It must be as my sovereign pleases, but I cannot work with the Minister. For God’s sake send me somewhere else if only in command of a regiment. I cannot stand it here. Headquarters are so full of Germans that a Russian cannot exist and there is no sense in anything. I thought I was really serving my sovereign and the Fatherland, but it turns out that I am serving Barclay. I confess I do not want to.


Well? Are you satisfied now? You’ve made me quarrel with my son! Satisfied, are you? That’s all you wanted! Satisfied?... It hurts me, it hurts. I’m old and weak and this is what you wanted. Well then, gloat over it! Gloat over it!


There, you see? You plotted against me, you lied to Prince Andrew about my relations with that Frenchwoman and made me quarrel with him, but you see I need neither her nor you!


I write you in Russian, my good friend, because I have a detestation for all the French, and the same for their language which I cannot support to hear spoken.... We in Moscow are elated by enthusiasm for our adored Emperor. “My poor husband is enduring pains and hunger in Jewish taverns, but the news which I have inspires me yet more. “You heard probably of the heroic exploit of Raévski, embracing his two sons and saying: ‘I will perish with them but we will not be shaken!’ And truly though the enemy was twice stronger than we, we were unshakable. We pass the time as we can, but in war as in war! The princesses Aline and Sophie sit whole days with me, and we, unhappy widows of live men, make beautiful conversations over our charpie, only you, my friend, are missing...


There was a letter from Prince Andrew today. Haven’t you read it?


No, Father,


That must be very interesting. Prince Andrew is in a position to know...


Oh, very interesting!


Go and get it for me. You know—under the paperweight on the little table. No, don’t! You go, Michael Ivánovich. They can’t do anything... always make some muddle,


I? I?...


Very possibly the theater of war will move so near to us that...


Ha ha ha! The theater of war! I have said and still say that the theater of war is Poland and the enemy will never get beyond the Niemen. When the snow melts they’ll sink in the Polish swamps. Only they could fail to see it. Bennigsen should have advanced into Prussia sooner, then things would have taken a different turn...


But, Prince, the letter mentions Vítebsk....


Ah, the letter? Yes... Yes... yes... Yes, he writes that the French were beaten at... at... what river is it? Doesn’t he? But I didn’t invent it myself. Yes... yes... Well, Michael Ivánovich, tell me how you mean to alter it....


Always busy. He’s worrying very much about the new building. He has been reading a little, but now now he’s at his desk, busy with his will, I expect.


First, notepaper—do you hear? Eight quires, like this sample, gilt-edged... it must be exactly like the sample. Varnish, sealing wax, as in Michael Ivánovich’s list. Then hand to the governor in person a letter about the deed. Well, go, go! If anything more is wanted I’ll send after you.


That’s not right! That’s not right! Well, at last I’ve finished, now I’ll rest,


No peace, damn them! Ah yes, there was something else important, very important, that I was keeping till I should be in bed. The bolts? No, I told him about them. No, it was something, something in the drawing room. Princess Mary talked some nonsense. Dessalles, that fool, said something. Something in my pocket—can’t remember....


About Prince Michael...


Be quiet, quiet! Yes, I know, Prince Andrew’s letter! Princess Mary read it. Dessalles said something about Vítebsk. Now I’ll read it. The French at Vítebsk, in four days’ march they may be at Smolénsk; perhaps are already there! Tíkhon! No, no, I don’t want anything!


Oh, quicker, quicker! To get back to that time and have done with all the present! Quicker, quicker—and that they should leave me in peace!


There! There! Women’s fuss! Women, women!


If there is anything... come back, Yákov Alpátych! For Christ’s sake think of us!


Women, women! Women’s fuss!


You’re welcome, Yákov Alpátych. Folks are leaving the town, but you have come to it,


Why are they leaving the town?


That’s what I say. Folks are foolish! Always afraid of the French.


Women’s fuss, women’s fuss!


Just what I think, Yákov Alpátych. What I say is: orders have been given not to let them in, so that must be right. And the peasants are asking three rubles for carting—it isn’t Christian!


It’s no joke, you know! It’s all very well if you’re single. ‘One man though undone is but one,’ as the proverb says, but with thirteen in your family and all the property... They’ve brought us to utter ruin! What sort of governors are they to do that? They ought to be hanged—the brigands!...


Oh come, that’s enough!


What do I care? Let him hear! We’re not dogs. Oh, Yákov Alpátych! What have you come for?


To see the Governor by his excellency’s order. He has ordered me to inquire into the position of affairs,


Yes, go and find out! They’ve brought things to such a pass that there are no carts or anything!... There it is again, do you hear? They’ve brought us all to ruin... the brigands!


To his Honor Baron Asch, from General-in-Chief Prince Bolkónski,


Inform the prince and princess that I knew nothing: I acted on the highest instructions—here... Still, as the prince is unwell my advice is that they should go to Moscow. I am just starting myself. Inform them... Go,


He’s done her to death. Killed the mistress!... Beat her... dragged her about so!...


What for?


She kept begging to go away. She’s a woman! ‘Take me away,’ says she, ‘don’t let me perish with my little children! Folks,’ she says, ‘are all gone, so why,’ she says, ‘don’t we go?’ And he began beating and pulling her about so!


You brute, you murderer!


Going already? We’ll reckon up! Well, have you been to the Governor’s? What has been decided?


The Governor had not told him anything definite.


With our business, how can we get away? We’d have to pay seven rubles a cartload to Dorogobúzh and I tell them they’re not Christians to ask it! Selivánov, now, did a good stroke last Thursday—sold flour to the army at nine rubles a sack. Will you have some tea? Well, it seems to be getting quieter. Ours must have got the best of it. The orders were not to let them in. So we’re in force, it seems.... They say the other day Matthew Iványch Plátov drove them into the river Márina and drowned some eighteen thousand in one day.


What force! Knocked the roof and ceiling all to splinters!


Routed up the earth like a pig,


That’s grand, it bucks one up! Lucky you jumped aside, or it would have wiped you out!


What are you staring at?


What marvels!


Scoundrel, what are you doing?


Oh-h-h! Dear souls, dear kind souls! Don’t let me die! My good souls!...


The town is being abandoned. Get away, get away! I’ll teach you to run into the yards!


Loot everything, lads! Don’t let those devils get it! Russia is done for! Alpátych, I’ll set the place on fire myself. We’re done for!...


Alpátych!


Mercy on us! Your excellency!


Why are you here?


Your... your excellency. Are we really lost? Master!...


Are we really quite lost, your excellency?


Smolénsk is being abandoned. Bald Hills will be occupied by the enemy within a week. Set off immediately for Moscow. Let me know at once when you will start. Send by special messenger to Usvyázh.


You are a colonel? Houses are set on fire in your presence and you stand by! What does this mean? You will answer for it! very agreeable and well en évidence.


So tell them that I shall await a reply till the tenth, and if by the tenth I don’t receive news that they have all got away I shall have to throw up everything and come myself to Bald Hills.


Prince. I only spoke because I have to obey orders, because I always do obey exactly.... You must please excuse me,


Ou-rou-rou!


It’s fine, lads! Now it’s raging... It’s fine!


That’s the owner himself,


Well then, report to them as I have told you


When did my father and sister leave?


Am I to let the troops have the oats, and to take a receipt for them? We have still six hundred quarters left,


Yes, let them have it,


If you noticed some disorder in the garden, it was impossible to prevent it. Three regiments have been here and spent the night, dragoons mostly. I took down the name and rank of their commanding officer, to hand in a complaint about it.


Well, and what are you going to do? Will you stay here if the enemy occupies the place?


He is my refuge! His will be done!


Well, good-by! You must go away too, take away what you can and tell the serfs to go to the Ryazán estate or to the one near Moscow.


It’s very nice, your excellency! Wouldn’t you like to?


It’s dirty,


We’ll clear it out for you in a minute. The prince wants to bathe.


What prince? Ours?


Dear Count Aléxis Andréevich— I expect the Minister (Barclay de Tolly) has already reported the abandonment of Smolénsk to the enemy. It is pitiable and sad, and the whole army is in despair that this most important place has been wantonly abandoned. I, for my part, begged him personally most urgently and finally wrote him, but nothing would induce him to consent. I swear to you on my honor that Napoleon was in such a fix as never before and might have lost half his army but could not have taken Smolénsk. Our troops fought, and are fighting, as never before. With fifteen thousand men I held the enemy at bay for thirty-five hours and beat him; but he would not hold out even for fourteen hours. It is disgraceful, a stain on our army, and as for him, he ought, it seems to me, not to live. If he reports that our losses were great, it is not true; perhaps about four thousand, not more, and not even that; but even were they ten thousand, that’s war! But the enemy has lost masses....


What would it have cost him to hold out for another two days?


They would have had to retire of their own accord, for they had no water for men or horses.


He gave me his word he would not retreat, but suddenly sent instructions that he was retiring that night.


We cannot fight in this way, or we may soon bring the enemy to Moscow....


There is a rumor that you are thinking of peace.


God forbid that you should make peace after all our sacrifices and such insane retreats!


You would set all Russia against you and everyone of us would feel ashamed to wear the uniform.


If it has come to this—we must fight as long as Russia can and as long as there are men able to stand....


One man ought to be in command, and not two.


Your Minister may perhaps be good as a Minister, but as a general he is not merely bad but execrable, yet to him is entrusted the fate of our whole country....


I am really frantic with vexation; forgive my writing boldly.


It is clear that the man who advocates the conclusion of a peace, and that the Minister should command the army, does not love our sovereign and desires the ruin of us all.


So I write you frankly: call out the militia.


For the Minister is leading these visitors after him to Moscow in a most masterly way.


The whole army feels great suspicion of the Imperial aide-de-camp Wolzogen.


He is said to be more Napoleon’s man than ours, and he is always advising the Minister.


I am not merely civil to him but obey him like a corporal, though I am his senior.


This is painful, but, loving my benefactor and sovereign, I submit.


Only I am sorry for the Emperor that he entrusts our fine army to such as he.


Consider that on our retreat we have lost by fatigue and left in the hospital more than fifteen thousand men, and had we attacked this would not have happened.


Tell me, for God’s sake, what will Russia, our mother Russia, say to our being so frightened, and why are we abandoning our good and gallant Fatherland to such rabble and implanting feelings of hatred and shame in all our subjects?


What are we scared at and of whom are we afraid?


I am not to blame that the Minister is vacillating, a coward, dense, dilatory, and has all bad qualities.


The whole army bewails it and calls down curses upon him....


