EP1CH14
CHAPTERXIV
Soonafterthisthechildrencameintosaygoodnight。Theykissedeveryone，thetutorsandgovernessesmadetheirbows，andtheywentout。OnlyyoungNicholasandhistutorremained。Dessalleswhisperedtotheboytocomedownstairs。
\"No，MonsieurDessalles，Iwillaskmyaunttoletmestay，\"repliedNicholasBolkonskialsoinawhisper。
\"Matante，pleaseletmestay，\"saidhe，goinguptohisaunt。
Hisfaceexpressedentreaty，agitation，andecstasy。CountessMaryglancedathimandturnedtoPierre。
\"Whenyouareherehecan’ttearhimselfaway，\"shesaid。
\"Iwillbringhimtoyoudirectly，MonsieurDessalles。Goodnight！\"saidPierre，givinghishandtotheSwisstutor，andheturnedtoyoungNicholaswithasmile。\"YouandIhaven’tseenanythingofoneanotheryet……Howlikeheisgrowing，Mary！\"headded，addressingCountessMary。
\"Likemyfather？\"askedtheboy，flushingcrimsonandlookingupatPierrewithbright，ecstaticeyes。
Pierrenodded，andwentonwithwhathehadbeensayingwhenthechildrenhadinterrupted。CountessMarysatdowndoingwoolwork；
Natashadidnottakehereyesoffherhusband。NicholasandDenisovrose，askedfortheirpipes，smoked，wenttofetchmoreteafromSonya—whosatwearybutresoluteatthesamovar—andquestionedPierre。Thecurly—headed，delicateboysatwithshiningeyesunnoticedinacorner，startingeverynowandthenandmutteringsomethingtohimself，andevidentlyexperiencinganewandpowerfulemotionasheturnedhiscurlyhead，withhisthinneckexposedbyhisturn—downcollar，towardtheplacewherePierresat。
Theconversationturnedonthecontemporarygossipaboutthoseinpower，inwhichmostpeopleseethechiefinterestofhomepolitics。
Denisov，dissatisfiedwiththegovernmentonaccountofhisowndisappointmentsintheservice，heardwithpleasureofthethingsdoneinPetersburgwhichseemedtohimstupid，andmadeforcibleandsharpcommentsonwhatPierretoldthem。
\"OneusedtohavetobeaGerman—nowonemustdancewithTatawinovaandMadameKwudener，andweadEcka’tshausenandthebwethwen。Oh，theyshouldletthatfinefellowBonapartelose—he’dknockallthisnonsenseoutofthem！FancygivingthecommandoftheSemenovwegimenttoafellowlikethatSchwa’tz！\"hecried。
Nicholas，thoughfreefromDenisov’sreadinesstofindfaultwitheverything，alsothoughtthatdiscussionofthegovernmentwasaveryseriousandweightymatter，andthefactthatAhadbeenappointedMinisterofThisandBGovernorGeneralofThat，andthattheEmperorhadsaidso—and—soandthisministerso—and—so，seemedtohimveryimportant。AndsohethoughtitnecessarytotakeaninterestinthesethingsandtoquestionPierre。Thequestionsputbythesetwokepttheconversationfromchangingitsordinarycharacterofgossipaboutthehighergovernmentcircles。
ButNatasha，knowingallherhusband’swaysandideas，sawthathehadlongbeenwishingbuthadbeenunabletodiverttheconversationtoanotherchannelandexpresshisowndeeplyfeltideaforthesakeofwhichhehadgonetoPetersburgtoconsultwithhisnewfriendPrinceTheodore，andshehelpedhimbyaskinghowhisaffairswithPrinceTheodorehadgone。
\"Whatwasitabout？\"askedNicholas。
\"Alwaysthesamething，\"saidPierre，lookingroundathislisteners。\"Everybodyseesthatthingsaregoingsobadlythattheycannotbeallowedtogoonsoandthatitisthedutyofalldecentmentocounteractitasfarastheycan。\"
\"Whatcandecentmendo？\"Nicholasinquired，frowningslightly。
\"Whatcanbedone？\"
\"Why，this……\"
\"Comeintomystudy，\"saidNicholas。
Natasha，whohadlongexpectedtobefetchedtonurseherbaby，nowheardthenursecallingherandwenttothenursery。CountessMaryfollowedher。ThemenwentintothestudyandlittleNicholasBolkonskifollowedthemunnoticedbyhisuncleandsatdownatthewritingtableinashadycornerbythewindow。
\"Well，whatwouldyoudo？\"askedDenisov。
\"Alwayssomefantasticschemes，\"saidNicholas。
