Chapter 8 chapter eight

The day after Boris and Rostov's meeting, Austrian and Russian troops held a parade.The Russian troops inspected included those newly arrived from Russia and those returning from the expedition with Kutuzov.The two emperors, the Russian Emperor and the Crown Prince, and the Austrian Emperor and the Grand Duke, inspected the 80,000 Allied troops. From early in the morning, the well-dressed and neatly dressed troops were in motion and lined up on the field in front of the fort.From time to time, thousands of feet and bayonets can be seen moving forward along with the flag fluttering in the wind, obeying the command of the officer, or stopping, or turning, or keeping intervals in formation, bypassing the crowd of infantry wearing another kind of military uniform .From time to time, the rhythmic sound of horseshoes and the clash of spurs can be heard. These cavalrymen in blue, red, and green embroidered uniforms ride on jet-black, brown-red, and blue-gray horses. Some military musicians in embroidered clothes stand at the front of the queue.From time to time, the battery of artillery can be seen stretching the distance, a cannon with a shiny door trembling on the gun carriage, the sound of the vibration of the copper parts can be heard, the smell of the ignition rod can be smelled, the artillery team is in the footsteps of the infantry and cavalry. Crawl forward, and stop at the designated place with a distance.Not only are the generals all wearing parade uniforms, but their thick or thin waists are tightly bound, their collars set off their necks, and their collars are red, their waists are tied with armed belts, and their chests are decorated with various medals; Not only were the officers pomaded and stylishly dressed, but every soldier had a freshly washed and clean-shaven face, every soldier had his uniform polished, and every horse was well-groomed. Well-bred, the coat shines like satin, and the wet mane is combed neatly.Everyone felt that something of great significance and dignity was being accomplished.Every general and soldier feels very small, and realizes that he is just a grain of sand in this sea of ​​people, and also feels that he is powerful, and that he is a part of this vast whole.

From early in the morning, I have been very nervous about what to do, which can be described as going all out.By ten o'clock, everything was ready as desired.Row after row of officers and soldiers stood in line on the wide field.The whole army was arranged in three lines: the cavalry in front, the artillery behind the cavalry, and the infantry following. Street-like intervals are maintained between the queues.The three divisions of the army—Kutuzov's combat corps (the officers and soldiers of the Paulograd corps stood on the right flank of the front row), the army corps and guard regiments that had just arrived from Russia, and the Austrian troops, clearly separated.But they all stand in the same ranks, are commanded by the same chief, and have the same formation.

An excited murmur came like the wind sweeping the fallen leaves: "They are coming! They are coming!" There can be heard voices of panic, a rush of climax— The final preparations—rushed into the various troops. A group of officers and soldiers approaching gradually appeared on the side of Olmitz in front.It was a calm day, but at this moment there was a breeze in the army, gently fluttering the small flags on the spears, and the flags fluttering in the wind flapped against the flagpoles.This slight movement of the army seemed to express its joy at the arrival of the two kings.A command came out: "Stand at attention!" Immediately afterwards, like a rooster crowing, the same command was repeated in every corner.After that everything fell silent.

In the dead silence, one could hear the hooves of Dede's horses.They were the aides-de-camp to the two kings.The two kings galloped up the flanks, and the trumpeter of the 1st Cavalry blew a grand march.It was as if it were not the trumpeter who played the bugle, but the natural music of the army itself, and the presence of the king was a great joy to them.From these voices, the affectionate voice of the young Emperor Alexander can be clearly heard.He delivered a speech, and then the First Corps shouted: "Hurrah!" The cry was deafening, persistent, and joyous.They were astonished at the size and power of this gigantic procession which they themselves formed.

Rostov was at the head of Kutuzov's army, to which the king galloped first.Rostov experienced the same emotions as everyone in this army felt--a feeling of selflessness, pride in the greatness of the country, and a strong love for the man for whom the ceremony was held. He felt that if this man uttered a word, this huge army (he himself was an insignificant grain of sand, but he was closely related to this army) would go to hell, to commit crimes, to die, or to build Great and heroic deeds, so as soon as he knew this man was going to say this, he couldn't help trembling and palpitations.

