LITMIR.BIZ

Скачать книгу

receive the northernmost column of the enemy's

       ships headed by the “Victory,” trying the distance by an occasional

       single shot. During their suspense a discharge is heard southward,

       and turning they behold COLLINGWOOD at the head of his column in

       the “Royal Sovereign,” just engaging with the Spanish “Santa Ana.”

       Meanwhile the “Victory's” mizzen-topmast, with spars and a quantity

       of rigging, is seen to have fallen, her wheel to be shot away, and

       her deck encumbered with dead and wounded men.]

      VILLENEUVE

       'Tis well! But see; their course is undelayed,

       And still they near in clenched audacity!

      DAUDIGNON

       Which aim deft Lucas o' the “Redoubtable”

       Most gallantly bestirs him to outscheme.—

       See, how he strains, that on his timbers fall

       Blows that were destined for his Admiral!

       [During this the French ship “Redoubtable” is moving forward

       to interpose itself between the approaching “Victory” and the

       “Bucentaure.”]

      VILLENEUVE

       Now comes it! The “Santisima Trinidad,”

       The old “Redoubtable's” hard sides, and ours,

       Will take the touse of this bombastic blow.

       Your grapnels and your boarding-hatchets—ready!

       We'll dash our eagle on the English deck,

       And swear to fetch it!

      CREW

       Ay! We swear. Huzza

       Long live the Emperor!

       [But the “Victory” suddenly swerves to the rear of the “Bucentaure,”

       and crossing her stern-waters, discharges a broadside into her and

       the “Redoubtable” endwise, wrapping the scene in folds of smoke.

       The point of view changes.]

      SCENE II

       THE SAME. THE QUARTER-DECK OF THE “VICTORY”

       [The van of each division of the English fleet has drawn to the

       windward side of the combined fleets of the enemy, and broken

       their order, the “Victory” being now parallel to and alongside

       the “Redoubtable,” the “Temeraire” taking up a station on the

       other side of that ship. The “Bucentaure” and the “Santisima

       Trinidad” become jammed together a little way ahead. A smoke

       and din of cannonading prevail, amid which the studding-sail

       booms are shot away.

       NELSON, HARDY, BLACKWOOD, SECRETARY SCOTT, LIEUTENANT PASCO,

       BURKE the Purser, CAPTAIN ADAIR of the Marines, and other

       officers are on or near the quarter-deck.]

      NELSON

       See, there, that noble fellow Collingwood,

       How straight he helms his ship into the fire!—

       Now you'll haste back to yours [to BLACKWOOD].

       —We must henceforth

       Trust to the Great Disposer of events,

       And justice of our cause!...

       [BLACKWOOD leaves. The battle grows hotter. A double-headed shot

       cuts down seven or eight marines on the “Victory's” poop.]

       Captain Adair, part those marines of yours,

       And hasten to disperse them round the ship.—

       Your place is down below, Burke, not up here;

       Ah, yes; like David you would see the battle!

       [A heavy discharge of musket-shot comes from the tops of the

       “Santisima Trinidad. ADAIR and PASCO fall. Another swathe

       of Marines is mowed down by chain-shot.]

      SCOTT

       My lord, I use to you the utmost prayers

       That I have privilege to shape in words:

       Remove your stars and orders, I would beg;

       That shot was aimed at you.

      NELSON

       They were awarded to me as an honour,

       And shall I do despite to those who prize me,

       And slight their gifts? No, I will die with them,

       If die I must.

       [He walks up and down with HARDY.]

      HARDY

       At least let's put you on

       Your old greatcoat, my lord—[the air is keen.].—

       'Twill cover all. So while you still retain

       Your dignities, you baulk these deadly aims

      NELSON

       Thank 'ee, good friend. But no,—I haven't time,

       I do assure you—not a trice to spare,

       As you well will see.

       [A few minutes later SCOTT falls dead, a bullet having pierced

       his skull. Immediately after a shot passes between the Admiral

       and the Captain, tearing the instep of Hardy's shoe, and striking

       away the buckle. They shake off the dust and splinters it has

       scattered over them. NELSON glances round, and perceives what

       has happened to his secretary.]

      NELSON

       Poor Scott, too, carried off! Warm work this, Hardy;

       Too warm to go on long.

      HARDY

       I think so, too;

       Their lower ports are blocked against our hull,

       And our charge now is less. Each knock so near

       Sets their old wood on fire.

      NELSON

       Ay, rotten as peat.

       What's that? I think she has struck, or pretty nigh!

       [A cracking of musketry.]

      HARDY

       Not yet.—Those small-arm men there, in her tops,

       Thin our crew fearfully. Now, too, our guns

       Have dipped full down, or they would rake

       The “Temeraire” there on the other side.

      NELSON

       True.—While you deal good measure out to these,

       Keep slapping at those giants over here—

       The “Trinidad,” I mean, and the “Bucentaure,”

       To win'ard—swelling up so pompously.

      HARDY

       I'll see no slackness shall be shown that way.

       [They part and go in their respective directions. Gunners, naked

       to the waist and reeking with sweat, are now in swift action on

      

Скачать книгу