\"Whythis，\"beganPierre，notsittingdownbutpacingtheroom，sometimesstoppingshort，gesticulating，andlisping：\"thepositioninPetersburgisthis：theEmperordoesnotlookintoanything。Hehasabandonedhimselfaltogethertothismysticism\"Pierrecouldnottoleratemysticisminanyonenow。\"Heseeksonlyforpeace，andonlythesepeoplesansfoiniloi*cangiveithim—peoplewhorecklesslyhackatandstrangleeverything—Magnitski，Arakcheev，andtuttiquanti……Youwillagreethatifyoudidnotlookafteryourestatesyourselfbutonlywantedaquietlife，theharsheryourstewardwasthemorereadilyyourobjectmightbeattained，\"hesaidtoNicholas。
*Withoutfaithorlaw。
\"Well，whatdoesthatleadupto？\"saidNicholas。
\"Well，everythingisgoingtoruin！Robberyinthelawcourts，inthearmynothingbutflogging，drilling，andMilitarySettlements；thepeoplearetortured，enlightenmentissuppressed。Allthatisyoungandhonestiscrushed！Everyoneseesthatthiscannotgoon。
Everythingisstrainedtosuchadegreethatitwillcertainlybreak，\"
saidPierreasthosewhoexaminetheactionsofanygovernmenthavealwayssaidsincegovernmentsbegan。\"ItoldthemjustonethinginPetersburg。\"
\"Toldwhom？\"
\"Well，youknowwhom，\"saidPierre，withameaningglancefromunderhisbrows。\"PrinceTheodoreandallthose。Toencouragecultureandphilanthropyisallverywellofcourse。Theaimisexcellentbutinthepresentcircumstancessomethingelseisneeded。\"
AtthatmomentNicholasnoticedthepresenceofhisnephew。Hisfacedarkenedandhewentuptotheboy。
\"Whyareyouhere？\"
\"Why？Lethimbe，\"saidPierre，takingNicholasbythearmandcontinuing。\"Thatisnotenough，Itoldthem。Somethingelseisneeded。Whenyoustandexpectingtheoverstrainedstringtosnapatanymoment，wheneveryoneisexpectingtheinevitablecatastrophe，asmanyaspossiblemustjoinhandsascloselyastheycantowithstandthegeneralcalamity。Everythingthatisyoungandstrongisbeingenticedawayanddepraved。Oneisluredbywomen，anotherbyhonors，athirdbyambitionormoney，andtheygoovertothatcamp。
Noindependentmen，suchasyouorI，areleft。WhatIsayiswidenthescopeofoursociety，letthemotd’ordrebenotvirtuealonebutindependenceandactionaswell！\"
Nicholas，whohadlefthisnephew，irritablypushedupanarmchair，satdowninit，andlistenedtoPierre，coughingdiscontentedlyandfrowningmoreandmore。
\"Butactionwithwhataim？\"hecried。\"Andwhatpositionwillyouadopttowardthegovernment？\"
\"Why，thepositionofassistants。Thesocietyneednotbesecretifthegovernmentallowsit。Notmerelyisitnothostiletogovernment，butitisasocietyoftrueconservatives—asocietyofgentlemeninthefullmeaningofthatword。ItisonlytopreventsomePugachevorotherfromkillingmychildrenandyours，andArakcheevfromsendingmeofftosomeMilitarySettlement。Wejoinhandsonlyforthepublicwelfareandthegeneralsafety。\"
\"Yes，butit’sasecretsocietyandthereforeahostileandharmfulonewhichcanonlycauseharm。\"
\"Why？DidtheTugendbundwhichsavedEurope\"theydidnotthenventuretosuggestthatRussiahadsavedEurope\"doanyharm？TheTugendbundisanallianceofvirtue：itislove，mutualhelp……itiswhatChristpreachedontheCross。\"
Natasha，whohadcomeinduringtheconversation，lookedjoyfullyatherhusband。Itwasnotwhathewassayingthatpleasedher—thatdidnoteveninteresther，foritseemedtoherthatwasallextremelysimpleandthatshehadknownitalongtimeitseemedsotoherbecausesheknewthatitsprangfromPierre’swholesoul，butitwashisanimatedandenthusiasticappearancethatmadeherglad。
Theboywiththethinneckstretchingoutfromtheturn—downcollar—
whomeveryonehadforgotten—gazedatPierrewithevengreaterandmorerapturousjoy。EverywordofPierre’sburnedintohisheart，andwithanervousmovementofhisfingersheunconsciouslybrokethesealingwaxandquillpenshishandscameupononhisuncle’stable。
\"Itisnotatallwhatyousuppose；butthatiswhattheGermanTugendbundwas，andwhatIamproposing。\"
\"No，myfwiend！TheTugendbundisallvewywellforthesausageeaters，butIdon’tunderstanditandcan’tevenpwonounceit，\"
