Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.

CHAPTER V

“And what do you think of this latest comedy, the coronation (the crowning of a ruler) at Milan (the Italian city of Napoleon's crown)?” asked Anna Pávlovna (the Petersburg hostess), “and of the comedy of the people of Genoa (the Italian port city) and Lucca (an Italian duchy) laying their petitions (a written asking) before Monsieur (sir; mister — French) Buonaparte (Bonaparte — the scornful Italian spelling), and Monsieur (sir; mister — French) Buonaparte sitting on a throne (the ruler's seat) and granting the petitions (a written asking) of the nations? Adorable (worthy of adoring love)! It is enough to make one’s head whirl (to spin fast)! It is as if the whole world had gone crazy.”

Prince Andrew looked Anna Pávlovna straight in the face with a sarcastic (cuttingly mocking) smile.

“‘Dieu (God — French) me la donne, gare à qui la touche!’’ * They say he was very fine when he said that,” he remarked (to say; to notice), repeating (to say or do again) the words in Italian: “‘Dio mi l’ha dato. Guai a chi la tocchi!’’

* God has given it to me, let him who touches it beware (be on guard)!

“I hope this will prove the last drop that will make the glass run over,” Anna Pávlovna continued. “The sovereigns (the supreme ruler) will not be able to endure (to bear; to last) this man who is a menace (a threat) to everything.”

“The sovereigns (the supreme ruler)? I do not speak of Russia,” said the vicomte (a French noble rank below count), polite (well-mannered) but hopeless (without hope): “The sovereigns (the supreme ruler), madame (my lady — French)... What have they done for Louis XVII, for the Queen, or for Madame (my lady — French) Elizabeth (the French king's sister, killed in the Revolution)? Nothing!” and he became more animated (full of life). “And believe me, they are reaping (to cut the harvest) the reward (a return for service) of their betrayal (treacherous giving up) of the Bourbon (the old royal house of France) cause. The sovereigns (the supreme ruler)! Why, they are sending ambassadors (a state's chief envoy) to compliment (praising words) the usurper (one who seizes a throne without right).”

And sighing (a long sad breath) disdainfully (with proud scorn), he again changed his position.

Prince Hippolyte (Prince Vasíli's dull elder son), who had been gazing (a long steady look) at the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) for some time through his lorgnette (eyeglasses held on a handle), suddenly turned completely round toward the little princess, and having asked for a needle (the sewing spike) began tracing (a left mark; to follow the track) the Condé (a princely French house) coat (an outer garment) of arms on the table. He explained this to her with as much gravity (the earth's pull; grave seriousness) as if she had asked him to do it.

“Bâton de gueules, engrêlé de gueules d’azur—maison Condé,” said he.

The princess listened, smiling.

“If Buonaparte remains on the throne (the ruler's seat) of France a year longer,” the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) continued, with the air of a man who, in a matter with which he is better acquainted (to make known to) than anyone else, does not listen to others but follows the current of his own thoughts, “things will have gone too far. By intrigues (secret plotting), violence, exile (being driven from one's country), and executions (carrying out; putting to death), French society—I mean good French society—will have been forever destroyed, and then....”

He shrugged (to lift the shoulders) his shoulders and spread out his hands. Pierre wished to make a remark (to say; to notice), for the conversation interested (interest: the spectacle that draws a crowd — the old sense here) him, but Anna Pávlovna, who had him under observation (careful watching; a remark), interrupted (to break in upon):

“The Emperor (the ruler of an empire) Alexander (Alexander I, Tsar of Russia),” said she, with the melancholy (gentle deep sadness) which always accompanied (to go along with) any reference of hers (belonging to her) to the Imperial family, “has declared that he will leave it to the French people themselves to choose their own form of government; and I believe that once free from the usurper (one who seizes a throne without right), the whole nation will certainly throw itself into the arms of its rightful (by right) king,” she concluded (to end; to decide), trying to be amiable (friendly and pleasant) to the royalist (a supporter of kings) emigrant (one who leaves his country).

“That is doubtful (full of doubt),” said Prince Andrew. “Monsieur (sir; mister — French) le Vicomte (a French noble rank below count) quite rightly (with right) supposes that matters have already gone too far. I think it will be difficult to return to the old regime (a ruling order).”

“From what I have heard,” said Pierre, blushing (to redden with shame) and breaking into the conversation, “almost all the aristocracy (the noble class) has already gone over to Bonaparte (Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French)’s side.”

“It is the Buonapartists (followers of Bonaparte) who say that,” replied the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) without looking at Pierre. “At the present time it is difficult to know the real state (state: ceremony; pomp — the old sense here) of French public opinion.”

“Bonaparte has said so,” remarked (to say; to notice) Prince Andrew with a sarcastic (cuttingly mocking) smile.

It was evident (plain to see) that he did not like the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) and was aiming his remarks (to say; to notice) at him, though without looking at him.

“‘I showed them the path to glory (shining honor), but they did not follow it,’” Prince Andrew continued after a short silence (absence of sound), again quoting Napoleon (Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French)’s words. “‘I opened my antechambers (a waiting room before a greater one) and they crowded in.’ I do not know how far he was justified (to show to be right) in saying so.”

