Book Twelve: 1812 - Chapter I

by Leo Tolstoy

　　In Petersburg at that time a complicated struggle was beingcarried on with greater heat than ever in the highest circles, betweenthe parties of Rumyantsev, the French, Marya Fedorovna, the Tsarevich,and others, drowned as usual by the buzzing of the court drones. Butthe calm, luxurious life of Petersburg, concerned only aboutphantoms and reflections of real life, went on in its old way and madeit hard, except by a great effort, to realize the danger and thedifficult position of the Russian people. There were the samereceptions and balls, the same French theater, the same courtinterests and service interests and intrigues as usual. Only in thevery highest circles were attempts made to keep in mind thedifficulties of the actual position. Stories were whispered of howdifferently the two Empresses behaved in these difficultcircumstances. The Empress Marya, concerned for the welfare of thecharitable and educational institutions under her patronage, had givendirections that they should all be removed to Kazan, and the thingsbelonging to these institutions had already been packed up. TheEmpress Elisabeth, however, when asked what instructions she wouldbe pleased to give- with her characteristic Russian patriotism hadreplied that she could give no directions about state institutions forthat was the affair of the sovereign, but as far as she personally wasconcerned she would be the last to quit Petersburg.

　　At Anna Pavlovna's on the twenty-sixth of August, the very day ofthe battle of Borodino, there was a soiree, the chief feature of whichwas to be the reading of a letter from His Lordship the Bishop whensending the Emperor an icon of the Venerable Sergius. It wasregarded as a model of ecclesiastical, patriotic eloquence. PrinceVasili himself, famed for his elocution, was to read it. (He used toread at the Empress'.) The art of his reading was supposed to lie inrolling out the words, quite independently of their meaning, in a loudand singsong voice alternating between a despairing wail and atender murmur, so that the wail fell quite at random on one word andthe murmur on another. This reading, as was always the case at AnnaPavlovna's soirees, had a political significance. That evening sheexpected several important personages who had to be made ashamed oftheir visits to the French theater and aroused to a patriotictemper. A good many people had already arrived, but Anna Pavlovna, notyet seeing all those whom she wanted in her drawing room, did notlet the reading begin but wound up the springs of a generalconversation.

　　The news of the day in Petersburg was the illness of CountessBezukhova. She had fallen ill unexpectedly a few days previously,had missed several gatherings of which she was usually ornament, andwas said to be receiving no one, and instead of the celebratedPetersburg doctors who usually attended her had entrusted herself tosome Italian doctor who was treating her in some new and unusual way.

　　They all knew very well that the enchanting countess' illnessarose from an inconvenience resulting from marrying two husbands atthe same time, and that the Italian's cure consisted in removingsuch inconvenience; but in Anna Pavlovna's presence no one dared tothink of this or even appear to know it.

　　"They say the poor countess is very ill. The doctor says it isangina pectoris."

　　"Angina? Oh, that's a terrible illness!"

　　"They say that the rivals are reconciled, thanks to the angina..."and the word angina was repeated with great satisfaction.

　　"The count is pathetic, they say. He cried like a child when thedoctor told him the case was dangerous."

　　"Oh, it would be a terrible loss, she is an enchanting woman."

　　"You are speaking of the poor countess?" said Anna Pavlovna,coming up just then. "I sent to ask for news, and hear that she is alittle better. Oh, she is certainly the most charming woman in theworld," she went on, with a smile at her own enthusiasm. "We belong todifferent camps, but that does not prevent my esteeming her as shedeserves. She is very unfortunate!" added Anna Pavlovna.

　　Supposing that by these words Anna Pavlovna was somewhat lifting theveil from the secret of the countess' malady, an unwary young manventured to express surprise that well known doctors had not beencalled in and that the countess was being attended by a charlatanwho might employ dangerous remedies.

　　"Your information maybe better than mine," Anna Pavlovna suddenlyand venomously retorted on the inexperienced young man, "but I know ongood authority that this doctor is a very learned and able man. Heis private physician to the Queen of Spain."

　　And having thus demolished the young man, Anna Pavlovna turned toanother group where Bilibin was talking about the Austrians: havingwrinkled up his face he was evidently preparing to smooth it out againand utter one of his mots.

　　"I think it is delightful," he said, referring to a diplomaticnote that had been sent to Vienna with some Austrian bannerscaptured from the French by Wittgenstein, "the hero of Petropol" as hewas then called in Petersburg.

　　"What? What's that?" asked Anna Pavlovna, securing silence for themot, which she had heard before.

　　And Bilibin repeated the actual words of the diplomatic dispatch,which he had himself composed.

　　"The Emperor returns these Austrian banners," said Bilibin,"friendly banners gone astray and found on a wrong path," and his browbecame smooth again.

　　"Charming, charming!" observed Prince Vasili.

　　"The path to Warsaw, perhaps," Prince Hippolyte remarked loudlyand unexpectedly. Everybody looked at him, understanding what hemeant. Prince Hippolyte himself glanced around with amused surprise.He knew no more than the others what his words meant. During hisdiplomatic career he had more than once noticed that such utteranceswere received as very witty, and at every opportunity he uttered inthat way the first words that entered his head. "It may turn outvery well," he thought, "but if not, they'll know how to arrangematters." And really, during the awkward silence that ensued, thatinsufficiently patriotic person entered whom Anna Pavlovna had beenwaiting for and wished to convert, and she, smiling and shaking afinger at Hippolyte, invited Prince Vasili to the table and bringinghim two candles and the manuscript begged him to begin. Everyonebecame silent.

　　"Most Gracious Sovereign and Emperor! " Prince Vasili sternlydeclaimed, looking round at his audience as if to inquire whetheranyone had anything to say to the contrary. But no one saidanything. "Moscow, our ancient capital, the New Jerusalem, receivesher Christ"- he placed a sudden emphasis on the word her- "as a motherreceives her zealous sons into her arms, and through the gatheringmists, foreseeing the brilliant glory of thy rule, sings inexultation, 'Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh!'"

　　Prince Vasili pronounced these last words in a tearful voice.

　　Bilibin attentively examined his nails, and many of those presentappeared intimidated, as if asking in what they were to blame. AnnaPavlovna whispered the next words in advance, like an old womanmuttering the prayer at Communion: "Let the bold and insolentGoliath..." she whispered.

　　Prince Vasili continued.

　　"Let the bold and insolent Goliath from the borders of Franceencompass the realms of Russia with death-bearing terrors; humbleFaith, the sling of the Russian David, shall suddenly smite his headin his blood-thirsty pride. This icon of the Venerable Sergius, theservant of God and zealous champion of old of our country's weal, isoffered to Your Imperial Majesty. I grieve that my waning strengthprevents rejoicing in the sight of your most gracious presence. Iraise fervent prayers to Heaven that the Almighty may exalt the raceof the just, and mercifully fulfill the desires of Your Majesty."

　　"What force! What a style!" was uttered in approval both of readerand of author.

　　Animated by that address Anna Pavlovna's guests talked for a longtime of the state of the fatherland and offered various conjectures asto the result of the battle to be fought in a few days.

　　"You will see," said Anna Pavlovna, "that tomorrow, on the Emperor'sbirthday, we shall receive news. I have a favorable presentiment!"