THERE WAS by now no one in the reception-room except Prince Vassily and the eldest1 princess, who were in eager conversation together, sitting under the portrait of Catherine. They were mute at once on seeing Pierre and his companion, and the princess concealed3 something as Pierre fancied and murmured: “I can't stand the sight of that woman.”
“Katish has had tea served in the little drawing-room,” Prince Vassily said to Anna Mihalovna. “Go, my poor Anna Mihalovna, take something or you will not hold out.”
To Pierre he said nothing; he simply pressed his arm sympathetically. Pierre and Anna Mihalovna went on into the little drawing-room.
“There is nothing so reviving as a cup of this excellent Russian tea, after a sleepless4 night,” said Lorrain with an air of restrained briskness5, sipping6 it out of a delicate china cup without a handle, as he stood in the little circular drawing-room close to a table laid with tea-things and cold supper-dishes. All who were in Count Bezuhov's house on that night had, with a view to fortifying7 themselves, gathered around the table. Pierre remembered well that little circular drawing-room with its mirrors and little tables. When there had been balls in the count's house, Pierre, who could not dance, had liked sitting in that little room full of mirrors, watching the ladies in ball-dresses with pearls and diamonds on their bare shoulders, as they crossed that room and looked at themselves in the brightly lighted mirrors that repeated their reflections several times. Now the same room was dimly lighted with two candles, and in the middle of the night the tea-set and supper-dishes stood in disorder8 on one of the little tables, and heterogeneous9, plainly dressed persons were sitting at it, whispering together, and showing in every word that no one could forget what was passing at that moment and what was still to come in the bedroom. Pierre did not eat anything, though he felt very much inclined to. He looked round inquiringly towards his monitress, and perceived that she had gone out again on tiptoe into the reception-room where Prince Vassily had remained with the eldest princess. Pierre supposed that this too was an inevitable10 part of the proceedings11, and, after a little delay, he followed her. Anna Mihalovna was standing12 beside the princess, and they were both talking at once in excited tones.
“Allow me, madam, to know what is and what is not to be done,” said the princess, who was apparently13 in the same exasperated14 temper as she had been when she slammed the door of her room.
“But, dear princess,” Anna Mihalovna was saying mildly and persuasively15, blocking up the way towards the bedroom and not letting the princess pass. “Would that not be too great a tax on poor uncle at such a moment, when he needs repose16? At such moments to talk of worldly matters when his soul is already prepared …”
Prince Vassily was sitting in a low chair in his habitual17 attitude, with one leg crossed high above the other. His cheeks were twitching18 violently, and when they relaxed, they looked heavier below; but he wore the air of a man little interested in the two ladies' discussion.
“No, my dear Anna Mihalovna, let Katish act on her own discretion19. You know how the count loves her.”
“I don't even know what is in this document,” said the princess, addressing Prince Vassily, and pointing to the inlaid portfolio20 which she held in her hand. “All I know is that the real will is in the bureau, and this is a paper that has been forgotten. …”
She tried to get round Anna Mihalovna, but the latter, with another little skip, barred her way again.
“I know, dear, sweet princess,” said Anna Mihalovna, taking hold of the portfolio, and so firmly that it was clear she would not readily let go of it again. “Dear princess, I beg you, I beseech21 you, spare him. I entreat22 you.”
The princess did not speak. All that was heard was the sound of a scuffle over the portfolio. There could be no doubt that if she were to speak, she would say nothing complimentary23 to Anna Mihalovna. The latter kept a tight grip, but in spite of that her voice retained all its sweet gravity and softness.
Pierre, come here, my dear boy. He will not be one too many, I should imagine, in a family council; eh, prince?”
“Why don't you speak, mon cousin?” the princess shrieked24 all of a sudden, so loudly that they heard her voice, and were alarmed by it in the drawing-room. “Why don't you speak when here a meddling25 outsider takes upon herself to interfere26, and make a scene on the very threshold of a dying man's room? Scheming creature,” she muttered viciously, and tugged27 at the portfolio with all her might, but Anna Mihalovna took a few steps forward so as not to lose her grasp of it and changed hands.
