第12章 BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR, AND DEATH OF NELSON (II) 特拉法加海战和纳尔逊之死（II）

It had been part of Nelson's prayer that the British fleet might be distinguished by humanity in the victory which he expected. Setting an example himself, he twice gave orders to cease firing on the Redoubtable, supposing that she had struck because her guns were silent; for, as she earried no flag, there was no means of instantly ascertaining the fact. From this ship, which he had thus twice spared, he received his death. A ball fired from her mizzen-top, which, in the then situation of the two vessels, was not more than fifteen yards from that part of the deck where he was standing, struck the epaulet on his left shoulder, about a quarter after one, just in the heat of the action. He fell upon his face on the spot which was covered with his poor secretary's blood.

Hardy, who was a few steps from him, turning round, saw three men raising him up. “They have done for me at last, Hardy,” said he. “I hope not,” cried Hardy. “Yes,” he replied; “my back-bone is shot through.” Yet even now, not for a moment losing his presence of mind, he observed, as they were carrying him down the ladder, that the tiller-ropes, which had been shot away, were not yet replaced, and ordered that new ones should be rove immediately; then, that he might not be seen by the crew, he took out his handkerchief and covered his face and his stars! Had he but concealed those badges of honour from the enemy, England, perhaps, would not have had cause to receive with sorrow the news of the Battle of Trafalgar.

The cockpit was crowded with wounded and dying men, over whose bodies he was with some difficulty conveyed, and laid upon a pallet in the midshipmen's berth. It was soon perceived, upon examination, that the wound was mortal. This, however, was concealed from all except Captain Hardy, the chaplain, and the medical attendants. He himself being certain, from the sensation in his back, and the gush of blood he felt momently within his breast, that no human care could avail him, insisted that the surgeon should leave him and attend to those to whom he might be useful; “for,” said he, “you can do nothing for me.” All that could be done was to fan him with paper, and frequently to give him lemonade to alleviate his intense thirst.

He was in great pain, and expressed much anxiety for the event of the action, which now began to declare itself. As often as a ship struck, the crew of the Victory hurrahed; and at each hurrah a visible expression of joy gleamed in the eyes and marked the countenance of the dying hero. But he became impatient to see Hardy; and as that officer, though often sent for. could not leave the deck, Nelson feared that some fatal cause prevented him, and repeatedly cried, “Will no one bring Hardy to me? He must be killed! he is surely dead!”

An hour and ten minutes elapsed from the time when Nelson received his wound, before Hardy could come to him. They shook hands in silence, Hardy in vain struggling to suppress the feelings of that most painful and yet sublime moment. “Well, Hardy,” said Nelson, “how goes the day with us?” “Very well,”replied Hardy: “ten ships have struck; but five of the van have tacked, and show an intention to bear down upon the Victory.I have called two or three of our fresh ships round, and have no doubt of giving them a drubbing.” — “I hope,” said Nelson, “none of our ships have struck?” Hardy answered, “There is no fear of that.”

Then, and not till then, Nelson spoke of himself. “I am a dead man, Hardy,”said he. “I am going fast; it will be all over with me soon.” Hardy observed that he hoped Mr. Beatty could yet hold out some prospect of life. “Oh, no,” he replied; “it is impossible. My back is shot through. Beatty will tell you so.” Hardy then once more shook hands with him, and with a heart almost bursting, “hastened upon deck.”

By this time all feeling below the breast was gone, and Nelson having made the surgeon ascertain this, said to him, “You know I am gone. I know it. I feel something rising in my breast,” putting his hand on his left side, “which tells me so.” When Beatty inquired whether his pain was very great, he replied, “So great, that I wish I were dead. Yet,” he added, in a lower voice, “one would like to live a little longer too!”

