the life of horatio lord nelson-第40节
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tremendous preparations which our negotiators； who were now returned from their fruitless mission； had witnessed。 They； therefore； persuaded Sir Hyde to prefer the passage of the Belt。 〃Let it be by the Sound； by the Belt； or anyhow；〃 cried Nelson；〃only lose not an hour！〃 On the 26th they sailed for the Belt。 Such was the habitual reserve of Sir Hyde that his own captain； the captain of the fleet； did not know which course he had resolved to take till the fleet were getting under weigh。 When Captain Domett was thus apprised of it； he felt it his duty to represent to the admiral his belief that if that course were persevered in； the ultimate object would be totally defeated： it was liable to long delays； and to accidents of ships grounding； in the whole fleet there were only one captain and one pilot who knew anything of this formidable passage （as it was then deemed）； and their knowledge was very slighttheir instructions did not authorise them to attempt it。 Supposing them safe through the Belts； the heavy ships could not come over the GROUNDS to attack Copenhagen； and light vessels would have no effect on such a line of defence as had been prepared against them。 Domett urged these reasons so forcibly that Sir Hyde's opinion was shaken； and he consented to bring the fleet to and send for Nelson on board。 There can be little doubt but that the expedition would have failed if Captain Domett had not thus timeously and earnestly given his advice。 Nelson entirely agreed with him； and it was finally determined to take the passage of the Sound； and the fleet returned to its former anchorage。
The next day was more idly expended in despatching a flag of truce to the governor of Cronenburg Castle； to ask whether he had received orders to fire at the British fleet； as the admiral must consider the first gun to be a declaration of war on the part of Denmark。 A soldier…like and becoming answer was returned to this formality。 The governor said that the British minister had not been sent away from Copenhagen； but had obtained a passport at his own demand。 He himself； as a soldier； could not meddle with politics； but he was not at liberty to suffer a fleet； of which the intention was not yet known； to approach the guns of the castle which he had the honour to command： and he requested； 〃if the British admiral should think proper to make any proposals to the King of Denmark； that he might be apprised of it before the fleet approached nearer。〃 During this intercourse； a Dane； who came on board the commander's ship； having occasion to express his business in writing； found the pen blunt； and； holding it up； sarcastically said； 〃If your guns are not better pointed than your pens； you will make little impression on Copenhagen！〃
On that day intelligence reached the admiral of the loss of one of his fleet； the INVINCIBLE； seventy…four； wrecked on a sand…bank； as she was coming out of Yarmouth： four hundred of her men perished in her。 Nelson； who was now appointed to lead the van； shifted his flag to the ELEPHANT； Captain Foleya lighter ship than the ST。 GEORGE； and； there… fore； fitter for the expected operations。 The two following days were calm。 Orders had been given to pass the Sound as soon as the wind would permit； and； on the afternoon of the 29th； the ships were cleared for action； with an alacrity characteristic of British seamen。 At daybreak on the 30th it blew a topsail breeze from N。W。 The signal was made； and the fleet moved on in order of battle； Nelson's division in the van； Sir Hyde's in the centre； and Admiral Graves' in the rear。
Great actions； whether military or naval； have generally given celebrity to the scenes from whence they are denominated； and thus petty villages； and capes and bays known only to the coasting trader； become associated with mighty deeds； and their names are made conspicuous in the history of the world。 Here； however； the scene was every way worthy of the drama。 The political importance of the Sound is such； that grand objects are not needed there to impress the imagination； yet is the channel full of grand and interesting objects； both of art and nature。 This passage； which Denmark had so long considered as the key of the Baltic； is； in its narrowest part； about three miles wide； and here the city of Elsinore is situated； except Copenhagen； the most flourishing of the Danish towns。 