“Ah,” said Prince Vassily, in reproachful wonder. He got up. “It is ridiculous. Come, let go. I tell you.” The princess let go.
“And you.”
Anna Mihalovna did not heed28 him.
“Let go, I tell you. I will take it all upon myself. I will go and ask him. I … you let it alone.”
“But, prince,” said Anna Mihalovna, “after this solemn sacrament, let him have a moment's peace. Here, Pierre, tell me your opinion,” she turned to the young man, who going up to them was staring in surprise at the exasperated face of the princess, which had thrown off all appearance of decorum, and the twitching cheeks of Prince Vassily.
“Remember that you will have to answer for all the consequences,” said Prince Vassily sternly; “you don't know what you are doing.”
“Infamous woman,” shrieked the princess, suddenly pouncing29 on Anna Mihalovna and tearing the portfolio from her. Prince Vassily bowed his head and flung up his hands.
At that instant the door, the dreadful door at which Pierre had gazed so long, and which had opened so softly, was flung rapidly, noisily open, banging against the wall, and the second princess ran out wringing30 her hands.
“What are you about?” she said, in despair. “He is passing away, and you leave me alone.”
The eldest princess dropped the portfolio. Swiftly Anna Mihalovna stooped and, snatching up the object of dispute, ran into the bedroom. The eldest princess and Prince Vassily recovering themselves followed her. A few minutes later the eldest princess came out again with a pale, dry face, biting her underlip. At the sight of Pierre her face expressed irrepressible hatred31.
“Yes, now you can give yourself airs,” she said, “you have got what you wanted.” And breaking into sobs32, she hid her face in her handkerchief and ran out of the room.
The next to emerge was Prince Vassily. He staggered to the sofa, on which Pierre was sitting, and sank on to it, covering his eyes with his hand. Pierre noticed that he was pale, and that his lower jaw33 was quivering and working as though in ague.
“Ah, my dear boy,” he said, taking Pierre by the elbow—and there was a sincerity34 and a weakness in his voice that Pierre had never observed in him before—“what sins, what frauds we commit, and all for what? I'm over fifty, my dear boy. … I too. … It all ends in death, all. Death is awful.” He burst into tears.
Anna Mihalovna was the last to come out. She approached Pierre with soft, deliberate steps. “Pierre,” she said. Pierre looked inquiringly at her. She kissed the young man on the forehead, wetting him with her tears. She did not speak for a while.
“He is no more. …”
Pierre gazed at her over his spectacles.
“Come. I will take you back. Try to cry. Nothing relieves like tears.”
She led him into the dark drawing-room, and Pierre was glad that no one could see his face. Anna Mihalovna left him, and when she came back he was fast asleep with his arm under his head.
The next morning Anna Mihalovna said to Pierre: “Yes, my dear boy, it is a great loss for us all. I do not speak of you. But God will uphold you; you are young, and now you are at the head of an immense fortune, I hope. The will has not been opened yet. I know you well enough to know that this will not turn your head, but it will impose duties upon you and you must be a man.”
Pierre did not speak.
“Perhaps, later, I may tell you, my dear boy, that if I had not been there God knows what would have happened. You know, my uncle promised me, only the day before yesterday, not to forget Boris. But he had no time. I hope, dear friend, that you will fulfil your father's desire.”
Pierre did not understand a word, and colouring shyly, looked dumbly at Anna Mihalovna. After talking to him, Anna Mihalovna drove to the Rostovs', and went to bed. On waking in the morning, she told the Rostovs and all her acquaintances the details of Count Bezuhov's death. She said that the count had died, as she would wish to die herself, that his end had been not simply touching35, but edifying36; that the last interview of the father and son had been so touching that she could not recall it without tears; and that she did not know which had behaved more nobly in those terrible moments: the father, who had remembered everything and every one so well at the last, and had said such moving words to his son; or Pierre, whom it was heartbreaking to see, so utterly37 crushed was he, though he yet tried to conceal2 his grief, so as not to distress38 his dying father. “It is painful, but it does one good; it uplifts the soul to see such men as the old count and his worthy39 son,” she said. She told them about the action of the princess and Prince Vassily too, but in great secrecy40, in whispers, and with disapproval41.