I have talked and talked at the Assembly of the Nobility, but they did not listen to me. I told them his election as chief of the militia would not please the Emperor. They did not listen to me. It’s all this mania for opposition. And who for? It is all because we want to ape the foolish enthusiasm of those Muscovites. Now, is it suitable that Count Kutúzov, the oldest general in Russia, should preside at that tribunal? He will get nothing for his pains! How could they make a man commander in chief who cannot mount a horse, who drops asleep at a council, and has the very worst morals! A good reputation he made for himself at Bucharest! I don’t speak of his capacity as a general, but at a time like this how they appoint a decrepit, blind old man, positively blind? A fine idea to have a blind general! He can’t see anything. To play blindman’s bulff? He can’t see at all!


Well, have you heard the great news? Prince Kutúzov is field marshal! All dissensions are at an end! I am so glad, so delighted! At last we have a man!


But, Prince, they say he is blind!


Eh? Nonsense! He sees well enough. He sees well enough. And what I am so pleased about, is that our sovereign has given him full powers over all the armies and the whole region—powers no commander in chief ever had before. He is a second autocrat,


God grant it! God grant it!


It is said that the Emperor was reluctant to give Kutúzov those powers. They say he blushed like a girl to whom Joconde is read, when he said to Kutúzov: ‘Your Emperor and the Fatherland award you this honor.’


Perhaps the heart took no part in that speech,


Oh, no, no! No, that’s impossible, for our sovereign appreciated him so highly before.


God grant only that Prince Kutúzov assumes real power and does not allow anyone to put a spoke in his wheel,


I know for a fact that Kutúzov made it an absolute condition that the Tsarévich should not be with the army. Do you know what he said to the Emperor?


I can neither punish him if he does wrong nor reward him if he does right.


Oh, a very wise man is Prince Kutúzov! I have known him a long time!


They even say, that his excellency made it an express condition that the sovereign himself should not be with the army.


Well?


One of Plátov’s Cossacks says that Plátov’s corps is joining up with the main army and that Kutúzov has been appointed commander in chief. He is a very shrewd and garrulous fellow.


You are a Cossack?


Yes, a Cossack, your Honor.


It’s like this, if there’s a battle soon, yours will win. That’s right. But if three days pass, then after that, well, then that same battle will not soon be over.


If a battle takes place within the next three days the French will win, but if later, God knows what will happen.


We know that you have Bonaparte and that he has beaten everybody in the world, but we are a different matter...


But what could have happened? What did I want? I want his death!


He is a little better today. I was looking for you. One can make out something of what he is saying. His head is clearer. Come in, he is asking for you.... Come,


Mmm...ar...ate...ate...


Mary, are you afraid?


My mind, my mind aches?


Always thoughts... about you... thoughts... I have been calling you all night...


If only I had known... I was afraid to come in.


Weren’t you asleep?


No, I did not sleep,


Dear one... Dearest... Why didn’t you come in? Thank you... daughter dear!... for all, for all... forgive!... thank you!... forgive!... thank you!... Call Andrew!


I have a letter from him,


Where is he?


He’s with the army, Father, at Smolénsk.


Yes. Russia has perished. They’ve destroyed her.


Put on your white dress. I like it,


Yes... I... I... I wished for his death! Yes, I wanted it to end quicker.... I wished to be at peace.... And what will become of me? What use will peace be when he is no longer here?


Go away, Princess! Go away... go away!


Please come, Princess... The Prince,


Immediately, I’m coming, I’m coming!


Princess, it’s God’s will! You must be prepared for everything,


Let me alone; it’s not true!


Now just listen, Drónushka. Don’t talk nonsense to me. His excellency Prince Andrew himself gave me orders to move all the people away and not leave them with the enemy, and there is an order from the Tsar about it too. Anyone who stays is a traitor to the Tsar. Do you hear?


I hear,


Eh, Dron, it will turn out badly!


The power is in your hands,


Eh, Dron, drop it! I can see through you and three yards into the ground under you. You drop this nonsense and tell the people to get ready to leave their homes and go to Moscow and to get carts ready for tomorrow morning for the princess’ things. And don’t go to any meeting yourself, do you hear?


Yákov Alpátych, discharge me! Take the keys from me and discharge me, for Christ’s sake!


Stop that! I see through you and three yards under you. What is it you have got into your heads, eh?... What are you thinking of, eh?


What am I to do with the people? They’re quite beside themselves; I have already told them...


'Told them,' I dare say! Are they drinking?


Quite beside themselves, Yákov Alpátych; they’ve fetched another barrel.


Well, then, listen! I’ll go to the police officer, and you tell them so, and that they must stop this and the carts must be got ready.


I understand.


Yes, you can well enjoy the evening now! He is gone and no one will hinder you,


Besides, is it for me, for me who desired his death, to condemn anyone?


Your position is doubly terrible, dear princess. I understand that you could not, and cannot, think of yourself, but with my love for you I must do so.... Has Alpátych been to you? Has he spoken to you of going away?


Is it possible to plan or think of anything now? Is it not all the same?


You know, chère Marie, that we are in danger—are surrounded by the French. It would be dangerous to move now. If we go we are almost sure to be taken prisoners, and God knows...


Oh, if anyone knew how little anything matters to me now. Of course I would on no account wish to go away from him.... Alpátych did say something about going.... Speak to him; I can do nothing, nothing, and don’t want to....


I’ve spoken to him. He hopes we should be in time to get away tomorrow, but I think it would now be better to stay here. Because, you will agree, chère Marie, to fall into the hands of the soldiers or of riotous peasants would be terrible. I think it would be best to appeal to that general, and I am sure that all due respect would be shown you.


From whom did you get this?


They probably recognized that I am French, by my name,


Dunyásha, send Alpátych, or Drónushka, or somebody to me! and tell Mademoiselle Bourienne not to come to me. We must go at once, at once! If Prince Andrew heard that I was in the power of the French! That I, the daughter of Prince Nicholas Bolkónski, asked General Rameau for protection and accepted his favor! They, the French, would settle in this house: M. le Général Rameau would occupy Prince Andrew’s study and amuse himself by looking through and reading his letters and papers. Mademoiselle Bourienne would do the honors of Boguchárovo for him. I should be given a small room as a favor, the soldiers would violate my father’s newly dug grave to steal his crosses and stars, they would tell me of their victories over the Russians, and would pretend to sympathize with my sorrow...


Yes, Princess


Drónushka. Drónushka, now since our misfortune...


We are all in God’s hands,


Drónushka, Alpátych has gone off somewhere and I have no one to turn to. Is it true, as they tell me, that I can’t even go away?


Why shouldn’t you go away, your excellency? You can go,


I was told it would be dangerous because of the enemy. Dear friend, I can do nothing. I understand nothing. I have nobody! I want to go away tonight or early tomorrow morning.


There are no horses; I told Yákov Alpátych so.


Why are there none?


It’s all God’s scourge. What horses we had have been taken for the army or have died—this is such a year! It’s not a case of feeding horses—we may die of hunger ourselves! As it is, some go three days without eating. We’ve nothing, we’ve been ruined.


The peasants are ruined? They have no bread?


They’re dying of hunger. It’s not a case of carting.


But why didn’t you tell me, Drónushka? Isn’t it possible to help them? I’ll do all I can....


But we have grain belonging to my brother?


The landlord’s grain is all safe. Our prince did not order it to be sold.


Give it to the peasants, let them have all they need; I give you leave in my brother’s name. Give them that corn if there is enough of it. Distribute it all. I give this order in my brother’s name; and tell them that what is ours is theirs. We do not grudge them anything. Tell them so.


Discharge me, little mother, for God’s sake! Order the keys to be taken from me. I have served twenty-three years and have done no wrong. Discharge me, for God’s sake!


But I never told them to come. I only told Dron to let them have the grain.


Only, for God’s sake, Princess dear, have them sent away and don’t go out to them. It’s all a trick, and when Yákov Alpátych returns let us get away... and please don’t...


What is a trick?


I know it is, only listen to me for God’s sake! Ask nurse too. They say they don’t agree to leave Boguchárovo as you ordered.


You’re making some mistake. I never ordered them to go away. Call Drónushka. But I never sent for them. You must have given my message wrong. I only said that you were to give them the grain.


If you order it they will go away,


No, no. I’ll go out to them,


I am very glad you have come. Drónushka tells me that the war has ruined you. That is our common misfortune, and I shall grudge nothing to help you. I am myself going away because it is dangerous here... the enemy is near... because... I am giving you everything, my friends, and I beg you to take everything, all our grain, so that you may not suffer want! And if you have been told that I am giving you the grain to keep you here—that is not true. On the contrary, I ask you to go with all your belongings to our estate near Moscow, and I promise you I will see to it that there you shall want for nothing. You shall be given food and lodging. I am not doing this on my own account. I do it in the name of my dead father, who was a good master to you, and of my brother and his son. Ours is a common misfortune and we will share it together. All that is mine is yours,


We are all very thankful for your bounty, but it won’t do for us to take the landlord’s grain,


But why not? But why don’t you want to take it? Why don’t you speak? If you think something more is wanted, tell me! I will do anything,


Why should we agree? We don’t want the grain.


Why should we give up everything? We don’t agree. Don’t agree.... We are sorry for you, but we’re not willing. Go away yourself, alone...


But you can’t have understood me. Why don’t you want to go? I promise to house and feed you, while here the enemy would ruin you....


We’re not willing. Let them ruin us! We won’t take your grain. We don’t agree.


Oh yes, an artful tale! Follow her into slavery! Pull down your houses and go into bondage! I dare say! ‘I’ll give you grain, indeed!’ she says,


Dunyásha Dunyásha!


You’re first!


Yes, always first both on the grassland and here,


And I’d have won on my Frenchy, your excellency, only I didn’t wish to mortify you.


Fine fellows! Is there any hay here?


And how like one another,


The French,


This is Count Rostóv, squadron commander, and I am your humble servant.


May I make bold to trouble your honor? My mistress, daughter of General in Chief Prince Nicholas Bolkónski who died on the fifteenth of this month, finding herself in difficulties owing to the boorishness of these people asks you to come up to the house.... Won’t you, please, ride on a little farther, as it is not convenient in the presence of...?


Ah!... Alpátych... Ah, Yákov Alpátych... Grand! Forgive us for Christ’s sake, eh?


Or perhaps they amuse your honor?


No, there’s not much to be amused at here. What’s the matter?


I make bold to inform your honor that the rude peasants here don’t wish to let the mistress leave the estate, and threaten to unharness her horses, so that though everything has been packed up since morning, her excellency cannot get away.


Impossible!


I have the honor to report to you the actual truth,


Father! Benefactor! God has sent you!


