第11章 BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR, AND DEATH OF NELSON (I) 特拉法加海战和纳尔逊之死（I）

October 21, 1805.

Early on the morning of September 14th, Nelson reached Portsmouth, and having dispatched 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 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 returned 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!……

At daybreak, the combined fleets were distinctly seen from the Victory's deck, formed in a close line of battle ahead, on the starboard tack, about twelve miles to leeward, and standing to the south. Our fleet consisted of twenty-seven sail of the line and four frigates; theirs, of thirty-three and seven large frigates. Their superiority was greater in size and weight of metal than in numbers. They had four thousand troops on board; and the best riflemen that could be procured, many of them Tyrolese, were dispersed over the ships.

Soon after daylight Nelson came upon deck. The 21st of October was a festival in his family,because on that day his uncle,Captain Suckling,in the Dreadnought, with two other line-of-battle ships, had beaten off a French squadron of four sail of the line and three frigates. Nelson, with that sort of superstition from which few persons are entirely exempt, had more than once expressed his persuasion that this was to be the day of his battle also; and he was well pleased at seeing his prediction about to be verified.

The wind was now from the west, — light breezes, with a long, heavy swell. Signal was made to bear down upon the enemy in two lines; and the fleet set all sail. Collingwood, in the Royal Sovereign, led the lee line of thirteen ships; the Victory led the weather line of fourteen.Having seen that all was as it should be, Nelson retired to his cabin, and wrote the following prayer: —

“May the great God, whom I worship, grant to my country, and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious victory; and may no misconduct in any one tarnish it; and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet! For myself individually, I commit my life to Him that made me; and may His blessing alight on my endeavours for serving my country faithfully. To Him I resign myself, and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend. Amen, amen, amen.”

Blackwood went on board the Victory about six.Nelson,certain of a triumphant issue to the day, asked him what he should consider as a victory. The officer answered, that, considering the handsome way in which battle was offered by the enemy, their apparent determination for a fair trial of strength, and the situation of the land, he thought it would be a glorious result if fourteen were captured. He replied, “I shall not be satisfied with fewer than twenty!”

Soon afterwards he asked him if he did not think there was a signal wanting. Captain Blackwood made answer, that he thought the whole fleet seemed very clearly to understand what they were about. These Words were scarcely spoken before that signal was made which will be remembered as long as the language, or even the memory of England, shall endure — Nelson's last signal: “ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY!” It was received throughout the fleet with a shout of answering acclamation, made sublime by the spirit which it breathed and the feeling which it expressed. “Now,” said Lord Nelson, “I can do no more. We must trust to the Great Disposer of all events, and the justice of our cause. I thank God for this great opportunity of doing my duty.”

He wrote that day, as usual, his admiral's frock-coat, bearing on the left breast four stars of the different orders with which he was invested. Ornaments which rendered him so conspicuous a mark for the enemy, were beheld with ominous apprehensions by his officers. It was known that there were riflemen on board the French ships, and it could not be doubted that his life would be particularly aimed at.

They communicated their fears to each other; and the surgeon, Mr. Beatty, spoke to the chaplain, Dr. Scott, and to Mr. Scott the public secretary, desiring that some person would entreat him to change his dress, or cover the stars; but they knew that such a request would highly displease him. “In honour I gained them,”he had said when such a thing had been hinted to him formerly, “and in honour I will die with them.”