Captain Hardy, some fifty minutes after he had left the cockpit, returned, and again taking the hand of his dying friend and commander, congratulated him on having gained a complete victory. How many of the enemy were taken he did not know, as it was impossible to perceive them distinctly, but fourteen or fifteen at least. “That's well,” said Nelson; “but I bargained for twenty.” And then, in a stronger voice, he said, “Anchor, Hardy, anchor.” Hardy thereupon hinted that Admiral Collingwood would take upon himself the direction of affairs. “Not while I live, Hardy,” said the dying Nelson, ineffectually endeavoring to raise himself from the bed; “do you anchor.” His previous orders for preparing to anchor had shown how clearly he foresaw the necessity of this.

Presently calling Hardy back, he said to him in a low voice, “Don't throw me overboard;” and he desired that he might be buried beside his parents, unless it should please the King to order otherwise. Then reverting to private feelings, —“Kiss me, Hardy,” said he. Hardy knelt down and kissed his cheek; and Nelson said, “Now I am satisfied. Thank God, I have done my duty!” Hardy stood over him in silence for a moment or two, then knelt again and kissed his forehead. “Who is that?” said Nelson; and being informed, he replied, “God bless you, Hardy.”And Hardy then left him for ever.

Nelson now desired to be turned upon his right side, and said, “I wish I had not left the deck, for I shall soon be gone.” Death was, indeed, rapidly approaching. His articulation became difficult, but he was distinctly heard to say, “Thank God, I have done my duty!” These words he repeatedly pronounced, and they were the last words which he uttered. He expired at thirty minutes after four, three hours and a quarter after he had received his wound.

Within quarter of an hour after Nelson was wounded, above fifty of the Victory's men fell by the enemy's musketry.They,however,on their part were not idle; and it was not long before there were only two Frenchmen left alive in the mizzen-top of the Redoubtable.One of them was the man who had given the fatal wound. He did not live to boast of what he had done. An old quartermaster had seen him fire, and easily recognized him, because he wore a glazed cocked hat and a white frock. This quartermaster and two midshipmen, Mr. Collingwood and Mr.Pollard,were the only persons left in the Victory's poop.The two midshipmen kept firing at the top, and he supplied them with cartridges.

One of the Frenchmen, attempting to make his escape down the rigging, was shot by Mr. Pollard, and fell on the poop. But the old quartermaster, as he called out, “That's he — that's he,” and pointed to the other, who was coming forward to fire again, received a shot in his mouth, and fell dead. Both the midshipmen then fired at the same time, and the fellow dropped in the top. When they took possession of the prize, they went into the mizzen-top and found him dead, with one ball through his head and another through his breast.

The total British loss in the Battle of Trafalgar amounted to one thousand five hundred and eighty-seven men. Twenty of the enemy's ships struck, but it was not possible to anchor the fleet, as Nelson had enjoined. A gale came on from the southwest: some of the prizes went down, some went on shore; one affected its escape into Cadiz, others were destroyed; four only were saved, and those by the greatest exertions.

The death of Nelson was felt in England as something more than a public calamity: men started at the intelligence, and turned pale, as if they had heard of the loss of a dear friend. An object of our admiration and affection, of our pride and of our hopes, was suddenly taken from us; and it seemed as if we had never till then known how deeply we loved and reverenced him. What the country had lost in its great naval hero — the greatest of our own and of all former times —was scarcely taken into the account of grief.

So perfectly, indeed, had he performed his part, that the maritime war, after the Battle of Trafalgar, was considered at an end. The fleets of the enemy were not merely defeated — they were destroyed: new navies must be built, and a new race of seamen reared for them, before the possibility of their invading our shores could again be contemplated.

It was not, therefore, from any selfish reflection upon the magnitude of our loss that we mourned for him: the general sorrow was of a higher character. The people of England grieved that funeral ceremonies, and public monuments, and posthumous rewards, were all that they could now bestow upon him whom the King, the Legislature, and the Nation would have alike delighted to honour; whom every tongue would have blessed — whose presence in every village through which he might have passed would have awakened the church bells, have given schoolboys a holiday, have drawn children from their sports to gaze upon him, and “old men from the chimney corner” to look upon Nelson ere they died.

