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the Adm'l!

      SECOND BURGHER

       How?

      FIRST BOATMAN

       Well; the plain calendar of it is, that when he came to be unhooped,

       it was found that the crew had drunk him dry. What was the men to

       do? Broke down by the battle, and hardly able to keep afloat, 'twas

       a most defendable thing, and it fairly saved their lives. So he was

       their salvation after death as he had been in the fight. If he

       could have knowed it, 'twould have pleased him down to the ground!

       How 'a would have laughed through the spigot-hole: “Draw on, my

       hearties! Better I shrivel that you famish.” Ha-ha!

      SECOND BURGHER

       It may be defendable afloat; but it seems queer ashore.

      FIRST BOATMAN

       Well, that's as I had it from one that knows—Bob Loveday of

       Overcombe—one of the “Victory” men that's going to walk in the

       funeral. However, let's touch a livelier string. Peter Green,

       strike up that new ballet that they've lately had prented here,

       and were hawking about town last market-day.

      SONG

       THE NIGHT OF TRAFALGAR

      I

       In the wild October night-time, when the wind raved round the land,

       And the Back-sea12 met the Front-sea, and our doors were blocked with sand, And we heard the drub of Dead-man's Bay, where bones of thousands are, We knew not what the day had done for us at Trafalgar. [All] Had done, Had done, For us at Trafalgar!

      II

       “Pull hard, and make the Nothe, or down we go!” one says, says he.

       We pulled; and bedtime brought the storm; but snug at home slept we.

       Yet all the while our gallants after fighting through the day,

       Were beating up and down the dark, sou'-west of Cadiz Bay.

       The dark,

       The dark,

       Sou'-west of Cadiz Bay!

      III

       The victors and the vanquished then the storm it tossed and tore,

       As hard they strove, those worn-out men, upon that surly shore;

       Dead Nelson and his half-dead crew, his foes from near and far,

       Were rolled together on the deep that night at Trafalgar!

       The deep,

       The deep,

       That night at Trafalgar!

       [The Cloud-curtain draws.]

      CHORUS OF THE YEARS

       Meanwhile the month moves on to counter-deeds

       Vast as the vainest needs,

       And fiercely the predestined plot proceeds.

ACT SIXTH

       Table of Contents

      SCENE I

       THE FIELD OF AUSTERLITZ. THE FRENCH POSITION

       [The night is the 1st of December following, and the eve of the

       battle. The view is from the elevated position of the Emperor's

       bivouac. The air cuts keen and the sky glistens with stars, but

       the lower levels are covered with a white fog stretching like a

       sea, from which the heights protrude as dusky rocks.

       To the left are discernible high and wooded hills. In the front

       mid-distance the plateau of Pratzen outstands, declining suddenly

       on the right to a low flat country covered with marshes and pools

       now mostly obscured. On the plateau itself are seen innumerable

       and varying lights, marking the bivouac of the centre divisions

       of the Austro-Russian army. Close to the foreground the fires of

       the French are burning, surrounded by soldiery. The invisible

       presence of the countless thousand of massed humanity that compose

       the two armies makes itself felt indefinably.

       The tent of NAPOLEON rises nearest at hand, with sentinel and

       other military figures looming around, and saddled horses held

       by attendants. The accents of the Emperor are audible, through

       the canvas from inside, dictating a proclamation.]

      VOICE OF NAPOLEON

       “Soldiers, the hordes of Muscovy now face you,

       To mend the Austrian overthrow at Ulm!

       But how so? Are not these the self-same bands

       You met and swept aside at Hollabrunn,

       And whose retreating forms, dismayed to flight,

       Your feet pursued along the trackways here?

       “Our own position, massed and menacing,

       Is rich in chance for opportune attack;

       For, say they march to cross and turn our right—

       A course almost at their need—their stretching flank

       Will offer us, from points now prearranged—-”

      VOICE OF A MARSHAL

       Shows it, your Majesty, the wariness

       That marks your usual far-eye policy,

       To openly announce your tactics thus

       Some twelve hours ere their form can actualize?

      THE VOICE OF NAPOLEON

       The zest such knowledge will impart to all

       Is worth the risk of leakages. [To Secretary]

       Write on.

       [Dictation resumed]

       “Soldiers, your sections I myself shall lead;

       But ease your minds who would expostulate

       Against my undue rashness. If your zeal

       Sow hot confusion in the hostile files

       As your old manner is, and in our rush

       We mingle with our foes, I'll use fit care.

       Nevertheless, should issues stand at pause

       But for a wink-while, that time you will eye

       Your Emperor the foremost in the shock,

       Taking his risk with every ranksman here.

       For victory, men, must be no thing surmised,

       As that which may or may not beam on us,

       Like noontide sunshine on a dubious morn;

       It must be sure!—The honour and the fame

       Of France's gay and gallant infantry—

       So dear, so cherished all the Empire through—

       Binds us to compass it!

       Maintain the ranks;

       Let none be thinned by impulse or excuse

      

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