Book 9 Chapter 14

IT was past two o'clock, no one was yet asleep, when the quartermaster appeared, bringing a command to advance upon a little place called Ostrovna. Still with the same chatter¹ and laughter the officers began hurriedly getting ready; again the samovar was filled up with dirty water. But Rostov, without waiting for tea, went off to his squadron. It was already light; the rain had ceased, and the clouds were parting. It was chill and damp, especially in their still wet clothes. As they came out of the inn, in the twilight² of the dawn, Rostov and Ilyin both glanced at the leather cover of the doctor's cart, still glistening³ from the rain. The doctor's feet were sticking out from under the cover, and in the middle of the cart they caught a glimpse of his wife's nightcap, and heard sleepy breathing.

“She's really very charming,” said Rostov to Ilyin.

“An exquisite⁴ woman!” responded Ilyin, with all the gravity of a boy of sixteen.

Half an hour later the squadron stood drawn⁵ up on the road. The word of command was heard, “Mount!” and the soldiers crossed themselves and got on their horses. Rostov, riding ahead of them, gave the word: “Forward!” and drawing out four abreast⁶, the hussars started with a sound of subdued⁷ talk, splashing hoofs⁸, and jingling⁹ sabres. They trotted¹⁰ along the broad high-road, with birch-trees on each side of it, following the infantry¹¹ and artillery¹², who had gone on before.

The broken, purplish-blue clouds, flushed red by the sunrise, were scudding¹³ before the wind. It grew lighter¹⁴ and lighter. They could see distinctly, still glistening from the rain, the feathery grass which always grows beside by-roads. The drooping¹⁵ branches of the birch-trees swayed in the wind, and dripped bright drops aslant¹⁶ across the road. The faces of the soldiers showed more and more distinctly. Rostov, with Ilyin, who would not drop behind, rode on one side of the road between the two rows of birch-trees.

On active service Rostov allowed himself the indulgence of riding a Cossack horse instead of the regimental horse, broken in for parade. He was a connoisseur¹⁸ and lover of horses, and had lately obtained a big sorrel horse with white tail and mane, a fine spirited beast of the Don breed, on whom he could out-gallop every one. It was an enjoyment¹⁹ to Rostov to ride this horse. He rode on, thinking of the horse, of the morning, of the doctor's wife, and never once giving a thought to the danger awaiting him.

In former days Rostov had felt fear when he was going into an engagement; now he had not the slightest feeling of fear. He had not lost his fears from growing used to being under fire (one can never get accustomed to danger) but from gaining control of his feelings in face of danger. He had schooled himself when going into action to think of anything except what one would have supposed to be more interesting than anything else—the danger in store for him. Earnestly as he strove to do this, and bitterly as he reproached himself for cowardice²⁰, he could not at first succeed in this. But with years it had come of itself. He rode now beside Ilyin, between the birch-trees, stripping leaves off the twigs²¹ that met his hand, sometimes touching²² his horse's side with his foot, handing the pipe he had finished to an hussar behind, without turning his head, all with as calm and careless an air as though he were out for a ride. He felt sorry to see the excited face of Ilyin, who talked a great deal nervously²³. He knew by experience the agonising state of anticipation²⁴ of terror and of death, in which the cornet was plunged²⁵, and he knew that nothing but time could help him out of it.

As soon as the sun appeared in the clear strip of sky under the storm-clouds, the wind sank, as though not daring to spoil the beauty of the summer morning after the storm; the trees still dripped, but the drops fell vertically²⁶ now—and all was hushed. The sun rose completely above the horizon, and vanished in a long, narrow cloud that hung over it. A few minutes later the sun showed even more brightly on the upper side of the cloud, tearing its edge. Everything grew bright and shining. And with the bright light, as though in response to it, rang out shots in front of them.

Rostov had not time to collect his thoughts and decide how far off these shots were, when an adjutant of Count Osterman-Tolstoy galloped²⁷ up from Vitebsk, bringing the order to advance at full speed along the road.

The squadron overtook and passed the infantry and the battery, who were also quickening their pace. Then the hussars raced downhill, passed through an empty and deserted²⁸ village, and trotted uphill again. The horses were beginning to get in a lather²⁹ and the men looked flushed.

“Halt! in line!” said the officer in command of the division. “Left about face, walking pace!” sounded the command in advance.

