The Dynasts: An Epic-Drama of the War with Napoleon Part 28

MAGENDIE

All night we have read their signals in the air, Whereby the peering frigates of their van Have told them of our trend.

VILLENEUVE

The enemy Makes threat as though to throw him on our stern: Signal the fleet to wear; bid Gravina To come in from manoeuvring with his twelve, And range himself in line.

[Officers murmur.]

I say again Bid Gravina draw hither with his twelve, And signal all to wear!--and come upon The larboard tack with every bow anorth!-- So we make Cadiz in the worst event.

And patch our rags up there. As we head now Our only practicable thoroughfare Is through Gibraltar Strait--a fatal door!

Signal to close the line and leave no gaps.

Remember, too, what I have already told: Remind them of it now. They must not pause For signallings from me amid a strife Whose chaos may prevent my clear discernment, Or may forbid my signalling at all.

The voice of honour then becomes the chief's; Listen they thereto, and set every st.i.tch To heave them on into the fiercest fight.

Now I will sum up all: heed well the charge; EACH CAPTAIN, PETTY OFFICER, AND MAN IS ONLY AT HIS POST WHEN UNDER FIRE.

[The ships of the whole fleet turn their bows from south to north as directed, and close up in two parallel curved columns, the concave side of each column being towards the enemy, and the inters.p.a.ces of the first column being, in general, opposite the hulls of the second.]

AN OFFICER [straining his eyes towards the English fleet]

How they skip on! Their overcrowded sail Bulge like blown bladders in a tripeman's shop The market-morning after slaughterday!

PETTY OFFICER

It's morning before slaughterday with us, I make so bold to bode!

[The English Admiral is seen to be signalling to his fleet. The signal is: "ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY." A loud cheering from all the English ships comes undulating on the wind when the signal is read.]

VILLENEUVE

They are signalling too--Well, business soon begins!

You will reserve your fire. And be it known That we display no admirals' flags at all Until the action's past. 'Twill puzzle them, And work to our advantage when we close.-- Yes, they are double-ranked, I think, like us; But we shall see anon.

MAGENDIE

The foremost one Makes for the "Santa Ana." In such case The "Fougueux" might a.s.sist her.

VILLENEUVE

Be it so-- There's time enough.--Our ships will be in place, And ready to speak back in iron words When theirs cry Hail! in the same sort of voice.

[They prepare to receive the northernmost column of the enemy's ships headed by the "Victory," trying the distance by an occasional single shot. During their suspense a discharge is heard southward, and turning they behold COLLINGWOOD at the head of his column in the "Royal Sovereign," just engaging with the Spanish "Santa Ana."

Meanwhile the "Victory's" mizzen-topmast, with spars and a quant.i.ty of rigging, is seen to have fallen, her wheel to be shot away, and her deck enc.u.mbered with dead and wounded men.]

VILLENEUVE

'Tis well! But see; their course is undelayed, And still they near in clenched audacity!

DAUDIGNON

Which aim deft Lucas o' the "Redoubtable"

Most gallantly bestirs him to outscheme.-- See, how he strains, that on his timbers fall Blows that were destined for his Admiral!

[During this the French ship "Redoubtable" is moving forward to interpose itself between the approaching "Victory" and the "Bucentaure."]

VILLENEUVE

Now comes it! The "Santisima Trinidad,"

The old "Redoubtable's" hard sides, and ours, Will take the touse of this bombastic blow.

Your grapnels and your boarding-hatchets--ready!

We'll dash our eagle on the English deck, And swear to fetch it!

CREW

Ay! We swear. Huzza Long live the Emperor!

[But the "Victory" suddenly swerves to the rear of the "Bucentaure,"

and crossing her stern-waters, discharges a broadside into her and the "Redoubtable" endwise, wrapping the scene in folds of smoke.

The point of view changes.]

SCENE II

THE SAME. THE QUARTER-DECK OF THE "VICTORY"

[The van of each division of the English fleet has drawn to the windward side of the combined fleets of the enemy, and broken their order, the "Victory" being now parallel to and alongside the "Redoubtable," the "Temeraire" taking up a station on the other side of that ship. The "Bucentaure" and the "Santisima Trinidad" become jammed together a little way ahead. A smoke and din of cannonading prevail, amid which the studding-sail booms are shot away.

NELSON, HARDY, BLACKWOOD, SECRETARY SCOTT, LIEUTENANT PASCO, BURKE the Purser, CAPTAIN ADAIR of the Marines, and other officers are on or near the quarter-deck.]

NELSON

See, there, that n.o.ble fellow Collingwood, How straight he helms his ship into the fire!-- Now you'll haste back to yours [to BLACKWOOD].

--We must henceforth Trust to the Great Disposer of events, And justice of our cause!...

[BLACKWOOD leaves. The battle grows hotter. A double-headed shot cuts down seven or eight marines on the "Victory's" p.o.o.p.]