The Dynasts. Томас Харди

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СКАЧАТЬ As nightly worded by the whistling shrouds,

       That Brest will never see our battled hulls

       Helming to north in pomp of cannonry

       To take the front in this red pilgrimage!

       —-If so it were, now, that I'd screen my skin

       From risks of bloody business in the brunt,

       My acts could scarcely wear a difference.

       Yet I would die to-morrow—not ungladly—

       So far removed is carcase-care from me.

       For no self do these apprehensions spring,

       But for the cause.—Yes, rotten is our marine,

       Which, while I know, the Emperor knows not,

       And the pale secret chills! Though some there be

       Would beard contingencies and buffet all,

       I'll not command a course so conscienceless.

       Rather I'll stand, and face Napoleon's rage

       When he shall learn what mean the ambiguous lines

       That facts have forced from me.

      SPIRIT OF THE PITIES [to the Spirit of Years]

       O Eldest-born of the Unconscious Cause—

       If such thou beest, as I can fancy thee—

       Why dost thou rack him thus? Consistency

       Might be preserved, and yet his doom remain.

       His olden courage is without reproach;

       Albeit his temper trends toward gaingiving!

      SPIRIT OF THE YEARS

       I say, as I have said long heretofore,

       I know but narrow freedom. Feel'st thou not

       We are in Its hand, as he?—Here, as elsewhere,

       We do but as we may; no further dare.

       [The birds disappear, and the scene is lost behind sea-mist.]

      SCENE III

       THE CAMP AND HARBOUR OF BOULOGNE

       [The English coast in the distance. Near the Tour d'Ordre stands

       a hut, with sentinels and aides outside; it is NAPOLEON's temporary

       lodging when not at his headquarters at the Chateau of Pont-de-

       Briques, two miles inland.]

      DUMB SHOW

       A courier arrives with dispatches, and enters the Emperor's quarters,

       whence he emerges and goes on with other dispatches to the hut of

       DECRES, lower down. Immediately after, NAPOLEON comes out from his

       hut with a paper in his hand, and musingly proceeds towards an

       eminence commanding the Channel.

       Along the shore below are forming in a far-reaching line more

       than a hundred thousand infantry. On the downs in the rear of

       the camps fifteen thousand cavalry are manoeuvring, their

       accoutrements flashing in the sun like a school of mackerel.

       The flotilla lies in and around the port, alive with moving

       figures.

       With his head forward and his hands behind him the Emperor surveys

       these animated proceedings in detail, but more frequently turns his

       face toward the telegraph on the cliff to the southwest, erected to

       signal when VILLENEUVE and the combined squadrons shall be visible

       on the west horizon.

       He summons one of the aides, who descends to the hut of DECRES.

       DECRES comes out from his hut, and hastens to join the Emperor.

       Dumb show ends.

       [NAPOLEON and DECRES advance to the foreground of the scene.]

      NAPOLEON

       Decres, this action with Sir Robert Calder

       Three weeks ago, whereof we dimly heard,

       And clear details of which I have just unsealed,

       Is on the whole auspicious for our plan.

       It seems that twenty of our ships and Spain's—

       None over eighty-gunned, and some far less—

       Engaged the English off Cape Finisterre

       With fifteen vessels of a hundred each.

       We coolly fought and orderly as they,

       And, but for mist, we had closed with victory.

       Two English were much mauled, some Spanish damaged,

       And Calder then drew off with his two wrecks

       And Spain's in tow, we giving chase forthwith.

       Not overtaking him our admiral,

       Having the coast clear for his purposes,

       Entered Coruna, and found order there

       To open the port of Brest and come on hither.

       Thus hastes the moment when the double fleet

       Of Villeneuve and of Ganteaume should appear.

       [He looks again towards the telegraph.]

      DECRES [with hesitation]

       And should they not appear, your Majesty?

      NAPOLEON

       Not? But they will; and do it early, too!

       There's nothing hinders them. My God, they must,

       For I have much before me when this stroke

       At England's dealt. I learn from Talleyrand

       That Austrian preparations threaten hot,

       While Russia's hostile schemes are ripening,

       And shortly must be met.—My plan СКАЧАТЬ