 War and Peace, Book 3, Chapter 6, readforlibrivox.org, by Marco Neill. It was long since the rust-offs had news of Nicholas. Not till midwinter was the count at last handed a letter addressed in his son's handwriting. On receiving it he ran on tiptoe to his study in alarm and haste trying to escape notice, closed the door and began to read the letter. Annamika Lovna, who always knew everything that passed in the house, on hearing of the arrival of the letter, went softly into the room and found a count within his hand, sobbing and laughing at the same time. Annamika Lovna, though her circumstances had improved, was still living with the rust-offs. My dear friend said she, in a tone of pathetic inquiry, prepared to sympathise in any way. The count sobbed yet more. Nicolenca, a letter, was wounded. My darling boy, the Countess, promoted to be an officer. Thank God, how tell the little Countess. Annamika Lovna sat down beside him with her own handkerchief, wiped the tears from his eyes and from the letter. Then, having dried her own eyes, she comforted the count and decided that at dinner and until tea time, she would prepare the Countess and after tea, with God's help, would inform her. At dinner Annamika Lovna talked the whole time about the war news and about Nicolenca, twice asked when the last letter had been received from him, although she knew that already, and remarked that they might very likely be getting a letter from him that very day. Each time that these hints began to make the Countess anxious and she glanced uneasily at the Count and at Annamika Lovna, the latter very adroitly turned the conversation to insignificant matters. Natasha, who of the whole family was the most gifties, with the capacity to feel any shades of intonation, look and expression, pricked up her ears from the beginning of the meal and was certain that there was some secret between her father and Annamika Lovna that it had something to do with her brother and that Annamika Lovna was preparing them for it. Bold as she was, Natasha, who knew how sensitive her mother was to anything relating to Nicolenca, did not venture to ask any questions at dinner, but she was too excited to eat anything and kept wriggling about on her chair, regardless of her governess's remarks. After dinner, she rushed headlong after Annamika Lovna and, dashing at her, flung herself on her neck as soon as she overtook her in the sitting room. Auntie Darling, do tell me what it is. Nothing, my dear. No dearest, sweet one, honey. I won't give up, I know you know something. Annamika Lovna shook her head. You're a little sly boot, she said. A letter from Nicolenca, I'm sure of it, exclaimed Natasha, reading confirmation in Annamika Lovna's face. But for God's sake, be careful, you know how it may affect your mama. I will, I will, only tell me. You won't, then I will go and tell it once. Annamika Lovna, in a few words, told her the contents of the letter and the conditions she should tell no one. No, on my true word of honour said Natasha crossing herself. I won't tell anyone. And she ran off at once to Sonia. Nicolenca wounded a letter she announced in Glyfo triumph. Nicholas, was all Sonia said, instantly turning white. Natasha, seeing the impression her brother's wound produced on Sonia, felt for the first time the sorrowful sight of the news. She rushed to Sonia, hugged her and began to cry. A little wound, but he's been made an officer. He is well now, he wrote himself, said she threw her tears. There now, it's true that all you women are cry babies, remarked Petia, pacing the room with large, resolute strides. Now I'm very glad, very glad indeed that my brother has distinguished himself so. You're all blubberers and understand nothing. Natasha smiled through her tears. You haven't read the letter, asked Sonia. No, but she said it was all over and that he's now an officer. Thank God said Sonia crossing herself. But perhaps she deceived you. Let us go to Mama. Petia paced the room in silence for a time. If I had been in Nicholas's place, I would have killed even more of those Frenchmen, he said. What nasty brutes they are, I'd have killed so many that there'd been a heap of them. Hold your tongue Petia, what a goose you are. I'm not a goose, but they are who cry about trifles, said Petia. Do you remember him Natasha suddenly asked after a moment's silence? Sonia smiled. Do I remember Nicholas? No Sonia, but do you remember so that you remember him perfectly? Remember everything said Natasha, with an expressive gesture. Evidently wishing to give her words of a definite meaning. I remember Nicholas too, I remember him well she said. But I don't remember Boris, I don't remember him a bit. What, you don't remember Boris, asked Sonia in surprise? It's not that I don't remember, I know what he is like, but not as I remember Nikolenko. Him, I just shut my eyes and remember, but Boris, no, she shut her eyes. No, there's nothing at all. Oh Natasha, said Sonia, looking ecstatically and earnestly at her friend, as if she did not consider her worthy to hear what she meant to say, and as if she was saying it to someone else, with whom joking was out of the question. I am in love with your brother once and for all, and whatever may happen to him or to me shall never cease to love him as long as I live. Natasha looked at Sonia with wandering and inquisitive eyes and said nothing. She felt that Sonia was speaking the truth, that there was such love as Sonia was speaking of, but Natasha had not yet felt anything like it. She believed it could be, but did not understand it. Shall you write to him? she asked. Sonia became thoughtful, the question of how to write to Nicholas and whether she ought to write tormented her. Now that he was already an officer and a wounded hero, would it be right to remind him of herself? And as it might seem, of the obligations to her he had taken on himself. I don't know, I think if he writes I will write too she said blushing, and you won't feel ashamed to write to him? Sonia smiles, no. And I should be ashamed to write to Boris, I'm not going to. Why should you be ashamed? Well I don't know, it's awkward and would make me ashamed. And I know why she'd be ashamed said Petia, offended by Natasha's previous remark. It's because she was in love with that fat one in Spectacles. That was how Petia described his namesake, the new Count Bazookov, and now she's in love with that singer. He met Natasha's Italian singing master, that's why she's ashamed. Petia, you're stupid said Natasha. Not more stupid than you madame, said the nine-year-old Petia, with the air of an old brigadier. The Countess had been prepared by Anna Mikolovna's hints at dinner. On retiring to her own room she sat in an armchair, her eyes fixed on a miniature portrait of her son, on the lid of a snuff box, while the tears kept coming into her eyes. Anna Mikolovna with the letter came on tiptoe to the Countess's door and paused. Don't come in, she said to the old Countess who was following her. Come later. And she went in, closing the door behind her. The Countess put his ear to the keyhole and listened. At first he heard the sound of indifferent voices, then Anna Mikolovna's voice alone in a long speech, then a cry, then silence, then both voices together with glad intonations, and then footsteps. Anna Mikolovna opened the door. Her face wore the proud expression of a surgeon who had just performed a difficult operation and admits the public to appreciate his skill. It is done, she said to the Countess, pointing triumphantly to the Countess, who sat holding in one hand the snuff box with its portrait and in the other the letter and pressing them alternately to her lips. When she saw the Countess, she stretched out her arms to him, embraced his bald head over which she again looked at the letter and the portrait, and in order to press them again to her lips, she slightly pushed away the bald head. Vera, Natasha, Sonya and Petia now entered the room and the reading of the letter began. After a brief description of the campaign and the two battles in which she had taken part and his promotion, Nicholas said that he kissed his father and mother's hands asking for their blessing and that he kissed Vera, Natasha and Petia. Besides that, he sent greetings to Montreal Shelling, Madame Schloss and his old nurse and asked them to kiss for him, dear Sonya whom he loved and thought of just the same as ever. When she heard this, Sonya blushed so that tears came into her eyes that she was unable to bear the looks turned upon her, ran away into the dancing hall, whirled round it at full speed with her dress puffed out like a balloon and flushed and smiling, plumped down on the floor. The Countess was crying. Why are you crying Mama? asked Vera. From all he says one should be glad and not cry. This was quite true, but the Count, the Countess and Natasha looked at her reproachfully and who is it she takes after, thought the Countess. Nicholas's letter was read over hundreds of times and those who were considered worthy to hear it had come to the Countess for she did not let it out of her hands. The tutors came and the nurses and Dimitri in several acquaintances and the Countess reread the letter each time with fresh pleasure and each time discovered in it the proofs of Nicholas's virtues. How strange, how extraordinary, how joyful it seemed that her son, the scarcely perceptible motion of whose tiny limbs she had felt 20 years ago within her, that son about whom she used to have quarrels with the two indulgent Count, that son who had first learned to say pair and then granny, that this son should now be away in a foreign land amid strange surroundings and manly warrior doing some kind of man's work of his own without help or guidance. The universal experience of ages showing that children do grow imperceptibly from the cradle to manhood did not exist for the Countess. Her son's growth towards manhood at each of its stages has seemed as extraordinary to her as if there had never existed the millions of human beings who grew up in the same way. As 20 years before it seemed impossible that little creature who lived somewhere under her heart would ever cry, suck her breast and begin to speak so that now she could not believe that that little creature could be this strong, brave man, this model son and officer that judging by this letter he now was. What a style, how charmingly he described said she reading the descriptive part of the letter. And what a soul, not a word about himself, not a word about some denisof or other, though he himself I dare say is braver than any of them. He says nothing about his sufferings, what a heart, how like him it is and how he has remembered everybody, not forgetting anyone. I always said when he was only so high, I always said. For more than a week preparations were being made, rough drafts of letters to Nicholas from all the household were written and copied out while under the supervision of the countess and the solicitude of the count, money and all things necessary for the uniform and equipment of the newly commissioned officer were collected. Anna Mikolovna, practical woman that she was, managed by favour with army authorities to secure advantageous means of communication for herself and her son. She had opportunities of sending her letters to the Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovitch who commanded the guards. The rust of suppose that the Russian guards abroad was quite a definite address and that if a letter reached the Grand Duke in command of the guards, there was no reason why it should not reach regiments, which was presumably somewhere in the same neighbourhood. And so it was decided to send the letters and money by the Grand Duke's courier to Boris and Boris was to forward them to Nicholas. The letters were from the old count, the countess, Petya, Vera, Natasha and Sonia and finally there were 6,000 rubles for his outfit in various other things the old count sent to his son. End of Chapter 6 Recording by Marco Neill, Wurzburg, Germany