Chapter 3 third chapter

Nine days after the abandonment of Moscow, a courier from Kutuzov arrived in Petersburg with an official report of the abandonment of Moscow.The messenger was Michaud, a Frenchman who didn't know Russian, but he was a quoiqueetranger, Russedecoeuretd'ame (a foreigner, but a Russian at heart), so he said of himself. The emperor immediately received the messenger in the study in Shidao Palace.Michaud, who had never seen Moscow with his own eyes before the war, and knew no Russian, when he brought news of Moscow's conflagration, dontlesflammeseclairaientsaroute (the flames illuminated his journey), to the notretresgracieuxsouverain (our most merciful sovereign),— — as he described — he himself was still very moved.

Although Mr. Michaud's chagrin (sorrow) did not originate from the same source as Russian sorrow, when he was introduced into the emperor's study, he had a sad face, and the emperor immediately asked him: "M'aportezvous detristes nouvelles, colonel?" "Bientristes, sire," replied Michaux, sighing and lowering his eyes to the origin and cause of all things, supernatural gods do not exist, God is matter, "l'aban-don de Moscou. " "Auraiton liv remno ancienne capitales ans se battre?" The emperor was very angry and spoke quickly. Mischau respectfully reported what Kutuzov had conveyed in his order, that is, it was impossible to fight under the walls of Moscow, because one had to choose between the loss of both the army and Moscow, or only Moscow, The field marshal should choose the latter.

The emperor did not look at Mi Shao, and listened to his report silently. "L'ennemiest—ilenville?" asked the Emperor. "Oui, sire, etelleestencendresal'heurequ'ilest. Jel'ailasseetoutenflammes," said Michaud decisively; but after he had glanced at the Emperor, he was horrified at his own actions.The emperor began to breathe heavily and quickly, his lower lip was shaking, and his beautiful blue eyes were suddenly wet with tears. -------- ① "What news do you bring me? Bad news, Colonel?" "Very bad news, Your Majesty, giving up Moscow." "Could it be that my ancient capital was given up without a fight?"

② "Has the enemy entered the city?" "Yes, Your Majesty, Moscow is now reduced to ashes. When I left it, the tongue of fire devoured it." But it only lasted a minute.The emperor suddenly frowned, as if blaming himself for his cowardice.He raised his head and said to Mi Shao in a firm tone: "Jevois, colonel, partout cequinousarrive," he said, "quelaprovidenceexigedegrandssacrificesdenous...Jesuispretmesoumettreatoutessesvolontes; N'avez vous pasa percudude'couragement? ..."① Seeing his tresgracieux souverain (the most merciful monarch) calm down, Michaud calmed down too, but he was not ready to immediately answer the substantive questions that the emperor asked him to answer directly.

"Sire, mepermettrez—vous devous parler franchement en loyal militaire?" he said to gain time. "Colonel, jel'exigetoujours." said the Emperor, "Nemecachezrien, jeveux savoirabsolument cequ'ilenest." "Sire!" said Michaux with a reserved, almost imperceptible smile, at last readying a light and respectful jeudemots (witty words) ) to answer him. "Sire! J'ailaissetoutel'armeedepuisleschefsjusqu'auderniersoldat, sansexception, dansunecrainteepouvantable, effrayante..."④ "Commentca?" ⑤The emperor frowned majestically and interrupted him.

-------- ①Colonel, I see from everything that has happened that God wants us to make great sacrifices... I am ready to obey his will; but please tell me, Michaud, what is the state of the army now that it has withdrawn from my ancient capital without fighting so what?Have you noticed a drop in morale? ... ②Your Majesty, will you allow me to speak frankly as a loyal soldier should?Colonel, I have always asked for this. ③Don't hide anything, I must know the whole truth. ④Your Majesty, when I left the army, all the officers and every soldier, without exception, fell into deep despair and terror...