Nelson's column was steered about two points more to the north than Collingwood's, in order to cut off the enemy's escape into Cadiz; the lee line, therefore,was first engaged.“See!”cried Nelson,pointing to the Royal Sovereign, as she steered right for the centre of the enemy's line, cut through it astern of the Santa Anna three-decker, and engaged her at the muzzle of her guns on the starboard side, “see how that noble fellow, Collingwood, carries his ship into action!” Collingwood, delighted at being first in the heat of the fire, and knowing the feelings of his commander and old friend, turned to his captain and exclaimed,“Rotherham, what would Nelson give to be here! '’

The enemy continued to fire one gun at a time at the Victory, till they saw that a shot had passed through her main-top-gallant sail; then they opened their broadsides, aiming chiefly at her rigging, in the hope of disabling her before she could close with them. Nelson, as usual, had hoisted several flags, lest one should be shot away. The enemy showed no colours till late in the action, when they began to feel the necessity of having them to strike! For this reason the Santissima Trinidad, Nelson's old acquaintance, as he used to call her, was distinguishable only by her four decks; and to the bow of this opponent he ordered the Victory to be steered.

Meantime an incessant raking fire was kept up upon the Victory. The Admiral's secretary was one of the first who fell: he was killed by a cannon-shot while conversing with Hardy. Captain Adair of the marines, with the help of a sailor, endeavoured to remove the body from Nelson's sight, who had a great regard for Mr. Scott; but he anxiously asked, “Is that poor Scott that's gone?” and being informed that it was indeed so, exclaimed, “Poor fellow!” Presently a double-headed shot struck a party of marines, who were drawn up on the poop, and killed eight of them; upon which Nelson immediately desired Captain Adair to disperse his men round the ship, that they might not suffer so much from being together.

A few minutes afterwards, a shot struck the fore-brace bits on the quarter-deck, and passed between Nelson and Hardy, a splinter from the bit tearing off Hardy's buckle and bruising his foot. Both stopped, and looked anxiously at each other;each supposed the other to be wounded. Nelson then smiled and said, “This is too warm work, Hardy, to last long.”

The Victory had not yet returned a single gun;fifty of her men had been by this time killed or wounded, and her main-top-mast shot away, with all her studding-sails and her booms. Nelson declared that in all his battles he had seen nothing which surpassed the cool courage of his crew on this occasion. At four minutes after twelve she opened her fire from both sides of her deck.

It was not possible to break the enemy's line without running on board one of their ships. Hardy informed him of this, and asked him which he would prefer. Nelson replied, “Take your choice, Hardy; it does not signify much.” The master was ordered to put the helm to port,and the Victory ran on board the Redoubtable, just as her tiller-ropes were shot away. The French ship received her with a broadside, then instantly let down her lower deck ports, for fear of being boarded through them, and never afterwards tired a great gun during the action.

—Southey

Words

anxiously,concernedly,

apprehensions,fears.

bayonets,spears or swords fixed on guns.

communicated,conveyed.

conspicuous,prominent.

declared,asserted.

despatched,conceded.

determination,resolution.

dispersed,scattered.

distinguishable,recognizable.

engaged,in action.

entirely,completely.

entreat,beseech.

exempt,free.

fervently,warmly.

humane,merciful.

incessant,unceasing.

invested,decorated.

necessity,need.

ominous,boding evil.

persuasion,conviction.

prediction,prophecy.

predominant,over-ruling.

prudently,discreetly.

splinter,chip.

superiority,ascendency.

surpassed,excelled.

tarnish,sully.

triumphant,victorious.

understand,comprehend.

Questions

What was peculiar in the feeling of Englishmen towards Nelson? How was this shown at his last departure? What presentiment had Nelson regarding the day of the battle? Who commanded the lee line? What did Nelson do when all was ready? What was his last signal? How did Nelson make himself conspicuous? Why did none of his officers request him to avoid this?Who began the attack?To what vessel did Nelson order the Victory to be steered?How had she suffered before she opened her guns?Why was the Redoubtable attacked?With what effect?