War and Peace, Book 3, Chapter 7 Read for LibriVox.org by Marco Neill. On the 12th of November, Kutuzov's active army in camp before Old Moats was preparing to be reviewed next day by the two emperors, the Russian and the Austrian. The guards just arrived from Russia, spent the night 10 miles from Old Moats and next morning were to come straight to the review reaching the field at Old Moats by 10 o'clock. That day Nicholas Rostov received a letter from Boris telling him that his mal-off regiment was quartered for the night 10 miles from Old Moats and that he wanted to see him as he had a letter and money for him. Rostov was particularly in need of money now that the troops after their active service were stationed near Old Moats and the camp swarmed with well provisioned settlers and Austrian Jews offering all sorts of tempting wares. The Pavlovgrads held feast after feast celebrating awards they had received for the campaign and made expeditions to Old Moats to visit a certain Caroline the Hungarian who had recently opened a restaurant there with girls' waitresses. Rostov, who had just celebrated his promotion to a coronancy and bought Denisov's horse, Bedouin, was in debt all round to his comrades and the settlers. On receiving Boris's letter he rode with a fellow officer to Old Moats dine there, drank a bottle of wine and then set off alone to the guards camp to find his old playmate. Rostov had not yet had time to get his uniform. He had on a shabby cadet jacket decorated with a soldier's cross equally shabby cadet riding breeches lined with worn leather and an officer's sabre with an sword knot. The don horse he was riding was one he had bought from a Cossack during the campaign and he wore a crumpled hussar cap stuck jointly back on one side of his head. As he rode up to the camp he thought how he would impress Boris and all of his comrades of the guards by his appearance that of a fighting hussar who had been under fire. The guards had made their whole march as if on a pleasure trip parading their cleanliness and discipline. They had come by easy stages their knapsacks conveyed on carts and the Austrian authorities had provided excellent dinners for the officers at every halting place. The regiments had entered and left the town with their bands playing and by the Grand Duke's orders the men had marched all the way in step a practice on which the guards prided themselves. The officers on foot and at their proper posts. Boris had been quartered and had marched all the way with Berg who was already in command of a company. Berg who had obtained his captaincy during the campaign had gained the confidence of his superiors by his promptitude and accuracy and had arranged his money matters very satisfactorily. Boris during the campaign had made the acquaintance of many persons who might prove useful to him and by a letter of recommendation he had brought from Pierre had become acquainted with Prince Andrew Bulkonsky though whom he hoped to obtain a post on the commander in chief staff. Berg and Boris having rested after yesterday's march were sitting clean and neatly dressed at a round table in the clean quarters allotted to them playing chess. Berg held a smoking pipe between his knees. Boris in the accurate way characteristic of him was building a little pyramid of chess men with his delicate white fingers while awaiting Berg's move and what his opponents face evidently thinking about the game as he always thought only of whatever he was engaged on. Well, how are you going to get out of that? he remarked. We'll try to, replied Berg touching upon and then removing his hand. At that moment the door opened. Here he is at last shouted rust off and Berg too, oh you pit his fans Allé coucher dormir he exclaimed imitating his Russian nurse's French in which he and Boris used to laugh long ago Dear me, how you have changed Boris rose to meet rust off but in doing so did not admit to steady and replace some chess men that were falling he was about to embrace his friends but Nicholas avoided him with that peculiar feeling of youth that dread of beaten tracks and wished to express itself in a manner different from that of its elders which is often insincere Nicholas wished to do something special on meeting his friend he wanted to pinch him, push him do anything but kiss him a thing everybody did but notwithstanding this Boris embraced him in a quiet friendly way and kissed him three times they had not met for nearly half a year and being at the age when young men take their first steps on life's road each saw immense changes in the other quite a new reflection of the society in which they had taken those first steps both had changed greatly since they last met and both were in a hurry to show the changes that had taken place in them oh you damned dandies clean and fresh as if you'd been to a ffaith not like a sinners of the lion cried rust off with marshal swagger and with baritone notes in his voice new to Boris pointing to his own mud bespattered breeches the German landlady hearing rust off's loud voice popped her head in at the door a is she pretty he asked with a wink why do you shout so you'll frighten them said Boris I did not expect you today he added I only sent you the note yesterday by Bulkonsky an adjutant of Kutysof's who's a friend of mine I did not think he would get it to you so quickly well how are you been under fire already asked Boris without answering rust off took the soldiers across the St George fast into the cording of his uniform an indicating a bandaged arm glanced at Berg with a smile as you can see he said indeed yes yes said Boris with a smile and we too have had a splendid march you know of course that his imperial highness rode with our regiment all the time so that we had every comfort and every advantage what receptions we had in Poland what dinners and balls I can't tell you Sarovic was very gracious to all our officers and the two friends told each other of their doings the one of his hasar revels and life in the fighting line the other of the pleasures and advantages of service and the members of the imperial family oh you guard said rust off I say send for some wine Boris made a grimace if you really want it said he he went to his bed he came under the clean pillow and sent for wine yes and I have some money and letters to give you he added rust off took the letter and throwing the money on the sofa put both arms on the table and began to read after reading a few lines he glanced angrily at Berg then meeting his eyes hid his face behind the letter well they sent you a tidy sum said Berg I'm the heavy purse that sank into the sofa as for us count we get along on our pay I can tell you for myself I say Berg my dear fellow said rust off when you get a letter from home and meet one of your own people whom you want to talk everything over with and I happen to be there I'll go at once to be out of your way do go somewhere anywhere to the devil he exclaimed and immediately seizing him by the shoulder and looking immediately into his face evidently wishing to soften the rudeness of his words he added don't be hurt my dear fellow you know I speak from my heart as to an older quaintons oh don't mention it count I quite understand said Berg getting up and speaking in a muffled and guttural voice go across to our hosts they invited you added Boris Berg put on the cleanest of quotes without a spot or speck of dust stood before a looking glass and brushed the hair on his temples upwards in the way affected by the emperor Alexander and having ensured himself from the way Rostov looked at it that his coat had been noticed left the room with a pleasant smile oh dear what a beast I am muttered rust off as he read the letter why? oh what a pig I am not to have written and to have given him such a fright oh what a pig I am he repeated flushing suddenly well have you sent Gabriel for some wine alright let's have some in the letter from his parents was enclosed a letter of recommendation to Bagration which the old Countess at Anime Colovna's advice had obtained through an acquaintance and sent to her son asking him to take it to its destination and make use of it what nonsense much I need it said Rostov throwing the letter under the table why have you thrown that away? asked Boris it is some letter of recommendation what the devil do I want it for why what the devil said Boris picking you up and reading the address this letter would be of great use to you I want nothing and I won't be anyone's adjutant why not in quite Boris it's a lackey's job you're still the same dreamer I see remarked Boris shaking his head and you're still the same diplomatist but that's not the point come how are you Rostov well as you see so far everything's alright but I confess I should much like to be an adjutant and not remain at the front why? because when once a man starts a military service he should try to make a successful career of it as possible all that's it said Rostov evidently thinking of something else he looked intently and inquiringly into his friends eyes evidently trying in vain to find the answer to some question old Gabriel brought in the wine should we now send for Berg? asked Boris he would drink with you I can't well send for him where do you get on with that German asked Rostov with a contentious smile he's a very very nice honest and pleasant fellow answered Boris again Rostov looked intently into Boris's eyes inside Berg returned and over the bottle a wine conversation between the three officers became animated the guardsmen told Rostov of their march and how they had made much of in Russia Poland and abroad they spoke of the sayings and doings of their commander Berg and told stories of his kindness and irasibility Berg as usual kept silent when the subject did not relate to himself but in connection with the stories of the Grand Duke's quick temper he related with gusto how in Galicia he had managed to deal with the Grand Duke when the latter made a tour of the regiments and was annoyed at the irregularity of a movement with a pleasant smile Berg related how the Grand Duke had ridden up to him in a violent passion shouting Arnots Arnots was the sorrow of his favourite expression when he was in a rage and called for the company commander which you believe it counts I was not a tall alarmed because I knew I was right without boasting you know I may say that I know the army's orders by heart and know the regulations as well as I do the Lord's Prayer so count there would never is any negligence in my company and so my conscience was at ease I came forward Berg stood up and showed how he presented himself with his hand to his cap and really it would have been difficult for a face to express greater respect and self complacency than his did well he stormed at me as the saying is stormed and stormed and stormed it was not a matter of life but rather of death as the saying is Albanians and devils and two Siberia said Berg with a sagacious smile I knew I was in the right so I kept silent was not that best count hey are you dumb he shouted still I remain silent and what do you think count the next day it was not even mentioned in the orders of the day that's what's keeping one's head means that's the way count said Berg lighting his pipe and emitting rings of smoke yes that was fine said Rostov smiling but Boris noticed that he was preparing to make fun of Berg and skillfully changed the subject he asked him to tell them how and where he got his wound this pleased Rostov and he began talking about it and as he went on became more and more animated he told him of his Sean Graben affair just as those who have taken part in a battle generally do describe it that is as they would like it to have been as they have heard it described by others and it sounds well but not at all as it really was Rostov was a truthful young man and would or no account have told a deliberate lie he began his story meaning to tell everything just as it happened but imperceptibly, involuntarily and inevitably he lapsed into