LESSON 12 Battle of Trafalgar,and death of Nelson
第十二課 特拉法爾加戰(zhàn)役和納爾遜之死
It had been part of Nelson's prayer that the British fleet might be distinguished by humanity in the victory which he expected. Setting an example himself, he twice gave orders to cease firing on the Redoubtable, supposing that she had struck because her guns were silent; for, as she carried no flag, there was no means of instantly ascertaining the fact. From this ship, which he had thus twice spared, he received his death. A ball fired from her mizzen-top, which, in the then situation of the two vessels, was not more than fifteen yards from that part of the deck where he was standing, struck the epaulet on his left shoulder, about a quarter after one, just in the heat of the action. He fell upon his face on the spot which was covered with his poor secretary's blood.
納爾頓祈禱著，雖然他渴望勝利，但是他仍希望英國艦隊在面對勝利的誘惑時能不失人性。他以身立榜，兩次下令停止向可畏號戰(zhàn)艦（Redoubtable）開火，因為這艘船大概是已經(jīng)被擊敗了——它沒有回擊，船上也沒有旗幟，如此一來已經(jīng)無須再去懷疑它被擊敗的事實。然而，就是這艘他已經(jīng)饒恕了兩次的船讓他送了命。一個火球從兩艘船之間后桅桿頂處飛來落在了距離他所在的甲板不到五十碼的位置并擊落了他左肩的勛章，時間是一小時十五分鐘戰(zhàn)役正進行到最激烈的時候，他面朝下倒在被他那可憐的秘書之血浸染的地方。
Hardy, who was a few steps from him, turning round, saw three men raising him up. "They have done for me at last, Hardy," said he. "I hope not," cried Hardy. "Yes," he replied; "my back-bone is shot through." Yet even now, not for a moment losing his presence of mind, he observed, as they were carrying him down the ladder, that the tiller-ropes, which had been shot away, were not yet replaced, and ordered that new ones should be rove immediately; then, that he might not be seen by the crew, he took out his handkerchief and covered his face and his stars! Had he but concealed those badges of honour from the enemy, England, perhaps, would not have had cause to receive with sorrow the news of the Battle of Trafalgar.
“他們最終還是擊中我了，哈迪，”他說。“真希望不是這樣，”哈迪喊道。“是這樣的，”他回道；“我的脊梁骨被打穿了。”然而，即使是現(xiàn)在，納爾森還未曾失去絲毫理智，就在自己被抬下樓梯時他發(fā)現(xiàn)那根被不停射擊的船繩此時還未被替換掉，他便命令船員立刻去替換新繩。之后他掏出手帕遮住了臉和星章，而船員們并未注意到他的這個舉動！如果他之前就將這些榮譽勛章遮蓋住不讓敵人看到，英格蘭或許就不會收到從特拉法加爾戰(zhàn)役傳來的這個讓人如此悲痛的消息。
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