1805年10月21日

九月十四日清晨，纳尔逊到达朴次茅斯，并把他的部队派遣到岸上，试图以绕道去海滩的方式躲避开大众的视线；但是在他乘坐的那次列车上，人群拥挤过来，人们急切地想看到他的脸，一直向前推压。许多人都流下了眼泪，在他走过去的时候，还有许多人跪在他面前为他祝福。

英格兰有很多英雄，但是没有一个人像纳尔逊这样拥有自己同胞所有的爱。所有人都知道他的心是如此慈善和无畏；他的本性，甚至不掺杂一丝一毫的自私贪心。他服务于他的国家时，会付出他全部的心灵、所有的灵魂和他所有的力量，全心全意地献身其中；因此人们爱他，正如他如此真挚而热烈地爱着英格兰一样。

人群压在护墙上注视着他，他勇敢地推开他们，挥舞着他的帽子，回敬他们的欢呼。那些试图去阻止人群侵犯纳尔逊的哨兵们，却被挤在了人群之中；一个军官命令哨兵用他们的刺刀驱赶人群（在这样一个场合，这样做不是很谨慎），人们被迫迅速退去，因为他们不想让人群直到他生命的最后一刻还凝视着这位英雄——英格兰亲爱的英雄。

天亮时，人们可以从胜利号的甲板上清楚地看到联合舰队的踪迹，形成之前的战斗将要结束的阵势。在右舷，约下风口的12英里处，这些舰船面朝南方待命。我们的舰队包括27艘帆船和4艘护卫舰；敌方则拥有33艘帆船和7艘大型护卫舰。然而他们在尺寸和载重量方面的优势，甚至比数量上的优势更大。他们有4000人的部队驻扎在船上；还有当时世界上最好的步兵，其中不乏许多提洛尔人也分散在船上。

天刚亮不久，纳尔逊来到甲板上。十月二十一日是他家族的一个节日，因为在这一天，他的叔叔萨克灵上校在无畏战舰上，与其他两艘舰船一起，打败了法国的四支帆船中队和三支护卫舰中队。纳尔逊具有某种迷信的思想（然而，很少有人是完全不相信这种迷信的），他曾不止一次表达了他的意愿：这一天也可能会成为他战斗胜利的一天；而且他兴奋地等待着事实来验证他的预言。

现在海风从西方吹来，掀起一片持续的大浪。信号冲向了敌人的两条战线；舰队扬起了所有的帆。皇家君主号舰上的科林伍德率领13艘舰船；胜利号率领十四艘舰船。看到一切都在按部就班地进行，纳尔逊回到自己的小屋，写下了以下的祷告：“愿我所崇拜的伟大的神，为了整个欧洲的利益，赐予我的国家一次伟大的、光荣的胜利；并保佑没有任何一个不当行为可以玷污它；将胜利赐予英国舰队！至于我个人，让我将我的生命托付给创造我的主，愿他祝福我为了服务于我的国家而进行的忠诚的努力。我愿服从于他，愿服从于我有责任去为之努力的正义事业。阿门，阿门，阿门。”

布莱克伍德于大约6点登上了胜利号。纳尔逊坚信这一天他会有所建树，就问他什么才是胜利。这名士官回答说，考虑到敌军如此漂亮的战斗方法以及他们对双方力量获得公平对抗和占领这片土地的明显决心，他认为，如果击毁敌人的14艘船，这将是一个光荣的结果。他回答说：“少于20艘，我都不会满意！”

不久之后，纳尔逊问他，是否觉得现在的希望还不明显。布莱克伍德上校回答说，他认为整个舰队似乎非常清楚地了解他们将要做什么。他刚说完这些话，纳尔逊就发出了最后一个信号：“英格兰期待每个人各尽其责！”只要语言和英格兰的记忆一直存在，这些话都将被人们永远铭记。接受这一信号，整个舰队的将士们都欢呼喝彩，因为它传达出来的精神和表达出来的感情是如此崇高。“现在，”纳尔逊爵士说，“我能做的只有这些了。我们必须相信所有事件的巨大推助力，还有我们事业的正义性。感谢上帝，给我这么好的机会，让我完成我的责任。”