And the hussars passed along the lines of the other troops to the left flank of the position, and halted behind our Uhlans, who formed the front line. On the right was a dense³⁰ column of our infantry—they formed the reserves; on the hill above them, in the pure, clear air, in the brilliant, slanting³¹, morning sunshine, could be seen our cannons³² on the very horizon line. In front, beyond a hollow dale, could be seen the enemy's columns and cannons. In the dale could be heard our advance pickets³³, already keeping up a lively interchange of shots with the enemy.

Rostov felt his spirits rise at those sounds, so long unheard, as though they had been the liveliest music. Trap-ta-ta-tap! rang out several shots, first together, then in rapid succession. All sank into silence again, and again there was a sound as of popping squibs.

The hussars remained for about an hour in the same spot. The cannons began firing. Count Osterman, with his suite³⁴ behind the squadron, rode up; he stopped to say a word to the colonel of the regiment¹⁷, and rode off to the cannons on the hill.

After Osterman had ridden away, the command rang out among the Uhlans, “Form in column; make ready to charge!” The infantry in front parted in two to let the cavalry³⁵ pass through. The Uhlans galloped off, the streamers on their lances waving, and trotted downhill towards the French cavalry, who came into sight below on the left.

As soon as the Uhlans had started downhill, the hussars received the order to ride off uphill to cover the battery. Just as the hussars were moving into the place of the Uhlans, there came flying from the out-posts some cannon-balls, hissing³⁶ and whistling out of the distance, and hitting nothing.

This sound, which he had not heard for so long, had an even more inspiriting and cheering effect on Rostov than the report of the muskets³⁷. Drawing himself up, he surveyed the field of battle, as it opened out before him riding uphill, and his whole heart went with the movements of the Uhlans. They were swooping³⁸ down close upon the French dragoons; there was some confusion yonder in the smoke, and five minutes later the Uhlans were dashing back, not towards the spot where they had been posted, but more to the left. Between the ranks of Uhlans on the chestnut³⁹ horses, and in a great mass behind them, could be seen blue French dragoons on grey horses.

两点多钟了，谁也没有睡着，司务长此时进来传达了进驻奥斯特罗夫纳镇的命令。

军官们仍然有说有笑，急忙开始做出发的准备；他们又烧了一茶炊不干净的水。可是罗斯托夫不等茶水烧好，就去骑兵连了。天已经亮了，雨也停了，乌云正散去。既湿又冷，特别是穿着没有干透的衣服更是这样。从小酒肆出来，罗斯托夫和伊林在晨光中端详了一下被雨淋得发亮的医务车的皮篷，车帷下面露出医生的两只脚，可以看见在车中间的坐垫上医生老婆的睡帽，听得见她熟睡中的呼吸声。

“真的，她太迷人了！”罗斯托夫对与他一起出来的伊林说道。

“多么迷人的女人！”十六岁的伊林一本正经地答道。

半小时后，排好队的骑兵连站在大路上。只听见口令：“上马！”士兵们在胸前画了个十字就开始上马。在前面骑着马的罗斯托夫命令道：“开步走！”于是，骠骑兵们四人一排沿着两旁长着白桦树的大道，跟在步兵和炮兵后面开拔了，只听见马蹄踩在泥泞的路上的噗哧声，佩刀的锵锵声和轻轻的谈话声。

在泛红的东方，青紫色的浓云的碎片很快被风吹散了，天越来越亮了。乡村道路上总是生长着的卷曲的小草，由于夜雨的湿润看起来更加鲜亮了；低垂的白桦树枝条湿漉漉的，轻风吹过摇摇晃晃，斜斜地撒下晶莹的水珠。士兵的脸孔越发看得清楚了。罗斯托夫与紧紧跟着他的伊林骑着马在两行白桦树之间的路旁行进。

征途中罗斯托夫无拘无束地不骑战马，而骑一匹奇萨克马。他是这方面的行家，又是一名猎手，不久前，他为自己搞到一匹顿河草原的白鬃赤毛的高头烈马，骑上它没有谁能追得到他。骑在这匹马上对罗斯托夫是一种享受。他想着马，想这早晨、想医生的妻子，就是一次也未想到面临的危险。

以前罗斯托夫作战时，常害怕，现在却不觉得丝毫的惧怕，不是因为他闻惯了火药味而不害怕（对危险是不能习惯的），而是他学会如何在危险面前控制自己的内心。他养成一种习惯，在作战时，除了那似乎最使人关心的事——当前的危险外，什么都想。在最初服役时，无论他怎样骂自己是胆小鬼，就是达不到现在的样子；可是年复一年，现在他自然而然地做到了。现在他与伊林并马行进在白桦树中间，时而随手从树枝上扯下几片树叶，时而用脚磕磕马肚皮，时而把抽完的烟斗不转身就递给身后的骠骑兵，如此从容不迫，一幅无忧无虑的样子，好像他是出来兜风似的。他不忍心去看伊林那激动不安的脸，就是那个话兴很多、心神不平的伊林，凭经验他知道这个骑兵少尉正处于等待恐惧和死亡的痛苦状态，他也知道，除了时间，现在没有什么东西可以帮助他。