The victory of Trafalgar was celebrated, indeed, with the usual forms of rejoicing, but they were without joy; for such already was the glory of the British Navy, through Nelson's surpassing genius, that it scarcely seemed to receive any addition from the most signal victory that ever was achieved upon the seas. The destruction of this mighty fleet, by which all the maritime schemes of France were totally frustrated, hardly appeared to add to our security or strength; for while Nelson was alive to watch the combined squadrons of the enemy, we felt ourselves as secure as now when they were no longer in existence.

The most triumphant death is that of the martyr; the most awful, that of the martyred patriot; the most splendid, that of the hero in the hour of victory; and if the chariot and the horses of fire had been vouchsafed for Nelson's translation, he could scarcely have departed in a brighter blaze of glory. He has left us, not, indeed, a mantle of inspiration, but a name and an example which are at this hour inspiring thousands of the youth of England — a name which is our pride, and an example which will continue to be our shield and our strength. Thus it is that the spirits of the great and the wise continue to live and to act after them.

— Southey

Words

achieved,gained.

alleviate,assuage.

articulation,utterance.

ascertaining,determining.

calamity,disaster.

celebrated,signalized.

congratulated,complimented.

contemplated,meditated.

conveyed,carried.

distinguished,characterized.

elapsed,transpired.

enjoined,advised.

epaulet,shoulder-badge.

expected,anticipated.

frustrated,baffled.

hand-kerchief,a cloth of silk or linen.

hastened,hurried.

impatient,eager.

ineffectually,unsuccessfully.

inspiration,divine influence.

intelligence,news.

legislature,parliament.

momently,continually.

musketry,small guns.

prevented,detained.

prospect,hope.

recognized,identified.

replaced,renewed.

reverenced,revered.

reverting,returning.

satisfied,contented.

sublime,grand.

vouchsafed,granted.

Questions

How did Nelson give an example of humanity? How was this ill requited? Where was Nelson struck? Why did he tell the surgeon to attend to the others in the cockpit? Whom did he become impatient to see? What news of the battle did Hardy bring him? What wishes did he express regarding his burial? What were his last Words? What was the fate of the man who had shot him? How many of the enemy's ships struck? What was the great result of the victory? Why was It celebrated without joy?

英国舰队会因为他所希望的胜利而留名于青史，这已经成为纳尔逊祷告的一部分。他自己树立了一个榜样，考虑到敬畏号可能会因为没有足够枪支炮弹进行射击而沉没，他曾经两次下令停止对她射击。因为她没有悬挂任何旗帜，纳尔逊没有任何办法可以即刻查明事实。在这艘他曾两次幸免于难的船上，他最终还是迎来了死亡。一发子弹从船的后桅顶部射过来，从两艘船当时的情形看，子弹是从甲板上他站着的地方不超过十五码的距离射过来的。子弹打在他的左肩肩章上，此时大约是1点15分，正值战斗最白热化的时候。他身体的热量开始慢慢流失，他的脸转向了他可怜的秘书牺牲的地方，那里落满了血迹。

哈代站在离纳尔逊几步远的地方，他转过身来，看见三个人抬着纳尔逊走过。“哈代，他们还是射中了我，”纳尔逊说。哈代哭着说：“我希望这不是真的。”“是真的，”纳尔逊回答道，“我的背骨被射穿了。”但即使是这个时候，他都没有片刻的意识不清。当他们把他从梯子上放下来时，他注意到分蘖绳已被敌人的炮击打掉了，而没有人将其更换。于是他下令立即更换成新的；然后，等船员们可能看不见他时，他掏出手帕蒙住自己的脸和他的徽章！如果他早早地就隐藏起那些代表战胜敌人的荣誉徽章，也许英格兰就不会如此悲伤地收到这样一则来自特拉法加海战的噩耗。

驾驶舱里挤满了伤员和奄奄一息的士兵，在这些战士的身躯之上将他运递出去是有一定难度的。战士们将他的身体放在一个草垫子上。经检查，很快得出结论，这个伤口是致命的。然而，除了哈代上校、牧师和医疗人员，没有其他人得知这一消息。但纳尔逊自己非常确定，从他背部的感觉和血涌出的那一刻起，他心里就能感到没有人能救得了他。纳尔逊坚持医生应该离开他去救那些可能还能救活的人。纳尔逊说：“因为我，你什么也不能做了。”医生可以做的一切，就是用纸做的扇子为他扇风，并经常给他柠檬水，以减轻他强烈的口渴。

