第 88 节
作者:青涩春天      更新:2024-04-09 19:51      字数:9322
  followed; singing to the sound; or rather howl; of serpents and
  trombones; the Latin canticles of the Reverend Franciscus O'Mahony;
  lately canonized under the name of Saint Francis of Cork。
  The advanced lines of the two contending armies were now in
  presencethe National Guard of Orleans and the Irish Brigade。
  The white belts and fat paunches of the Guard presented a terrific
  appearance; but it might have been remarked by the close observer;
  that their faces were as white as their belts; and the long line of
  their bayonets might be seen to quiver。  General Odillon Barrot;
  with a cockade as large as a pancake; endeavored to make a speech:
  the words honneur; patrie; Francais; champ de bataille might be
  distinguished; but the General was dreadfully flustered; and was
  evidently more at home in the Chamber of Deputies than in the field
  of war。
  The Prince of Ballybunion; for a wonder; did not make a speech。
  〃Boys;〃 said he; 〃we've enough talking at the Corn Exchange;
  bating's the word now。〃  The Green…Islanders replied with a
  tremendous hurroo; which sent terror into the fat bosoms of the
  French。
  〃Gentlemen of the National Guard;〃 said the Prince; taking off his
  hat and bowing to Odillon Barrot; 〃will ye be so igsthramely
  obleeging as to fire first。〃  This he said because it had been said
  at Fontenoy; but chiefly because his own men were only armed with
  shillelaghs; and therefore could not fire。
  But this proposal was very unpalatable to the National Guardsmen:
  for though they understood the musket…exercise pretty well; firing
  was the thing of all others they detestedthe noise; and the kick
  of the gun; and the smell of the powder being very unpleasant to
  them。  〃We won't fire;〃 said Odillon Barrot; turning round to
  Colonel Saugrenue and his regiment of the linewhich; it may be
  remembered; was formed behind the National Guard。
  〃Then give them the bayonet;〃 said the Colonel; with a terrific
  oath。  〃Charge; corbleu!〃
  At this moment; and with the most dreadful howl that ever was
  heard; the National Guard was seen to rush forwards wildly; and
  with immense velocity; towards the foe。  The fact is; that the line
  regiment behind them; each selecting his man; gave a poke with his
  bayonet between the coat…tails of the Nationals; and those troops
  bounded forward with an irresistible swiftness。
  Nothing could withstand the tremendous impetus of that manoeuvre。
  The Irish Brigade was scattered before it; as chaff before the
  wind。  The Prince of Ballybunion had barely time to run Odillon
  Barrot through the body; when he too was borne away in the swift
  rout。  They scattered tumultuously; and fled for twenty miles
  without stopping。  The Princes of Donegal and Connemara were taken
  prisoners; but though they offered to give bills at three months;
  and for a hundred thousand pounds; for their ransom; the offer was
  refused; and they were sent to the rear; when the Duke of Nemours;
  hearing they were Irish Generals; and that they had been robbed of
  their ready money by his troops; who had taken them prisoners;
  caused a comfortable breakfast to be supplied to them; and lent
  them each a sum of money。  How generous are men in success!the
  Prince of Orleans was charmed with the conduct of his National
  Guards; and thought his victory secure。  He despatched a courier to
  Paris with the brief words; 〃We met the enemy before Tours。  The
  National Guard has done its duty。  The troops of the pretender are
  routed。  Vive le Roi!〃  The note; you may be sure; appeared in the
  Journal des Debats; and the editor; who only that morning had
  called Henri V。 〃a great prince; an august exile;〃 denominated him
  instantly a murderer; slave; thief; cut…throat; pickpocket; and
  burglar。
  CHAPTER VI。
  THE ENGLISH UNDER JENKINS。
  But the Prince had not calculated that there was a line of British
  infantry behind the routed Irish Brigade。  Borne on with the hurry
  of the melee; flushed with triumph; puffing and blowing with
  running; and forgetting; in the intoxication of victory; the
  trifling bayonet…pricks which had impelled them to the charge; the
  conquering National Guardsmen found themselves suddenly in presence
  of Jenkins's Foot。
  They halted all in a huddle; like a flock of sheep。
  〃UP; FOOT; AND AT THEM!〃 were the memorable words of the Duke
  Jenkins; as; waving his baton; he pointed towards the enemy; and
  with a tremendous shout the stalwart sons of England rushed on!