太阳在乌云下一片晴空刚一出现，风就静下来，仿佛风不敢破坏夏日早晨雨后的美景；水珠仍然洒落，却已是直直落下，——四周一片寂静。太阳完全露出在地平线上，随后又消失在它上面一片窄而长的乌云里。过了几分钟，太阳撕破乌云的边缘又出现在乌云上边。一切都明光闪亮。好像响应这亮光似的，前方立刻响起了大炮声。

罗斯托夫还没来得及考虑和判定炮声的远近，奥斯特曼·托尔斯泰伯爵的副官就从维捷希斯克驰来，命令沿大路跑步前进。

骑兵连经过同样急速前进的步兵和炮步，冲下山坡，穿过一个空无一人的村庄，又上一个山坡。马匹开始出汗，而人满脸通红。

“立定，看齐！”前面传来营长的命令。

“左转弯，开步走！”前边又传来口令。

于是骠骑兵沿着长列的军队赶到阵地的左翼，在第一线的枪骑兵后停下来。右面是我军密集的步兵纵队——这是后备队；山上更高的地方，在一尘不染的明净的空气中，在朝阳明亮的斜照下，最远处地平线上，可见我军的大炮。前面谷地可见敌人的纵队和大炮，可听见谷地里我军散兵线的枪声，他们已投入战斗，欢快的与敌人互相射击的枪声清晰可闻。

罗斯托夫仿佛听到最欢快的音乐似的内心觉得很舒适，他好久没听见过这声音了。特啦啪—嗒—嗒—嗒啪！有时噼哩啪啦。枪声齐鸣，有时却又快速地一声接一声，接连响了好几枪。四周又沉寂了，随后好像有人放爆竹似的，又接连不断响起来。

骠骑兵原地不动站了约一个钟头。炮轰也开始了。奥斯特曼伯爵带着侍从从骑兵连后边驰过来，停下与团长交谈了几句，就向山上的炮兵阵地驰去。

奥斯特曼刚离去，枪骑兵们就听到口令：

“成纵队，准备冲击！”他的前面的部兵分成两排，以便骑兵通过。枪骑兵出动了，长矛上的小旗飘动，向山下左方出现的法国骑兵冲去。

枪骑兵刚冲到山下，骠骑兵就奉命上山掩护炮兵。骠骑兵刚在枪骑兵的阵地上停下来，就从散兵线那儿远远地飞来咝咝呼啸的炮弹，没有命中。

罗斯托夫好久没有听到这种声音了，心里觉得比以前的射击声更使他高兴和兴奋。他挺直身子，察看山前开阔的战场，全心关注着枪骑兵的行动。枪骑兵向法军龙骑兵扑过去，在烟雾蒙蒙中混成一团，过了五分钟，枪骑兵退了回来，他们不是退回到他们原来呆的地方，而是退向左边。在骑枣红马的橙黄色的枪骑兵中间和后面是一大片骑灰色马、身着蓝色制服的法军龙骑兵。

1 chatter   

vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战

参考例句：

• Her continuous chatter vexes me.她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。
• I've had enough of their continual chatter.我已厌烦了他们喋喋不休的闲谈。

2 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

3 glistening   

adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼里闪着晶莹的泪花。
• Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼睛中的泪水闪着柔和的光。 来自《用法词典》

4 exquisite   

adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的

参考例句：

• I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
• I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。

5 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

6 abreast   

adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地

参考例句：

• She kept abreast with the flood of communications that had poured in.她及时回复如雪片般飞来的大批信件。
• We can't keep abreast of the developing situation unless we study harder.我们如果不加强学习，就会跟不上形势。

7 subdued   

adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
• I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

8 hoofs   

n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The stamp of the horse's hoofs on the wooden floor was loud. 马蹄踏在木头地板上的声音很响。 来自辞典例句
• The noise of hoofs called him back to the other window. 马蹄声把他又唤回那扇窗子口。 来自辞典例句