falsehood if he had told the truth to his hearers who like himself had often heard stories of attacks and had formed a definite idea of what an attack was and were expecting to hear just such a story he would either not have believed him or still worse would have thought that Rostov was himself to blame since what generally happens to the narrators of cavalry attacks had not happened to him he could not tell them simply that everyone went at the trots that he fell off his horse and sprained his arm and then ran as hard as he could from a Frenchman into the wood besides, to tell everything as it really happened it would have been necessary to make an effort of will to tell only what happened it's very difficult to tell the truth and young people are really capable of it his hearers expected a story of how beside himself and all a flame with excitement he had flown like a storm at the square cut his way in, slash right and left how his saber had tasted flesh and he had fallen exhausted and so on and so he told them all that in the middle of his story just as he was saying you cannot imagine what a strange frenzy won the experiences during an attack Prince Andrew whom Boris was expecting entered the room Prince Andrew who liked to help young men was flattered by being asked for his assistance and being well disposed towards Boris who had managed to please him the day before he wished to do what the young man wanted having been sent with papers from Kutuzov to the Sarovitch he looked in on Boris hoping to find him alone when he came in and saw an hasar off the line recounting his military exploits Prince Andrew could not endure that sort of man he gave Boris a pleasant smile frowned as with half closed eyes he looked at Rostov bowed slightly and wearily and sat down languidly on the sofa he felt it unpleasant to have dropped in on bad company Rostov flushed up at noticing this he did not care this was a mere stranger glancing however at Boris he saw that he too seemed ashamed of the hasar off the line in spite of Prince Andrew's disagreeable ironical tone in spite of the contempt with which Rostov from his fighting army point of view regarded all these little adjutants on the staff of whom the newcomer was evidently won Rostov felt confused blushed and became silent Boris inquired what news there might be on the staff and what without indiscretion one might ask about our plans we shall probably advance replied Balkowski evidently reluctant to say more in the presence of a stranger Burke took the opportunity to ask with great politeness whether as was rumoured the allowance of forage money to captains of companies would be doubled to this Prince Andrew answered with a smile that he could give no opinion on such an important government order and Burke laughed gaily as to your business Prince Andrew continued addressing Boris we will talk of it later and he looked round at Rostov come to me after the review and we will do what is possible and having glanced around the room Prince Andrew turned to Rostov whose state of unconquerable childish embarrassment now changing to anger he did not condescend to notice and said I think you were talking of the shown grab an affair were you there I was there said Rostov angrily as if intending to insult the aid to camp Balkowski noticed a hazar state of mind and it amused him with a slightly contemptuous smile he said yes there are many stories now told about that affair yes stories repeated Rostov loudly looking with eyes suddenly grown furious now at Boris now at Balkowski yes many stories but our stories are the stories of men who have been under the enemy's fire our stories have some weight not like the stories of those fellows on the staff who get rewards without doing anything of whom you imagine me to be once said Prince Andrew with a quiet and particularly amiable smile a strange feeling of exasperation and yet of respect for this man's self possession mingled at that moment in Rostov's soul I'm not talking about you he said I don't know you and frankly I don't want to I'm speaking of the staff in general and I will tell you this Prince Andrew interrupted in a tone of quiet authority you wish to insult me and I'm ready to agree with you that it would be very easy to do so if you haven't sufficient self respect but admit that the time and place are very badly chosen in a day or two we shall all have to take part in a greater and more serious duo and besides Drobriakowsky who says he is an old friend of yours it's not at all to blame that my face has the misfortune to displease you however he added rising you know my name and where to find me but don't forget that I do not regard either myself or you as having been at all insulted and as a man older than you my advice is to let the matter drop well then on Friday after the review I shall expect you Drobriakowsky, Oryhoir exclaimed Prince Andrew and was about to them both he went out only when Prince Andrew was gone did Rostov think about what he ought to have said and he was still more angry at having omitted to say it he ordered his horse at once and coldly taking leave of Boris rode home should he go to headquarters next day and challenge that affected adjutant or really let the matter drop was the question that worried him all the way he thought angrily of the pleasure he would have at seeing the fright of that small and frail but proud man when covered by his pistol and then he felt with surprise that of all the men he knew there were none he would so much like to have for a friend as that very adjutant whom he so hated End of chapter 7 recording by Mark O'Neill Wartsburg, Germany War and Peace Book 3, chapter 8 readforlibrivox.org by Mark O'Neill The day after Rostov had been to see Boris a review was held of the Austrian and Russian troops both those freshly arrived from Russia and those who had been campaigning under Kutysov the two emperors the Russian with his heir, the Sarovich and the Austrian with the Archduke inspected the Allied army of 80,000 men from early morning the smart clean troops were on the move forming up on the field before the fortress now thousands of feet and bayonets moved and halted and the officers command turned with banners flying formed up at intervals and wheeled round other similar masses of infantry in different uniforms now was heard the rhythmic beat of hooves and the jingling of shoy cavalry in blue, red and green braided uniforms with smartly dressed bansmen in front mounted on black, roan or grey horses then again, spedding out with the brazen classer of the polished shining cannon that quivered on the gun carriages and with the smell of lin stocks came the artillery which crawled between the infantry and the cavalry and took up its appointed position not only the generals in full parade uniforms with their thin or thick waist drawn into the utmost their red necks squeezed into their stiff collars and wearing scarves and all their decorations not only the elegant pomerid officers but every soldier with his freshly washed and shaven face and his weapons clean and polished to the utmost and every horse groomed till its coat shone like satin and every hair of its wetted mane lay smooth felt that no small matter was happening but an important and solemn affair every general and every soldier was conscious of his own insignificance aware of being but a drop in that ocean of men and yet at the same time was conscious of his strength as a part of that enormous whole from early morning strenuous activities and efforts had begun and by 10 o'clock all had been brought into due order the ranks were drawn up on the vast field the whole army was extended in three lines the cavalry in front behind it the artillery and behind that again the infantry a space like a street was left between each two lines of troops three parts of that army were sharply distinguished Kutysof's fighting army with padlocked grads on the right flank of the front those recently arrived from Russia both guards and regiments of the line and the Austrian troops but they all stood in the same lines under one command and in a like order like wind over leaves ran an excited whisper they're coming, they're coming armed voices were heard and a stir of final preparation swept over all the troops from the direction of all moots in front of them a group was seen approaching and at that moment though the day was still a light gust of wind blowing over the army slightly stirred the streamers on the lansies and the unfolded standards fluttered against their staffs it looked as if by that slight motion the army itself was expressing its joy at the approach of the emperors one voice was heard shouting eyes front then like the crowing of cocks at sunrise this was repeated by others from various sides and all became silent in the death like stillness only the tramp of horses was heard this was the emperor's suites the emperors rode up to the flank and the trumpets of the first cavalry regiment played the general march it seemed as though not the trumpeters were playing but as if the army itself rejoicing at the emperor's approach had naturally burst into music amid these sounds only the youthful kindly voice of the emperor Alexander was clearly heard he gave the words of greeting and the first regiment roared hurrah so deafingly continuously and joyfully that the men themselves were awed by their multitude and the amenity of the power they constituted rust off standing in the front lines of Kutysof's army which the Tsar approached first experienced the same feeling as every other man in that army a feeling of self-forgetfulness a proud consciousness of might and a passionate attraction to him who was the cause of this triumph he felt that at a single word from that man all this vast mass and he himself an insignificant atom in it would go through fire and water commit crime die or perform deeds of highest heroism and so he could not but tremble and his heart stands still at the eminence of that word hurrah hurrah hurrah thunder from all sides one regiment after another greeting the Tsar with the strains of the march and then hurrah then the general march and again hurrah hurrah growing ever stronger and fuller and merging into a deafening roar till the Tsar reached it each regiment in its silence and immobility seem like a lifeless body but as soon as he came up it became alive it's thunder joining the roar of the whole line along which he had already passed through the terrible and deafening roar of those voices amid the square masses of troops standing motionless as if turned to stone ac oedd yn ystod. Rhydwch donation mwy'r gweldfyn â eddwyd donc, dynol â'r gymru, wedyn semitrallyddol a mewnol, ac ydw i'r ddeithas hynny, Moedur. Fyddwn ddim byr yw deilio, geloedd cyffredinol diwyr, felly y môl maeshaffa'r byd ddiddordeb. Yng Nghymfridd ddî yng Nghymyr Alexander, y pwn o'r holl yn talod i ddweithio, maes hwnna yn daith i'r holl rhaid, o fwrdd i'r mwyon yn darpar. gyda'r effeitha, ac yn chefol yn gweithio'r phobl yn gweithio'r effeitha, a gweithio'r effeitha. Rossnop wedi cael ei dymiannol ar y trompatau, ac bydd y cyd-feyddhaeth yn rheiddiadu'r ysgrifennu a fyddynt yn ei wneud. Byddwn i wneud 20 paces a Nicolas yw'r effeitha yn gweithio'r effeitha gyda'r effeitha, mae'n ei hun o'i ffeithio'r effeithau, a'r effeitha i'r effeitha hwn yn ystafell tyg. Mae'r treidig a'r ddydd i gweithio'r sals yn ysgrifennau. A oeddo'n ato'r colleb a structures, yr sals yn ystod oedd yn ysg健 o'r Ystodion E黎 a oedd yn fwy oedd. Ysgryffu'r ysgryffau, roed o hyn yn fwy o'r ysgryffau, roeddo'n credu wedi yn diddygu yma a sydd oedd yn meddwl yn ystod gyfer fyddai'n hyd nôl. Wyddech chi wedi cymryd oedd ysgryffau i'r llwodd, a mhaith oedd sydd eisiau bod ychwybr yn athig The Tsar called the carnal of the regiment and said a few words to him. Oh God, what would happen to me if the Emperor spoke to me, thought Rostov, I should die of happiness. The Tsar addressed the officers also. I thank you all gentlemen, I thank you with my whole heart, to rust off every word