the mirror of the sea-第39节
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not know his name； we only know of him what is material for us to
know … that he was never backward on occasions of desperate
service。 We have this on the authority of a distinguished seaman
of Nelson's time。 Departing this life as Admiral of the Fleet on
the eve of the Crimean War； Sir Thomas Byam Martin has recorded for
us amongst his all too short autobiographical notes these few
characteristic words uttered by one young man of the many who must
have felt that particular inconvenience of a heroic age。
The distinguished Admiral had lived through it himself； and was a
good judge of what was expected in those days from men and ships。
A brilliant frigate captain； a man of sound judgment； of dashing
bravery and of serene mind； scrupulously concerned for the welfare
and honour of the navy； he missed a larger fame only by the chances
of the service。 We may well quote on this day the words written of
Nelson； in the decline of a well…spent life； by Sir T。 B。 Martin；
who died just fifty years ago on the very anniversary of Trafalgar。
〃Nelson's nobleness of mind was a prominent and beautiful part of
his character。 His foibles … faults if you like … will never be
dwelt upon in any memorandum of mine；〃 he declares； and goes on …
〃he whose splendid and matchless achievements will be remembered
with admiration while there is gratitude in the hearts of Britons；
or while a ship floats upon the ocean； he whose example on the
breaking out of the war gave so chivalrous an impulse to the
younger men of the service that all rushed into rivalry of daring
which disdained every warning of prudence； and led to acts of
heroic enterprise which tended greatly to exalt the glory of our
nation。〃
These are his words； and they are true。 The dashing young frigate
captain； the man who in middle age was nothing loth to give chase
single…handed in his seventy…four to a whole fleet； the man of
enterprise and consummate judgment； the old Admiral of the Fleet；
the good and trusted servant of his country under two kings and a
queen； had felt correctly Nelson's influence； and expressed himself
with precision out of the fulness of his seaman's heart。
〃Exalted；〃 he wrote； not 〃augmented。〃 And therein his feeling and
his pen captured the very truth。 Other men there were ready and
able to add to the treasure of victories the British navy has given
to the nation。 It was the lot of Lord Nelson to exalt all this
glory。 Exalt！ the word seems to be created for the man。
XLVII。
The British navy may well have ceased to count its victories。 It
is rich beyond the wildest dreams of success and fame。 It may
well； rather； on a culminating day of its history； cast about for
the memory of some reverses to appease the jealous fates which
attend the prosperity and triumphs of a nation。 It holds； indeed；
the heaviest inheritance that has ever been entrusted to the
courage and fidelity of armed men。
It is too great for mere pride。 It should make the seamen of to…
day humble in the secret of their hearts； and indomitable in their
unspoken resolution。 In all the records of history there has never
been a time when a victorious fortune has been so faithful to men
making war upon the sea。 And it must be confessed that on their
part they knew how to be faithful to their victorious fortune。
They were exalted。 They were always watching for her smile； night
or day； fair weather or foul； they waited for her slightest sign
with the offering of their stout hearts in their hands。 And for
the inspiration of this high constancy they were indebted to Lord
Nelson alone。 Whatever earthly affection he abandoned or grasped；
the great Admiral was always； before all； beyond all； a lover of
Fame。 He loved her jealously； with an inextinguishable ardour and
an insatiable desire … he loved her with a masterful devotion and
an infinite trustfulness。 In the plenitude of his passion he was
an exacting lover。 And she never betrayed the greatness of his
trust！ She attended him to the end of his life； and he died
pressing her last gift （nineteen prizes） to his heart。 〃Anchor；
Hardy … anchor！〃 was as much the cry of an ardent lover as of a
consummate seaman。 Thus he would hug to his breast the last gift
of Fame。
It was this ardour which made him great。 He was a flaming example
to the wooers of glorious fortune。 There have been great officers
before … Lord Hood； for instance； whom he himself regarded as the
greatest sea officer England ever had。 A long succession of great
commanders opened the sea to the vast range of Nelson's genius。
His time had come； and； after the great sea officers； the great
naval tradition passed into the keeping of a great man。 Not the
least glory of the navy is that it understood Nelson。 Lord Hood
trusted him。 Admiral Keith told him： 〃We can't spare you either
as Captain or Admiral。〃 Earl St。 Vincent put into his hands；
untrammelled by orders； a division of his fleet； and Sir Hyde
Parker gave him two more ships at Copenhagen than he had asked for。
So much for the chiefs； the rest of the navy surrendered to him
their devoted affection； trust； and admiration。 In return he gave
them no less than his own exalted soul。 He breathed into them his
own ardour and his own ambition。 In a few short years he
revolutionized； not the strategy or tactics of sea…warfare； but the
very conception of victory itself。 And this is genius。 In that
alone； through the fidelity of his fortune and the power of his
inspiration； he stands unique amongst the leaders of fleets and
sailors。 He brought heroism into the line of duty。 Verily he is a
terrible ancestor。
And the men of his day loved him。 They loved him not only as
victorious armies have loved great commanders； they loved him with
a more intimate feeling as one of themselves。 In the words of a
contemporary； he had 〃a most happy way of gaining the affectionate
respect of all who had the felicity to serve under his command。〃
To be so great and to remain so accessible to the affection of
one's fellow…men is the mark of exceptional humanity。 Lord
Nelson's greatness was very human。 It had a moral basis； it needed
to feel itself surrounded by the warm devotion of a band of
brothers。 He was vain and tender。 The love and admiration which
the navy gave him so unreservedly soothed the restlessness of his
professional pride。 He trusted them as much as they trusted him。
He was a seaman of seamen。 Sir T。 B。 Martin states that he never
conversed with any officer who had served under Nelson 〃without
hearing the heartiest expressions of attachment to his person and
admiration of his frank and conciliatory manner to his
subordinates。〃 And Sir Robert Stopford； who commanded one of the
ships with which Nelson chased to the West Indies a fleet nearly
double in number； says in a letter： 〃We are half…starved and
otherwise inconvenienced by being so long out of port； but our
reward is that we are with Nelson。〃
This heroic spirit of daring and endurance； in which all public and
private differences were sunk throughout the whole fleet； is Lord
Nelson's great legacy； triply sealed by the victorious impress of
the Nile； Copenhagen； and Trafalgar。 This is a legacy whose value
the changes of time cannot affect。 The men and the ships he knew
how to lead lovingly to the work of courage and the reward of glory
have passed away； but Nelson's uplifting touch remains in the
standard of achievement he has set for all time。 The principles of
strategy may be immutable。 It is certain they have been； and shall
be again； disregarded from timidity； from blindness； through
infirmity of purpose。 The tactics of great captains on land and
sea can be infinitely discussed。 The first object of tactics is to
close with the adversary on terms of the greatest possible
advantage； yet no hard…and…fast rules can be drawn from experience；
for this capital reason； amongst others … that the quality of the
adversary is a variable element in the problem。 The tactics of
Lord Nelson have been amply discussed； with much pride and some
profit。 And yet； truly； they are already of but archaic interest。
A very few years more and the hazardous difficulties of handling a
fleet under canvas shall have passed beyond the conception of
seamen who hold in trust for their country Lord Nelson's legacy of
heroic spirit。 The change in the character of the ships is too
great and too radical。 It is good and proper to study the acts of
great men with thoughtful reverence； but already the precise
intention of Lord Nelson's famous memorandum seems to