除开瓦西里公爵和公爵的大小姐而外，接待室里没有其他人，他们二人坐在叶卡捷琳娜画像下面，正在兴致勃勃地谈论什么事。他们一望见皮埃尔和他的带路人，就默不作声了。
皮埃尔仿佛看见公爵的大小姐把一样东西藏起来，并且轻言细语地说道：
“我不能跟这个女人见面。”
“Caticheafaitdonnerduthédanslepetitesalon，”瓦西里公爵对安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜说道，“Allez，mapauvre安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜，prenezquequeclhose，autrementvousnesuffirezpas．”③
他对皮埃尔什么话也没有说，只是亲切地握握他的手。皮埃尔和安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜向petitAalon④走去。
①法语：他昏迷不醒了。
②法语：我们走吧。
③法语：卡季什已经吩咐人将茶端进小客厅去了。可怜的安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜，您最好去提提精神，否则您会没有力气的。
④法语：小客厅。
“Iln'yarienquirestaure，commeunetassedecetexcelBlentthérusseaprèsunenuitblanche，”①罗兰在圆形小客厅的桌子前面站着，这张桌上放着茶具和晚餐的冷菜，他端着很精致的不带把的中国茶碗，一口一口地呷着茶，流露着抑制兴奋的神色说道。这天晚上，那些在别祖霍夫伯爵家里的人，为了要提提精神，都聚集在桌子周围。皮埃尔很清楚地记得这间嵌有几面镜子和摆放几张茶几的圆形小客厅。伯爵家里举行舞会时，皮埃尔不会跳舞，只喜欢坐在这间嵌有镜子的小客厅里，从一旁观看那些穿着舞衣、裸露的肩上戴有钻石和珍珠项链的女士们穿过这间客厅时照照镜子的情景，几面闪闪发亮的镜子一连几次反映出她们的身影。现在这个房间只点着两根光线暗淡的蜡烛，在这深夜里，一张小茶几上乱七八糟地放着茶具和盘子，穿着得不太雅致的五颜六色的人们坐在这个房间里窃窃私语，言语行动都表示谁也不会忘记现在发生的事情和可能发生的事情。皮埃尔没有去吃东西，尽管他很想吃东西。他带着疑问的目光望望他的带路人，看见她踮起脚尖又走到接待室，瓦西里公爵和公爵的大小姐还呆在那里，没有走出去。皮埃尔认为有必要这样行事，他停了一会，便跟在她后面去了。安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜站在公爵的大小姐近旁，二人同时心情激动地轻声说话。
①法语：在不眠之夜以后，再没有什么比一碗十分可口的俄国茶更能恢复精力的了。
“公爵夫人，请您让我知道，什么是需要的，什么是不需要的。”公爵的大小姐说，她那激动的心情显然跟她砰然一声关上房门时的心情一样。
“可是，亲爱的公爵小姐，”安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜拦住通往寝室的路，不让公爵小姐走过去，她温和而恳切地说，“在可怜的叔叔需要休息的时刻，这样做不会使他太难受么？在他已经有了精神准备的时刻，竟然谈论世俗的事情……”
瓦西里公爵坐在安乐椅上，一条腿高高地架在另一条腿上，现出十分亲热的姿态。他的腮帮子深陷，下部看起来更为肥厚，跳动得很厉害，但是他摆出一副不太关心两个女士谈论的样子。
“Voyons，mabonne，安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜，laissezfaireCatiche①，您知道，伯爵多么喜爱她啊。”
“这份文件中包含有什么，我真的不知道，”公爵小姐把脸转向瓦西里公爵，并用手指着她拿在手里的镶花皮包，说道，“我只知道他的真遗嘱搁在旧式写字台里，而这是一份被遗忘的文件……”
她想从安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜身边绕过去，但安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜跳到她跟前，拦住她的去路。
“亲爱的、慈善的公爵小姐，我知道，”安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜说道，用手抓着皮包，抓得很紧，看起来她不会很快松手的，“亲爱的公爵小姐，我求您，我央求您，怜悯怜悯他。
Jevousenconjure……”②
①法语：不过，我亲爱的安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜，让卡季什去做她知道做的事吧。
②法语：我央求您。
公爵的大小姐默不作声。只传来用力抢夺皮包的响声。由此可见，如果她开口说话，她也不会说出什么称赞安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜的话来。安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜抓得很紧，但是她的声音慢吞吞的，还是保持着谄媚、委婉的意味。
“皮埃尔，我的朋友，到这里来。我想，他在亲属商议事情时不是多馀的。公爵，不是这样吗？”
