the mirror of the sea-第46章

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to　make　a　better　fight　of　it　in　1797　than　they　did　in　1793。　　Later



still；　the　resistance　offered　at　the　Nile　was　all；　and　more　than



all；　that　could　be　demanded　from　seamen；　who；　unless　blind　or



without　understanding；　must　have　seen　their　doom　sealed　from　the



moment　that　the　Goliath；　bearing　up　under　the　bows　of　the　Guerrier；



took　up　an　inshore　berth。　　The　combined　fleets　of　1805；　just　come



out　of　port；　and　attended　by　nothing　but　the　disturbing　memories　of



reverses；　presented　to　our　approach　a　determined　front；　on　which



Captain　Blackwood；　in　a　knightly　spirit；　congratulated　his　Admiral。



By　the　exertions　of　their　valour　our　adversaries　have　but　added　a



greater　lustre　to　our　arms。　　No　friend　could　have　done　more；　for



even　in　war；　which　severs　for　a　time　all　the　sentiments　of　human



fellowship；　this　subtle　bond　of　association　remains　between　brave



men　…　that　the　final　testimony　to　the　value　of　victory　must　be



received　at　the　hands　of　the　vanquished。







Those　who　from　the　heat　of　that　battle　sank　together　to　their



repose　in　the　cool　depths　of　the　ocean　would　not　understand　the



watchwords　of　our　day；　would　gaze　with　amazed　eyes　at　the　engines



of　our　strife。　　All　passes；　all　changes：　　the　animosity　of　peoples；



the　handling　of　fleets；　the　forms　of　ships；　and　even　the　sea　itself



seems　to　wear　a　different　and　diminished　aspect　from　the　sea　of



Lord　Nelson's　day。　　In　this　ceaseless　rush　of　shadows　and　shades；



that；　like　the　fantastic　forms　of　clouds　cast　darkly　upon　the



waters　on　a　windy　day；　fly　past　us　to　fall　headlong　below　the　hard



edge　of　an　implacable　horizon；　we　must　turn　to　the　national　spirit；



which；　superior　in　its　force　and　continuity　to　good　and　evil



fortune；　can　alone　give　us　the　feeling　of　an　enduring　existence　and



of　an　invincible　power　against　the　fates。







Like　a　subtle　and　mysterious　elixir　poured　into　the　perishable　clay



of　successive　generations；　it　grows　in　truth；　splendour；　and



potency　with　the　march　of　ages。　　In　its　incorruptible　flow　all



round　the　globe　of　the　earth　it　preserves　from　the　decay　and



forgetfulness　of　death　the　greatness　of　our　great　men；　and　amongst



them　the　passionate　and　gentle　greatness　of　Nelson；　the　nature　of



whose　genius　was；　on　the　faith　of　a　brave　seaman　and　distinguished



Admiral；　such　as　to　〃Exalt　the　glory　of　our　nation。〃























End