“Not in the least,” replied the vicomte (a French noble rank below count). “After the murder of the duc (duke — French) even the most partial (in part only; favoring one side) ceased (to stop) to regard (to look upon; respect) him as a hero. If to some people,” he went on, turning to Anna Pávlovna, “he ever was a hero, after the murder of the duc (duke — French) there was one martyr (one who dies for the faith) more in heaven and one hero less on earth.”

Before Anna Pávlovna and the others had time to smile their appreciation (valuing; thanks) of the vicomte (a French noble rank below count)’s epigram (a short witty saying), Pierre again broke into the conversation, and though Anna Pávlovna felt sure he would say something inappropriate (not fitting), she was unable to stop him.

“The execution (carrying out; putting to death) of the Duc (duke — French) d’Enghien (the Bourbon duke Napoleon had shot),” declared Monsieur (sir; mister — French) Pierre, “was a political necessity (unavoidable need), and it seems to me that Napoleon showed greatness (high greatness) of soul by not fearing to take on himself the whole responsibility of that deed (an act done).”

“Dieu! Mon Dieu!” muttered (to speak low in the throat) Anna Pávlovna in a terrified (filled with terror) whisper (a soft hushed voice).

“What, Monsieur (sir; mister — French) Pierre... Do you consider that assassination (murder of a ruler) shows greatness (high greatness) of soul?” said the little princess, smiling and drawing her work nearer to her.

“Oh! Oh!” exclaimed (to cry out) several voices.

“Capital!” said Prince Hippolyte in English, and began slapping (a blow with the open hand) his knee (the leg's middle joint) with the palm (the hand's flat; the southern tree) of his hand.

The vicomte (a French noble rank below count) merely (only) shrugged (to lift the shoulders) his shoulders. Pierre looked solemnly (with grave seriousness) at his audience over his spectacles (a grand sight; glasses for the eyes) and continued.

“I say so,” he continued desperately (with reckless despair), “because the Bourbons (the old royal house of France) fled (to run away) from the Revolution leaving the people to anarchy (absence of all rule), and Napoleon alone understood the Revolution and quelled (put down; crushed) it, and so for the general good, he could not stop short for the sake (for the good of) of one man’s life.”

“Won’t you come over to the other table?” suggested Anna Pávlovna.

But Pierre continued his speech without heeding (to pay attention to) her.

“No,” cried he, becoming more and more eager (keenly desiring), “Napoleon is great because he rose superior (higher; one above) to the Revolution, suppressed (to put down; hold in) its abuses, preserved (to keep safe) all that was good in it—equality (being equal) of citizenship (membership of a state) and freedom of speech and of the press—and only for that reason did he obtain (to get) power.”

“Yes, if having obtained (to get) power, without availing (to be of use) himself of it to commit (to do; to entrust) murder he had restored (to bring back) it to the rightful (by right) king, I should have called him a great man,” remarked (to say; to notice) the vicomte (a French noble rank below count).

“He could not do that. The people only gave him power that he might rid them of the Bourbons and because they saw that he was a great man. The Revolution was a grand thing!” continued Monsieur (sir; mister — French) Pierre, betraying (to give up to an enemy; to be false to) by this desperate (without hope; reckless) and provocative (stirring up feeling) proposition (a stated plan) his extreme youth and his wish to express all that was in his mind.

“What? Revolution and regicide (the killing of a king) a grand thing?... Well, after that... But won’t you come to this other table?” repeated (to say or do again) Anna Pávlovna.

“Rousseau (the French philosopher of nature and the Social Contract)’s Contrat (from the Contrat Social, Rousseau's famous book) Social,” said the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) with a tolerant (bearing patiently with others) smile.

“I am not speaking of regicide (the killing of a king), I am speaking about ideas.”

“Yes: ideas of robbery (taking by force), murder, and regicide (the killing of a king),” again interjected (to throw in a remark) an ironical (mocking by saying the opposite) voice.

“Those were extremes, no doubt, but they are not what is most important. What is important are the rights of man, emancipation (setting free) from prejudices (judgment made beforehand), and equality (being equal) of citizenship (membership of a state), and all these ideas Napoleon has retained (to keep) in full force.”

“Liberty (freedom) and equality (being equal),” said the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) contemptuously (with scorn), as if at last deciding seriously to prove to this youth how foolish (without sense) his words were, “high-sounding (grand-sounding but empty) words which have long been discredited (to destroy trust in). Who does not love liberty (freedom) and equality (being equal)? Even our Saviour preached (to give a sermon; to urge morals) liberty (freedom) and equality (being equal). Have people since the Revolution become happier? On the contrary (opposite). We wanted liberty (freedom), but Buonaparte has destroyed it.”

