战争与和平(上)-第231章

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aid　that　nothing　else　was　to　be　expected　from　a　blind　and　dissolute　old　man。
“I　only　wonder　how　such　a　man　could　possibly　be　trusted　with　the　fate　of　Russia。”
So　long　as　the　news　was　not　official；　it　was　still　possible　to　doubt　its　truth；　but　next　day　the　following　communication　arrived　from　Count　Rastoptchin：
“Prince　Kutuzov’s　adjutant　has　brought　me　a　letter　in　which　he　asks　me　to　furnish　police…officers　to　escort　the　army　to　the　Ryazan　road。　He　says　that　he　is　regretfully　abandoning　Moscow。　Sire！　Kutuzov’s　action　decides　the　fate　of　that　capital　and　of　your　empire。　Russia　will　shudder　to　learn　of　the　abandonment　of　the　city；　where　the　greatness　of　Russia　is　centred；　where　are　the　ashes　of　our　forefathers。　I　am　following　the　army。　I　have　had　everything　carried　away；　all　that　is　left　me　is　to　weep　over　the　fate　of　my　country。”
On　receiving　this　communication；　the　Tsar　sent　Prince　Volkonsky　with　the　following　rescript　to　Kutuzov：
“Prince　Mihail　Ilarionovitch！　I　have　received　no　communication　from　you　since　the　29th　of　August。　Meanwhile　I　have　received；　by　way　of　Yaroslavl；　from　the　governor　of　Moscow　the　melancholy　intelligence　that　you　have　decided　with　the　army　to　abandon　Moscow。　You　can　imagine　the　effect　this　news　has　had　upon　me；　and　your　silence　redoubles　my　astonishment。　I　am　sending　herewith　Staff…General　Prince　Volkonsky；　to　ascertain　from　you　the　position　of　the　army　and　of　the　causes　that　have　led　you　to　so　melancholy　a　decision。”


Chapter　3
NINE　DAYS　after　the　abandonment　of　Moscow；　a　courier　from　Kutuzov　reached　Petersburg　with　the　official　news　of　the　surrender　of　Moscow。　This　courier　was　a　Frenchman；　Michaud；　who　did　not　know　Russian；　yet　was；　“though　a　foreigner；　Russian　in　heart　and　soul；”　as　he　used　to　say　of　himself。
The　Tsar　at　once　received　the　messenger　in　his　study　in　the　palace　of　Kamenny　island。　Michaud；　who　had　never　seen　Moscow　before　the　campaign；　and　did　not　know　a　word　of　Russian；　yet　felt　deeply　moved　when　he　came　before　“notre　très　gracieux　souverain”　（as　he　wrote）　with　the　news　of　the　burning　of　Moscow；　whose　flames　illumined　his　route。
Though　the　source　of　M。　Michaud’s　sorrow　must　indeed　have　been　different　from　that　to　which　the　grief　of　Russian　people　was　due；　Michaud　had　such　a　melancholy　face　when　he　was　shown　into　the　Tsar’s　study　that　the　Tsar　asked　him　at　once：
“Do　you　bring　me　sad　news；　colonel？”
“Very　sad；　sire；　the　surrender　of　Moscow；”　answered　Michaud；　casting　his　eyes　down　with　a　sigh。
“Can　they　have　surrendered　my　ancient　capital　without　a　battle？”　the　Tsar　asked　quickly；　suddenly　flushing。
Michaud　respectfully　gave　the　message　he　had　been　commanded　to　give　from　Kutuzov；　that　is；　that　there　was　no　possibility　of　fighting　before　Moscow；　and　that　seeing　there　was　no　chance　but　either　to　lose　the　army　and　Moscow　or　to　lose　Moscow　alone；　the　commander…in…chief　had　been　obliged　to　choose　the　latter。
The　Tsar　listened　without　a　word；　not　looking　at　Michaud。
“Has　the　enemy　entered　the　city？”　he　asked。
“Yes；　sire；　and　by　now　the　city　is　in　ashes。　I　left　it　all　in　flames；”　said　Michaud　resolutely；　but　glancing　at　the　Tsar；　Michaud　was　horrified　at　what　he　had　done。　The　Tsar　was　breathing　hard　and　rapidly；　his　lower　lip　was　twitching；　and　his　fine　blue　eyes　were　for　a　moment　wet　with　tears。
But　that　lasted　only　a　moment。　The　Tsar　suddenly　frowned；　as　though　vexed　with　himself　for　his　own　weakness；　and　raising　his　head；　he　addressed　Michaud　in　a　firm　voice：
“I　see；　colonel；　from　all　that　is　happening　to　us　that　Providence　requires　great　sacrifices　of　us。　I　am　ready　to　submit　to　His　will　in　everything；　but　tell　me；　Michaud；　how　did　you　leave　the　army；　seeing　my　ancient　capital　thus　abandoned　without　striking　a　blow？　Did　you　not　perceive　discouragement？”