Every vessel which passes lowers her top…gallant sails and pays toll at Elsinore； a toll which is believed to have had its origin in the consent of the traders to that sea； Denmark taking upon itself the charge of constructing lighthouses； and erecting signals； to mark the shoals and rocks from the Cattegat to the Baltic； and they； on their part； agreeing that all ships should pass this way in order that all might pay their shares： none from that time using the passage of the Belt； because it was not fitting that they who enjoyed the benefit of the beacons in dark and stormy weather； should evade contributing to them in fair seasons and summer nights。 Of late years about ten thousand vessels had annually paid this contribution in time of peace。 Adjoining Elsinore； and at the edge of the peninsular promontory； upon the nearest point of land to the Swedish coast； stands Cronenburgh Castle； built after Tycho Brahe's design； a magnificent pileat once a palace； and fortress； and state…prison； with its spires； and towers； and battlements； and batteries。 On the left of the strait is the old Swedish city of Helsinburg； at the foot； and on the side of a hill。 To the north of Helsinburg the shores are steep and rocky； they lower to the south； and the distant spires of Lanscrona； Lund； and Malmoe are seen in the flat country。 The Danish shores consist partly of ridges of sand； but more frequently they are diversified with cornfields； meadows； slopes； and are covered with rich wood； and villages； and villas； and summer palaces belonging to the king and the nobility； and denoting the vicinity of a great capital。 The isles of Huen； Statholm； and Amak； appear in the widening channel； and at the distance of twenty miles from Elsinore stands Copenhagen in full view； the best city of the north； and one of the finest capitals of Europe； visible； with its stately spires； far off。 Amid these magnificent objects there are some which possess a peculiar interest for the recollections which they call forth。 The isle of Huen； a lovely domain； about six miles in circumference； had been the munificent gift of Frederick the Second to Tycho Brahe。 It has higher shores than the near coast of Zealand； or than the Swedish coast in that part。 Here most of his discoveries were made； and here the ruins are to be seen of his observatory； and of the mansion where he was visited by princes； and where； with a princely spirit； he received and entertained all comers from all parts； and promoted science by his liberality as well as by his labours。 Elsinore is a name familiar to English ears； being inseparably associated with HAMLET； and one of the noblest works of human genius。 Cronenburgh had been the scene of deeper tragedy： here Queen Matilda was confined； the victim of a foul and murderous court intrigue。 Here； amid heart…breaking griefs； she found consolation in nursing her infant。 Here she took her everlasting leave of that infant； when； by the interference of England； her own deliverance was obtained； and as the ship bore her away from a country where the venial indiscretions of youth and unsuspicious gaiety had been so cruelly punished； upon these towers she fixed her eyes； and stood upon the deck； obstinately gazing toward them till the last speck had disappeared。
The Sound being the only frequented entrance to the Baltic； the great Mediterranean of the North； few parts of the sea display so frequent a navigation。 In the height of the season not fewer than a hundred vessels pass every four…and…twenty hours for many weeks in succession； but never had so busy or so splendid a scene been exhibited there as on this day； when the British fleet prepared to force that passage where； till now； all ships had vailed their topsails to the flag of Denmark。 The whole force consisted of fifty…one sail of various descriptions； of which sixteen were of the line。 The greater part of the bomb and gun vessels took their stations off Cronenburgh Castle； to cover the fleet； while others on the larboard were ready to engage the Swedish shore。 The Danes； having improved every moment which ill…timed negotiation and baffling weather gave them； had lined their shores with batteries； and as soon as the MONARCH； which was the leading ship； came abreast of them； a fire was opened from about a hundred pieces of cannon and mortars； our light vessels immediately； in return； opened their fire upon the castle。 Here was all the pompous circumstance and exciting reality of war； without its effects； for this ostentatious display was but a bloodless prelude to the wide and sweeping destruction which was soon to follow。 The enemy's shot fell near enough to splash the water on board our ships： not relying upon any forbearance of the Swedes； they meant to have kept the mid channel； but when they perceived that not a shot was fired from Helsinburg； and that no batteries were to be seen on the Swedish sh