他处于巨大的痛苦中，但仍然表达出对战斗过程的焦虑。这份焦虑现在已经很明显地展现在他的表情里。由于经常有敌船被击溃，每次胜利号发出的欢呼声和每个船员欢呼喜悦的表情，都能让这位垂死的英雄眼神重新闪闪发光，这形成了他此刻最主要的表情。但他开始变得不耐烦起来，想看到哈代；作为官员，哈代虽然经常过来照看纳尔逊，但却不应该离开甲板。纳尔逊担心，是死亡阻止了他过来见自己，所以反复喊道：“怎么没有人把哈代给我带来？他一定是被杀死了！他肯定是牺牲了！”

在纳尔逊受伤一小时十分钟之后，哈代来看望他。他们沉默地握了握手，在这庄严的时刻，哈代徒劳地努力抑制住痛苦。“好了，哈代，”纳尔逊说，“战斗进行得怎么样？”“很好，”哈代回答，“我们已经击溃了敌方十艘船了；还有五艘已经调转了航向，胜利号看来都承受下来了。我又调来了两三艘我们的舰船，毫无疑问也将给他们以痛击。”纳尔逊说：“我希望我们的船一艘也不要沉！”哈代回答道：“不用担心。”

然后，也是直到此时，纳尔逊才说到自己。“我是一个死人，哈代，”他说，“我马上就快死了；很快我的一切都会结束。”哈代说他希望比提先生还可以对他的生命前景有所期望。“噢，不，”他回答，“这是不可能的。我的背部被子弹射穿了。比提会告诉你。”哈代再次与他握手，心脏几乎快爆炸了，他赶紧跑到甲板上。

到现在，他感觉到胸口的心跳慢慢停止了，纳尔逊让医生确认一下，并说道：“你知道我要走了。我很清楚。我感觉到我的胸部有东西在上升，”他把医生的手放在他的左边胸口，说道，“这里告诉了我。”当比提医生问他是不是伤口极其痛苦时，他回答说：“太疼了，我希望我已经死了。然而，”他用较低的声音补充道，“但我还是想再活得长一点呢！”

在离开驾驶舱大约五十分钟之后，哈代上校又回到了这里，并再次和他垂死的指挥官朋友握手，向他祝贺战斗取得了完全的胜利。他不知道有多少敌船被击败，因为不可能清楚地计算出来，但至少十四或十五艘。“很好，”纳尔逊说，“但我希望是20艘。”然后，他用一个更强大的声音说道：“抛锚，哈代，抛锚。”哈代随即暗示海军上将科林伍德立即接管一切事务。“不要在我还活着的时候，哈代。”垂死的纳尔逊徒劳地努力在床上提高自己的声音说：“你做你的事去。”他之前下令准备抛锚，已经清楚地表明他预见到这样做的必要性。

不久纳尔逊又叫哈代回来，低声对他说：“不要把我扔到船外。”他希望自己能埋在他的父母旁边，除非国王下令把他葬在他处。然后他又说到个人的感情：“吻我，哈代。”哈代跪下来亲吻了他的脸颊；纳尔逊说：“我现在很满足。感谢上帝，我已经完成了我的任务！”哈代站在他身边沉默了片刻，然后再跪下来在他的前额上吻了一下。“那是谁？”纳尔逊说，“上帝保佑你，哈代。”然后哈代永远离开了他。

纳尔逊现在想要转向他的右侧，说，“我希望我没有离开我的甲板，虽然我很快就要离开了。”事实上，死亡正迅速接近。他连发出声音都变得很难，但人们清楚地听到了他说：“感谢上帝，我已经完成了我的任务！”他反复说着这些话，这也是他最后的话。他逝世于4点30分，在他受伤三小时一刻钟之后。

