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Chapter 5
While waiting for the announcement of his appointment to the committee Prince Andrey looked up his former acquaintances, particularly those he knew to be in power and whose aid he might need. In Petersburg he now experienced the same feeling he had had on the eve of a battle, when troubled by anxious curiosity and irresistibly1 attracted to the ruling circles where the future, on which the fate of millions depended, was being shaped. From the irritation2 of the older men, the curiosity of the uninitiated. the reserve of the initiated3, the hurry and preoccupation of everyone, and the innumerable committees and commissions of whose existence he learned every day, he felt that now, in 1809, here in Petersburg a vast civil conflict was in preparation, the commander in chief of which was a mysterious person he did not know, but who was supposed to be a man of genius — Speranski. And this movement of reconstruction4 of which Prince Andrey had a vague idea, and Speranski its chief promoter, began to interest him so keenly that the question of the army regulations quickly receded5 to a secondary place in his consciousness.
Prince Andrey was most favorably placed to secure good reception in the highest and most diverse Petersburg circles of the day. The reforming party cordially welcomed and courted him, the first place because he was reputed to be clever and very well read, and secondly6 because by liberating7 his serfs he had obtained the reputation of being a liberal. The party of the old and dissatisfied, who censured8 the innovations, turned to him expecting his sympathy in their disapproval9 of the reforms, simply because he was the son of his father. The feminine society world welcomed him gladly, because he was rich, distinguished10, a good match, and almost a newcomer, with a halo of romance on account of his supposed death and the tragic11 loss of his wife. Besides this the general opinion of all who had known him previously12 was that he had greatly improved during these last five years, having softened13 and grown more manly14, lost his former affectation, pride, and contemptuous irony15, and acquired the serenity16 that comes with years. People talked about him, were interested in him, and wanted to meet him.
The day after his interview with Count Arakcheev, Prince Andrey spent the evening at Count Kochubey’s. He told the count of his interview with Sila Andreevich (Kochubey spoke17 of Arakcheev by that nickname with the same vague irony Prince Andrey had noticed in the Minister of War’s anteroom).
“Mon cher, even in this case you can’t do without Michael Mikhaylovich Speranski. He manages everything. I’ll speak to him. He has promised to come this evening.”
“What has Speranski to do with the army regulations?” asked Prince Andrey.
Kochubey shook his head smilingly, as if surprised at Bolkonsky’s simplicity18.
“We were talking to him about you a few days ago,” Kochubey continued, “and about your freed plowmen.”
“Oh, is it you, Prince, who have freed your serfs?” said an old man of Catherine’s day, turning contemptuously toward Bolkonsky.
“It was a small estate that brought in no profit,” replied Prince Andrey, trying to extenuate20 his action so as not to irritate the old man uselessly.
“Afraid of being late . . . ” said the old man, looking at Kochubey.
“There’s one thing I don’t understand,” he continued. “Who will plow19 the land if they are set free? It is easy to write laws, but difficult to rule. . . . Just the same as now — I ask you, Count — who will be heads of the departments when everybody has to pass examinations?”
“Those who pass the examinations, I suppose,” replied Kochubey, crossing his legs and glancing round.
“Well, I have Pryanichnikov serving under me, a splendid man, a priceless man, but he’s sixty. Is he to go up for examination?”
“Yes, that’s a difficulty, as education is not at all general, but . . . ”
Count Kochubey did not finish. He rose, took Prince Andrey by the arm, and went to meet a tall, bald, fair man of about forty with a large open forehead and a long face of unusual and peculiar21 whiteness, who was just entering. The newcomer wore a blue swallow-tail coat with a cross suspended from his neck and a star on his left breast. It was Speranski. Prince Andrey recognized him at once, and felt a throb22 within him, as happens at critical moments of life. Whether it was from respect, envy, or anticipation23, he did not know. Speranski’s whole figure was of a peculiar type that made him easily recognizable. In the society in which Prince Andrey lived he had never seen anyone who together with awkward and clumsy gestures possessed24 such calmness and self-assurance; he had never seen so resolute25 yet gentle an expression as that in those half-closed, rather humid eyes, or so firm a smile that expressed nothing; nor had he heard such a refined, smooth, soft voice; above all he had never seen such delicate whiteness of face or hands — hands which were broad, but very plump, soft, and white. Such whiteness and softness Prince Andrey had only seen on the faces of soldiers who had been long in hospital. This was Speranski, Secretary of State, reporter to the Emperor and his companion at Erfurt, where he had more than once met and talked with Napoleon.
Speranski did not shift his eyes from one face to another as people involuntarily do on entering a large company and was in no hurry to speak. He spoke slowly, with assurance that he would be listened to, and he looked only at the person with whom he was conversing26.
Prince Andrey followed Speranski’s every word and movement with particular attention. As happens to some people, especially to men who judge those near to them severely27, he always on meeting anyone new — especially anyone whom, like Speranski, he knew by reputation — expected to discover in him the perfection of human qualities.
Speranski told Kochubey he was sorry he had been unable to come sooner as he had been detained at the palace. He did not say that the Emperor had kept him, and Prince Andrey noticed this affectation of modesty28. When Kochubey introduced Prince Andrey, Speranski slowly turned his eyes to Bolkonsky with his custoMarya smile and looked at him in silence.