I cannot express, Princess, how glad I am that I happened to ride here and am able to show my readiness to serve you. Go when you please, and I give you my word of honor that no one shall dare to cause you annoyance if only you will allow me to act as your escort.


I am very, very grateful to you, but I hope it was all a misunderstanding and that no one is to blame for it. Excuse me!


Well, is she pretty? Ah, friend—my pink one is delicious; her name is Dunyásha.... Ilyín? Ah, friend—my pink one is delicious; her name is Dunyásha....


I’ll show them; I’ll give it to them, the brigands!


What decision have you been pleased to come to?


Decision? What decision? Old dotard!... What have you been about? Eh? The peasants are rioting, and you can’t manage them? You’re a traitor yourself! I know you. I’ll flay you all alive!...


overresist


I’ll give them armed force... I’ll ‘overresist’ them!


How many years have you been fattening on the commune? It’s all one to you! You’ll dig up your pot of money and take it away with you.... What does it matter to you whether our homes are ruined or not?


We’ve been told to keep order, and that no one is to leave their homes or take away a single grain, and that’s all about it!


It was your son’s turn to be conscripted, but no fear! You begrudged your lump of a son, and so they took my Vánka to be shaved for a soldier! But we all have to die.


To be sure, we all have to die. I’m not against the commune,


That’s it—not against it! You’ve filled your belly....


Who is your Elder here? Hey?


The Elder? What do you want with him?...


Caps off, traitors! Where’s the Elder?


The Elder.... He wants the Elder!... Dron Zakhárych, you!


We don’t riot, we’re following the orders,


It’s as the old men have decided—there’s too many of you giving orders.


Arguing? Mutiny!... Brigands! Traitors! Bind him, bind him!


Shall I call up our men from beyond the hill?


Where’s the Elder? Are you the Elder? Bind him, Lavrúshka! And you all listen to me! Be off to your houses at once, and don’t let one of your voices be heard!


Why, we’ve not done any harm! We did it just out of foolishness. It’s all nonsense.... I said then that it was not in order,


There! What did I say? It’s wrong, lads!


All our stupidity, Yákov Alpátych,


Aye, when I look at you!...


How can one talk to the masters like that? What were you thinking of, you fool?


A real fool!


Don’t put it in so carelessly. You know it has cost money! How can you chuck it in like that or shove it under the cord where it’ll get rubbed? I don’t like that way of doing things. Let it all be done properly, according to rule. Look here, put it under the bast matting and cover it with hay—that’s the way!


Eh, books, books! Don’t catch up against it! It’s heavy, lads—solid books.


Yes, they worked all day and didn’t play!


How can you speak so! Any police officer would have done as much! If we had had only peasants to fight, we should not have let the enemy come so far. I am only happy to have had the opportunity of making your acquaintance. Good-by, Princess. I wish you happiness and consolation and hope to meet you again in happier circumstances. If you don’t want to make me blush, please don’t thank me!


Well, supposing I do love him?


Was it not fate that brought him to Boguchárovo, and at that very moment? And that caused his sister to refuse my brother?


What? His Serene Highness? I expect he’ll be here soon. What do you want?


You’re also waiting for the commander in chief?


they say he weceives evewyone, thank God!... It’s awful with those sausage eaters! Ermólov had weason to ask to be pwomoted to be a German! Now p’waps Wussians will get a look in. As it was, devil only knows what was happening. We kept wetweating and wetweating. Did you take part in the campaign?


I had the pleasure, not only of taking part in the retreat but of losing in that retreat all I held dear—not to mention the estate and home of my birth—my father, who died of grief. I belong to the province of Smolénsk.


Ah? You’re Pwince Bolkónski? Vewy glad to make your acquaintance! I’m Lieutenant Colonel Denísov, better known as ‘Váska,’ Yes, I heard. Yes, it’s Scythian warfare. It’s all vewy well—only not for those who get it in the neck. So you are Pwince Andwew Bolkónski? Vewy pleased, Pwince, to make your acquaintance!


They can’t hold all that line. It’s impossible. I will undertake to bweak thwough. Give me five hundwed men and I will bweak the line, that’s certain! There’s only one way—guewilla warfare!


He’s coming! He’s coming!


And with such fine fellows to retreat and retreat! Well, good-by, General,


Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!


Whew... whew... whew!


Whew... whew... whew! Ah, how do you do, my dear prince? How do you do, my dear boy? Come along... And how’s your father?


I received news of his death, yesterday,


May the kingdom of Heaven be his! God’s will be done to us all! I loved him and respected him, and sympathize with you with all my heart. Come! Come with me, we’ll have a talk,


For our country’s welfare? Well, what is it? Speak!


What? are you ready so soon?


Ready, your Serene Highness,


How is one man to deal with it all?


I give my word of honor as a Wussian officer, that I can bweak Napoleon’s line of communication!


What relation are you to Intendant General Kiríl Andréevich Denísov?


He is my uncle, your Sewene Highness.


Ah, we were friends. All right, all right, friend, stay here at the staff and tomorrow we’ll have a talk.


Would not your Serene Highness like to come inside?


the plans must be examined and several papers have to be signed.


No, tell them to bring a small table out here, my dear boy. I’ll look at them here. Don’t go away,


Her husband has welcomed his Serene Highness with the cross at the church, and she intends to welcome him in the house.... She’s very pretty,


Into the stove... into the fire with it! I tell you once for all, my dear fellow, into the fire with all such things! Let them cut the crops and burn wood to their hearts’ content. I don’t order it or allow it, but I don’t exact compensation either. One can’t get on without it. ‘When wood is chopped the chips will fly.’ Oh, this German precision! Well, that’s all! Ah, what a beauty! Thank you, sweetheart! Well, my dear, and how are we getting on?


Well, sit down, sit down here. Let’s have a talk. It’s sad, very sad. But remember, my dear fellow, that I am a father to you, a second father.... What... what they have brought us to! But give me time, give me time! I sent for you to keep you with me.


I thank your Serene Highness, but I fear I am no longer fit for the staff. But above all. I have grown used to my regiment, am fond of the officers, and I fancy the men also like me. I should be sorry to leave the regiment. If I decline the honor of being with you, believe me...


I am sorry, for I need you. But you’re right, you’re right! It’s not here that men are needed. Advisers are always plentiful, but men are not. The regiments would not be what they are if the would-be advisers served there as you do. I remember you at Austerlitz.... I remember, yes, I remember you with the standard! Go your way and God be with you. I know your path is the path of honor! I missed you at Bucharest, but I needed someone to send. Yes, I have been much blamed, both for that war and the peace... but everything came at the right time. Tout vient à point à celui qui sait attendre. * And there were as many advisers there as here... Ah, those advisers! If we had listened to them all we should not have made peace with Turkey and should not have been through with that war. Everything in haste, but more haste, less speed. Kámenski would have been lost if he had not died. He stormed fortresses with thirty thousand men. It is not difficult to capture a fortress but it is difficult to win a campaign. For that, not storming and attacking but patience and time are wanted. Kámenski sent soldiers to Rustchuk, but I only employed these two things and took more fortresses than Kámenski and made them Turks eat horseflesh! And the French shall too, believe me. I’ll make them eat horseflesh!


But shan’t we have to accept battle?


We shall if everybody wants it; it can’t be helped.... But believe me, my dear boy, there is nothing stronger than those two: patience and time, they will do it all. But the advisers n’entendent pas de cette oreille, voilà le mal. Some want a thing—others don’t. What’s one to do? Well, what do you want us to do? I’ll tell you what to do. I will tell you what to do, and what I do. Dans le doute, mon cher, abstiens-toi Well, good-by, my dear fellow; remember that with all my heart I share your sorrow, and that for you I am not a Serene Highness, nor a prince, nor a commander in chief, but a father! If you want anything come straight to me. Good-by, my dear boy.


They will swell up with Russian cabbage, burst with our buckwheat porridge, and choke themselves with cabbage soup. They are all dwarfs and one peasant woman will toss three of them with a hayfork.


Rentrez en vous-mêmes; entrez dans la barque, et n’en faites pas une barque de Charon.


You don’t spare anyone. Bezúkhov est ridicule, but he is so kind and good-natured. What pleasure is there to be so caustique?


A forfeit!


mon chevalier,


Another forfeit for a Gallicism, 'What pleasure is there to be' is not Russian!


You spare no one. For caustique—I am guilty and will pay, and I am prepared to pay again for the pleasure of telling you the truth. For Gallicisms I won’t be responsible. I have neither the money nor the time, like Prince Galítsyn, to engage a master to teach me Russian! Ah, here he is! Quand on... No, no, you won’t catch me. Speak of the sun and you see its rays! We were just talking of you. We were saying that your regiment would be sure to be better than Mamónov’s.


Oh, don’t talk to me of my regiment. I am so sick of it.


You will, of course, command it yourself?


No. I should make too good a target for the French, besides I am afraid I should hardly be able to climb onto a horse.


I hear that their affairs are in a very bad way. And he is so unreasonable, the count himself I mean. The Razumóvskis wanted to buy his house and his estate near Moscow, but it drags on and on. He asks too much.


No, I think the sale will come off in a few days,


Though it is madness to buy anything in Moscow now.


Why? You don’t think Moscow is in danger?


Then why are you leaving?


I? What a question! I am going because... well, because everyone is going: and besides—I am not Joan of Arc or an Amazon.


Well, of course, of course! Let me have some more strips of linen.


If he manages the business properly he will be able to pay off all his debts,


A kindly old man but not up to much. And why do they stay on so long in Moscow? They meant to leave for the country long ago. Natalie is quite well again now, isn’t she?


They are waiting for their younger son. He joined Obolénski’s Cossacks and went to Bélaya Tsérkov where the regiment is being formed. But now they have had him transferred to my regiment and are expecting him every day. The count wanted to leave long ago, but the countess won’t on any account leave Moscow till her son returns.


I met them the day before yesterday at the Arkhárovs’. Natalie has recovered her looks and is brighter. She sang a song. How easily some people get over everything!


Get over what?


You know, Count, such knights as you are only found in Madame de Souza’s novels.


What knights? What do you mean?


Oh, come, my dear count! C’est la fable de tout Moscou. Je vous admire, ma parole d’honneur!


Forfeit, forfeit!


All right, one can’t talk—how tiresome!


What is ‘the talk of all Moscow’?


Come now, Count, you know!


I don’t know anything about it,


I know you were friendly with Natalie, and so... but I was always more friendly with Véra—that dear Véra.


No, madame! I have not taken on myself the role of Natalie Rostóva’s knight at all, and have not been to their house for nearly a month. But I cannot understand the cruelty...


Qui s’excuse s’accuse. Do you know what I heard today? Poor Mary Bolkónskaya arrived in Moscow yesterday. Do you know that she has lost her father?