9 jingling   

叮当声

参考例句：

• A carriage went jingling by with some reclining figure in it. 一辆马车叮当驶过，车上斜倚着一个人。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Melanie did not seem to know, or care, that life was riding by with jingling spurs. 媚兰好像并不知道，或者不关心，生活正马刺丁当地一路驶过去了呢。

10 trotted   

小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走

参考例句：

• She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
• Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。

11 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

12 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

13 scudding   

n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Clouds were scudding across the sky. 云飞越天空。 来自辞典例句
• China Advertising Photo Market-Like a Rising Wind and Scudding Clouds. 中国广告图片市场：风起云涌。 来自互联网

14 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

15 drooping   

adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词

参考例句：

• The drooping willows are waving gently in the morning breeze. 晨风中垂柳袅袅。
• The branches of the drooping willows were swaying lightly. 垂柳轻飘飘地摆动。

16 aslant   

adv.倾斜地；adj.斜的

参考例句：

• The sunlight fell aslant the floor.阳光斜落在地板上。
• He leant aslant against the wall.他身子歪斜着依靠在墙上。

17 regiment   

n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制

参考例句：

• As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
• They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。

18 connoisseur   

n.鉴赏家，行家，内行

参考例句：

• Only the real connoisseur could tell the difference between these two wines.只有真正的内行才能指出这两种酒的区别。
• We are looking for a connoisseur of French champagne.我们想找一位法国香槟酒品酒专家。

19 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

20 cowardice   

n.胆小，怯懦

参考例句：

• His cowardice reflects on his character.他的胆怯对他的性格带来不良影响。
• His refusal to help simply pinpointed his cowardice.他拒绝帮助正显示他的胆小。

21 twigs   

细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
• Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。

22 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

23 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

24 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

25 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

26 vertically   

adv.垂直地

参考例句：

• Line the pages for the graph both horizontally and vertically.在这几页上同时画上横线和竖线，以便制作图表。
• The human brain is divided vertically down the middle into two hemispheres.人脑从中央垂直地分为两半球。

27 galloped   

（使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事

参考例句：

• Jo galloped across the field towards him. 乔骑马穿过田野向他奔去。
• The children galloped home as soon as the class was over. 孩子们一下课便飞奔回家了。

28 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

29 lather   

n.(肥皂水的)泡沫，激动

参考例句：

• Soap will not lather in sea-water.肥皂在海水里不起泡沫。
• He always gets in a lather when he has an argument with his wife.当他与妻子发生争论时他总是很激动。

30 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

31 slanting   

倾斜的，歪斜的

参考例句：

• The rain is driving [slanting] in from the south. 南边潲雨。
• The line is slanting to the left. 这根线向左斜了。

32 cannons   

n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cannons bombarded enemy lines. 大炮轰击了敌军阵地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• One company had been furnished with six cannons. 某连队装备了六门大炮。 来自《简明英汉词典》

33 pickets   

罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Five pickets were arrested by police. 五名纠察队员被警方逮捕。
• We could hear the chanting of the pickets. 我们可以听到罢工纠察员有节奏的喊叫声。

34 suite   

n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员

参考例句：

• She has a suite of rooms in the hotel.她在那家旅馆有一套房间。
• That is a nice suite of furniture.那套家具很不错。

35 cavalry   

n.骑兵；轻装甲部队

参考例句：

• We were taken in flank by a troop of cavalry. 我们翼侧受到一队骑兵的袭击。
• The enemy cavalry rode our men down. 敌人的骑兵撞倒了我们的人。

36 hissing   

n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The steam escaped with a loud hissing noise. 蒸汽大声地嘶嘶冒了出来。
• His ears were still hissing with the rustle of the leaves. 他耳朵里还听得萨萨萨的声音和屑索屑索的怪声。 来自汉英文学 - 春蚕

37 muskets   

n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The watch below, all hands to load muskets. 另一组人都来帮着给枪装火药。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• Deep ditch, single drawbridge, massive stone walls, eight at towers, cannon, muskets, fire and smoke. 深深的壕堑，单吊桥，厚重的石壁，八座巨大的塔楼。大炮、毛瑟枪、火焰与烟雾。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

38 swooping   

俯冲，猛冲( swoop的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The wind were swooping down to tease the waves. 大风猛扑到海面上戏弄着浪涛。
• And she was talking so well-swooping with swift wing this way and that. 而她却是那样健谈--一下子谈到东，一下子谈到西。

39 chestnut   

n.栗树，栗子

参考例句：

• We have a chestnut tree in the bottom of our garden.我们的花园尽头有一棵栗树。
• In summer we had tea outdoors,under the chestnut tree.夏天我们在室外栗树下喝茶。