the life of horatio lord nelson-第50章
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e confusion which the attack excited； had provided no surgeons； so that； when our men boarded the captured ships； they found many of the mangled and mutilated Danes bleeding to death for want of proper assistancea scene； of all others； the most shocking to a brave man's feelings。
The boats of Sir Hyde's division were actively employed all night in bringing out the prizes； and in getting afloat the ships which were on shore。 At daybreak； Nelson； who had slept in his own ship； the St。 George； rowed to the ELEPHANT； and his delight at finding her afloat seemed to give him new life。 There he took a hasty breakfast； praising the men for their exertions； and then pushed off to the prizes； which had not yet been removed。 The ZEALAND； seventy…four； the last which struck； had drifted on the shoal under the Trekroner； and relying； as it seems； upon the protection which that battery might have afforded； refused to acknowledge herself captured； saying； that though it was true her flag was not to be seen； her pendant was still flying。 Nelson ordered one of our brigs and three long…boats to approach her； and rowed up himself to one of the enemy's ships； to communicate with the com… modore。 This officer proved to be an old acquaintance； whom he had known in the West Indies； so he invited himself on board； and with that urban… ity as well as decision which always characterised him； urged his claim to the ZEALAND so well that it was admitted。 The men from the boats lashed a cable round her bowsprit； and the gun…vessel towed her away。 It is affirmed； and probably with truth； that the Danes felt more pain at beholding this than at all their misfortunes on the preceding day； and one of the officers； Commodore Steen Rille； went to the Trekroner battery； and asked the commander why he had not sunk the ZEALAND； rather than suffer her thus to be carried off by the enemy？
This was； indeed； a mournful day for Copenhagen！ It was Good Friday； but the general agitation； and the mourning which was in every house； made all distinction of days be forgotten。 There were； at that hour； thousands in that city who felt； and more perhaps who needed； the consolations of Christianity； but few or none who could be calm enough to think of its observances。 The English were actively employed in refitting their own ships； securing the prizes； and distributing the prisoners； the Danes； in carrying on shore and disposing of the wounded and the dead。 It had been a murderous action。 Our loss； in killed and wounded； was 953。 Part of this slaughter might have been spared。 The commanding officer of the troops on board one of our ships asked where his men should be stationed？ He was told that they could be of no use！ that they were not near enough for musketry； and were not wanted at the guns； they had； therefore； better go below。 This； he said； was impossible； it would be a disgrace that could never be wiped away。 They were； therefore； drawn up upon the gangway； to satisfy this cruel point of honour； and there； without the possibility of annoying the enemy； they were mowed down！ The loss of the Danes； including prisoners； amounted to about six thousand。 The negotiations； meantime； went on； and it was agreed that Nelson should have an interview with the prince the following day。 Hardy and Freemantle landed with him。 This was a thing as unexampled as the other circumstances of the battle。 A strong guard was appointed to escort him to the palace； as much for the purpose of security as of honour。 The populace； according to the British account； showed a mixture of admiration； curiosity； and displeasure； at beholding that man in the midst of them who had inflicted such wounds upon Denmark。 But there were neither acclamations nor murmurs。 〃The people；〃 says a Dane； 〃did not degrade themselves with the former； nor disgrace themselves with the latter： the admiral was received as one brave enemy ever ought to receive anotherhe was received with respect。〃 The preliminaries of the negotiation were adjusted at this interview。 During the repast which followed； Nelson； with all the sincerity of his character； bore willing testimony to the valour of his foes。 He told the prince that he had been in a hundred and five engagements； but that this was the most tremendous of all。 〃The French；〃 he said； 〃fought bravely； but they could not have stood for one hour the fight which the Danes had supported for four。〃 He requested that Villemoes might be introduced to him； and； shaking hands with the youth； told the prince that he ought to be made an admiral。 The prince replied： 〃If； my lord； I am to make all my brave officers admirals； I should have no captains or lieutenants in my service。〃
The sympathy of the Danes for their countrymen who had bled in their defence； was not weakened by distance of time or place in this instance。 Things needful for the service； or the comfort of the wounded； were sent in profusion to the hospitals； till the superintendents gave public notice that they could receive no more。 On the third day after the action； the dead were buried in the naval churchyard： the ceremony was made as public and as solemn as the occasion required； such a procession had never before been seen in that； or perhaps in any other city。 A public monument was erected upon the spot where the slain were gathered together。 A subscription was opened on the day of the funeral for the relief of the sufferers； and collections in aid of it made throughout all the churches in the kingdom。 This appeal to the feelings of the people was made with circumstances which gave it full effect。 A monument was raised in the midst of the church； surmounted by the Danish colours： young maidens； dressed in white； stood round it； with either one who had been wounded in the battle； or the widow and orphans of some one who had fallen： a suitable oration was delivered from the pulpit； and patriotic hymns and songs were afterwards performed。 Medals were distributed to all the officers； and to the men who had distinguished themselves。 Poets and painters vied with each other in celebrating a battle which； disastrous as it was； had yet been honourable to their country： some； with pardonable sophistry； represented the advantage of the day as on their own side。 One writer discovered a more curious； but less disputable ground of satisfaction； in the reflection that Nelson； as may be inferred from his name； was of Danish descent； and his actions therefore； the Dane argued； were attributable to Danish valour。
The negotiation was continued during the five following days； and in that interval the prizes were disposed of； in a manner which was little approved by Nelson。 Six line…of…battle ships and eight praams had been taken。 Of these the HOLSTEIN； sixty…four； was the only one which was sent home。 The ZEALAND was a finer ship； but the ZEALAND and all the others were burned； and their brass battering cannon sunk with the hulls in such shoal water； that； when the fleet returned from Revel； they found the Danes； with craft over the wrecks； employed in getting the guns up again。 Nelson； though he forbore from any public expression of displeasure at seeing the proofs and trophies of his victory destroyed； did not forget to represent to the Admiralty the case of those who were thus deprived of their prize…money。 〃Whether；〃 said he to Earl St。 Vincent； 〃Sir Hyde Parker may mention the subject to you； I know not； for he is rich； and does not want it： nor is it； you will believe me； any desire to get a few hundred pounds that actuates me to address this letter to you； but justice to the brave officers and men who fought on that day。 It is true our opponents were in hulks and floats； only adapted for the position they were in； but that made our battle so much the harder； and victory so much the more difficult to obtain。 Believe me； I have weighed all circumstances； and； in my conscience； I think that the king should send a gracious message to the House of Commons for a gift to this fleet； for what must be the natural feelings of the officers and men belonging to it； to see their rich commander…in…chief burn all the fruits of their victory； which； if fitted up and sent to England （as many of them might have been by dismantling part of our fleet）；