Seeing　that　his　most　gracious　sovereign　had　regained　his　composure；　Michaud　too　regained　his；　but　to　the　Tsar’s　direct　question　of　a　matter　of　fact　which　called　for　a　direct　answer；　he　had　not　yet　an　answer　ready。　“Sire；　will　you　permit　me　to　speak　frankly；　as　a　loyal　soldier？”　he　said；　to　gain　time。
“Colonel；　I　always　expect　it；”　said　the　Tsar。　“Hide　nothing　from　me；　I　want　to　know　absolutely　how　it　is。”
“Sire！”　said　Michaud；　with　a　delicate；　scarcely　perceptible　smile　on　his　lips；　as　he　had　now　had　time　to　prepare　his　answer　in　the　form　of　a　light　and　respectful　play　of　words。　“Sire！　I　left　the　whole　army；　from　the　commanders　to　the　lowest　soldier　without　exception；　in　extreme；　in　desperate　terror。”
“How　so？”　the　Tsar　interrupted；　frowning　sternly。　“My　Russians　let　themselves　be　cast　down　by　misfortune？…Never…”
This　was　just　what　Michaud　was　waiting　for　to　get　in　his　phrases。
“Sire；”　he　said；　with　a　respectful　playfulness　of　expression；　“they　fear　only　that　your　majesty　through　goodness　of　heart　may　let　yourself　be　persuaded　to　make　peace。　They　burn　to　fight；”　said　the　plenipotentiary　of　the　Russian　people；　“and　to　prove　to　your　majesty　by　the　sacrifice　of　their　lives　how　devoted　they　are…”
“Ah！”　said　the　Tsar；　reassured；　slapping　Michaud　on　the　shoulder；　with　a　friendly　light　in　his　eyes。　“You　tranquillise　me；　colonel…”
The　Tsar　looked　down；　and　for　some　time　he　was　silent。　“Well；　go　back　to　the　army；”　he　said；　drawing　himself　up　to　his　full　height　and　with　a　genial　and　majestic　gesture　addressing　Michaud；　“and　tell　our　brave　fellows；　tell　all　my　good　subjects　wherever　you　go；　that　when　I　have　not　a　soldier　left；　I　will　put　myself　at　the　head　of　my　dear　nobility；　of　my　good　peasants；　and　so　use　the　last　resources　of　my　empire。　It　offers　me　still　more　than　my　enemies　suppose；”　said　the　Tsar；　more　and　more　stirred。　“But　if　it　should　be　written　in　the　decrees　of　divine　Providence；”　he　said；　and　his　fine；　mild　eyes；　shining　with　emotion；　were　raised　towards　heaven；　“that　my　dynasty　should　cease　to　reign　on　the　throne　of　my　ancestors；　then　after　exhausting　every　means　in　my　power；　I　would　let　my　beard　grow　to　here”　（the　Tsar　put　his　hand　halfway　down　his　breast）；　“and　go　and　eat　potatoes　with　the　meanest　of　my　peasants　rather　than　sign　the　shame　of　my　country　and　my　dear　people；　whose　sacrifice　I　know　how　to　appreciate。”　Uttering　these　words　in　a　voice　of　much　feeling；　the　Tsar　turned　quickly　away；　as　though　wishing　to　conceal　from　Michaud　the　tears　that　were　starting　into　his　eyes；　and　he　walked　to　the　further　end　of　his　study。　After　standing　there　some　instants；　he　strode　back　to　Michaud；　and　with　a　vigorous　action　squeezed　his　arm　below　the　elbow。　The　Tsar’s　fine；　mild　face　was　flushed；　and　his　eyes　gleamed　with　energy　and　anger。　“Colonel　Michaud；　do　not　forget　what　I　say　to　you　here；　perhaps　one　day　we　shall　recall　it　with　pleasure。…Napoleon　or　me；”　he　said；　touching　his　breast；　“we　can　no　longer　reign　together。　I　have　learned　to　know　him。　He　will　not　deceive　me　again…”　And　the　Tsar　paused；　frowning。　Hearing　these　words；　seeing　the　look　of　firm　determination　in　the　Tsar’s　eyes；　Michaud；　though　a　foreigner；　Russian　in　heart　and　soul；　felt　（as　he　used　to　recount　later）　at　that　solemn　moment　moved　to　enthusiasm　by　what　he　had　just　heard；　and　in　the　following　phrase　he　sought　to　give　expression　to　his　own　feelings　and　those　of　the　Russian　people；　whose　representative　he　considered　himself　to　be。
“Sire！”　he　said；　“your　majesty　is　signing　at　this　moment　the　glory　of　the　nation　and　the　salvation　of　Europe！”
With　a　motion　of　his　head　the　Tsar　dismissed　Michaud。


Chapter　4