Really? Where is she? I should like very much to see her,


I spent the evening with her yesterday. She is going to their estate near Moscow either today or tomorrow morning, with her nephew.


Well, and how is she?


She is well, but sad. But do you know who rescued her? It is quite a romance. Nicholas Rostóv! She was surrounded, and they wanted to kill her and had wounded some of her people. He rushed in and saved her....


Another romance. Really, this general flight has been arranged to get all the old maids married off. Catiche is one and Princess Bolkónskaya another.


Do you know, I really believe she is un petit peu amoureuse du jeune homme.


Forfeit, forfeit, forfeit!


But how could one say that in Russian?


There will be less panic and less gossip, but I will stake my life on it that that scoundrel will not enter Moscow.


Shall I join the army and enter the service, or wait? If this patience comes out, if it comes out, it means... what does it mean? Then it will mean that I must go to the army. Come in, come in!


Excuse my coming to you, cousin. You know some decision must be come to. What is going to happen? Everyone has left Moscow and the people are rioting. How is it that we are staying on?


On the contrary, things seem satisfactory, ma cousine,


Satisfactory, indeed! Very satisfactory! Barbara Ivánovna told me today how our troops are distinguishing themselves. It certainly does them credit! And the people too are quite mutinous—they no longer obey, even my maid has taken to being rude. At this rate they will soon begin beating us. One can’t walk in the streets. But, above all, the French will be here any day now, so what are we waiting for? I ask just one thing of you, cousin, arrange for me to be taken to Petersburg. Whatever I may be, I can’t live under Bonaparte’s rule.


Oh, come, ma cousine! Where do you get your information from? On the contrary...


I won’t submit to your Napoleon! Others may if they please.... If you don’t want to do this...


But I will, I’ll give the order at once. But you have been misinformed. Everything is quiet in the city and there is not the slightest danger. See! I’ve just been reading... Count Rostopchín writes that he will stake his life on it that the enemy will not enter Moscow.


Oh, that count of yours! He is a hypocrite, a rascal who has himself roused the people to riot. Didn’t he write in those idiotic broadsheets that anyone, ‘whoever it might be, should be dragged to the lockup by his hair’? How silly! And honor and glory to whoever captures him, he says. This is what his cajolery has brought us to! Barbara Ivánovna told me the mob near killed her because she said something in French.


Oh, but it’s so... You take everything so to heart,


Well then, sell it. What’s to be done? I can’t draw back now!


As soon as Leppich is ready, get together a crew of reliable and intelligent men for his car and send a courier to General Kutúzov to let him know. I have informed him of the matter. Please impress upon Leppich to be very careful where he descends for the first time, that he may not make a mistake and fall into the enemy’s hands. It is essential for him to combine his movements with those of the commander in chief.


What is it? Who is it? What is it for?


He’s cook to some prince.


Eh, mounseer, Russian sauce seems to be sour to a Frenchman... sets his teeth on edge!


What is your pleasure?


Where are you going?


To the Governor’s, as you ordered,


Fool! Idiot! Home, I told you! And drive faster, blockhead! I must get away this very day,


I say, fellow countryman! Will they set us down here or take us on to Moscow?


Ah lost, quite lost... is my head so keen, Living in a foreign land...


Oh, the coxcombs!


It’s not the soldiers only, but I’ve seen peasants today, too.... The peasants—even they have to go. No distinctions made nowadays.... They want the whole nation to fall on them—in a word, it’s Moscow! They want to make an end of it.


Count! Your excellency, how come you to be here?


Well, you know, I wanted to see...


Yes, yes, there will be something to see.... Why should you be God knows where out of sight, during the battle? Anyhow his Serene Highness knows you and will receive you graciously. That’s what you must do.


You think so?... Ah, I also wanted to ask you where our position is exactly?


The position? Well, that’s not my line. Drive past Tatárinova, a lot of digging is going on there. Go up the hillock and you’ll see.


Can one see from there?... If you would...


I would go with you but on my honor I’m up to here I’m galloping to the commander of the corps. How do matters stand?... You know, Count, there’ll be a battle tomorrow. Out of an army of a hundred thousand we must expect at least twenty thousand wounded, and we haven’t stretchers, or bunks, or dressers, or doctors enough for six thousand. We have ten thousand carts, but we need other things as well—we must manage as best we can!


They may die tomorrow; why are they thinking of anything but death? The cavalry ride to battle and meet the wounded and do not for a moment think of what awaits them, but pass by, winking at the wounded. Yet from among these men twenty thousand are doomed to die, and they wonder at my hat! Strange!


They want the whole nation to fall on them.


I must ask someone who knows. May I ask you, what village that is in front?


Búrdino, isn’t it?


Borodinó,


Are those our men there?


Yes, and there, further on, are the French. There they are, there... you can see them.


Where? Where?


One can see them with the naked eye... Why, there!


Ah, those are the French! And over there?...


Those are ours.


Ah, ours! And there?...


That’s his again. It was ours yesterday, but now it is his.


Then how about our position?


Our position? I can tell you quite clearly, because I constructed nearly all our entrenchments. There, you see? There’s our center, at Borodinó, just there. That’s where one crosses the Kolochá. You see down there where the rows of hay are lying in the hollow, there’s the bridge. That’s our center. Our right flank is over there That’s where the Moskvá River is, and we have thrown up three redoubts there, very strong ones. The left flank... Well, you see, that’s difficult to explain.... Yesterday our left flank was there at Shevárdino, you see, where the oak is, but now we have withdrawn our left wing—now it is over there, do you see that village and the smoke? That’s Semënovsk, yes, there. But the battle will hardly be there. His having moved his troops there is only a ruse; he will probably pass round to the right of the Moskvá. But wherever it may be, many a man will be missing tomorrow!


Gabions must be sent for,


Well, send number three company again. And you, are you one of the doctors?


No, I’ve come on my own,


Oh, those damned fellows!


There they are... bringing her, coming... There they are... They’ll be here in a minute... They are bringing her, our Protectress!... The Iberian Mother of God! The Smolénsk Mother of God,


Save from calamity Thy servants, O Mother of God,


For to Thee under God we all flee as to an inviolable bulwark and protection,


Count Peter Kirílovich! How did you get here?


This is what you must do. I will do the honors of the camp to you. You will see everything best from where Count Bennigsen will be. I am in attendance on him, you know; I’ll mention it to him. But if you want to ride round the position, come along with us. We are just going to the left flank. Then when we get back, do spend the night with me and we’ll arrange a game of cards. Of course you know Dmítri Sergéevich? Those are his quarters,


But I should like to see the right flank. They say it’s very strong. I should like to start from the Moskvá River and ride round the whole position.


Well, you can do that later, but the chief thing is the left flank.


Yes, yes. But where is Prince Bolkónski’s regiment? Can you point it out to me?


Prince Andrew’s? We shall pass it and I’ll take you to him.


What about the left flank?


To tell you the truth, between ourselves, God only knows what state our left flank is in. It is not at all what Count Bennigsen intended. He meant to fortify that knoll quite differently, but... his Serene Highness would not have it, or someone persuaded him. You see... Ah, Kaysárov! I was just trying to explain our position to the count. It is amazing how his Serene Highness could so foresee the intentions of the French!


You mean the left flank?


Yes, exactly; the left flank is now extremely strong.


Call him to me,


How did that fellow get here?


He’s a creature that wriggles in anywhere!


He has been degraded, you know. Now he wants to bob up again. He’s been proposing some scheme or other and has crawled into the enemy’s picket line at night.... He’s a brave fellow.


I concluded that if I reported to your Serene Highness you might send me away or say that you knew what I was reporting, but then I shouldn’t lose anything...


Yes, yes.


But if I were right, I should be rendering a service to my Fatherland for which I am ready to die.


And should your Serene Highness require a man who will not spare his skin, please think of me.... Perhaps I may prove useful to your Serene Highness.


Yes... Yes...


The militia have put on clean white shirts to be ready to die. What heroism, Count!


What are you saying about the militia?


Preparing for tomorrow, your Serene Highness—for death—they have put on clean shirts.


Ah... a wonderful, a matchless people! A matchless people! So you want to smell gunpowder? Yes, it’s a pleasant smell. I have the honor to be one of your wife’s adorers. Is she well? My quarters are at your service. Those verses... those verses of Márin’s... how do they go, eh? Those he wrote about Gerákov: ‘Lectures for the corps inditing’... Recite them, recite them!


I am very glad to meet you here, Count. On the eve of a day when God alone knows who of us is fated to survive, I am glad of this opportunity to tell you that I regret the misunderstandings that occurred between us and should wish you not to have any ill feeling for me. I beg you to forgive me.


It will interest you,


I don’t think this interests you?


On the contrary it’s very interesting!


Yes, yes! There they are, those false images that agitated, enraptured, and tormented me. There they are, those rudely painted figures that once seemed splendid and mysterious. Glory, the good of society, love of a woman, the Fatherland itself—how important these pictures appeared to me, with what profound meaning they seemed to be filled! And it is all so simple, pale, and crude in the cold white light of this morning which I feel is dawning for me. Love... that little girl who seemed to me brimming over with mystic forces! Yes, indeed, I loved her. I made romantic plans of love and happiness with her! Oh, what a boy I was! Ah me! I believed in some ideal love which was to keep her faithful to me for the whole year of my absence! Like the gentle dove in the fable she was to pine apart from me.... But it was much simpler really.... It was all very simple and horrible. When my father built Bald Hills he thought the place was his: his land, his air, his peasants. But Napoleon came and swept him aside, unconscious of his existence, as he might brush a chip from his path, and his Bald Hills and his whole life fell to pieces. Princess Mary says it is a trial sent from above. What is the trial for, when he is not here and will never return? He is not here! For whom then is the trial intended? The Fatherland, the destruction of Moscow! And tomorrow I shall be killed, perhaps not even by a Frenchman but by one of our own men, by a soldier discharging a musket close to my ear as one of them did yesterday, and the French will come and take me by head and heels and fling me into a hole that I may not stink under their noses, and new conditions of life will arise, which will seem quite ordinary to others and about which I shall know nothing. I shall not exist.... To die... to be killed tomorrow... That I should not exist... That all this should still be, but no me.... Who’s that? Devil take it! You? What a surprise! What brings you here? This is unexpected!


I have come... simply... you know... come... it interests me. I wish to see the battle.


Oh yes, and what do the Masonic brothers say about war? How would they stop it? Well, and how’s Moscow? And my people? Have they reached Moscow at last?


Yes, they have. Julie Drubetskáya told me so. I went to see them, but missed them. They have gone to your estate near Moscow.