“我的表兄，干嘛不作声？”公爵的大小姐突然叫喊起来，喊声很大，客厅里也能听见，可把大家吓坏了，“天晓得有个什么人胆敢在这里干涉别人的事，在临近死亡的人家里大吵大闹，您干嘛在这个时候一声不吭？一个施耍阴谋诡计的女人！”她凶恶地轻声说道，使尽全身力气去拖皮包，但是安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜向前走了几步，不想放开那个皮包，换一只手把它抓住了。
“哎呀！”瓦西里公爵露出责备和惊讶的神态说，他站起身来。“C'estridicule，voyons①，放开吧，我说给您听吧。”
公爵的大小姐放开手了。
“您也放开手！”
安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜没有听从他。
“放开，我说给您听吧。我对一切负责。我去问他。我……
您别这样了。”
“Mais，monnpuince，”②安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜说道，“在举行这样盛大的圣礼以后，让他安静片刻吧。皮埃尔，您把您的意见说出来，”她把脸转向年轻人说道；皮埃尔走到他们近侧，诧异地打量着公爵小姐那副凶狠的，丧失体统的面孔和瓦西里公爵的不停地颤动的两颊。
①法语：这真可笑。得啦吧。
②法语：但是，我的公爵。
“您要记得，您要对一切后果负责，”瓦西里公爵严肃地说，“您不知道您在搞什么名堂。”
“讨厌的女人！”公爵小姐嚷道，忽然向安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜扑了过去，夺取那皮包。
瓦西里公爵低下头来，把两手一摊。
这时分，那扇房门——素来都是轻轻地打开的令人可怖的房门，皮埃尔久久地望着，房门忽然砰地一声被推开了，撞到墙壁上，公爵的二小姐从那里跑出来，把两手举起轻轻一拍。
“你们在做什么事？”她无所顾忌地说道，“Ils'envaetvousmelaissezseule．”①
①法语：他快要死了，可你们把我一个人留在那里。
公爵的大小姐丢掉了皮包。安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜飞快弯下腰去，顺手拾起那件引起争端的东西，就到寝室里去了。公爵的大小姐和瓦西里公爵在清醒以后，也跟在她后面走去。过了几分钟，公爵的大小姐头一个从那里走出来，面色惨白，紧闭着下嘴唇。她看见皮埃尔，脸上露出了难以抑制的愤恨。
“对了，您现在高兴了，”她说道，“这是您所期待的。”
她于是嚎啕大哭起来，用手绢蒙住脸，从房里跑出去了。
瓦西里公爵跟在公爵的大小姐后面走出去。他步履踉跄地走到皮埃尔坐的长沙发前面，用一只手蒙住眼睛，跌倒在长沙发上。皮埃尔发现他脸色苍白，下颔跳动着，颤栗着，像因冷热病发作而打战似的。
“哎呀，我的朋友！”他一把抓住皮埃尔的胳膊肘，说道，嗓音里带有一种诚实的软弱的意味，这是皮埃尔过去从未发觉到的，“我们造了多少孽，我们欺骗多少人，这一切为了什么？我的朋友，我已经五十多岁了……要知道，我……人一死，什么都完了，都完了。死是非常可怕的。”他大哭起来。
安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜最后一人走出来。她用徐缓的脚步走到皮埃尔面前。
“皮埃尔！……”她说道。
皮埃尔以疑问的目光望着她。她吻吻年轻人的前额，眼泪把它沾湿了。她沉默了片刻。
“Iln'estplus…”①
皮埃尔透过眼镜望着她。
“Allons，jevousreconduiraiTachezdepleurer．Riennesoulage，commeleslarmes．”②
①法语：他不在世了。
②法语：我们走吧，我送您去。想法子哭吧，没有什么比眼泪更能使人减轻痛苦。
她把他带到昏暗的客厅里，皮埃尔心里很高兴的是，那里没有人看见他的面孔。安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜从他身旁走开了。当她回来时，他把一只手搁在脑底下酣睡了。
翌日清晨，安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜对皮埃尔说：
“Oui，moncher，c'estunegrandepertepournoustous，Jeneparlepasdevous．Maisdieuvoussoutiendra，vousêtesjeuneetvousvoilàalateted'uneimmensefortune，jel'espère，Letestanentn'apasétéencoreouvert，Jevousconnaisassezpoursavoirquecelanevoustounrnerapaslatête，maiscelavousim－posedesdevoirs，etilfautêtre
hommê．”①
皮埃尔沉默不言。
“Peut—êtreplustardjevousdirai，moncher，quesijen'avaispasetela，Dieusaitcequiseraitarrive．Voussavezmononcleavant—hierencoremepromettaitdenepasoubliBerBoris．Maisiln'apaseuletemps．J'espère，moncherami，quevousremplirezledésirdevotrepère．”②
①法语：对，我的朋友，即使不提及您，这对于我们所有的人也是极大的损失。但是上帝保佑您，您很年轻，我希望您如今是一大笔财产的拥有者。遗嘱还没有拆开来，对于您的情形我相当熟悉，坚信这不会使您冲昏头脑。但是这要您承担义务，您要做个大丈夫。