sounding like a voice from heaven. How gladly would he have died at once for his Tsar. You have earned the St George's standards and will be worthy of them. Oh, to die, to die for him, thought Rostov. The Tsar says something more which Rostov did not hear and the soldiers straining their lungs shouted, hara! Rostov too, bending over his saddle, shouted, hara! with all his might, feeling that he would like to injure himself by that shout, if only to express his rapture fully. The Tsar stopped a few minutes in front of the Hazzars as if undecided. How can the Emperor be undecided, thought Rostov, but then even this indecision appeared to him majestic and enchanting like everything else the Tsar did. That hesitation lasted only an instant. The Tsar's foot in the narrow pointed boot, then fashionable, touched the groin of the bob-tailed bay mare he rode. His hand in a white glove gathered up the reins and he moved off accompanied by an irregularly swaying sea of age to camp. Father and father he rode away, stopping at other regiments, till at last only his white plumes were visible to Rostov from amid the sweets that surrounded the emperors. Among the gentlemen of the sweets, Rostov knows his polkonski, sitting his horse indolently and carelessly. Rostov recalled their quarrel of yesterday and the question presented itself whether he ought or ought not to challenge polkonski. Of course not, he now thought. Is it worth thinking or speaking of it at such a moment? At a time of such love, such rapture, and such self-sacrifice, what do any of our quarrels in the front matter? I love and forgive everybody now. When the Emperor had passed nearly all the regiments, the troops began a ceremonial march past him and Rostov and Bedouin recently purchased from Denisov Road Pass 2 at the rear of his squadron that is, a lone and a full view of the Emperor. Before he reached him, Rostov, who was a splendid horseman, spurred Bedouin twice and successfully put him to the showy trot in which the animal went when excited. Bending his foaming muzzle to his chest, his tail extended, Bedouin, as if also conscious of the Emperor's eye upon him, passed splendidly, lifting his feet with a high and graceful action, as if flying through the air without touching the ground. Rostov himself, his legs well back and his stomach drawn in, and feeling himself one with his horse, rode past the Emperor with a frowning but blissful face, like a viewy devil as Denisov expressed it. Fine fellows to pull off grass remarked the Emperor. My God, how happy I should be if he ordered me to leap into the fire this instant, thought Rostov. When the review was over, the newly arrived officers and also Kutestofs collected in groups and began to talk about the awards, about the Austrians and their uniforms, about their lines, about Bonaparte and how badly the latter would fare now, especially if the Essen core arrived and Prussia took our side. But the talk in every group was chiefly about the Emperor Alexander. His every word and movement was described with ecstasy. They all had but one wish to advance as soon as possible against the enemy under the Emperor's command. Commanded by the Emperor himself, they could not fail to vanquish anyone, be it whom it might, so thought Rostov and most of the officers after the review. All were then more confident of victory than the winning of two battles would have made them. End of chapter 8, recording by Mark O'Neill, first spoke Germany, www.betterthantherapy.net. The day after the review, Boris, in his best uniform and with his comrade Berg's best wishes for success, wrote to Olmots to Seebolkonsky, wishing to profit by his friendliness and obtain for himself the best post he could, preferably that of an adjutant to some important personage, a position in the army which seemed to him most attractive. It is all very well for Rostov, whose father sends him ten thousand rubles at a time, to talk about not wishing to cringe to anybody and not be anyone's lackey but I who have nothing but my brains have to make a career and must not miss opportunities but must avail myself of them, he reflected. He did not find Prince Andrew in Olmots that day, but the appearance of the town where the headquarters and the diplomatic corps were stationed and the two emperors were living with their suites, households and courts, only strengthened his desire to belong to that higher world. He knew no one and despite his smart guardsman's uniform, all these exalted personatures passing in the streets in their elegant carriages with their plumes, ribbons and medals, both courtiers and military men seemed so immeasurably above him, an insignificant officer of the guards that they not only did not wish to but simply could not be aware of his existence. At the quarters of the commander-in-chief, Kutuzov, where he inquired for Volkonsky, all the agitants and even the orderlies looked at him as if they wished to impress on him that a great many officers like him were always coming there and that everybody was heartily sick of them. In spite of this or rather because of it, next day, November 15, after dinner, he again went to Olmuz and entering the house occupied by Kutuzov, asked for Volkonsky. Prince Andrew was in and Boris was shown in the large hall probably formally used for dancing but in which five beds now stood and furniture of various kinds, a table, chairs and a clavichord. One adjutant nearest the door was sitting at the table in a Persian dressing gown writing, another, the red stout Nesvisky lay on a bed with his arm under his head laughing with an officer who had sat down beside him. A cert was playing a Viennese waltz on the clavichord while a force lying on the clavichord sang the tune. Volkonsky was not there. None of these gentlemen changed his position on seeing Boris. The one who was writing and whom Boris addressed turned round crossly and told him Volkonsky was on duty and that he should go through the door on the left into the reception room if he wished to see him. Boris thanked him and went to the reception room where he found some ten officers and generals. When he entered, Prince Andrew, his eyes drooping contemptuously with that peculiar expression of polite weariness which plainly says if it were not my duty I would not talk to you for a moment, was listening to an old Russian general with decorations who stood very erect almost on tiptoe with a soldier's obsequious expression on his purple face reporting something. Very well then, be so good as to wait. Said Prince Andrew to the general in Russian speaking with the French intonation he affected when he wished to speak contemptuously and noticing Boris, Prince Andrew paying no more heed to the general who run after him imploring him to hear something more, nodded and turned to him with a cheerful smile. At that moment Boris clearly realised what he had before surmised that in the army beside the subordination and discipline prescribed in the military code which he and the others knew in the regiment there was another more important subordination which made this tight-laced purple-faced general wait respectfully while Captain Prince Andrew for his own pleasure chose to chat with Lieutenant Drubetscoy. More than ever was Boris resolved to serve in future not according to the written code but under this unwritten law. He felt now that merely by having been recommended to Prince Andrew he had already risen above the general who at the front had the power to annihilate him, a lieutenant of the guards. Prince Andrew came up to him and took his hand. I am very sorry you didn't find me in yesterday. I was fussing about with Germans all day. We went with Wade-Other to survey the dispositions. When Germans start being accurate there is no end to it. Boris smiled as if he understood what Prince Andrew was alluding to as something generally known but it was the first time he had heard Wade-Other's name or even the term dispositions. Well my dear fellow so you still want to be an adjutant. I have been thinking about you. Yes I was thinking. For some reason Boris could not help blushing of asking the commander in chief. He has said a letter from Prince Kuragin about me. I only wanted to ask because I fear the guards won't be in action. He added as if in apology. All right, all right, we'll talk it over replied Prince Andrew. Only let me report this gentleman's business and I shall be at your disposal. While Prince Andrew went to report about the purple face general that gentleman evidently not sharing Boris's conception of the advantages of the unwritten code of subordination looked so fixedly at the presumptuous lieutenant who had prevented his finishing what he had to say to the adjutant that Boris felt uncomfortable. He turned away and waited impatiently for Prince Andrew's return from the commander in chief's room. You see my dear fellow. I've been thinking about you said Prince Andrew when they had gone into the large room where the clavichord was. It is no use you're going to the commander in chief. He would say a lot of pleasant things. Ask you to dinner. That would not be bad as regards the unwritten code saw Boris. But nothing more would come of it. There will soon be a battalion of us at the camp and adjutants. But this is what we will do. I have a good friend, an adjutant general and an excellent fellow Prince Dolgorukov. And though you may not know it, the fact is that now Kutuzov with his staff and all of us count for nothing. Everything is now centered around the emperor. So we will go to Dolgorukov. I have to go there anyhow and I have already spoken to him about you. We shall see whether he cannot attach you to himself or find a place for you somewhere nearer the sun. Prince Andrew always became especially keen when he had to guide a young man and help him to worldly success. Under cover of obtaining help of this kind for another, which from pride he would never accept for himself, he kept in touch with the circle which confers success and which attracted him. He very readily took up Boris' cause and went with him to Dolgorukov. It was late in the evening when they entered the palace at Olmuths occupied by the emperors and the retinues. That same day a council of war had been held in which all the members of the Hofcreeksrath and both emperors took part. At that council, contrary to the views of the old generals Kutuzov and Prince Schwarzenberg, it had been decided to advance immediately and give battle to Bonaparte. The council of war was just over when Prince Andrew accompanied by Boris arrived at the palace to find Dolgorukov. Everyone at headquarters was still under the spell of the day's council at which the party of the young had triumphed. The voices of those who cancelled delay and advised waiting for something else before advancing had been so completely silenced and their arguments computed by such conclusive evidence of the advantages of attacking that what had been discussed at the council, the coming battle and the victory that would certainly result from it no longer seemed to be in the future but in the past. All the advantages were on our side, our enormous forces, undoubtedly superior to Napoleons, were concentrated in one place. The troops inspired by the emperor's presence were eager for action. The strategic position where the operations would take place was familiar in all its details to the Austrian general Weizelder. A lucky accident had ordained that the Austrian army should maneuver the previous year on the very fields where the French had now to be fought. The adjacent locality was known and shown in every detail on the maps and Bonaparte evidently weakened was undertaking nothing. Dolgorukov, one of the warmest advocates of an attack had just returned from the council, tired and exhausted but eager and proud of the victory that had been gained. Prince Andrew introduced his protege but Prince Dolgorukov politely and firmly pressing his hand said nothing to Boris and evidently unable to suppress the assaults which were uppermost in his mind