reception in the Mediterranean fleet was as gratifying as the farewell



of his countrymen at Portsmouth: the officers who came on board to

welcome him forgot his rank as commander in their joy at seeing him



again. On the day of his arrival, Villeneuve received orders to put to

sea the first opportunity. Villeneuve, however, hesitated when he heard



that Nelson had resumed the command. He called a council of war; and

their determination was, that it would not be expedient to leave Cadiz,



unless they had reason to believe themselves stronger by one-third than

the British force. In the public measures of this country secrecy is



seldom practicable, and seldomer attempted: here, however, by the

precautions of Nelson and the wise measures of the Admiralty, the enemy



were for once kept in ignorance; for as the ships appointed to reinforce

the Mediterranean fleet were despatched singly, each as soon as it was



ready, their collected number was not stated in the newspapers, and

their arrival was not known to the enemy. But the enemy knew that



Admiral Louis, with six sail, had been detached for stores and water to

Gibraltar. Accident also contributed to make the French admiral doubt



whether Nelson himself had actually taken the command. An American,

lately arrived from England, maintained that it was impossible, for he






文章总共2页
文章标签:名著  

章节正文
Copyright © 2023 Qeto All rights reserved.
商务合作 | 联系我们 | 关于我们 | 版权声明 | 隐私条款 | 如果智培

京ICP备05059198号-1 京公网安备 11011202003401号