WHILE　HALF　of　Russia　was　conquered；　and　the　inhabitants　of　Moscow　were　fleeing　to　remote　provinces；　and　one　levy　of　militia　after　another　was　being　raised　for　the　defence　of　the　country；　we；　not　living　at　the　time；　cannot　help　imagining　that　all　the　people　in　Russia；　great　and　small　alike；　were　engaged　in　doing　nothing　else　but　making　sacrifices；　saving　their　country；　or　weeping　over　its　downfall。　The　tales　and　descriptions　of　that　period　without　exception　tell　us　of　nothing　but　the　self…sacrifice；　the　patriotism；　the　despair；　the　grief；　and　the　heroism　of　the　Russians。　In　reality；　it　was　not　at　all　like　that。　It　seems　so　to　us；　because　we　see　out　of　the　past　only　the　general　historical　interest　of　that　period；　and　we　do　not　see　all　the　personal　human　interests　of　the　men　of　that　time。　And　yet　in　reality　these　personal　interests　of　the　immediate　present　are　of　so　much　greater　importance　than　public　interests；　that　they　prevent　the　public　interest　from　ever　being　felt—from　being　noticed　at　all；　indeed。　The　majority　of　the　people　of　that　period　took　no　heed　of　the　general　progress　of　public　affairs；　and　were　only　influenced　by　their　immediate　personal　interests。　And　those　very　people　played　the　most　useful　part　in　the　work　of　the　time。
Those　who　were　striving　to　grasp　the　general　course　of　events；　and　trying　by　self…sacrifice　and　heroism　to　take　a　hand　in　it；　were　the　most　useless　members　of　society；　they　saw　everything　upside　down；　and　all　that　they　did　with　the　best　intentions　turned　out　to　be　useless　folly；　like　Pierre’s　regiment；　and　Mamonov’s；　that　spent　their　time　pillaging　the　Russian　villages；　like　the　lint　scraped　by　the　ladies；　that　never　reached　the　wounded；　and　so　on。　Even　those　who；　being　fond　of　talking　on　intellectual　subjects　and　expressing　their　feelings；　discussed　the　position　of　Russia；　unconsciously　imported　into　their　talk　a　shade　of　hypocrisy　or　falsity　or　else　of　useless　fault…finding　and　bitterness　against　persons；　whom　they　blamed　for　what　could　be　nobody’s　fault。
In　historical　events　we　see　more　plainly　than　ever　the　law　that　forbids　us　to　taste　of　the　fruit　of　the　Tree　of　Knowledge。　It　is　only　unselfconscious　activity　that　bears　fruit；　and　the　man　who　plays　a　part　in　an　historical　drama　never　understands　its　significance。　If　he　strives　to　comprehend　it；　he　is　stricken　with　barrenness
The　significance　of　the　drama　taking　place　in　Russia　at　that　time　was　the　less　easy　to　grasp；　the　closer　the　share　a　man　was　taking　in　it。　In　Petersburg；　and　in　the　provinces　remote　from　Moscow；　ladies　and　gentlemen　in　volunteer　uniforms　bewailed　the　fate　of　Russia　and　the　ancient　capital；　and　talked　of　self…sacrifice；　and　so　on。　But　in　the　army；　which　had　retreated　behind　Moscow；　men　scarcely　talked　or　thought　at　all　about　Moscow；　and；　gazing　at　the　burning　city；　no　one　swore　to　be　avenged　on　the　French；　but　every　one　was　thinking　of　the　next　quarter’s　pay　due　to　him；　of　the　next　halting…place；　of　Matryoshka　the　canteen…woman；　and　so　on。
Nikolay　Rostov；　without　any　idea　of　self…sacrifice；　simply　because　the　war　had　happened　to　break　out　before　he　left　the　service；　took　an　immediate　and　continuous　part　in　the　defence　of　his　country；　and　consequently　he　looked　upon　what　was　happening　in　Russia　without　despair　or　gloomy　prognostications。　If　he　had　been　asked　what　he　thought　of　the　present　position　of　Russia；　he　would　have　said　that　it　was　not　his　business　to　think　about　it；　that　that　was　what　Kutuzov　and　the　rest　of　them　were　for；　but　that　he　had　heard　that　the　regiments　were　being　filled　up　to　their　full　complements；　and　that　they　must　therefore　be　going　to　fight　for　a　good　time　longer；　and　that　under　the　present　circumstances　he　might　pretty　easily　obtain　the　command　of　a　regiment　within　a　couple　of　years。
Since　this　was　his　point　of　view；　it　was　with　no　regret　at　taking　no