the life of horatio lord nelson-第33章
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e occasion； in terms which show the fulness of her joy； and the height of the hopes which it had excited。 〃I wish I could give wings；〃 said she； 〃to the bearer of the news； and at the same time to our most sincere gratitude。 The whole of the sea…coast of Italy saved； and this is owing alone to the generous English。 This battle； or； to speak more correctly； this total defeat of the regicide squadron； was obtained by the valour of this brave admiral； seconded by a navy which is the terror of its enemies。 The victory is so complete that I can still scarcely believe it； and if it were not the brave English nation； which is accustomed to perform prodigies by sea； I could not persuade myself that it had happened。 It would have moved you to have seen all my children； boys and girls； hanging on my neck； and crying for joy at the happy news。 Recommend the hero to his master： he has filled the whole of Italy with admiration of the English。 Great hopes were entertained of some advantages being gained by his bravery； but no one could look for so total a destruction。 All here are drunk with joy。〃
Such being the feelings of the royal family； it may well be supposed with what delight； and with what honours Nelson would be welcomed。 Early on the 22nd of September the poor wretched VANGUARD； as he called his shattered vessel； appeared in sight of Naples。 The CULLODEN and ALEXANDER had preceded her by some days； and given notice of her approach。 Many hundred boats and barges were ready to go forth and meet him； with music and streamers and every demonstration of joy and triumph。 Sir William and Lady Hamilton led the way in their state barge。 They had seen Nelson only for a few days； four years ago； but they then perceived in him that heroic spirit which was now so fully and gloriously manifested to the world。 Emma Lady Hamilton； who from this time so greatly influenced his future life； was a woman whose personal accomplishments have seldom been equalled； and whose powers of mind were not less fascinating than her person。 She was passionately attached to the queen； and by her influence the British fleet had obtained those supplies at Syracuse； without which； Nelson always asserted； the battle of Aboukir could not have been fought。 During the long interval which passed before any tidings were received； her anxiety had been hardly less than that of Nelson himself； while pursuing an enemy of whom he could obtain no information； and when the tidings were brought her by a joyful bearer； open…mouthed； its effect was such that she fell like one who had been shot。 She and Sir William had literally been made ill by their hopes and fears； and joy at a catastrophe so far exceeding all that they had dared to hope for。 Their admiration for the hero necessarily produced a degree of proportionate gratitude and affection； and when their barge came alongside the VANGUARD； at the sight of Nelson； Lady Hamilton sprang up the ship's side； and exclaiming；〃O God！ is it possible！〃 fell into his arms more； he says； like one dead than alive。 He described the meeting as 〃terribly affecting。〃 These friends had scarcely recovered from their tears； when the king； who went out to meet him three leagues in the royal barge； came on board and took him by the hand； calling him his deliverer and preserver。 From all the boats around he was saluted with the same appellations： the multitude who surrounded him when he landed repeated the same enthusiastic cries； and the lazzaroni displayed their joy by holding up birds in cages； and giving them their liberty as he passed。
His birth…day； which occurred a week after his arrival； was celebrated with one of the most splendid fetes ever beheld at Naples。 But； notwithstanding the splendour with which he was encircled； and the flattering honours with which all ranks welcomed him； Nelson was fully sensible of the depravity； as well as weakness； of those by whom he was surrounded。 〃What precious moments〃 said he； 〃the courts of Naples and Vienna are losing！ Three months would liberate Italy！ but this court is so enervated that the happy moment will be lost。 I am very unwell； and their miserable conduct is not likely to cool my irritable temper。 It is a country of fiddlers and poets； whores and scoundrels。〃 This sense of their ruinous weakness he always retained； nor was he ever blind to the mingled folly and treachery of the Neapolitan ministers； and the complication in iniquities under which the country groaned； but he insensibly； under the influence of Lady Hamilton； formed an affection for the court； to whose misgovernment the miserable condition of the country was so greatly to be imputed。 By the kindness of her nature； as well as by her attractions； she had won his heart。 Earl St。 Vincent； writing to her at this time； says； 〃Pray do not let your fascinating Neapolitan dames approach too near our invaluable friend Nelson； for he is made of flesh and blood； and cannot resist their temptations。〃 But this was addressed to the very person from whom he was in danger。
The state of Naples may be described in few words。 The king was one of the Spanish Bourbons。 As the Caesars have shown us to what wickedness the moral nature of princes may be perverted； so in this family； the degradation to which their intellectual nature can be reduced has been not less conspicuously evinced。 Ferdinand； like the rest of his race； was passionately fond of field sports； and cared for nothing else。 His queen had all the vices of the house of Austria； with little to mitigate； and nothing to ennoble themprovided she could have her pleasures； and the king his sports； they cared not in what manner the revenue was raised or administered。 Of course a system of favouritism existed at court； and the vilest and most impudent corruption prevailed in every department of state； and in every branch of administration； from the highest to the lowest。 It is only the institutions of Christianity； and the vicinity of better…regulated states； which prevent kingdoms； under such circumstances of misrule； from sinking into a barbarism like that of Turkey。 A sense of better things was kept alive in some of the Neapolitans by literature； and by their intercourse with happier countries。 These persons naturally looked to France； at the commencement of the Revolution； and during all the horrors of that Revolution still cherished a hope that； by the aid of France； they might be enabled to establish a new order of things in Naples。 They were grievously mistaken in supposing that the principles of liberty would ever be supported by France； but they were not mistaken in believing that no government could be worse than their own； and therefore they considered any change as desirable。 In this opinion men of the most different characters agreed。 Many of the nobles； who were not in favour； wished for a revolution； that they might obtain the ascendancy to which they thought themselves entitled； men of desperate fortunes desired it； in the hope of enriching themselves； knaves and intriguers sold themselves to the French to promote it； and a few enlightened men； and true lovers of their country； joined in the same cause； from the purest and noblest motives。 All these were confounded under the common name of Jacobins； and the Jacobins of the continental kingdoms were regarded by the English with more hatred than they deserved。 They were classed with Phillippe Egalite； Marat； and Hebert； whereas they deserved rather to be ranked； if not with Locke； and Sydney； and Russell； at least with Argyle and Monmouth； and those who； having the same object as the prime movers of our own Revolution； failed in their premature but not unworthy attempt。
No circumstances could be more unfavourable to the best interests of Europe； than those which placed England in strict alliance with the superannuated and abominable governments of the continent。 The subjects of those governments who wished for freedom thus became enemies to England； and dupes and agents of France。 They looked to their own grinding grievances； and did not see the danger with which the liberties of the world were threatened。 England； on the other hand； saw the danger in its true magnitude； but was blind to these grievances； and found herself compelle