⑤How could that happen? "Mes Russese laisseront—il sabattre parle malheur . . . Jamais! . "Sire," he said, with respectful gaiety, "ilscraignentseule-mentquevotreMajesteparbontedecoeurneselaissepersuaderdefairelapaix. Ilsbrulentdecombattre," said the plenipotentiary of the Russian people, "et deprouveravotreMajesteparlesacrificedeleurvie,combienilsluisontdevoues..." "Ah, the Emperor's eye!" With a soft light shining inside, he patted Mi Shao on the shoulder and said. "Vousmetronquillisez, colonel."③ The emperor bowed his head and was silent for a moment.

"Ehbien, retournez al'armee," he said to Michaud, stretching out his whole body, with gentle and dignified gestures. "etditesanosbraves, ditesatousmesbonssujetspartoutouvouspasserez, quequandjen'auraisplusaucunsoldat, jememettrai, moi-meme, alatetedemacherenoblesse, demesbonspaysansetj'useraiainsijusqu'aladerniereressourcedemonemires. Ilm'enoffreencoreplusquemesennemisneens, said the Emperor more and more excitedly." “Maissijamaisilfutecritdanslesdecretsdeladivineprovidence，”⑥他抬起他那俊秀的温和的闪烁着激情的光辉的眼睛望着天空说道，“quemadynastiedutcesserderegnersurletronedemesancetres，alors，apresavoirepuisetouslesmoyensquisontenmonpouvoir，jemelaisseraicroitrelabarbejusqu'ici（皇上用手在胸口比了比），etj'iraimangerdespommesdeterreavecledernierdemespaysansplulot , quedesignerlahontedemapatrieetdemacherenation, dontjesaisapprecierlessacrifices!..."⑦The emperor suddenly turned around after saying these words in an excited voice, as if to prevent Michaud from seeing the tears welling up in his eyes, and walked towards the depths of the study.After stopping there for a few seconds, he strode back to Mishao's side and pressed his lower arm with a strong movement.The emperor's handsome and gentle face was flushed, and his eyes gleamed with determined anger.

-------- ①Could my Russians be discouraged in the face of failure... Impossible! ... ②Your Majesty, they are afraid that His Majesty will conclude a peace treaty with the enemy out of kindness.They were eager to go back into battle and sacrifice their lives to show His Majesty how loyal they were... ③Oh, you have reassured me, Colonel. ④Alright then, let's go back to the army. ⑤Where you go, please tell our warriors, tell all my subjects, if it comes to the point where I have no warriors left, I will personally lead the lovely nobles and good farmers The last resources go into battle.These resources are greater than my enemies can imagine.

⑥However, in case God's will is doomed. ⑦My dynasty will stop continuing to rule on the throne of my ancestors, then, after exhausting the resources in my hands, I would rather let my beard grow here (the emperor compares his hands to his chest), and go with me I will never sign a peace treaty that insults my motherland and my dear people. I know how to cherish their sacrifices! "Colonel Michaud, n'oubliezpasceque jevousdisici; peut-etrequ'unjournousnouslerappelleronsavecplaisir...Napoleonoumoi," said the emperor, laying his hands on his chest. "NousnepouBvonsplus regnerensemble. J'aiapprisaleconnaitre, ilnemetromperaplus..." Then, the emperor frowned and fell silent.When Michaud heard this, he saw the firm expression in the eyes of the Emperor, who, though he was a foreigner, was at heart a Russian, and felt that he was in this solemn moment entousiasmepartoutcequ'ilvenaitd'entender,"2 (as he later said), he expressed his feelings in the following sentence, that is, the feelings of the Russian people, of whom he considered himself a plenipotentiary.

-------- ① Colonel Michaud, don't forget what I said here; perhaps, we will recall it with pleasure in the future... Napoleon and I... We cannot be in power at the same time.I know him now, and he can't lie to me anymore... ② a burst of ecstasy at being heard, which is greatly appreciated. "Sire," he said, "votre MajesdesignedanscemonentlagloiredesanationtelesalutdeI'Europe!" The emperor tilted his head and let Mi Shao go.