So you understand the whole position of our troops?


Yes—that is, how do you mean? Not being a military man I can’t say I have understood it fully, but I understand the general position.


Well, then, you know more than anyone else, be it who it may,


Oh! Well, and what do you think of Kutúzov’s appointment?


I was very glad of his appointment, that’s all I know,


And tell me your opinion of Barclay de Tolly. In Moscow they are saying heaven knows what about him.... What do you think of him?


Ask them,


We see light again, since his Serenity has been appointed, your excellency,


Why so?


Well, to mention only firewood and fodder, let me inform you. Why, when we were retreating from Sventsyáni we dare not touch a stick or a wisp of hay or anything. You see, we were going away, so he would get it all; wasn’t it so, your excellency? But we daren’t. In our regiment two officers were court-martialed for that kind of thing. But when his Serenity took command everything became straightforward. Now we see light....


Then why was it forbidden?


Why, so as not to lay waste the country we were abandoning to the enemy. It is very sound: one can’t permit the land to be pillaged and accustom the troops to marauding. At Smolénsk too he judged correctly that the French might outflank us, as they had larger forces. But he could not understand this, he could not understand that there, for the first time, we were fighting for Russian soil, and that there was a spirit in the men such as I had never seen before, that we had held the French for two days, and that that success had increased our strength tenfold. He ordered us to retreat, and all our efforts and losses went for nothing. He had no thought of betraying us, he tried to do the best he could, he thought out everything, and that is why he is unsuitable. He is unsuitable now, just because he plans out everything very thoroughly and accurately as every German has to. How can I explain?... Well, say your father has a German valet, and he is a splendid valet and satisfies your father’s requirements better than you could, then it’s all right to let him serve. But if your father is mortally sick you’ll send the valet away and attend to your father with your own unpracticed, awkward hands, and will soothe him better than a skilled man who is a stranger could. So it has been with Barclay. While Russia was well, a foreigner could serve her and be a splendid minister; but as soon as she is in danger she needs one of her own kin. But in your Club they have been making him out a traitor! They slander him as a traitor, and the only result will be that afterwards, ashamed of their false accusations, they will make him out a hero or a genius instead of a traitor, and that will be still more unjust. He is an honest and very punctilious German.


And they say he’s a skillful commander,


I don’t understand what is meant by ‘a skillful commander,’


A skillful commander? Why, one who foresees all contingencies... and foresees the adversary’s intentions.


but with this little difference, that in chess you may think over each move as long as you please and are not limited for time, and with this difference too, that a knight is always stronger than a pawn, and two pawns are always stronger than one, while in war a battalion is sometimes stronger than a division and sometimes weaker than a company. The relative strength of bodies of troops can never be known to anyone. Believe me, if things depended on arrangements made by the staff, I should be there making arrangements, but instead of that I have the honor to serve here in the regiment with these gentlemen, and I consider that on us tomorrow’s battle will depend and not on those others.... Success never depends, and never will depend, on position, or equipment, or even on numbers, and least of all on position.


But on what then?


On the feeling that is in me and in him, and in each soldier.


A battle is won by those who firmly resolve to win it! Why did we lose the battle at Austerlitz? The French losses were almost equal to ours, but very early we said to ourselves that we were losing the battle, and we did lose it. And we said so because we had nothing to fight for there, we wanted to get away from the battlefield as soon as we could. ‘We’ve lost, so let us run,’ and we ran. If we had not said that till the evening, heaven knows what might not have happened. But tomorrow we shan’t say it! You talk about our position, the left flank weak and the right flank too extended,


That’s all nonsense, there’s nothing of the kind. But what awaits us tomorrow? A hundred million most diverse chances which will be decided on the instant by the fact that our men or theirs run or do not run, and that this man or that man is killed, but all that is being done at present is only play. The fact is that those men with whom you have ridden round the position not only do not help matters, but hinder. They are only concerned with their own petty interests.


At such a moment?


At such a moment! To them it is only a moment affording opportunities to undermine a rival and obtain an extra cross or ribbon. For me tomorrow means this: a Russian army of a hundred thousand and a French army of a hundred thousand have met to fight, and the thing is that these two hundred thousand men will fight and the side that fights more fiercely and spares itself least will win. And if you like I will tell you that whatever happens and whatever muddles those at the top may make, we shall win tomorrow’s battle. Tomorrow, happen what may, we shall win!


There now, your excellency! That’s the truth, the real truth. Who would spare himself now? The soldiers in my battalion, believe me, wouldn’t drink their vodka! ‘It’s not the day for that!’ they say.


Der Krieg muss in Raum verlegt werden. Der Ansicht kann ich nicht genug Preis geben,


The war must be extended widely. I cannot sufficiently commend that view.


Oh, ja, der Zweck ist nur den Feind zu schwächen, so kann man gewiss nicht den Verlust der Privat-Personen in Achtung nehmen.


Oh, yes, the only aim is to weaken the enemy, so of course one cannot take into account the loss of private individuals.


Oh, no,


Extend widely! In that ‘extend’ were my father, son, and sister, at Bald Hills. That’s all the same to him! That’s what I was saying to you—those German gentlemen won’t win the battle tomorrow but will only make all the mess they can, because they have nothing in their German heads but theories not worth an empty eggshell and haven’t in their hearts the one thing needed tomorrow—that which Timókhin has. They have yielded up all Europe to him, and have now come to teach us. Fine teachers!


So you think we shall win tomorrow’s battle?


Yes, yes. One thing I would do if I had the power. I would not take prisoners. Why take prisoners? It’s chivalry! The French have destroyed my home and are on their way to destroy Moscow, they have outraged and are outraging me every moment. They are my enemies. In my opinion they are all criminals. And so thinks Timókhin and the whole army. They should be executed! Since they are my foes they cannot be my friends, whatever may have been said at Tilsit.


Yes, yes. I quite agree with you!


Not take prisoners. That by itself would quite change the whole war and make it less cruel. As it is we have played at war—that’s what’s vile! We play at magnanimity and all that stuff. Such magnanimity and sensibility are like the magnanimity and sensibility of a lady who faints when she sees a calf being killed: she is so kindhearted that she can’t look at blood, but enjoys eating the calf served up with sauce. They talk to us of the rules of war, of chivalry, of flags of truce, of mercy to the unfortunate and so on. It’s all rubbish! I saw chivalry and flags of truce in 1805; they humbugged us and we humbugged them. They plunder other people’s houses, issue false paper money, and worst of all they kill my children and my father, and then talk of rules of war and magnanimity to foes! Take no prisoners, but kill and be killed! He who has come to this as I have through the same sufferings... If there was none of this magnanimity in war, we should go to war only when it was worth while going to certain death, as now. Then there would not be war because Paul Ivánovich had offended Michael Ivánovich. And when there was a war, like this one, it would be war! And then the determination of the troops would be quite different. Then all these Westphalians and Hessians whom Napoleon is leading would not follow him into Russia, and we should not go to fight in Austria and Prussia without knowing why. War is not courtesy but the most horrible thing in life; and we ought to understand that and not play at war. We ought to accept this terrible necessity sternly and seriously. It all lies in that: get rid of falsehood and let war be war and not a game. As it is now, war is the favorite pastime of the idle and frivolous. The military calling is the most highly honored. But what is war? What is needed for success in warfare? What are the habits of the military? The aim of war is murder; the methods of war are spying, treachery, and their encouragement, the ruin of a country’s inhabitants, robbing them or stealing to provision the army, and fraud and falsehood termed military craft. The habits of the military class are the absence of freedom, that is, discipline, idleness, ignorance, cruelty, debauchery, and drunkenness. And in spite of all this it is the highest class, respected by everyone. All the kings, except the Chinese, wear military uniforms, and he who kills most people receives the highest rewards. They meet, as we shall meet tomorrow, to murder one another; they kill and maim tens of thousands, and then have thanksgiving services for having killed so many people (they even exaggerate the number), and they announce a victory, supposing that the more people they have killed the greater their achievement. How does God above look at them and hear them? Ah, my friend, it has of late become hard for me to live. I see that I have begun to understand too much. And it doesn’t do for man to taste of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.... Ah, well, it’s not for long! However, you’re sleepy, and it’s time for me to sleep. Go back to Górki!


Oh no!


Go, go! Before a battle one must have one’s sleep out. Good-by, be off! Whether we meet again or not...


No, he does not want it! And I know that this is our last meeting!


No, I can’t! I’m not telling it right; no, you don’t understand. He was such a delightful old man, and it was so dark in the forest... and he had such kind... No, I can’t describe it,


I understood her. I not only understood her, but it was just that inner, spiritual force, that sincerity, that frankness of soul—that very soul of hers which seemed to be fettered by her body—it was that soul I loved in her... loved so strongly and happily... He did not need anything of that kind. He neither saw nor understood anything of the sort. He only saw in her a pretty and fresh young girl, with whom he did not deign to unite his fate. And I?... and he is still alive and gay!


Go on, harder, go on! No prisoners! They are forcing us to exterminate them. So much the worse for the Russian army.... Go on... harder, harder! All right. Let Monsieur de Beausset enter, and Fabvier too,


Yes, sire,


I must make up for that in Moscow. I’ll see you later. You have hurried here. I am very glad. Well, what is Paris saying?


Sire, all Paris regrets your absence,


I am very sorry to have made you travel so far,


Sire, I expected nothing less than to find you at the gates of Moscow,


Yes, it has happened luckily for you. You are fond of travel, and in three days you will see Moscow. You surely did not expect to see that Asiatic capital. You will have a pleasant journey. Ha, what’s this?


A present to Your Majesty from the Empress.


The King of Rome! Admirable!


Vive l’Empereur! Vive le roi de Rome! Vive l’Empereur!


Short and energetic! He was in the great battle before Moscow! Before Moscow!


Your Majesty is too kind!


Take him away! It is too soon for him to see a field of battle.


The chessmen are set up, the game will begin tomorrow!


The matter is in my hands and is clear and definite in my head. When the time comes to set to work I shall do it as no one else could, but now I can jest, and the more I jest and the calmer I am the more tranquil and confident you ought to be, and the more amazed at my genius.


Well, Rapp, do you think we shall do good business today?


Without doubt, sire. Do you remember, sire, what you did me the honor to say at Smolénsk? The wine is drawn and must be drunk.


This poor army! It has diminished greatly since Smolénsk. Fortune is frankly a courtesan, Rapp. I have always said so and I am beginning to experience it. But the Guards, Rapp, the Guards are intact?


Yes, sire,


Have the biscuits and rice been served out to the regiments of the Guards?


Yes, sire.