at that moment addressed Prince Andrew in French. Ah, my dear fellow, what a battle we have gained. God grant that the one that will result from it will be as victorious. However, dear fellow, he said abruptly and eagerly, I must confess to having been unjust to the Austrians and especially to Weizelder. What exactitude, what minuteness, what knowledge of the locality, what foresight for every eventuality, every possibility, even to the smallest detail. No, my dear fellow, no conditions better than our present ones could have been devised. This combination of Austrian precision is Russian valor. What more could be wished for? So the attack is definitely resolved on, asked Polkonsky. And you know, my dear fellow, it seems to me that Bonaparte had decidedly lost bearings. You know that a letter was received from him today for the emperor. Dolgorukov smiled significantly. Is that so, and what did he say in quiet Polkonsky? What can he say? Tra diri dirah, and so on, merely to gain time. I tell you, he's in our hands, that is certain. But what was most amusing he continued with a sudden good-natured laugh was that we could not think how to address the reply. If not as consul, and of course not as emperor, it seemed to me it should be to General Bonaparte. But between not recognizing him as emperor and calling him General Bonaparte, there is a difference, remarked Polkonsky. That is just it, interrupted Dolgorukov quickly laughing. You know Billy Bin, he's a very clever fellow. He suggested addressing him as usurper and enemy of mankind. Dolgorukov loved Mary Lee. Only that, said Polkonsky. All the same, it was Billy Bin who found a suitable form for the address. He's a wise and clever fellow. What was it? To the head of the French government, oh chef du gouvernement français, said Dolgorukov with grave satisfaction. Good, wasn't it? Yes, but he will dislike it extremely, said Polkonsky. Oh yes, very much. My brother knows him. He has dined with him, the present emperor, more than once in Paris, and tells me he never met a more cunning or subtle diplomatist. You know, a combination of French adroitness and Italian play acting. Do you know the tale about him and Count Markov? Count Markov was the only man who knew how to handle him. You know the story of the handkerchief? It is delightful. And the talkative Dolgorukov turning now to Boris, now to Prince Andrew, told how Bonaparte wishing to test Markov. Our ambassador purposely dropped the handkerchief in front of him and stood looking at Markov, probably expecting Markov to pick it up for him. And how Markov immediately dropped his own beside it and picked it up without touching Bonaparte. Delightful, said Polkonsky. But I have come to you, prince, as a petitioner on behalf of this young man. You see, but before Prince Andrew could finish an either camp came in to summon Dolgorukov to the emperor. Oh, what a nuisance, said Dolgorukov, getting up hurriedly and pressing the hands of Prince Andrew and Boris. You know I should be very glad to do all in my power, both for you and for this dear young man. Again he pressed the hand of the latter with an expression of good nature, sincere and animated levity. But you see another time. Boris was excited by the sort of being so close to the higher powers as he felt himself to be at that moment. He was conscious that here he was in contact with the springs that set in motion the enormous movements of the mass of which in his regiment he felt himself a tiny, obedient and insignificant atom. They followed Prince Dolgorukov out into the corridor and met coming out of the door of the emperor's room by which Dolgorukov had entered a short man in civilian clothes with a clever face and sharply projecting jaw, which, without spoiling his face, gave him a peculiar vivacity and shiftiness of expression. This short man nodded to Dolgorukov as an intimate friend and stared at Prince Andrew with cool intensity, walking straight toward him and evidently expecting him to bow or to step out of his way. Prince Andrew did neither. A look of animosity appeared on his face and the other turned away and went down the side of the corridor. Who was that? asked Boris. He is one of the most remarkable but to me most unpleasant of man. The minister of foreign affairs, Prince Adam Tzartoryski. It is such a man as he who decide the fate of nations and that Volkonski is a sign he could not suppress as they passed out of the palace. Next day the army began its campaign and up to the very battle of Austerlitz Boris was unable to see either Prince Andrew or Dolgorukov again and remained for a while with the Ismailov Regiment. End of Chapter 9 Recording by Ava Harnick Pontevedra, Florida War and Peace Book 3 Chapter 10 Read for LibriVogs.org by Mark O'Neill At dawn on the 16th of November, Denisov Squadron, in which Nicholas Rostov served and which was in Prince Bagration's detachment, moved from the place where he had spent the night, advancing into action as arranged and after going behind other columns for about two thirds of a mile was stopped on the high road. Rostov saw the Cossacks and then the first and second squadrons of Hazars and infantry battalions and artillery passed by and go forward and then Generals Bagration and Dolgorov ride past with the adjutants. All the fear before action which he had experienced this previously, all the inner struggle to conquer that fear, all his dreams of distinguishing himself as a true Hazar in this battle had been wasted. Their squadron remained in reserve and Nicholas Rostov spent that day in a dull and wretched mood. At nine in the morning he heard firing in front and shouts of hurrah and saw wounded being brought back. There were not many of them and at last he saw how a whole detachment of French cavalry was brought in conveyed by a saunthea of Cossacks. Evidently the affair was over and though not big had been a successful engagement. The men and officers returning spoke of a brilliant victory of the occupation of the town of Wishaw and the capture of a whole French squadron. The day was bright and sunny after a sharp night frost and the cheerful glitter of that autumn day was in keeping with the news of victory which was conveyed not only by the tales of those who had taken part in it but also by the joyful expression on the faces of soldiers, officers, generals and adjutants as they passed Rostov going or coming and Nicholas who had vainly suffered all the dread that precedes a battle and had spent that happy day in inactivity was all the more depressed. Come here Rostov let's drink to drown our grief shouted Denizof who has settled down by the roadside with a flask and some food. The officers gathered round Denizof's canteen eating and talking. There they're bringing another cried one of the officers indicating a captive French dragoon who was being brought in on food by two Cossacks. One of them was leading by the bridle a fine large French horse he had taken from the prisoner. Sell us that horse Denizof called out to the Cossacks. If you like your honour the officers got up and stood round the Cossacks and their prisoner. The French dragoon was a young Alsatian who spoke French with a German accent. He was breathless with agitation. His face was red and when he heard some French spoken he had once began speaking to the officers addressing first one then another. He said he would not have been taken. It was not his fault but the corporals who had sent him to see some horse clothes though he had told them the Russians were there and at every word he added but don't hurt my little horse and stroke the animal. It was plain that he did not quite grasp where he was. Now he excused himself for having been taken prisoner and now imagining himself before his own officers insisted on his soldierly discipline and zeal in the service. He brought with him into our rearguard all the freshness of atmosphere of the French army which was so alien to us. The Cossacks sold the horse for two gold pieces and rust off being the richest of the officers now that he had received his money bought it. But don't hurt my little horse said the Alsatian good naturedly to rust off when the animal was handed over to the Hissar. Rust off smilingly reassured the dragoon and gave him money. Ali Ali said the Cossack touching the prisoner's arm to make him go on. The emperor the emperor was suddenly heard among the Hissars. All began to run in bustle and rust off saw coming up the road behind him several riders with white plumes in their heads. In a moment everyone was in his place waiting. Rust off did not know or remember how he ran to his place and mounted. Instantly his regret and not having been in action and his dejected mood amid people of whom he was weary had gone. Instantly every thought of himself had vanished. He was filled with happiness at his nearness to the emperor. He felt that this nearness by itself made up to him for the day he had lost. He was happy as a lover when the longed for moment of meeting arrives. Not daring to look round and without looking round he was a statically conscious of his approach. He felt it not only from the sound of the hooves of the approaching cavalcade but because as he drew near everything grew brighter more joyful more significant and more festive around him. Nearer and nearer to rust off came that sun shedding beams of mild and majestic light around and already he felt himself enveloped in those beams. He heard his voice that kindly calm in the majestic voice that was yet so simple and as if in accord was rust off's feeling there was a deadly stillness amid which was heard the emperor's voice. The Polofgrad Hazars he inquired. The reserve sire replied a voice a very human one compared to that which had said the Polofgrad Ladgrit Hazars. The emperor drew a level with rust off and halted. Alexander's face was even more beautiful than it had been three days before at the review. It shone with such gaiate and youth such innocent youth that it suggested the liveliness of a 14 year old boy and yet it was the face of the majestic emperor. Casually while surveying the squadron the emperor's eyes met rust offs and rested on them for not more than two seconds. Whether or not the emperor understood what was going on in rust off's soul it seemed to rust off that he understood everything. At any rate his light blue eyes gave for about two seconds into rust off's face. A gentle mild light poured from them then all at once he raised his eyebrows abruptly touched his horse with his left foot and galloped on. The young emperor could not restrain his wish to be present at the battle and in spite of the remonstries of his courtiers at 12 o'clock left the third column with which he had been and galloped towards the vanguard. Before he came out with the Hazars several agitants met him with news of the successful result of the action. This battle which consisted in the capture of a French squadron was represented as a brilliant victory over the French and so the emperor and the whole army especially while the smoke hung over the battlefields believed that the French had been defeated and were retreating against their will. A few minutes after the emperor had passed the Polovgrad division was ordered to advance. In Wushaul himself a pretty German town rust off saw the emperor again. In the marketplace where there had been some rather heavy fighting before the emperor's arrival they several killed and wounded soldiers whom there had not been time to move. The emperor surrounded by his suite of officers and courtiers was riding a bobtail chestnut mare a different one from that which he had ridden at the review and bending to one side he gracefully held a gold loginet to his eyes and looked at a soldier who lay prone with blood on his uncovered head. The wounded soldier was so dirty coarse and revolting that his proximity to the emperor shocked rust off. Rust off saw how the emperor's rather round shoulders shuddered as if a cold shiver had run down them how his left foot began convulsively tapping the horses