Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World Page #4

Mr Howard, the bottle.

The bottle stands by you, sir.

Sir?

Excuse me, sir, but Mr Blakeney said that

you served under Lord Nelson at the Nile.

Indeed. I was a young lieutenant,

not much older than you are now.

And Mr Pullings... Mr Pullings

was a snivelling midshipman,

still yearning for hearth and home.

Did you meet him, sir?

Can you tell me what he's like?

I have had the honour

of dining with him twice.

He spoke to me on both occasions.

A master tactician

and a man of singular vision.

He always said in battle... "Never mind

the manoeuvres, just go straight at 'em. "

Some would say not a great seaman,

but a great leader.

He's England's only hope

if old Boney intends to invade.

Sir, might we press you for an anecdote?

The first time that he spoke to me...

I shall never forget his words.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

He leaned across the table,

he looked me straight in the eye,

and he said "Aubrey...

may I trouble you for the salt?"

Ive always tried to say it

exactly as he did ever since.

The second time...

The second time he told me a story...

about how someone offered him

a boat cloak on a cold night.

And he said no, he didn't need it.

That he was quite warm.

His zeal for king and country kept him warm.

I know it sounds absurd,

and were it from another man,

you'd cry out "Oh, what pitiful stuff'

and dismiss it as mere enthusiasm.

But with Nelson...

you felt your heart glow.

- Wouldn't you say, Mr Pullings?

- You did indeed, sir.

Well then, he would seem to be the exception

to the rule that authority corrupts.

- To Lord Nelson.

- To Lord Nelson.

To Lord Nelson.

Do you see those two weevils, Doctor?

I do.

Which would you choose?

Neither. There's no difference between them.

They're the same species of curculio.

If you had to choose.

If you were forced to make a choice.

If there was no other...

Well then, if you're going to push me...

I would choose the right-hand weevil.

It has significant advantage

in both length and breadth.

There, I have you!

You're completely dished.

Do you not know that in the service one must

always choose the lesser of two weevils?

He who would pun would pick a pocket.

Really! Weevils!

- To the lesser of two weevils.

- To the lesser of two weevils!

Yay, Joe!

Go on, Joe!

The Lord taketh...

and the Lord giveth away.

You hear that? He said something!

Doctor! He spoke, Doctor!

Well done indeed, Stephen.

Adieu to you Spanish ladies

Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain

For we've received orders

to sail for old England

We hope in a short time

to see you again

What a wonderfully true voice

Mr Hollom possesses.

Indeed.

Come, all you bold young thoughtless men

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