Chapter 3 third chapter

Anna Pavlovna's evening party was in motion like a spinning wheel.The spindle rotates at a constant speed from all sides, making a constant rattling sound.Only a weeping, thin-faced, aging lady sat beside her aunt, who seemed a little out of place in this excellent society, which, apart from the aunt, was divided into three groups.In a male-majority group, the priest is the central figure.In another group—the group of young people, the beautiful Princess Helene, daughter of Prince Vasily, and the little Princess Bolkonskaya, charming and rosy-cheeked, were the central figures. , but still young, the figure looks too fat.In the third group Mortmar and Anna Pavlovna were the central figures.

The viscount is kind-hearted, humble, and a handsome young man.Apparently he considered himself a celebrity, but being well-educated, he obediently allowed his society to use him and manipulate him.It was evident that Anna Pavlovna used him to entertain her guests.If you see a piece of beef in a filthy kitchen and don't want to eat it, a good housekeeper will serve it to the table as a delicious delicacy; so did Anna Pavlovna this evening, she Serve the viscount first to the guests, then the priest, as an exceptionally delicate dish.The Mortemar group immediately spoke of the circumstances surrounding the killing of the Duke of Enghien.The viscount said that the cause of the Duke of Enghien's death was self-sacrifice, and Bonaparte's resentment had special reasons.

"Ah! voyons Contez-nouscela, vicomte," said Anna Pavlovna, feeling delighted with the tone of the words "Contez-nouscela, vicomte" ala Louis XV②. ①French: Ah, it’s true!Viscount, please tell us about this. ②French: Like Louis XV. The Viscount bowed in obedience and smiled politely.Anna Pavlovna gathered the guests round the vicomte and invited them to listen to his stories. "LevicomteaetepersonnellementconnudemonB seigneur," said Anna Pavlovna softly to a visitor. "Levicomteestunparfaitconteur," she said to another visitor. "Commeon voit Lhommede labonne compagnie," she said to the third visitor.The Viscount was seen, like a steaming platter of beef tenderloin sprinkled with greens, as if, in the most graceful and favorable respect to him, he had been presented to the group of people.

The viscount tried to tell the story, with a clever smile on his face. "Come this way, chere Helene," said Anna Pavlovna to the handsome princess.The princess, seated a little further away, is the center of another group. ①French: The viscount himself was acquainted with the duke. ②French: The Viscount is a surprisingly good storyteller. ③French: You can immediately see that you are a member of the upper class. ④ French: Dear Helen. The Princess Helen, who was named Helene, stood up with a smile, always showing the smile of a lady that she has always shown since she entered the drawing room.Her white ball gown, patterned with vines and mosses, rustled as she passed among the men who stepped aside to make way, her white shoulders, her shiny hair, and her diamonds sparkling. , she walked straight on, towards Anna Pavlovna, without looking at anyone, but smiling at everyone, as if admiring her figure, her round shoulders, her fashionably dressed The right to the beauty of the naked breast and back is respectfully bestowed on everyone, as she graces a dancing evening.Helen is so beautiful, I can't see any coquettish expression on her body, on the contrary, it seems that she is deeply ashamed of her beauty that she firmly believes is so alluring enough to overwhelm everything, as if she wants to reduce the allure of her beauty , but nothing can be done.

"Quellebelle personne!" was said by all who met her.When she sat down before the vicomte, smiling as usual, which brightened his countenance, he seemed so surprised by some extraordinary power that he shrugged his shoulders and lowered his eyes. "Madame, jecrainspourmesmoyensdevantunpareil auditoire． ’” he said, bowing his head, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. The princess leaned the elbow of her fat, bare arm on the coffee table, and, seeing no need to speak, waited with a smile on her face.While telling the story, she sat upright, sometimes looking at the fat and beautiful arms resting on the coffee table, and sometimes looking at the more beautiful breasts, smoothing the diamond necklace hanging on her chest, she She smoothed out the folds of her dress several times, and when the story had reached an impressive point, she turned to look at Anna Pavlovna, immediately showed the same facial expression as a court lady, and then fell silent. Down, a happy smile appeared on his face.The little duchess also walked over from the coffee table following Helen.

"Attendez-moi, jevaisprendremonouvrage," she said, "Voyons, aquoipensez-vous?" she said, turning to Prince Hippolyte. "Apportez-moimonridicule."④ ① French: What a charming beauty! ②French: I am really worried that I will not be able to speak in front of such an audience. ③ French: Please wait a moment, I will take my job. ④French: How are you doing?What are you thinking?Please bring me my handbag. The Duchess smiled, and when she was talking to everyone, she suddenly moved her seat, sat down, and happily smoothed and straightened her clothes. "I feel fine now," she said, asking for a story to be told, while she set to work again.

Prince Hippolyte handed her the valise, followed her, moved the easy chair closer to her, and sat down beside her. This Lecharmant Hippolyte looks just like his beautiful sister Sister, it is really surprising, although they are similar, but he is very ugly, which is even more surprising.His face is exactly the same as his sister's, but his sister's optimistic, self-satisfied, youthful, ever-changing smile and superhuman classical beauty make her radiant and charming; Stupid and stupid, always showing a very confident and dissatisfied demeanor, his body is thin and weak, weak and weak.Eyes, nose, and mouth crowded together unevenly, as if transformed into an expressionless, sullen grimace, and clumsy limbs, always in rigid postures.