side with the spur and how the well trained horse looked round unconcerned and did not stir. An adjutant dismounting lifted the soldier under the arms to place him on a stretcher that had been brought. The soldier groaned. Gently, gently, can't you do it more gently? said the emperor apparently suffering more than a dying soldier and he rode away. Rust off saw tears filling the emperor's eyes and heard him as he was riding away saying to Sartoski what a terrible thing war is. What a terrible thing. Quelle terrible shows a cure legue. The troops of the vanguard were stationed before Wishaw within sight of the enemy's lines which all day long had yielded ground to us at the least firing. The emperor's gratitude was announced to the vanguard. Rewards were promised and the men received a double ration of vodka. The campfires crackled and the soldier's songs resounded even more merrily than on the previous night. Denizof celebrated his promotion to the rank of major and rust off who had already drunk enough at the end of the feast proposed the emperor's health. Not our sovereign the emperor as they say at official dinner said he but the health of our sovereign that good enchanting in great man let us drink to his health and to the certain defeat of the French. If we fought before he said not letting the French pass as it's shown Gravern what shall we not do now when he is at the front we will all die for him gladly is it not so gentlemen perhaps I am not saying it right I have drunk a great deal but that is how I feel and so do you too to the health of Alexander the first hurrah hurrah rang the enthusiastic voices of the officers and the old cavalry captain Kirsten shouted enthusiastically and no less sincerely than the 20 year old rust off when the officers had emptied and smashed their glasses Kirsten filled others and in shirt sleeves in breeches went glass in hand to the soldiers bonfires and with his long gray mustache his white chest showing under his open shirt he stood in a majestic pose in the light of the campfire waving his uplifted arm lads here's to our sovereign the emperor and victory over our enemies hurrah he exclaimed in his dashing old has ours baratone the has ours crowded round and responded heartily with loud shouts late that night when all had separated denizof with his shorthand patted his favourite rust off on the shoulder as there's no one to fall in love with on campaign he's fallen in love with the star he said denizof don't make fun of it cried rust off it is such a lofty beautiful feeling such a I believe it I believe it friend and I share and approve no you don't understand and rust off got up and went wandering among the campfires dreaming of what happiness it would be to die not in saving the emperor's life he did not even dare to dream of that but simply to die before his eyes he really was in love with the star and the glory of the russian arms and the hope of future triumph and he was not the only man to experience that feeling during those memorable days preceding the battle of us the lids nine tenths of the men in the russian army were then in love the less ecstatically with their star and the glory of the russian arms end of chapter 10 recording by marco neal first broke germany www.betterthantherapy.net war and peace book three chapter 11 read for LibriVox.org by marco neal the next day the emperor stopped at Vishal and willier his physician was repeatedly summoned to see him at headquarters and among the troops nearby the news spread that the emperor was unwell he ate nothing and it slept badly that night those around him reported the cause of his indisposition was the strong impression made on his sensitive mind by the sight of the killed and wounded at daybreak on the 17th a french officer who had come with a flag of truce demanding an audience with the russian emperor was brought into vishaw from our outposts this officer was savoury the emperor had only just fallen asleep and so savoury had to wait at midday he was admitted to the emperor and an hour later he rode off with prince doger off to the advanced post of the french army it was rumoured that savoury had been sent to propose to alexander a meeting with napoleon to the joy and pride of the whole army a personal interview was refused and instead of the sovereign prince doger off the victor at vishaw was sent with savoury to negotiate with napoleon if contrary to expectations these negotiations were actuated by a real desire for peace to ward evening doger off came back went straight to the star and remained alone with him for a long time on the 18th and 19th of november the army advanced two days march and the enemy's outposts after a brief interchange of shots retreated in the highest army circle shall midday on the 19th a great excitedly bustling activity began which lasted till the morning of the 20th when the memorable battle of ulster lytz was fought till midday on the 19th the activity the eager talk running to and fro and dispatching of agitants was confined to the emperor's headquarters but on the afternoon of that day this activity reached kutysof's headquarters and the staffs of the commanders of columns by evening the agitants had spread it to all ends and parts of the army and in the night from the 19th to the 20th the whole 80 000 ally troops rose from the bifioax to the hum of voices and the army swayed and started in one enormous mass six miles long the concentrated activity which had begun at the emperor's headquarters in the morning and had started the whole movement that followed was like the first movement of the main wheel of a large clock tower clock one wheel slowly moved another was set in motion and the third and wheels began to revolve faster and faster levers and cog wheels to work chimes to play figures to pop out and the hands to advance with regular motion as a result of all that activity just as in the mechanism of a clock so in the mechanism of the military machine an impulse once given leads to the final result and just as indifferently quiziant till the moment when motion is transmitted to them are the parts of the mechanism which the impulse is not yet reached wheels creak on their axels as the cogs engage one another and the revolving pulleys were with the rapidity of their movement but a neighbouring wheel is as quiet and motionless as though it were prepared to remain so for a hundred years but the moment comes when the lever catches it and obeying the impulse that wheel begins to creak and joins in the common motion the result and aim of which are beyond its ken just as in a clock the result of the complicated motion of innumerable wheels and pulleys is merely a slow and regular movement of the hands which show the time so the result of all the complicated human activities of 160 000 russians in french all their passions desires remorse humiliations sufferings outburst surprise fear and enthusiasm was only the loss of the battle ulsterlets the so-called battle of the three emperors that is to say a slow movement off the hand on the dial of human history prince andrew was on duty that day and in constant attendance on the commander-in-chief at six in the evening kutysof went to the emperor's headquarters and after staying but a short time with the tsar went to see the grand marshal of the court count tolstoy balkonski took the opportunity to go in to get some details of the coming action from doger off he felt that kutysof was upset and dissatisfied about something and that at headquarters they were dissatisfied with him and also that at the emperor's headquarters everyone adopted towards him the tone of men who know something others do not know he therefore wished to speak to doger off well how do you do my dear fellows at doger off who was sitting at tea with bibl in the fate is for tomorrow how is your old fellow out of sorts i won't say he's out of sorts but i fanci he would like to be heard but they heard him at the council of war and will hear him when he talks since but to temporise and wait for something now when bonaparte fears nothing so much as a general battle is impossible yes you have seen him said prince andrew well what is bonaparte like did he impress you yes i saw him and i'm convinced that he fears nothing so much as a general engagement repeated doger off evidently prizing this general conclusion which he had arrived at from his interview with napoleon if he weren't afraid of a battle why did he ask for that interview why negotiate and above all why retreat when to retreat is so contrary to his method of conducting war believe me he is afraid afraid of a general battle his hour has come mark my words but tell me what is he like a said prince andrew again he is a man in a great overcote very anxious that i should call him your majesty but who to his chagrain got no title from me that's the sort of man he is and nothing more replied doger off looking around at bibl him with a smile despite my great respect for old cooters off he continued we should be a nice set of fellows if we were to wait about and so give him a chance to escape or to trick us now that we certainly have him in our hands no we mustn't forget super often his rule not to put yourself in a position to be attacked but yourself to attack believe me in war the energy of young men often shows the way better than all the experience of old country eaters but in what position are we going to attack him i've been at the outpost today and it is impossible to say where his chief forces are situated said prince andrew he wished to explain to doger off a plan of attack he had himself formed oh that is all the same doger off said quickly in getting up he's spread a map on the table all eventualities have been foreseen if he is standing before brun and prince doger off rapidly but indistinctly explained where there is plan of a flanky movement prince andrew began to reply and to state his own plan which might have been as good as where others but for the disadvantage that where others had already been approved as soon as prince andrew began to demonstrate the defects of the latter and the merits of his own plan prince doger off ceased to listen to him engaged absentmindedly not at the map but at prince andrew's face there will be a council of war at kutysof's tonight though you can see all this there remark doger off i will do so said prince andrew moving away from the table whatever are you bothering about gentlemen said babylin who till then had listened with an amused smile to their conversation and now was evidently ready with a joke whether tomorrow brings victory or defeat the glory of our russian arms is secure except your kutysof there is not a single russian in command of a column the commanders are her general vinfin le komte de langaron the prince de lichtenstein la prince de hollua and finally prish prish and so on like all those polnish names be quiet backbiter said doger off it is not true there are now two russians miller dovech and doger off and there would be a third count arrow chief if his nerves were not so weak however i think general kutysof has come out said prince andrew i wish you good luck in success gentlemen he added and went out after shaking hands with doger off and babylin on the way home prince andrew could not refrain from asking kutysof who was sitting silently beside him what he thought of tomorrow's battle kutysof looked sternly at his adjutant and after a pause replied i think the battle will be lost and so i told count holstoi and asked him to tell the emperor what do you think he replied but my dear general i'm engaged with rice and cutlets look after military matters yourself yes that was the answer i got end of chapter 11 recording by marco newell versberg germany www.betterthantherapy.net war and peace book 3 chapter 12 red for lepervox.org by marco newell shortly after nine o'clock that evening we rather drove with these plans to kutysof's quarters where the council of war was to be held all the commanders of columns were summoned to the commander-in-chiefs