"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" came thunderous cheers from all sides, and one regiment after another marched to meet the king, and then came "Hurrah," the march, and "Hurrah!" , The cheers of "Ulla!" became higher and stronger, and finally merged into a deafening roar. As long as the king was not approaching, each regiment was silent and motionless, like an inanimate object; as soon as the king came near them, the regiments became active and noisy, and the king passed by. The shouts of officers and soldiers in the queue joined together.Amidst this terrible, deafening shout, in this stoneless, square formation, hundreds of mounted aide-de-camps rode carelessly, but symmetrically, and in any case freely. , the two emperors led them in front.The intense, suppressed attention of the crowd was upon them.

The handsome and young Emperor Alexander wore the uniform of the Cavalry Guards and a three-cornered hat with a wide brim protruding from his head. His joyful face and clear and deep voice attracted everyone's attention. Rostov, standing not far from the bugleman, recognized the king from a distance with his penetrating eyes, and watched his coming.As the king approached Nicholas, at a distance of twenty paces, he watched the emperor's handsome, youthful, happy face clearly and carefully, and he felt a tenderness and joy which he had not been aware of. .Nicholas seemed to find everything about the king—every movement, every feature—glamorous.

The king stopped in front of the Paulograd regiment, said something in French to the Emperor of Austria, and smiled. Rostov could not help smiling himself when he saw this smile, and felt the most powerful feeling of love for the king flooding him.He wanted to express his affection for the king by some means.He knew it was impossible, and he really wanted to cry.The king summoned the captain, and said a few words to him. "My God, what would happen to me if the king could speak to me!" thought Rostov, "I should be as happy as hell." The king also addressed the officers:

"I thank you all from the bottom of my heart (Rostov heard every word as if it were a voice from heaven)." How happy Rostov would be if he could now die for his own Tsar! "You have won the St. George's standard, and you will deserve it hereafter." "Just die for him, die for him!" thought Rostov. The king said something else, but Rostov did not catch it, and then the soldiers shouted hoarsely: "Hurrah!" Rostov, bending over the saddle, also shouted with all his strength, and wanted to break his throat if he could fully express his joy for the king.

The king stood facing the hussars for a few seconds, as if hesitating. "Why does the king hesitate?" Rostov thought, but then he thought that even this hesitation was as solemn and admirable as the king's behavior. The king's hesitation continued for a moment.Wearing the narrow pointed leather boots that were in fashion at the time, he kicked the big English-style bay horse he was riding in the groin, tightened the rein with his white-gloved hand, and at the Accompanied by the rippling ocean of adjutants, they rode off on the road.He lingered for a while near the other regiments, and then got farther and farther away, until Rostov could only see the feathers of his crown from behind the king's entourage.

Rostov also found the languid bohemian Bolkonsky among the squires, who was now riding.Rostov recalled the quarrel they had yesterday, and a question came to his mind: should he be called out. "Needless to say, there is no need," Rostov thought for a moment at this moment... "Is it worth thinking about and talking about at this moment? With love, joy, and a sense of devotion to the king." What is the meaning of the quarrels and humiliations that took place between us at that moment?! Now I will love and forgive everyone," thought Rostov. After the king had inspected almost all the regiments, the troops began to walk past the king in a file.Rostov, riding a Bedouin which he had just bought from Denisov, was at the end of the cavalry company's ranks, that is to say, alone, and passed before the king's eyes. Before the fine rider Rostov could reach the king, he stabbed Bedouin twice with his spurs, and fortunately induced Bedouin to take his impetuous swift stride.Bedouin lowered the foaming horse's mouth to his chest, raised his tail, and seemed to gallop through the air without touching the ground. His movements were graceful. He raised his four feet high and changed his gait. As if it too had sensed the king's gaze upon it, it walked majestically. Rostov himself stretched his legs back, stretched his belly, he felt himself one with the horse, he frowned and looked very contented, as Denisov said, like a devil. galloped past the king. "Soldiers of the Paulograd Regiment, croak!" said the king. "My God! How lucky I would be if he told me to go through fire and water at once!" Rostov thought. When the review was over, the newly arrived officers and those of Kutuzov's officers gathered in groups and began to talk about awards, about the Austrian officers and soldiers and their uniforms, about the Austrian battlefields, about Bonaparte , especially when the Army of Essen was about to approach and Prussia joined us, Bonaparte was about to suffer in a blink of an eye. But among the various groups, the story of Emperor Alexander was talked about the most. Everyone conveyed his words and deeds, and they were very happy about it. There is only one hope for everyone: to wipe out the enemy army as soon as possible under the command of the king.Under the command of the king in person, he is invincible and invincible. After the military parade, Rostov and most of the officers thought so. After the military parade, everyone is more confident of victory than after winning two battles.