The rice too? I have neither taste nor smell. This cold is tiresome. They talk about medicine—what is the good of medicine when it can’t cure a cold! Corvisart gave me these lozenges but they don’t help at all. What can doctors cure? One can’t cure anything. Our body is a machine for living. It is organized for that, it is its nature. Let life go on in it unhindered and let it defend itself, it will do more than if you paralyze it by encumbering it with remedies. Our body is like a perfect watch that should go for a certain time; the watchmaker cannot open it, he can only adjust it by fumbling, and that blindfold.... Yes, our body is just a machine for living, that is all. Do you know, Rapp, what military art is? It is the art of being stronger than the enemy at a given moment. That’s all. Tomorrow we shall have to deal with Kutúzov! We shall see! Do you remember at Braunau he commanded an army for three weeks and did not once mount a horse to inspect his entrenchments.... We shall see!


What year did you enter the service? Ah! One of the old ones! Has your regiment had its rice?


It has, Your Majesty.


Your excellency! Your excellency! Your excellency!


What? Has it begun? Is it time?


Hear the firing. All the gentlemen have gone out, and his Serene Highness himself rode past long ago.


It’s time, Count; it’s time!


Go, my dear fellow, go... and Christ be with you!


To the crossing!


I’ll go there too, I too!


Why ride into the middle of the battalion?


Why’s that fellow in front of the line?


To the left!... Keep to the right!


How have you got here?


What’s happening here? May I come with you?


One moment, one moment! Why have you come here, Count? Still inquisitive?


Yes, yes,


Here it’s tolerable, but with Bagratión on the left flank they’re getting it frightfully hot.


Really? Where is that?


Come along with me to our knoll. We can get a view from there and in our battery it is still bearable. Will you come?


Yes, I’ll come with you. Why haven’t they carried him away?


You don’t seem to be used to riding, Count?


No it’s not that, but her action seems so jerky,


Why... she’s wounded! In the off foreleg above the knee. A bullet, no doubt. I congratulate you, Count, on your baptism of fire! Is the general here?


He was here a minute ago but has just gone that way,


Don’t trouble about me. I’ll go up onto the knoll if I may?


Yes, do. You’ll see everything from there and it’s less dangerous, and I’ll come for you.


Sir, permit me to ask you to stand aside. You must not be here.


And how’s it you’re not afraid, sir, really now?


Are you afraid, then?


What else do you expect? She has no mercy, you know! When she comes spluttering down, out go your innards. One can’t help being afraid. It’s the business of us soldiers. But in a gentleman it’s wonderful! There’s a gentleman for you!


To your places!


A live one!


Not this way! To the infantry! Are you bowing to a friend, eh?


They’ve withdrawn the front line, it has retired,


Mind your own business. If they’ve retired it’s because there’s work for them to do farther back.


To the fifth gun, wheel it up!


Now then, all together, like bargees!


Oh, she nearly knocked our gentleman’s hat off! Awkward baggage!


Now then, you foxes!


So this gruel isn’t to your taste? Oh, you crows! You’re scared! There, lads... oh, oh! they don’t like it at all!


I have the honor to report, sir, that only eight rounds are left. Are we to continue firing?


Grapeshot!


All with grapeshot! The scoundrels! What are they doing? Run to the reserves and bring up the ammunition boxes!


I’ll go,


Don’t fire.... Wait!


Eh, sir, this is no place for you,


Where am I going?


Brothers!


Hurrah!


Reinforcements? Reinforcements! Tell the King of Naples, that it is not noon yet, and I don’t yet see my chessboard clearly. Go!...


You are very fiery, Belliard. In the heat of a battle it is easy to make a mistake. Go and have another look and then come back to me. Now then, what do you want?


Sire, the prince...


Asks for reinforcements? We must give reserves. Who do you think should be sent there?


Send Claparède’s division, sire,


No! I can’t send Claparède. Send Friant’s division.


I hope I may now congratulate Your Majesty on a victory?


Go away...


What? What do you say? Yes, tell them to bring me my horse.


At eight hundred leagues from France, I will not have my Guard destroyed!


Yes, yes, do that. Yes, yes: go, dear boy, and have a look. No, don’t, we’d better wait!


Ride over to Prince Peter Ivánovich and find out about it exactly. Will Your Highness please take command of the first army? Wait a little, gentlemen. The battle is won, and there is nothing extraordinary in the capture of Murat. Still, it is better to wait before we rejoice. Go, my dear fellow, and see whether something can’t be done.


All the points of our position are in the enemy’s hands and we cannot dislodge them for lack of troops, the men are running away and it is impossible to stop them. I have not considered it right to conceal from your Serene Highness what I have seen. The troops are in complete disorder....


You have seen? You have seen?... How... how dare you!... How dare you, sir, say that to me? You know nothing about it. Tell General Barclay from me that his information is incorrect and that the real course of the battle is better known to me, the commander in chief, than to him. The enemy has been repulsed on the left and defeated on the right flank. If you have seen amiss, sir, do not allow yourself to say what you don’t know! Be so good as to ride to General Barclay and inform him of my firm intention to attack the enemy tomorrow. They are repulsed everywhere, for which I thank God and our brave army! The enemy is beaten, and tomorrow we shall drive him from the sacred soil of Russia. Ah, here he is, my hero! Then you do not think, like some others, that we must retreat?


On the contrary, your Highness, in indecisive actions it is always the most stubborn who remain victors, and in my opinion...


Kaysárov! Sit down and write out the order of the day for tomorrow. And you, ride along the line and announce that tomorrow we attack.


Hey, look at the trace horse!... Get her leg out! She’ll fall.... Ah, they don’t see it!


Adjutant! Order them not to crowd together.


Look out!


Lie down!


Can this be death? I cannot, I do not wish to die. I love life—I love this grass, this earth, this air.... It’s shameful, sir! What...


What are you waiting for? Come along! Pick him up, lift him, it’s all the same!


Ah, God! My God! What is it? The stomach? That means death! My God!


It flew a hair’s breadth past my ear,


Keep in step! Ah... those peasants!


Get into step, Fëdor... I say, Fëdor!


Now that’s right!


Your excellency! Eh, Prince!


We kicked him out from there so that he chucked everything, we grabbed the King himself! If only reserves had come up just then, lads, there wouldn’t have been nothing left of him! I tell you surely....


All right, immediately,


It seems that even in the next world only the gentry are to have a chance!


Ooh, ooh, ooh!


Undress him! What are you waiting for?


Show it to me.... Oh, ooh... Oh! Oh, ooh!


Oh! Oh, ooh!


My God! What is this? Why is he here? Yes, it is he! Yes, that man is somehow closely and painfully connected with me. What is the connection of that man with my childhood and life?


Compassion, love of our brothers, for those who love us and for those who hate us, love of our enemies; yes, that love which God preached on earth and which Princess Mary taught me and I did not understand—that is what made me sorry to part with life, that is what remained for me had I lived. But now it is too late. I know it!


Our fire is mowing them down by rows, but still they hold on,


They want more!...


Sire?


They want more! Let them have it!


But every time there have been conquests there have been conquerors; every time there has been a revolution in any state there have been great men,


every time conquerors appear there have been wars, but this does not prove that the conquerors caused the wars and that it is possible to find the laws of a war in the personal activity of a single man.


Whenever I look at my watch and its hands point to ten, I hear the bells of the neighboring church; but because the bells begin to ring when the hands of the clock reach ten, I have no right to assume that the movement of the bells is caused by the position of the hands of the watch.


Whenever I see the movement of a locomotive I hear the whistle and see the valves opening and wheels turning; but I have no right to conclude that the whistling and the turning of wheels are the cause of the movement of the engine.


Give me your hand. You are not well, my dear fellow. Think what you are saying!


Have I really allowed Napoleon to reach Moscow, and when did I do so? When was it decided? Can it have been yesterday when I ordered Plátov to retreat, or was it the evening before, when I had a nap and told Bennigsen to issue orders? Or was it earlier still?... When, when was this terrible affair decided? Moscow must be abandoned. The army must retreat and the order to do so must be given.


My head, be it good or bad, must depend on itself,


Are we to abandon Russia’s ancient and sacred capital without a struggle, or are we to defend it?


Russia’s ancient and sacred capital! Allow me to tell you, your excellency, that that question has no meaning for a Russian. Such a question cannot be put; it is senseless! The question I have asked these gentlemen to meet to discuss is a military one. The question is that of saving Russia. Is it better to give up Moscow without a battle, or by accepting battle to risk losing the army as well as Moscow? That is the question on which I want your opinion,


Gentlemen. I cannot approve of the count’s plan. Moving troops in close proximity to an enemy is always dangerous, and military history supports that view. For instance... Oh yes; take the battle of Friedland, which I think the count well remembers, and which was... not fully successful, only because our troops were rearranged too near the enemy.... Well, gentlemen, I see that it is I who will have to pay for the broken crockery. Gentlemen, I have heard your views. Some of you will not agree with me. But I, by the authority entrusted to me by my Sovereign and country, order a retreat.


When, when did the abandonment of Moscow become inevitable? When was that done which settled the matter? And who was to blame for it? I did not expect this. I did not expect this! I did not think this would happen.


You should take some rest, your Serene Highness,


But no! They shall eat horseflesh yet, like the Turks! They shall too, if only...


It is disgraceful to run away from danger; only cowards are running away from Moscow,


That’s just like a man—selfish and cruel! I expected nothing else. A woman sacrifices herself for you, she suffers, and this is her reward! What right have you, monseigneur, to demand an account of my attachments and friendships? He is a man who has been more than a father to me! Well, yes, it may be that he has other sentiments for me than those of a father, but that is not a reason for me to shut my door on him. I am not a man, that I should repay kindness with ingratitude! Know, monseigneur, that in all that relates to my intimate feelings I render account only to God and to my conscience,


But for heaven’s sake listen to me! Marry me, and I will be your slave! But that’s impossible.


You won’t deign to demean yourself by marrying me, you...


But the law, religion...


The law, religion... The law, religion... What have they been invented for if they can’t arrange that?


Ignorant of the import of what you were undertaking, you made a vow of conjugal fidelity to a man who on his part, by entering the married state without faith in the religious significance of marriage, committed an act of sacrilege. That marriage lacked the dual significance it should have had. Yet in spite of this your vow was binding. You swerved from it. What did you commit by so acting? A venial, or a mortal, sin? A venial sin, for you acted without evil intention. If now you married again with the object of bearing children, your sin might be forgiven. But the question is again a twofold one: firstly...


But I think that having espoused the true religion I cannot be bound by what a false religion laid upon me.