and with the exception of prince begratian who declined to come were all there at the appointed time way rather who was in full control of the proposed battle by his eagerness and briskness presented a marked contrast to the dissatisfied and drowsy kutysof who reluctantly played the part of chairman and president of the council of war way rather evidently felt himself to be the head of a movement that had already become unrestrainable he was like a horse running down hill harness to a heavy cart whether he was pulling it or being pushed by it he did not know but rushed along at headlong speed with no time to consider what this movement might lead to way rather had been twice that evening to the enemy's picket line to reconnect her personally and twice to the emperor's russian and austrian to report and explain and to his headquarters where he had dictated the dispositions in german and now much exhausted he arrived at kutysof's he was evidently so busy that he even forgot to be polite to the commander-in-chief he interrupted him talked rapidly and indistinctly without looking at the man he was addressing it did not reply to questions put to him he was bespattered with mud and had a pitiful weary and distracted air though at the same time he was haughty and self-confident kutysof was occupying a nobleman's castle of modest dimensions near australitz in the large drawing room which had become the commander-in-chief's office were gathered kutysof himself way rather and the members of the council of war they were drinking tea and only awaited prince begratian to begin the council at last begratians orderly came in with the news that the prince could not attend prince andrew came in to inform the commander-in-chief of this and availing himself of permission previously given him by kutysof to be president at the council he remained in the room since prince begratian is not coming we may begin said way rather hurriedly rising from his seat and going up to the table on which an enormous map of the environs of broon were spread out kutysof with his uniform unbuttoned so that his fat neck bulged over his collar as if escaping was sitting almost asleep in a low chair with his podgy old hands resting symmetrically on its arms at the sound of way rather's voice he opened his one eye with an effort yes yes if you please it's already late said he in nodding his head he let it droop and again closed his eye if at first the members of the council thought that kutysof was pretending to sleep the sounds his nose emitted during the reading that followed proved that the commander-in-chief at that moment was absorbed by a far more serious matter than a desire to show his content for the dispositions or anything else he was engaged in satisfying the irresistible human need for sleep he really was asleep way rather with the gesture of a man too busy to lose a moment glance at kutysof and having convinced himself that he was asleep took up a paper and an allowed monotonous voice began to read out the dispositions for the impending battle under a heading which he also read out dispositions for an attack on the enemy position behind cobalnets and socal nets november 30 1805 the dispositions were very complicated and difficult they began as follows as the enemy's left wing rests on wooded hills and his right extends along cobalnets and socal nets behind the ponds that are there while we on the other hand with our left wing by far outflank his right it is advantageous to attack the enemy's lateral wing especially if we occupy the villages of socal nets and cobalnets whereby we can both fall on his flank and pursue him over the plane between shlipinets and the thoracic forest avoiding the defiles of shlipinets and belevets which cover the enemy's front for this object it is necessary that the first column marches the second column marches the third column marches and so on red way rather the general seemed to listen reluctantly to the difficult dispositions the tall fair hair general buxhoudan stood leaning his back against the wall his eyes fixed on a burning candle and seemed not to listen to or even to wish to be thought to listen exactly opposite way rather with his glistening wide open eyes fixed upon him and his moustache twisted upwards sat the ruddy melovadovic in a military pose his elbows turned outwards his hands on his knees and his shoulders raised he remained stubbornly silent gazing at where others face and only turning away his eyes when the Austrian chief of staff finished reading then melovadovic looked round significantly at the other generals if one could not tell from that significant look whether he agreed or disagreed and was satisfied or not with the arrangements next away rather sat count langaron who with a subtle smile that never left his typically southern french face during the whole time of the reading gazed at his delicate fingers with rapidly twirl by his corners a gold snuff box on which was a portrait in the middle of one of the longest sentences he stopped the rotary motion of the snuff box raised his head and with imicable politeness lurking in the corners of his thin lips interrupted way rather wishing to say something but the austrian general continued to read frowned angrily and jerked his elbows as if to say you can tell me your views later but now be so good as to look at the map and listen langaron lifted his eyes with an expression of perplexity turned around to melovadovic as if seeking an explanation but meeting the latter's impressive but meaningless gaze drooped his eyes sadly and again took to twirling his snuff box a geography lesson he muttered as if to himself but loud enough to be heard pribezzuski with respectful but dignified politeness held his hand to his ear to wash way rather with the air of a man absorbed in attention deuter off a little man sat opposite way rather with an assiduous and modest mean and stooping over the outspread map conscientiously studied the dispositions and the unfamiliar locality he asked way rather several times to repeat words he had not clearly heard and the difficult names of villages way rather complied and deuter off noted them down when the reading which lasted more than an hour was over langaron again brought his snuff box to rest and without looking at way rather or at anyone in particular began to say how difficult it was to carry out such a plan in which the enemy's position was assumed to be known whereas it was perhaps not known since the enemy was in movement langaron's objections were valid but it was obvious that their chief aim was to show general way rather who had read his dispositions with as much self confidence as if he was addressing school children that he had to do not with fools but with men who could teach him something in military matters when the monotonous sound of way rather's voice ceased cooters off open his eye as a miller wakes up when the so horrific drone of the male wheel is interrupted he listened to what langaron said as if remarking so you're still at that silly business quickly close his eye again and let his head sink still lower langaron trying as virently as possible to sting way rather's vanity as author of the military plan argued that bonaparte might easily attack instead of being attacked and so render the whole of this plan perfectly worthless way rather met all objections with a firm and contentious smile evidently prepared beforehand to meet all objections be they what what they might if he could attack us he would have done so today said he so you think he is powerless said langaron he has 40 000 men at most replied way rather with the smile of a doctor to whom an old wife wishes to explain the treatment of a case in that case he is inviting his doom by awaiting our attacks at langaron with a subtly ironical smile again glancing round for support to miller dovech he was near him but miller dovech was at that moment evidently thinking of anything rather than of what the generals were disputing about ma foa said he tomorrow we shall see all that on the battlefield way rather again gave that smile which seemed to say that to him it was strange and ridiculous to meet objections from russian generals and to have to prove to them what he had not merely convinced himself of but it also convinced the sovereign emperors off the enemy has quenched his fires and a continual noises heard from his camp said he what does that mean either he is retreating which is the only thing we need fear or he is changing his position he smiled ironically but even if he also took up a position in the thorasa he merely saves us a great deal of trouble and all our arrangements for the minutest detail remain the same how is that began prince andrew who had for long been waiting an opportunity to express his doubts cutas off here woke up coughed heavily and looked around at the generals gentlemen the dispositions for tomorrow or rather for today for it is past midnight cannot now be altered said he you have heard them and we shall all do our duty but before a battle there is nothing more important he paused then to have a good sleep he moved as if to rise the generals bowed and retired it was past midnight prince andrew went out the council of war at which prince andrew had not been able to express his opinion as he had hoped to left on him a vague and uneasy impression were the doger off and wayroather or cutas off linger on and the others who did not approve of the plan of attack were right he did not know but was it really not possible for cutas off to state his views plainly to the emperor is it possible that on account of court and personal considerations tens of thousands of lives and my life my life he thought must be risked yes it is very likely that i shall be killed tomorrow he thought and suddenly at the start of death a whole series of most distant most intimate memories rose in his imagination he remembered his last parting from his father and his wife he remembered the days when he first loved her he thought of her pregnancy and felt sorry for her and for himself and in a nervously emotional and softened mood he went out of the hut in which he was ability with navitsky and began to walk up and down before it the night was foggy and through the fog the moonlight gleamed mysteriously yes tomorrow tomorrow he thought tomorrow everything may be over for me all these memories will be no more none of them will have any meaning for me tomorrow perhaps even certainly i have a pre sentiment that for the first time i shall have to show all i can do and his fancy pictured the battle it's lost the concentration of fighting at one point and the hesitation of all the commanders and then that happy moment that too long for which he had long waited presents itself to him at last he firmly and clearly expresses his opinion to cut us off to wear other and to the emperors all are struck by the justness of his views but no one undertakes to carry them out so he takes a regiment a division stipulates that no one is to interfere with his arrangements leads his division to the decisive point and gains the victory alone put death and suffering suggested another voice prince andrew however did not answer that voice and went on dreaming of his triumphs the dispositions for the next battle are planned by him alone nominally he is only an adjutant on kutysau staff but he does everything alone the next battle is won by him alone kutysauff is removed and he is appointed well and then ask the other voice if before that you are not 10 times wounded killed or betrayed well what then well then prince andrew answered himself i don't know what will happen and don't want to know and can't but if i want this want glory want to be known to men want to be loved by them it is not my fault that i want it and want nothing but that and live only for that yes for that alone i shall never tell anyone but oh god what am i to do if i love nothing but fame and men's esteem death wounds the loss of family i fear nothing and precious and dear as many persons are to me