LESSON 12 Battle of Trafalgar,and death of Nelson
第十二课 特拉法尔加战役和纳尔逊之死
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.
纳尔顿祈祷着，虽然他渴望胜利，但是他仍希望英国舰队在面对胜利的诱惑时能不失人性。他以身立榜，两次下令停止向可畏号战舰（Redoubtable）开火，因为这艘船大概是已经被击败了——它没有回击，船上也没有旗帜，如此一来已经无须再去怀疑它被击败的事实。然而，就是这艘他已经饶恕了两次的船让他送了命。一个火球从两艘船之间后桅杆顶处飞来落在了距离他所在的甲板不到五十码的位置并击落了他左肩的勋章，时间是一小时十五分钟战役正进行到最激烈的时候，他面朝下倒在被他那可怜的秘书之血浸染的地方。
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.
“他们最终还是击中我了，哈迪，”他说。“真希望不是这样，”哈迪喊道。“是这样的，”他回道；“我的脊梁骨被打穿了。”然而，即使是现在，纳尔森还未曾失去丝毫理智，就在自己被抬下楼梯时他发现那根被不停射击的船绳此时还未被替换掉，他便命令船员立刻去替换新绳。之后他掏出手帕遮住了脸和星章，而船员们并未注意到他的这个举动！如果他之前就将这些荣誉勋章遮盖住不让敌人看到，英格兰或许就不会收到从特拉法加尔战役传来的这个让人如此悲痛的消息。
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