  Down went plume and cocked…hat; down went corporal and captain;
  down went grocer and tailor; under the long staves of the
  indomitable English Footmen。  〃A Jenkins! a Jenkins!〃 roared the
  Duke; planting a blow which broke the aquiline nose of Major Arago;
  the celebrated astronomer。  〃St。 George for Mayfair!〃 shouted his
  followers; strewing the plain with carcasses。  Not a man of the
  Guard escaped; they fell like grass before the mower。
  〃They are gallant troops; those yellow…plushed Anglais;〃 said the
  Duke of Nemours; surveying them with his opera…glass。  〃'Tis a pity
  they will all be cut up in half an hour。  Concombre! take your
  dragoons; and do it!〃  〃Remember Waterloo; boys!〃 said Colonel
  Concombre; twirling his moustache; and a thousand sabres flashed in
  the sun; and the gallant hussars prepared to attack the Englishmen。
  Jenkins; his gigantic form leaning on his staff; and surveying the
  havoc of the field; was instantly aware of the enemy's manoeuvre。
  His people were employed rifling the pockets of the National Guard;
  and had made a tolerable booty; when the great Duke; taking a bell
  out of his pocket; (it was used for signals in his battalion in
  place of fife or bugle;) speedily called his scattered warriors
  together。  〃Take the muskets of the Nationals;〃 said he。  They did
  so。  〃Form in square; and prepare to receive cavalry!〃  By the time
  Concombre's regiment arrived; he found a square of bristling
  bayonets with Britons behind them!
  The Colonel did not care to attempt to break that tremendous body。
  〃Halt!〃 said he to his men。
  〃Fire!〃 screamed Jenkins; with eagle swiftness; but the guns of the
  National Guard not being loaded; did not in consequence go off。
  The hussars gave a jeer of derision; but nevertheless did not
  return to the attack; and seeing some of the Legitimist cavalry at
  hand; prepared to charge upon them。
  The fate of those carpet warriors was soon decided。  The Millefleur
  regiment broke before Concombre's hussars instantaneously; the Eau…
  de…Rose dragoons stuck spurs into their blood horses; and galloped
  far out of reach of the opposing cavalry; the Eau…de…Cologne
  lancers fainted to a man; and the regiment of Concombre; pursuing
  its course; had actually reached the Prince and his aides…de…camp;
  when the clergymen coming up formed gallantly round the oriflamme;
  and the bassoons and serpents braying again; set up such a shout of
  canticles; and anathemas; and excommunications; that the horses of
  Concombre's dragoons in turn took fright; and those warriors in
  their turn broke and fled。  As soon as they turned; the Vendean
  riflemen fired amongst them and finished them: the gallant
  Concombre fell; the intrepid though diminutive Cornichon; his
  major; was cut down; Cardon was wounded a la moelle; and the wife
  of the fiery Navet was that day a widow。  Peace to the souls of the
  brave!  In defeat or in victory; where can the soldier find a more
  fitting resting…place than the glorious field of carnage?  Only a
  few disorderly and dispirited riders of Concombre's regiment
  reached Tours at night。  They had left it but the day before; a
  thousand disciplined and high…spirited men!
  Knowing how irresistible a weapon is the bayonet in British hands;
  the intrepid Jenkins determined to carry on his advantage; and
  charged the Saugrenue light infantry (now before him) with COLD
  STEEL。  The Frenchmen delivered a volley; of which a shot took
  effect in Jenkins's cockade; but did not abide the crossing of the
  weapons。  〃A Frenchman dies; but never surrenders;〃 said Saugrenue;
  yielding up his sword; and his whole regiment were stabbed;
  trampled down; or made prisoners。  The blood of the Englishmen rose
  in the hot encounter。  Their curses were horrible; their courage
  tremendous。  〃On! on!〃 hoarsely screamed they; and a second
  regiment met them and was crushed; pounded in the hurtling;
  grinding encounter。  〃A Jenkins; a Jenkins!〃 still roared the
  heroic Duke: 〃St。 George for Mayfair!〃  The Footmen of England
  still yelled their terrific battle…cry; 〃Hurra; hurra!〃  On they
  went; regiment after regiment was annihilated; until; scared at the
  very trample of the advancing warriors; the dismayed troops of
  France screaming fled。  Gathering his last warriors round about
  him; Nemours determined to make a last desperate effort。  'Twas
  vain: the ranks met; the next moment the truncheon of the Prince of
  Orleans was dashed from his hand by the irresistible mace of t