“I am very glad to make your acquaintance. I had heard of you, as everyone has,” he said after a pause.
Kochubey said a few words about the reception Arakcheev had given Bolkonsky. Speranski smiled more markedly.
“The chairman of the Committee on Army Regulations is my good friend Monsieur Magnitski,” he said, fully29 articulating every word and syllable30, “and if you like I can put you in touch with him.” He paused at the full stop. “I hope you will find him sympathetic and ready to co-operate in promoting all that is reasonable.”
A circle soon formed round Speranski, and the old man who had talked about his subordinate Pryanichnikov addressed a question to him.
Prince Andrey without joining in the conversation watched every movement of Speranski’s: this man, not long since an insignificant31 divinity student, who now, Bolkonsky thought, held in his hands — those plump white hands — the fate of Russia. Prince Andrey was struck by the extraordinarily32 disdainful composure with which Speranski answered the old man. He appeared to address condescending33 words to him from an immeasurable height. When the old man began to speak too loud, Speranski smiled and said he could not judge of the advantage or disadvantage of what pleased the sovereign.
Having talked for a little while in the general circle, Speranski rose and coming up to Prince Andrey took him along to the other end of the room. It was clear that he thought it necessary to interest himself in Bolkonsky.
“I had no chance to talk with you, Prince, during the animated34 conversation in which that venerable gentleman involved me,” he said with a mildly contemptuous smile, as if intimating by that smile that he and Prince Andrey understood the insignificance35 of the people with whom he had just been talking. This flattered Prince Andrey. “I have known of you for a long time: first from your action with regard to your serfs, a first example, of which it is very desirable that there should be more imitators; and secondly because you are one of those gentlemen of the chamber36 who have not considered themselves offended by the new decree concerning the ranks allotted37 to courtiers, which is causing so much gossip and tittle-tattle.”
“No,” said Prince Andrey, “my father did not wish me to take advantage of the privilege. I began the service from the lower grade.”
“Your father, a man of the last century, evidently stands above our contemporaries who so condemn38 this measure which merely reestablishes natural justice.”
“I think, however, that these condemnations have some ground,” returned Prince Andrey, trying to resist Speranski’s influence, of which he began to be conscious. He did not like to agree with him in everything and felt a wish to contradict. Though he usually spoke easily and well, he felt a difficulty in expressing himself now while talking with Speranski. He was too much absorbed in observing the famous man’s personality.
“Grounds of personal ambition maybe,” Speranski put in quietly.
“And of state interest to some extent,” said Prince Andrey.
“What do you mean?” asked Speranski quietly, lowering his eyes.
“I am an admirer of Montesquieu,” replied Prince Andrey in French, “and his idea that the principle of monarchies39 is honor seems to me incontestable. Certain rights and privileges for the aristocracy appear to me a means of maintaining that sentiment.”
The smile vanished from Speranski’s white face, which was much improved by the change. Probably Prince Andrey’s thought interested him.
“If you regard the question from that point of view,” he began, pronouncing French with evident difficulty, and speaking even slower than in Russian but quite calmly.
Speranski went on to say that honor, l’honeur, cannot be upheld by privileges harmful to the service; that honor, l’honneur, is either a negative concept of not doing what is blameworthy or it is a source of emulation40 in pursuit of commendation and rewards, which recognize it. His arguments were concise41, simple, and clear.
“An institution upholding honor, the source of emulation, is one similar to the Legion d’honneur of the great Emperor Napoleon, not harmful but helpful to the success of the service, but not a class or court privilege.”
“I do not dispute that, but it cannot be denied that court privileges have attained42 the same end,” returned Prince Andrey. “Every courtier considers himself bound to maintain his position worthily43.”
“Yet you do not care to avail yourself of the privilege, Prince,” said Speranski, indicating by a smile that he wished to finish amiably44 an argument which was embarrassing for his companion. “If you will do me the honor of calling on me on Wednesday,” he added, “I will, after talking with Magnitski, let you know what may interest you, and shall also have the pleasure of a more detailed45 chat with you.”
Closing his eyes, he bowed a la francaise, without taking leave, and trying to attract as little attention as possible, he left the room.
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1
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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3
initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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4
reconstruction
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| n.重建，再现，复原 | |
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5
receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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7
liberating
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| 解放，释放( liberate的现在分词 ) | |
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8
censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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12
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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14
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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15
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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16
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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17
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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18
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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19
plow
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| n.犁，耕地，犁过的地；v.犁，费力地前进[英]plough | |
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20
extenuate
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| v.减轻，使人原谅 | |
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21
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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22
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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23
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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24
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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25
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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27
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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28
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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29
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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30
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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31
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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32
extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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33
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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34
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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35
insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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36
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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37
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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39
monarchies
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| n. 君主政体, 君主国, 君主政治 | |
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40
emulation
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| n.竞争；仿效 | |
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41
concise
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| adj.简洁的，简明的 | |
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42
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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43
worthily
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| 重要地，可敬地，正当地 | |
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44
amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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45
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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