Let us understand one another, Countess,


So wives of living men have started marrying again! Perhaps you think you have invented a novelty? You have been forestalled, my dear! It was thought of long ago. It is done in all the brothels,


Hélène, I have a word to say to you. I have heard of certain projects concerning... you know. Well my dear child, you know how your father’s heart rejoices to know that you... You have suffered so much.... But, my dear child, consult only your own heart. That is all I have to say,


Listen, Bilíbin. Tell me, as you would a sister, what I ought to do. Which of the two?


You are not taking me unawares, you know. As a true friend, I have thought and thought again about your affair. You see, if you marry the prince you forever lose the chance of marrying the other, and you will displease the court besides. (You know there is some kind of connection.) But if you marry the old count you will make his last days happy, and as widow of the Grand... the prince would no longer be making a mésalliance by marrying you,


That’s a true friend! But I love them, you know, and don’t want to distress either of them. I would give my life for the happiness of them both.


Une maîtresse-femme! * That’s what is called putting things squarely. She would like to be married to all three at the same time. But tell me, how will your husband look at the matter? Will he agree?


Oh, he loves me so! He will do anything for me.


Even divorce you?


But it says plainly: ‘Whosoever shall marry her that is divorced...’


Ah, Maman, ne dites pas de bêtises. Vous ne comprenez rien. Dans ma position j’ai des devoirs,


But, my dear....


Oh, Mamma, how is it you don’t understand that the Holy Father, who has the right to grant dispensations... Non, dites-lui que je ne veux pas le voir, que je suis furieuse contre lui, parce qu’il m’a manqué parole.


Comtesse, à tout péché miséricorde,


And so I pray God to have you, my friend, in His holy and powerful keeping—Your friend Hélène.


And who may you be?


I, I... By rights I am a militia officer, but my men are not here. I came to the battle and have lost them.


There now!


Would you like a little mash?


Where have you to go to? Tell us!


To Mozháysk.


You’re a gentleman, aren’t you?


Yes.


And what’s your name?


Peter Kirílych.


Well then, Peter Kirílych, come along with us, we’ll take you there.


Your excellency! Why, we were beginning to despair! How is it you are on foot? And where are you going, please?


Oh, yes!


So you’ve found your folk? Well, good-by, Peter Kirílych—isn’t it?


Good-by, Peter Kirílych!


Good-by!


To endure war is the most difficult subordination of man’s freedom to the law of God. Simplicity is submission to the will of God; you cannot escape from Him. And they are simple. They do not talk, but act. The spoken word is silver but the unspoken is golden. Man can be master of nothing while he fears death, but he who does not fear it possesses all. If there were no suffering, man would not know his limitations, would not know himself. The hardest thing (Pierre went on thinking, or hearing, in his dream) is to be able in your soul to unite the meaning of all. To unite all?


No, not to unite. Thoughts cannot be united, but to harness all these thoughts together is what we need! Yes, one must harness them, must harness them!


Yes, one must harness, it is time to harness. Time to harness, time to harness, your excellency! Your excellency! We must harness, it is time to harness....


We have been looking for you everywhere,


The count wants to see you particularly. He asks you to come to him at once on a very important matter.


If they’re sent out and brought back again later on it will do no harm, but as things are now one can’t answer for anything.


But you see what he writes...


That’s another matter. That’s necessary for the people,


What is it?


Oh, it’s a fresh broadsheet.


But military men have told me that it is impossible to fight in the town, and that the position...


Well, of course! That’s what we were saying,


And what does he mean by ‘One of my eyes was sore but now I am on the lookout with both’?


The count had a sty,


and was very much upset when I told him people had come to ask what was the matter with him. By the by, Count,


we heard that you have family troubles and that the countess, your wife...


I have heard nothing. But what have you heard?


Oh, well, you know people often invent things. I only say what I heard.


But what did you hear?


Well, they say,


that the countess, your wife, is preparing to go abroad. I expect it’s nonsense....


Possibly. And who is that?


He? That’s a tradesman, that is to say, he’s the restaurant keeper, Vereshchágin. Perhaps you have heard of that affair with the proclamation.


Oh, so that is Vereshchágin!


That’s not he himself, that’s the father of the fellow who wrote the proclamation,


The young man is in prison and I expect it will go hard with him.


It’s a complicated story, you know,


That proclamation appeared about two months ago. The count was informed of it. He gave orders to investigate the matter. Gabriel Ivánovich here made the inquiries. The proclamation had passed through exactly sixty-three hands. He asked one, ‘From whom did you get it?’ ‘From so-and-so.’ He went to the next one. ‘From whom did you get it?’ and so on till he reached Vereshchágin, a half educated tradesman, you know, ‘a pet of a trader,’


They asked him, ‘Who gave it you?’ And the point is that we knew whom he had it from. He could only have had it from the Postmaster. But evidently they had come to some understanding. He replied: ‘From no one; I made it up myself.’ They threatened and questioned him, but he stuck to that: ‘I made it up myself.’ And so it was reported to the count, who sent for the man. ‘From whom did you get the proclamation?’ ‘I wrote it myself.’ Well, you know the count,


he flared up dreadfully—and just think of the fellow’s audacity, lying, and obstinacy!


And the count wanted him to say it was from Klyucharëv? I understand!


Not at all,


Klyucharëv had his own sins to answer for without that and that is why he has been banished. But the point is that the count was much annoyed. ‘How could you have written it yourself?’ said he, and he took up the Hamburg Gazette that was lying on the table. ‘Here it is! You did not write it yourself but translated it, and translated it abominably, because you don’t even know French, you fool.’ And what do you think? ‘No,’ said he, ‘I have not read any papers, I made it up myself.’ ‘If that’s so, you’re a traitor and I’ll have you tried, and you’ll be hanged! Say from whom you had it.’ ‘I have seen no papers, I made it up myself.’ And that was the end of it. The count had the father fetched, but the fellow stuck to it. He was sent for trial and condemned to hard labor, I believe. Now the father has come to intercede for him. But he’s a good-for-nothing lad! You know that sort of tradesman’s son, a dandy and lady-killer. He attended some lectures somewhere and imagines that the devil is no match for him. That’s the sort of fellow he is. His father keeps a cookshop here by the Stone Bridge, and you know there was a large icon of God Almighty painted with a scepter in one hand and an orb in the other. Well, he took that icon home with him for a few days and what did he do? He found some scoundrel of a painter...


Ah, how do you do, great warrior?


We have heard of your prowess. But that’s not the point. Between ourselves, mon cher, do you belong to the Masons?


I am well informed, my friend, but I am aware that there are Masons and I hope that you are not one of those who on pretense of saving mankind wish to ruin Russia.


Yes, I am a Mason,


There, you see, mon cher! I expect you know that Messrs. Speránski and Magnítski have been deported to their proper place. Mr. Klyucharëv has been treated in the same way, and so have others who on the plea of building up the temple of Solomon have tried to destroy the temple of their fatherland. You can understand that there are reasons for this and that I could not have exiled the Postmaster had he not been a harmful person. It has now come to my knowledge that you lent him your carriage for his removal from town, and that you have even accepted papers from him for safe custody. I like you and don’t wish you any harm and—as you are only half my age—I advise you, as a father would, to cease all communication with men of that stamp and to leave here as soon as possible.


But what did Klyucharëv do wrong, Count?


That is for me to know, but not for you to ask,


If he is accused of circulating Napoleon’s proclamation it is not proved that he did so, and Vereshchágin...


There we are!


Vereshchágin is a renegade and a traitor who will be punished as he deserves,


But I did not summon you to discuss my actions, but to give you advice—or an order if you prefer it. I beg you to leave the town and break off all communication with such men as Klyucharëv. And I will knock the nonsense out of anybody


We are on the eve of a public disaster and I haven’t time to be polite to everybody who has business with me. My head is sometimes in a whirl. Well, mon cher, what are you doing personally?


Why, nothing,


A word of friendly advice, mon cher. Be off as soon as you can, that’s all I have to tell you. Happy he who has ears to hear. Good-by, my dear fellow. Oh, by the by!


is it true that the countess has fallen into the clutches of the holy fathers of the Society of Jesus?


They, the soldiers at the battery, Prince Andrew killed... that old man... Simplicity is submission to God. Suffering is necessary... the meaning of all... one must harness... my wife is getting married... One must forget and understand...


I was never pleased at Bolkónski’s engagement to Natásha, but I always wanted Nicholas to marry the princess, and had a presentiment that it would happen. What a good thing it would be!


Dunyásha, you pack! You will, won’t you, dear?


Then you have nobody in Moscow? You would be more comfortable somewhere in a house... in ours, for instance... the family are leaving.


I don’t know if it would be allowed. Here is our commanding officer... ask him,


May the wounded men stay in our house?


Which one do you want, Ma’am’selle? Oh yes, why not? They may,


They may. He says they may!


Your Papa must be told, though,


Never mind, never mind, what does it matter? For one day we can move into the drawing room. They can have all our half of the house.


There now, young lady, you do take things into your head! Even if we put them into the wing, the men’s room, or the nurse’s room, we must ask permission.


Well, I’ll ask. Are you asleep, Mamma?


Oh, what sleep—?


Mamma darling! I am sorry, forgive me, I’ll never do it again; I woke you up! Mávra Kuzmínichna has sent me: they have brought some wounded here—officers. Will you let them come? They have nowhere to go. I knew you’d let them come!


What officers? Whom have they brought? I don’t understand anything about it,


I knew you’d give permission... so I’ll tell them,


We’ve stayed too long! The Club is closed and the police are leaving.


Papa, is it all right—I’ve invited some of the wounded into the house?


Of course it is. That’s not the point. I beg you not to indulge in trifles now, but to help to pack, and tomorrow we must go, go, go!...


At dinner Pétya having returned home told them the news he had heard. He said the people had been getting arms in the Krémlin, and that though Rostopchín’s broadsheet had said that he would sound a call two or three days in advance, the order had certainly already been given for everyone to go armed to the Three Hills tomorrow, and that there would be a big battle there.


Sónya, wait a bit—we’ll pack everything into these,


You can’t, Miss, we have tried to,


No, wait a minute, please. The dishes must go in here among the carpets,


Why, it’s a mercy if we can get the carpets alone into three cases,


Oh, wait, please! These aren’t needed. These—yes, these must go among the carpets,


Don’t, Natásha! Leave it alone! We’ll get it all packed,


What a young lady she is!


That’s enough, Natásha. I see you were right, but just take out the top one.


I won’t! Now press, Pétya! Press, Vasílich, press hard!


Please come in here. The masters are going away and the whole house will be empty,


Well, perhaps. We don’t expect to get him home alive! We have a house of our own in Moscow, but it’s a long way from here, and there’s nobody living in it.