Prince Andrew kept looking with an amused (entertained; smiling) smile from Pierre to the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) and from the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) to their hostess (the lady of the house receiving guests). In the first moment of Pierre’s outburst (a sudden breaking out) Anna Pávlovna, despite her social experience, was horror-struck (struck with horror). But when she saw that Pierre’s sacrilegious (insulting to what is holy) words had not exasperated (to anger greatly) the vicomte (a French noble rank below count), and had convinced (to bring to belief) herself that it was impossible to stop him, she rallied (to gather again for the fight) her forces and joined the vicomte (a French noble rank below count) in a vigorous (full of strong energy) attack on the orator (a public speaker).

“But, my dear Monsieur (sir; mister — French) Pierre,” said she, “how do you explain the fact of a great man executing (to carry out; to put to death) a duc (duke — French)—or even an ordinary (usual; common) man who—is innocent (free of guilt) and untried (never brought to trial)?”

“I should like,” said the vicomte (a French noble rank below count), “to ask how monsieur (sir; mister — French) explains the 18th Brumaire (the month of Napoleon's seizing of power); was not that an imposture (a deceiving pose)? It was a swindle (a cheating trick), and not at all like the conduct of a great man!”

“And the prisoners (one held captive) he killed in Africa? That was horrible (causing horror)!” said the little princess, shrugging (to lift the shoulders) her shoulders.

“He’s a low fellow, say what you will,” remarked (to say; to notice) Prince Hippolyte.

Pierre, not knowing whom to answer, looked at them all and smiled. His smile was unlike the half-smile (a faint smile) of other people. When he smiled, his grave (the burial pit; solemnly serious), even rather gloomy (dark and heavy of spirit), look was instantaneously (in an instant) replaced by another—a childlike (innocent as a child), kindly (kind; gently), even rather silly (foolish) look, which seemed to ask forgiveness (pardon).

The vicomte (a French noble rank below count) who was meeting him for the first time saw clearly that this young Jacobin (a French revolutionary radical) was not so terrible as his words suggested. All were silent (making no sound).

“How do you expect him to answer you all at once?” said Prince Andrew. “Besides, in the actions of a statesman (a leader in state affairs) one has to distinguish (to tell apart) between his acts as a private person, as a general, and as an emperor (the ruler of an empire). So it seems to me.”

“Yes, yes, of course!” Pierre chimed (fanciful; dream-built) in, pleased (made glad) at the arrival (a coming) of this reinforcement (fresh troops sent to strengthen).

“One must admit,” continued Prince Andrew, “that Napoleon as a man was great on the bridge of Arcola (a battlefield of Napoleon's Italian campaign), and in the hospital at Jaffa (the plague town of Napoleon's Eastern campaign) where he gave his hand to the plague-stricken (struck down by plague); but ... but there are other acts which it is difficult to justify (to show to be right).”

Prince Andrew, who had evidently (as plainly appears) wished to tone (a sound's quality; a manner) down the awkwardness (clumsy unease) of Pierre’s remarks (to say; to notice), rose and made a sign to his wife that it was time to go.

Suddenly Prince Hippolyte started up making signs to everyone to attend, and asking them all to be seated began:

“I was told a charming (delightfully attractive) Moscow story today and must treat you to it. Excuse me, Vicomte (a French noble rank below count)—I must tell it in Russian or the point will be lost....” And Prince Hippolyte began to tell his story in such Russian as a Frenchman would speak after spending about a year in Russia. Everyone waited, so emphatically (with insistent force) and eagerly (with eager keenness) did he demand their attention to his story.

“There is in Moscow a lady, une dame (a lady), and she is very stingy (mean with money). She must have two footmen (a liveried man servant) behind her carriage (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing), and very big ones. That was her taste. And she had a lady’s maid (a girl servant), also big. She said....”

Here Prince Hippolyte paused (a brief stop), evidently (as plainly appears) collecting (to gather) his ideas with difficulty (hardness; trouble).

“She said.... Oh yes! She said, ‘Girl,’ to the maid (a girl servant), ‘put on a livery (a servant's uniform), get up behind the carriage (a wheeled passenger vehicle; bearing), and come with me while I make some calls.’”

Here Prince Hippolyte spluttered (to choke and spit with laughter) and burst (to break open suddenly) out laughing long before his audience, which produced an effect unfavorable (against one's good) to the narrator (the teller of a story). Several persons, among them the elderly (getting old) lady and Anna Pávlovna, did however smile.

“She went. Suddenly there was a great wind. The girl lost her hat and her long hair came down....” Here he could contain himself no longer and went on, between gasps (a sudden catching breath) of laughter (laughing): “And the whole world knew....”

And so the anecdote (a short amusing story) ended. Though it was unintelligible (impossible to make out) why he had told it, or why it had to be told in Russian, still Anna Pávlovna and the others appreciated Prince Hippolyte’s social tact (fine sense of what fits the moment) in so agreeably (pleasantly) ending Pierre’s unpleasant (not pleasing) and unamiable (unfriendly; not kindly) outburst (a sudden breaking out). After the anecdote (a short amusing story) the conversation broke up into insignificant (too small to matter) small talk about the last and next balls, about theatricals (of the theater; stagey), and who would meet whom, and when and where.