father sister wife those dear is to me yet dreadful and unnatural as it seems i would give them all at once for a moment of glory of triumph over men of men here he thought as he listened to voices in kutysauff's courtyard the voices were those of the orderly to were packing up one voice probably a coachman's was teasing kutysauff's old cook whom prince andrew knew and who was called tit he was saying tit i say tit well return the old man go tit thresh a bit said the oh go to the devil called out a voice drowned by the laughter of the orderlies and servants all the same i love and value nothing but triumph over them all i value this mystic power and glory that is floating here above me in this mist end of chapter 12 recording by marco neill voxburg germany www.betterthantherapy.net war and peace book 3 chapter 13 redforlibbervox.org by marco neill that same night rustoff was with a platoon on skirmishing duty in front of begration's detachment his hasars were placed along the line in couples and he himself rode along the line trying to master the sleepiness that kept coming over him an enormous space with our army's campfires dimly glowing in the fog could be seen behind him in front of him was misty darkness rostoff could see nothing peer as he would into that foggy distance now something gleamed gray now there was something black now little light seemed to glimmer where the enemy ought to be now he fancied it was only something in his own eyes his eyes kept closing and in his fancy appeared now the emperor now denizof and now musko memories and he again hardly opened his eyes and saw close before him the head and ears of the horse he was riding and sometimes when he came within six paces of them the black figure of his ars but in the distance was still the same misty darkness why not it might easily happen thought rustoff that the emperor will meet me and give me an order as he would to any other officer he'll say go and find out what's there there are many stories of his getting to know an officer in just such a chance way and attaching him to himself what if he gave me a place near him oh how i would guard him how i would tell him the truth how i would unmask his deceivers and in order to realise vividly his love devotion to the sovereign rustoff pictured to himself an enemy or a deceitful german whom he would not only kill with pleasure but whom he would slap in the face before the emperor suddenly a distant shout aroused him he started and opened his eyes where am i oh yes in the skirmishing line pass in watchword shaft almost what a nuisance that squadron will be in reserve tomorrow he thought i'll ask leave to go to the front this may be my only chance of seeing the emperor it won't be long now before i'm off duty i'll take another turn and when i get back i'll go to the general and ask him he readjusted himself in the saddle and touched up his horse to ride once more around his ars it seemed to him that it was getting lighter to the left he saw a sloping descent lit up and facing it a black knoll that seemed as steep as a wall on this knoll there was a white patch that rustoff could not at all make out was it a glade in the wood lit up by the moon or someone melted snow or some white houses he even thought something moved on that white spot i expect snow that spot a spot untashe he thought there now it's not a tasha natasha sister black eyes na tasha won't she be surprised when i tell her how i've seen the emperor natasha take my sabre tasha keep to the right your honor there are bushes here came the voice of a hasar pass where rustoff was riding in the act of falling asleep rustoff lifted his head that had sunk almost to his horse's mane and pulled up beside the hasar he was succumbing to irresistible youthful childish drowsiness but what was i thinking i mustn't forget how shall i speak to the emperor no that's not it that's tomorrow oh yes natasha sabre tasha sabre them whom the hasars are the hasars with moustaches along the verskaya street rode the hasar with moustaches i thought about him too just opposite guria's house old guria oh but denims of the fine fellow but that's all nonsense the chief thing is that the emperor is here now he looked at me and wished to say something but dared not no it was i who dared not but that's nonsense the chief thing is not to forget the important thing i was thinking of yes natasha sabre tasha oh yes yes that's right and his head once more sank to his horse's neck all at once it seemed to him that he was being fired at what what what cut them down what said rustoff waking up and the moment he opened his eyes he heard in front of him where the enemy was the long drawn shouts of thousands of voices his horse and the horse of the hasar near him pricked out ears at these shouts over there where the shouting came from a fire flared up and went out again then another and all along the french line on the hill fires flared up and the shouting grew louder and louder rustoff could hear the sound of french words we could not distinguish them the den of many voices was too great all he could hear was what's that what do you make of it said rustoff to the hasar beside him that must be the enemy's camp the hasar did not reply why don't you hear it rustoff asked again after waiting for a reply who can tell your honor replied the hasar reluctantly from the direction it must be the enemy repeated rustoff it may be he or it may be nothing muttered the hasar it's dark steady he cried to his fidgeting horse rustoff's horse was also getting restive it pawd the frozen ground pricking its ears at the noise and looking at the lights the shouting grew still louder and merged into a general roar that only an army of several thousand men could produce the light spread further and further probably along the line of the french camp rustoff no longer wanted to sleep the gay triumphant shouting of the enemy army had a stimulating effect on him vive l'emporeur l'emporeur he now heard distinctly they can't be far off probably just beyond the stream he said to the hasar beside him the hasar only sighed without replying and coughed angrily the sound of horsey's hoofs approaching in a trot along the line of hasars was heard and out of the foggy darkness the figure of a sergeant of hasars suddenly appeared looming huge as an elephant your honor the generals said the sergeant riding up to rustoff rustoff still looking round toward the fire and the shouts rode with the sergeant to meet some mounted men who were riding along the line one was on a white horse prince begration and prince doger off with the agitants had come to witness the curious phenomenon of the lights and shouts in the enemy's camp rustoff rode up to begration reported to him then joined the agitants listening to what the generals were saying believe me said prince doger off addressing begration it is nothing better trick he has retreated in order to rear guard to kindle fires and make a noise to deceive us hardly said begration i saw them this evening on that no if they had retreated they would have withdrawn from that too officer said begration to rustoff and the enemy skirmish he's still there they were there this evening but now i don't know your excellency shall i go with some of my hazards to see reply rustoff begration stopped and before replying trying to see rustoff's face in the mist well go and see he said after a pause yes sir rustoff spurred his horse called the sergeant ffynchenco and two other hazards told them to follow him and trotted downhill in the direction from which the shouting came he felt both frightened and pleased to be riding alone with three hazards into that mysterious and dangerous misty distance where no one had been before him begration called to him from the hill not to go beyond the stream but rustoff pretended not to hear him and did not stop but rode on and on continually mistaking bushes with trees and gullies for men and continually discovering his mistakes having descended the hill at a trot he no longer saw either our own or the enemy's fires but heard the shouting of the french more loudly and distinctly in the valley he saw before him something like a river but when he reached it he found it with a rose having come out onto the rose he rained in his horse hesitating whether to ride along it or cross it and ride over the black field up the hillside to keep to the road which gleaned white in the mist would have been safer because it would have been easier to see people coming along it follow me said he crossed the road and began riding up the hill at a gallop toward the point where the french pickets had been standing that evening your honor there he is tried one of the hazards behind him and before rustoff had time to make out what the black thing was that has suddenly appeared in the fog there was a flash followed by a report and a bullet was in high up in the mist with a plaintive sound passed out of hearing another musket missed fire but flashed in the pan rustoff turned his horse and galloped back four more reports followed the intervals and the bullets passed somewhere in the fog singing in different tones rustoff rained in his horse whose spirits had risen like his own at the firing and went back at a foot pace well some more some more a merry voice was saying in his soul but no more shots came only when approaching immigration did rustoff let his horse gallop again and with his hand at the salute rode up to the general dogger off was still insisting that the french had retreated and had only lit fires to deceive us what is that proof he was saying as rustoff rode up they might retreat and leave the pickets it's plain they have not all gone yet prince said immigration wait till tomorrow morning we'll find out everything tomorrow the picket is still on the hill your excellency just where it was in the evening reported rustoff stepping forward with his hand at the salute and unable to repress the smile of delight induced by his ride and especially by the sound of the bullets very good very good good separation thank you officer your excellency said rustoff may i ask you a favour what is it tomorrow our squadron is to be in reserve may i ask to be attached to the first squadron what's your name count rustoff oh very well you may say in attendance on me count illia rustoff's son i'll still go off but rustoff did not reply then i may reckon on it your excellency i will give the order tomorrow very likely i may be sent with some message to the emperor thought rustoff thank god the fires and shouting in the enemy's army were occasioned by the fact that while napoleon's proclamation was being read to the troops the emperor himself rode around his bivouac the soldiers on seeing him lit wistful straw and ran after him shouting leave the emperor napoleon's proclamation was as follows soldiers the russian army is advancing against you to avenge the austrian army of home they are the same battalions you broke at hollabroon and have pursued ever since to this place the position we occupy is a strong one and while they are marching to go round me on the right they will expose a flank to me soldiers i will myself direct your battalions i will keep out of fire if you with your habitual valor carry disorder and confusion into the enemy's ranks but should victory be in doubt even for a moment you will see your emperor exposing himself to the first blows of the enemy for there must be no doubt of victory especially on this day when what is at stake is the honor of the french infantry so necessary to the honor of our nation do not break your ranks on the plea of removing the woondies let every man be fully imbued with the thoughts that we must defeat these highlings of england inspired by such hatred of our nation this victory will conclude our campaign and we can return to winter quarters where fresh french troops who are being raised in france will join us and the piece i shall conclude will be worthy of my people of you and of myself napoleon end of recording end of chapter 13 recording by marco neal