在他写下这些话的那一天，像往常一样，他穿着海军上将的外套，在左胸位置上佩戴的四颗星承载着他不同阶段的责任。一个敌军标记的饰品使他显得如此引人注目，看见它的军官们都会产生一种不祥的忧虑。众所周知，在法国的舰船上有众多步兵，而毫无疑问的是，他们会特别瞄准纳尔逊。

他们把他们的担心互相告知；外科医生比提先生告诉纳尔逊的秘书斯科特博士，希望有人能劝他脱掉他的衣服，或遮盖住那些显示出军衔的星星；但他们知道，这样的要求会使他特别不高兴。“为了纪念我获得它们，”当有人暗示他脱掉衣服或遮盖住徽章时，他这样说道，“我会以死来纪念它们”。

为了切断敌人通往加的斯的退路，纳尔逊的纵队转向比科林伍德的舰队更向北两度；因此，舰队的背线第一次参与到其中。这时，皇家君主号瞄准敌人的战线，并转向右方，切断了圣安娜号尾部的三层甲板，并将枪口对准敌舰的右舷。纳尔逊指着皇家君主号喊道：“看！看我们的同伴多么英勇！科林伍德带领他的战士们行动起来了！”

科林伍德在第一次开火后显得格外兴奋。他也知道他的指挥官和老朋友纳尔逊正在试探，他转向他的队长喊道：“罗瑟汉姆，你看看纳尔逊会干些什么！”

敌人继续向胜利号瞄准射击，直到他们的一次射击穿过了位于胜利号顶端的一根桅杆。然后他们打开全部的舷侧炮，瞄准胜利号最重要的绳索，希望她无法靠近自己。像往常一样，纳尔逊的身上悬挂了几个标志，他害怕其中任何一个会被敌人射击掉。在战斗中敌人一直没能给英国的舰队造成威胁，因此后来他们开始觉得有必要放弃进攻！为此，纳尔逊很早就熟悉的一艘舰船特立尼达号，正如他曾经描述她的那样，只有四层甲板是比较显眼的；继而，他命令胜利号掉头转向敌船的船首部位。

同时，敌军也不断向胜利号扫射。将军的秘书斯科特是最早倒下的人之一：他是在与哈代的交谈中被炮弹击中身亡的。在一个水手的帮助下，海军陆战队队长阿代尔努力把尸体从纳尔逊的视线中移开。斯科特曾非常敬重纳尔逊。纳尔逊不断焦急地问：“那可怜的斯科特牺牲了吗？”在被告知事实如此时，他叫道：“可怜的家伙！”此时，双头枪的炮弹击中了海军陆战队的队员，并夺去了他们之中八个人的性命。基于此，纳尔逊命令阿代尔上校立即将他的战士分散在船上的不同位置，这样他们可能就不会遭受如此惨重的人员伤亡。

几分钟之后，一发子弹穿过纳尔逊和哈代之间，打在了甲板前部的支撑位置上。碎片一下子把哈代的搭扣撕了下来并且擦伤了他的脚。两个人都停了下来，神情焦急地看着对方，担心对方受伤。然后纳尔逊笑着说：“这激烈的战斗，哈代会持续很长时间。”

胜利号没有做出任何回击。到目前为止，船上有五十人在这次战斗中死的死伤的伤。船的中桅连同船的所有帆桁全被射中。纳尔逊宣布，在他一生所经历的所有战斗中，他从未看到过哪一次的将士们拥有超过今天他的船员们这般的勇气。12点零4分，胜利号开始从她的甲板两侧对准敌军开火。

如果不登上敌人的一艘舰船，就根本不可能突破敌人的防线。哈代告诉纳尔逊这一点，问他倾向于怎样进行下一步行动。纳尔逊说：“你自己选择，哈代；这并不重要。”船长下令驶向港口，当她的分蘖绳索被打掉时，胜利号的船员们登上了敬畏号。英军的将士们全部登上了这艘法国舰船，然后由于害怕敌人再次从这里登船，他们立即放下了她的下甲板。而在整场战斗中，他们从未尝试向后方射击。

——骚塞