在纳尔逊受伤一刻钟之后，胜利号上的50个人在敌人的射击中倒下。然而，他们也没有闲着；不久，在敬畏号的后桅顶部，只有两个法国人还活着，其中一个人受了致命的伤。他不会还能活下来吹嘘他做过什么。一名老舵手看到他们进攻，很容易认出了他们，因为他们戴着釉面的三角帽，穿着白色的工装。这名舵手以及两个名叫科林伍德和波拉德的实习船员，是仅剩在胜利号船尾的人。这两个实习船员在顶端一直射击，老舵手为他们提供弹药筒。

一个法国人试图逃脱束缚他的索具，但被波拉德一枪击中，倒在了船尾。那个老舵手喊道：“是他，就是他！”他指给其他人看，并上前向他的嘴里又开了一枪，继而证实他彻底死了。两个实习船员同时开枪，他们射击的那个人应声倒地。当他们走到后桅上收缴战利品时，发现他已经死了。一发子弹穿过他的头部，另一发穿过了他的胸膛。

在特拉法加海战中，英国的总损失达1587人。他们击溃敌人的20艘舰船，但舰队没有办法服从纳尔逊的命令在此抛锚。来自西南的一场大风即将到来：一些战利品只好被英国人丢掉，另一些则运上了岸；一艘逃往加的斯的敌船受到了狂风的影响，其他的都被摧毁；只有四艘法国人的船被努力保留下来。

对于英格兰来说，纳尔逊的死亡是比其他任何事情都要严重的公共灾难：人们开始颤抖，脸色发白，仿佛听到他们失去了一位亲爱的朋友。他是我们钦佩和喜爱的对象，是我们的骄傲，我们的希望，却突然离开了我们；而我们似乎从来没有意识到，我们是如此深深地爱戴和尊敬着他。人们几乎不用考虑什么是悲伤的理由。这个国家已经失去了她在现在和所有以前时代里最伟大的海军英雄。

的确，他已经如此完美地执行了他的一部分任务。海上战争，在这场特拉法加战役之后，被认为从此终结。

敌人的舰队被击败了——他们被摧毁了：新的海军必须建立，一群新的海员需要培育，在他们入侵我们的海岸之前，这些都值得我们深思细想。

因此，我们对失去纳尔逊的哀悼和对这一巨大损失的思考，不是出自任何自私的初衷，而是对一个崇高民族的哀痛。英国人非常痛心，他们举行葬礼仪式，竖立公共纪念碑，对他进行死后的奖励，这些是他们现在能够赐予他的全部，也是国王、立法机关和国会同样甘愿赐予他的荣誉；每个人都在为他祝福，他可能已经穿过了每一个村庄，唤醒了教堂的钟声。小学生也放假了，孩子们从各种运动中停下来去关注他。当“在烟囱角落的老人”死去，他也会仰望纳尔逊。

实际上，人们以平常的欢乐形式庆祝着特拉法加海战的胜利，但他们却高兴不起来；因为通过纳尔逊超人的天赋，英国海军获得了无上的荣耀。他似乎无须获得任何其他功劳，他已经取得了海洋历史上最伟大的胜利。法国强大的舰队毁灭了，因而她所有的海运方案完全受挫，几乎不会再给我们的安全或军队带来威胁。当纳尔逊活着的时候，他看着敌人的联合舰队。现在我们感到自己如此安全，就像它们已经不复存在。

烈士的牺牲是最成功的死亡方式；爱国者的牺牲是最糟糕的殉道；转瞬即逝的胜利来自最光荣的英雄；正如战车和马匹被册封给纳尔逊，他的名字从此都与荣耀的明亮光芒紧紧相连。他已经离开了我们——不，事实上，他灵感的衣钵却成为一个名字和榜样，在这个时刻激励着成千上万的英国青年。一个无名的英雄，这是我们的骄傲，他是一个榜样，将继续成为我们的盾牌和我们的力量。因此，他的精神和智慧会一直存在，用行为影响着后来的人。

——骚塞