"Cenestpasunehistoirederevenants?" he said.He sat near the Duchess and hastily put the monocular on his eye, as if he could not speak without the instrument. "Maisnon, moncher." ③ The storyteller shrugged, startled, and said. "Cestquejedetesteleshistoiresderevenants," said Prince Hippolyte in such a tone that it was evident that he said it first and then understood its meaning. ①French: Lovely Hippolyte. ② French: Is this a story about ghosts? ③French: Honey, not at all. ④French: The problem is, I hate ghost stories. He spoke with such self-confidence that no one could tell whether what he said was wise or foolish.He wore a dark green tuxedo, as he said himself, a pair of cuissedenympheeffrayee trousers, and a pair of stockings and boots.

Vicomte2 very eloquently told an anecdote that was widely circulated at that time.Enghien quietly arrived in Paris to meet m-lle George, where he met Bonaparte, who had also won the favor of the actress. The duke did not take this opportunity to control him, but Napoleon later killed the duke in return for his generosity. This story is very sweet and interesting, especially when the two rivals suddenly recognize each other, the ladies seem to feel agitated. "Charmant," said Anna Pavlovna, turning her head to look questioningly at the little princess. ① French: the inner body of the frightened goddess of nature.

② French: Viscount. ③French: An actress named George. ④French: very good. "Charmant," whispered the little Duchess, sticking a needle into her sewing, as if to signify that the story was so interesting and sweet that it almost prevented her from going on with her sewing. The vicomte, who applauded the silent compliment, smiled gratefully, and went on, but Anna Pavlovna glanced now and then at the young man who frightened her, and at this moment she Noticing that he was somehow talking warmly and loudly with the priest, she hastened to aid the emergency.Indeed, Pierre had even discussed the matter of political equilibrium with the priest, who seemed to have taken an interest in the young man's simple enthusiasm, and he made the most of his self-righteous views in front of him.Anna Pavlovna was somewhat disappointed by their lively, frank conversation and listening to each other.

"Achieving European balance of power and droitdesgens is a means," said the abbé, "as long as Russia, a powerful country known for its barbarism, can stand up and lead an alliance with the goal of achieving European balance of power, it will save the world." Already!" ①French: civil rights. "How on earth do you achieve this balance?" Pierre was about to start, when Anna Pavlovna came up to him, gave Pierre a serious look, and asked the Italian how he could do it. Withstanding the local climate, the Italian's face suddenly changed, showing a look of flattery that looked like he was used to pretending to be aggrieved when talking with women. "I have had the privilege of being part of your society, and the superior intelligence and education of your society, especially the women's society, has so fascinated me that I should not have thought of the climate beforehand," he said. Anna Pavlovna did not let the priest and Pierre go, and, for the sake of observation, made them both join the ordinary group. At this time, another guest walked into the living room.The new visitor was the young Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, husband of the little princess.Prince Bolkonski was a small, very handsome young man with fine features and a rather thin face.His whole appearance, from sleepy and distressed eyes to slow and regular steps, was in sharp contrast to his short and lively wife.Evidently not only did he know all the people in the drawing room, but they all bored him, and he found it boring to even look at them and listen to them talk.Of all these faces which repelled him, that of his pretty wife seemed to repel him the most.He put on a ugliness that detracted from his beauty, and turned his face away from her.He kissed Anna Pavlovna's hand, then closed his eyes and looked around at the crowd. "Vousvousenro Alezpourlaguerre, monprince?" said Anna Pavlovna. "Legeneral Koutouzoff," said Bolkonski, who, like the French, puts the stress on the last syllable of the word Kutuzov, "abi Benvouludemoipouraide-de-camp..." "Et Lise, votrefemme?"③ "She's going to the countryside." "Should you take your pretty wife from us?" "Andve," said his wife, who spoke as charmingly to her husband as she did to others, "the vicomte told us a beautiful story about a lady called Georges and Bonaparte! " ①French: Duke, are you going to war? ② French: General Kutuzov wants me to be his adjutant. ③French: Where is your wife Lisa? ④French: Andre. Prince Andrew narrowed his eyes and turned his face away.When Prince Andrei entered the drawing-room, Pierre looked at him with pleasure and friendliness, without taking his eyes off for a moment, and Pierre went forward and took his hand.Prince Andrei did not turn his head to look, he frowned, made an ugly face, and complained to the person who touched his arm, but when he saw Pierre's smiling face, he was surprised. Unexpectedly, a kind, happy smile appeared. "Ah, that's why! . . . You've joined the crowd!" he said to Pierre. "I knew you would come," replied Pierre, "I will come to your place for supper," He added something softly so as not to hinder the Viscount's storytelling, "Is that all right?" "No, you can't," said Prince Andrei, smiling, and, taking Pierre's hand, he beckoned him not to ask any further questions.He was about to say something more, but at that moment Prince Vasili and his daughter got up and left the table, and the gentlemen got up to make way. "My dear Viscount, forgive me," said Prince Vasily to the Frenchman, gently pulling his sleeves and pressing him against the chair so that he would not get up. "This inauspicious celebration by the minister is going to rob me of my joy and interrupt you. It makes me sad to leave this enchanting evening of yours," he said to Anna Pavlov. Na said. His daughter, the Princess Helene, gently lifting the folds of her dress with her hand, came out from between the chairs, smiling more cheerfully on her pretty face, as she passed Pierre, Pierre stared at the beauty in surprise. "Very handsome," said Prince Andrew. "Very handsome," said Pierre. Prince Vasili seized Pierre's hand as he passed, and turning his face to Anna Pavlovna said. "Teach the bear, please," said he, "he has lived in my house for a month, and I have met him in society for the first time. There is nothing for a young man like the society of wise women." The group desperately needed it."