②法语：以后我也许会说给您听的，如果我不在那里，天知道会发生什么事。您知道，叔父前天答应我不要不顾鲍里斯，但是他来不及了。我的朋友，我希望您能履行父亲的意愿。
皮埃尔什么也不明白，他沉默不言，羞涩地涨红着脸，抬起眼睛望着名叫安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜的公爵夫人。安娜·米哈伊洛夫娜和皮埃尔谈了几句话，便离开他，前往罗斯托夫家憩宿。翌日清晨醒来，她向罗斯托夫家里人和各个熟人叙述了别祖霍夫伯爵辞世的详细情节。她说，伯爵正如她意料中的情景那样去世了，他的死不仅颇为感人，而且可资垂训。父子最后一次的会面竟如此感人，以致一想起此事她就会痛哭流涕，她不晓得在这令人可怖的时刻，父子二人中谁的行为表现更为出色，是在临终的时候对所有的事情和所有的人一一回顾、并对儿子道出感人的话的父亲呢，还是悲恸欲绝、为使死在旦夕的父亲不致于难受而隐藏自己内心的忧愁的、令人目睹而怜惜的皮埃尔。“C'estpenible，maiscelafaitdu
bien：caelèvel'amedevoirdeshommes，commelevieuxcomteetsondignefils。”①她说道。她也秘而不宣地、低声地谈到公爵的大小姐和瓦西里公爵的行为，但却不予以赞扬。
①法语：这是令人难受的，却是富有教育意义的，当你看见老伯爵和他的当之无愧的儿子时，灵魂就变得高尚了。
收听单词发音 |
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eldest
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conceal
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concealed
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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briskness
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sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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fortifying
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| 筑防御工事于( fortify的现在分词 )； 筑堡于； 增强； 强化（食品） | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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heterogeneous
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| adj.庞杂的；异类的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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persuasively
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| adv.口才好地；令人信服地 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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portfolio
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| n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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meddling
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 ) | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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pouncing
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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edifying
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| adj.有教训意味的，教训性的，有益的v.开导，启发( edify的现在分词 ) | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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