Do us the honor to come in, there’s plenty of everything in the master’s house. Come in. Is he very ill?


We don’t expect to get him home! We must ask the doctor.


All right!


O, Lord Jesus Christ! The masters won’t object...


Well, Vasílich, is everything ready?


We can harness at once, your excellency.


Well, that’s right. As soon as the countess wakes we’ll be off, God willing! What is it, gentlemen? Are you staying in my house?


Count, be so good as to allow me... for God’s sake, to get into some corner of one of your carts! I have nothing here with me.... I shall be all right on a loaded cart....


Oh, yes, yes, yes! I shall be very pleased, very pleased. Vasílich, you’ll see to it. Just unload one or two carts. Well, what of it... do what’s necessary...


Please step into the gallery, your excellency. What are your orders about the pictures?


Well, never mind, some of the things can be unloaded,


What is this, my dear? I hear that the luggage is being unloaded.


You know, love, I wanted to tell you... Countess dear... an officer came to me to ask for a few carts for the wounded. After all, ours are things that can be bought but think what being left behind means to them!... Really now, in our own yard—we asked them in ourselves and there are officers among them.... You know, I think, my dear... let them be taken... where’s the hurry?


Listen to me, Count, you have managed matters so that we are getting nothing for the house, and now you wish to throw away all our—all the children’s property! You said yourself that we have a hundred thousand rubles’ worth of things in the house. I don’t consent, my dear, I don’t! Do as you please! It’s the government’s business to look after the wounded; they know that. Look at the Lopukhíns opposite, they cleared out everything two days ago. That’s what other people do. It’s only we who are such fools. If you have no pity on me, have some for the children.


Papa, what are you doing that for?


Nothing! What business is it of yours?


But I heard. Why does Mamma object?


What business is it of yours?


Papa! Here’s Berg coming to see us,


Health, at a time like this? Come, tell us the news! Is the army retreating or will there be another battle?


God Almighty alone can decide the fate of our fatherland, Papa. The army is burning with a spirit of heroism and the leaders, so to say, have now assembled in council. No one knows what is coming. But in general I can tell you, Papa, that such a heroic spirit, the truly antique valor of the Russian army, which they—which it has shown or displayed in the battle of the twenty-sixth—there are no words worthy to do it justice! I tell you, Papa I tell you frankly that we, the commanders, far from having to urge the men on or anything of that kind, could hardly restrain those... those... yes, those exploits of antique valor. General Barclay de Tolly risked his life everywhere at the head of the troops, I can assure you. Our corps was stationed on a hillside. You can imagine! Altogether such heroism as was displayed by the Russian warriors cannot be imagined or adequately praised! Russia is not in Moscow, she lives in the hearts of her sons! Isn’t it so, Papa? Yes, Mamma, I tell you sincerely that these are hard and sad times for every Russian. But why are you so anxious? You have still time to get away....


I can’t think what the servants are about. I have just been told that nothing is ready yet. Somebody after all must see to things. One misses Mítenka at such times. There won’t be any end to it.


And I have a great favor to ask of you, Papa,


Hm...


I was driving past Yusúpov’s house just now, when the steward, a man I know, ran out and asked me whether I wouldn’t buy something. I went in out of curiosity, you know, and there is a small chiffonier and a dressing table. You know how dear Véra wanted a chiffonier like that and how we had a dispute about it. And it’s such a beauty! It pulls out and has a secret English drawer, you know! And dear Véra has long wanted one. I wish to give her a surprise, you see. I saw so many of those peasant carts in your yard. Please let me have one, I will pay the man well, and...


Ask the countess, I don’t give orders.


If it’s inconvenient, please don’t. Only I so wanted it, for dear Véra’s sake.


Oh, go to the devil, all of you! To the devil, the devil, the devil... My head’s in a whirl!


Yes, Mamma! Yes, these are very hard times!


Do you know what it’s about? It’s because Papa wanted to give up all the carts to the wounded. I consider...


I consider it so horrid, so abominable, so... I don’t know what. Are we despicable Germans? It’s horrid! It’s abominable! You can’t possibly have ordered it! Mamma, it’s impossible: see what is going on in the yard! They will be left!... Why, the wounded! It’s impossible, Mamma. It’s monstrous!... No, Mamma darling, it’s not the thing. Please forgive me, darling.... Mamma, what does it matter what we take away? Only look what is going on in the yard... Mamma!... It’s impossible!


Oh, do as you like! Am I hindering anyone?


Mamma, darling, forgive me!


My dear, you order what is right.... You know I don’t understand about it,


The eggs... the eggs are teaching the hen,


Papa! Mamma! May I see to it? May I?... We will still take all the most necessary things.


We can take four more men. They can have my trap, or else what is to become of them?


Let them have my wardrobe cart. Dunyásha can go with me in the carriage.


What could we fasten this onto? We must keep at least one cart.


What’s in it?


The count’s books.


Leave it, Vasílich will put it away. It’s not wanted. On the box. You’ll sit on the box, won’t you, Pétya?


Whose calèche is that?


Why, didn’t you know, Miss? The wounded prince: he spent the night in our house and is going with us.


But who is it? What’s his name?


It’s our intended that was—Prince Bolkónski himself! They say he is dying,


Mamma. Prince Andrew is here, mortally wounded. He is going with us.


Natásha?


Natásha does not know yet, but he is going with us,


You say he is dying? The ways of God are past finding out!


Well, Mamma? Everything is ready. What’s the matter?


Nothing. If everything is ready let us start.


What is it? What has happened?


Nothing... No...


Is it something very bad for me? What is it?


They always will forget everything! Don’t you know I can’t sit like that?


Oh, those servants!


Off, in God’s name! Start!


Dear me! Mamma, Sónya, look, it’s he! Who? Who? Look! Yes, on my word, it’s Bezúkhov! Yes, it really is Bezúkhov in a coachman’s coat, with a queer-looking old boy. Really, look, look!


No, it’s not he. How can you talk such nonsense?


Mamma. I’ll stake my head it’s he! I assure you! Stop, stop!


Peter Kirílovich, come here! We have recognized you! This is wonderful! What are you doing? Why are you like this?


What is the matter, Count?


What? What? Why? Don’t ask me,


Are you remaining in Moscow, then?


In Moscow? Yes, in Moscow. Good-by!


Ah, if only I were a man! I’d certainly stay with you. How splendid! Mamma, if you’ll let me, I’ll stay!


You were at the battle, we heard.


Yes, I was. There will be another battle tomorrow...


But what is the matter with you, Count? You are not like yourself....


Oh, don’t ask me, don’t ask me! I don’t know myself. Tomorrow... But no! Good-by, good-by! It’s an awful time!


Oh, yes, in a minute; wait... or no! No, of course... go and say I will come directly,


At home?


Owing to the present state of things Sophia Danílovna has gone to the Torzhók estate with the children, your excellency.


I will come in all the same, I have to look through the books,


Be so good as to step in. Makár Alexéevich, the brother of my late master—may the kingdom of heaven be his—has remained here, but he is in a weak state as you know,


Yes, yes, I know. Let us go in...


He was a very clever man but has now grown quite feeble, as your honor sees. Will you step into the study? As it was sealed up so it has remained, but Sophia Danílovna gave orders that if anyone should come from you they were to have the books.


Is the cabman to be discharged, your honor?


Oh yes! Look here. I say, do you know that there is going to be a battle tomorrow?


We heard so,


I beg you not to tell anyone who I am, and to do what I ask you.


Yes, your excellency. Will you have something to eat?


No, but I want something else. I want peasant clothes and a pistol,


Yes, your excellency,


Cette ville asiatique aux innombrables églises, Moscou la sainte. La voilà donc enfin, cette fameuse ville! Il était temps,


Qu’on m’amène les boyars,


He will have to be told, all the same. But, gentlemen...


But it’s impossible...


My carriage! Moscow deserted!


The general orders them all to be driven out at once, without fail. This is outrageous! Half the men have dispersed.


Where are you off to?... Where?... Stop, you rascals!


But how are you going to stop them? There is no getting them together. The army should push on before the rest bolt, that’s all!


How can one push on? They are stuck there, wedged on the bridge, and don’t move. Shouldn’t we put a cordon round to prevent the rest from running away? Come, go in there and drive them out!


Your honor! Be so good as to protect us! We won’t grudge trifles, you are welcome to anything—we shall be delighted! Pray!... I’ll fetch a piece of cloth at once for such an honorable gentleman, or even two pieces with pleasure. For we feel how it is; but what’s all this—sheer robbery! If you please, could not guards be placed if only to let us close the shop....


Eh, what twaddle! When one’s head is gone one doesn’t weep for one’s hair! Take what any of you like!


It’s all very well for you, Iván Sidórych, to talk. Please step inside, your honor!


Talk indeed! In my three shops here I have a hundred thousand rubles’ worth of goods. Can they be saved when the army has gone? Eh, what people! ‘Against God’s might our hands can’t fight.’


Come inside, your honor!


It’s not my business! What is it? What is it?


Isn’t it fine, eh, Uncle Ignát?


Only fancy!


Impudence! Impudence! How he’s grinning, the fat mug! Is that what you’re here for? Nothing’s cleared away down there and Vasílich is worn out. Just you wait a bit!


Aunt, I did it gently,


I’ll give you something gently, you monkey you! Go and get the samovar to boil for your grandfather. Who do you want?


The count—Count Ilyá Andréevich Rostóv.


And who are you?


An officer, I have to see him,


They have gone away, sir. Went away yesterday at vespertime,


Ah, how annoying! I should have come yesterday.... Ah, what a pity.


What did you want to see the count for?


Oh well... it can’t be helped! You see. I am a kinsman of the count’s and he has been very kind to me. As you see my things are worn out and I have no money, so I was going to ask the count...


Just wait a minute, sir. One little moment,


If his excellency had been at home, as a kinsman he would of course... but as it is... If the count had been at home... Christ be with you, sir! May God preserve you!


Stop it! There’s a fight, lads!


They’re fighting us, lads!


Police! Murder!... They’ve killed a man, lads!


Oh, gracious me, a man beaten to death—killed!...


Haven’t you robbed people enough—taking their last shirts? What have you killed a man for, you thief?


Murderer! Bind him, lads!


I daresay you would like to bind me! I know the law very well, mates! I’ll take the matter to the captain of police. You think I won’t get to him? Robbery is not permitted to anybody nowadays! Come along then!


He should pay folks off properly. But he’s sucked our blood and now he thinks he’s quit of us. He’s been misleading us all the week and now that he’s brought us to this pass he’s made off.


Where are all the folks going? Why, to the police, of course! I say, is it true that we have been beaten? And what did you think? Look what folks are saying.