The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 20

[Enter DECRES.]

What of the squadron's movements, good Decres?

Brest opened, and all sailing Channelwards, Like swans into a creek at feeding-time?

DECRES

Such news was what I'd hoped, your Majesty, To send across this daybreak. But events Have proved intractable, it seems, of late; And hence I haste in person to report The featless facts that just have dashed my---

NAPOLEON [darkening]

Well?

DECRES

Sire, at the very juncture when the fleets Sailed out from Ferrol, fever raged aboard "L'Achille" and "l'Algeciras": later on, Mischief a.s.sailed our Spanish comrades' ships; Several ran foul of neighbours; whose new hurts, Being added to their innate clumsiness, Gave hap the upper hand; and in quick course Demoralized the whole; until Villeneuve, Judging that Calder now with Nelson rode, And prescient of unparalleled disaster If he pushed on in so disjoint a trim, Bowed to the inevitable; and thus, perforce, Leaving to other opportunity Brest and the Channel scheme, with vast regret Steered southward into Cadiz.

NAPOLEON [having risen from the table]

What!--Is, then, My scheme of years to be disdained and dashed By this man's like, a wretched moral coward, Whom you must needs foist on me as one fit For full command in pregnant enterprise!

MONGE [aside]

I'm one too many here! Let me step out Till this black squall blows over. Poor Decres.

Would that this precious project, disinterred From naval archives of King Louis' reign, Had ever lingered fusting where 'twas found.[7]

[Exit Monge.]

NAPOLEON

To help a friend you foul a country's fame!-- Decres, not only chose you this Villeneuve, But you have nourished secret sour opinions Akin to his, and thereby helped to scathe As stably based a project as this age Has sunned to ripeness. Ever the French Marine Have you decried, ever contrived to bring Despair into the fleet! Why, this Villeneuve, Your man, this rank incompetent, this traitor-- Of whom I asked no more than fight and lose, Provided he detain the enemy-- A frigate is too great for his command!

what shall be said of one who, at a breath, When a few casual sailors find them sick, When falls a broken boom or slitten sail, When rumour hints that Calder's tubs and Nelson's May join, and bob about in company, Is straightway paralyzed, and doubles back On all his ripened plans!-- Bring him, ay, bodily; hale him out from Cadiz, Compel him up the Channel by main force, And, having doffed him his supreme command, Give the united squadrons to Ganteaume!

DECRES

Your Majesty, while umbraged, righteously, By an event my tongue dragged dry to tell, Makes my hard situation over-hard By your ascription to the actors in't Of motives such and such. 'Tis not for me To answer these reproaches, Sire, and ask Why years-long mindfulness of France's fame In things marine should win no confidence.

I speak; but am unable to convince!

True is it that this man has been my friend Since boyhood made us schoolmates; and I say That he would yield the heel-drops of his heart With joyful readiness this day, this hour, To do his country service. Yet no less Is it his drawback that he sees too far.

And there are times, Sire, when a shorter sight Charms Fortune more. A certain sort of bravery Some people have--to wit, this same Lord Nelson-- Which is but fatuous faith in one's own star Swoln to the very verge of childishness, [Smugly disguised as putting trust in G.o.d, A habit with these English folk]; whereby A headstrong blindness to contingencies Carries the actor on, and serves him well In some nice issues clearer sight would mar.

Such eyeless bravery Villeneuve has not; But, Sire, he is no coward.

NAPOLEON

Well, have it so!--What are we going to do?

My brain has only one wish--to succeed!

DECRES

My voice wanes weaker with you, Sire; is nought!

Yet these few words, as Minister of Marine, I'll venture now.--My process would be thus:-- Our projects for a junction of the fleets Being well-discerned and read by every eye Through long postponement, England is prepared.

I would recast them. Later in the year Form sundry squadrons of this ma.s.sive one, Hara.s.s the English till the winter time, Then rendezvous at Cadiz; where leave half To catch the enemy's eye and call their cruizers, While rounding Scotland with the other half, You make the Channel by the eastern strait, Cover the pa.s.sage of our army-boats, And plant the blow.

NAPOLEON

And what if they perceive Our Scottish route, and meet us eastwardly?

DECRES

I have thought of it, and planned a countermove; I'll write the scheme more clearly and at length, And send it hither to your Majesty.

NAPOLEON

Do so forthwith; and send me in Daru.

[Exit DECRES. Re-enter MONGE.]

Our breakfast, Monge, to-day has been cut short, And these discussions on the ancient tongues Wherein you shine, must yield to modern moils.

Nay, hasten not away; though feeble wills, Incompetence, ay, imbecility, In some who feign to serve the cause of France, Do make me other than myself just now!-- Ah--here's Daru.

[DARU enters. MONGE takes his leave.]

Daru, sit down and write. Yes, here, at once, This room will serve me now. What think you, eh?

Villeneuve has just turned tail and run to Cadiz.

So quite postponed--perhaps even overthrown-- My long-conned project against yonder sh.o.r.e As 'twere a juvenile's snow-built device But made for melting! Think of it, Daru,-- My G.o.d, my G.o.d, how can I talk thereon!

A plan well judged, well charted, well upreared, To end in nothing!... Sit you down and write.

[NAPOLEON walks up and down, and resumes after a silence.]

Write this.--A volte-face 'tis indeed!--Write, write!

DARU [holding pen to paper]

I wait, your Majesty.

NAPOLEON