interposedDenisovinaloudandresolutevoice。\"Iagweethatevewythinghereiswottenandhowwible，buttheTugendbundIdon’tunderstand。Ifwe’renotsatisfied，letushaveabuntofourown。
That’sallwight。Jesuisvot’ehomme！\"*
*\"I’myourman。\"
Pierresmiled，Natashabegantolaugh，butNicholasknittedhisbrowsstillmoreandbeganprovingtoPierrethattherewasnoprospectofanygreatchangeandthatallthedangerhespokeofexistedonlyinhisimagination。Pierremaintainedthecontrary，andashismentalfacultiesweregreaterandmoreresourceful，Nicholasfelthimselfcornered。Thismadehimstillangrier，forhewasfullyconvinced，notbyreasoningbutbysomethingwithinhimstrongerthanreason，ofthejusticeofhisopinion。
\"Iwilltellyouthis，\"hesaid，risingandtryingwithnervouslytwitchingfingerstopropuphispipeinacorner，butfinallyabandoningtheattempt。\"Ican’tproveittoyou。Yousaythateverythinghereisrottenandthatanoverthrowiscoming：Idon’tseeit。Butyoualsosaythatouroathofallegianceisaconditionalmatter，andtothatIreply：’Youaremybestfriend，asyouknow，butifyouformedasecretsocietyandbeganworkingagainstthegovernment—beitwhatitmay—Iknowitismydutytoobeythegovernment。AndifArakcheevorderedmetoleadasquadronagainstyouandcutyoudown，Ishouldnothesitateaninstant，butshoulddoit。’
Andyoumayargueaboutthatasyoulike！\"
Anawkwardsilencefollowedthesewords。Natashawasthefirsttospeak，defendingherhusbandandattackingherbrother。Herdefensewasweakandinaptbutsheattainedherobject。Theconversationwasresumed，andnolongerintheunpleasantlyhostiletoneofNicholas’
lastremark。
Whentheyallgotuptogointosupper，littleNicholasBolkonskiwentuptoPierre，paleandwithshining，radianteyes。
\"UnclePierre，you……no……IfPapawerealive……wouldheagreewithyou？\"heasked。
AndPierresuddenlyrealizedwhataspecial，independent，complex，andpowerfulprocessofthoughtandfeelingmusthavebeengoingoninthisboyduringthatconversation，andrememberingallhehadsaidheregrettedthattheladshouldhaveheardhim。Hehad，however，togivehimananswer。
\"Yes，Ithinkso，\"hesaidreluctantly，andleftthestudy。
Theladlookeddownandseemednowforthefirsttimetonoticewhathehaddonetothethingsonthetable。HeflushedandwentuptoNicholas。
\"Uncle，forgiveme，Ididthat……unintentionally，\"hesaid，pointingtothebrokensealingwaxandpens。
Nicholasstartedangrily。
\"Allright，allright，\"hesaid，throwingthebitsunderthetable。
Andevidentlysuppressinghisvexationwithdifficulty，heturnedawayfromtheboy。
\"Yououghtnottohavebeenhereatall，\"hesaid。
EP1CH15
CHAPTERXV
Theconversationatsupperwasnotaboutpoliticsorsocieties，butturnedonthesubjectNicholaslikedbest—recollectionsof1812。DenisovstartedtheseandPierrewasparticularlyagreeableandamusingaboutthem。Thefamilyseparatedonthemostfriendlyterms。
AftersupperNicholas，havingundressedinhisstudyandgiveninstructionstothestewardwhohadbeenwaitingforhim，wenttothebedroominhisdressinggown，wherehefoundhiswifestillathertable，writing。
\"Whatareyouwriting，Mary？\"Nicholasasked。
CountessMaryblushed。Shewasafraidthatwhatshewaswritingwouldnotbeunderstoodorapprovedbyherhusband。
Shehadwantedtoconcealwhatshewaswritingfromhim，butatthesametimewasgladhehadsurprisedheratitandthatshewouldnowhavetotellhim。
\"Adiary，Nicholas，\"shereplied，handinghimablueexercisebookfilledwithherfirm，boldwriting。
\"Adiary？\"Nicholasrepeatedwithashadeofirony，andhetookupthebook。
ItwasinFrench。
December4。TodaywhenAndrushahereldestboywokeuphedidnotwishtodressandMademoiselleLouisesentforme。Hewasnaughtyandobstinate。Itriedthreats，butheonlygrewangrier。ThenItookthematterinhand：Ilefthimaloneandbeganwithnurse’shelptogettheotherchildrenup，tellinghimthatIdidnotlovehim。Foralongtimehewassilent，asifastonished，thenhejumpedoutofbed，rantomeinhisshirt，andsobbedsothatIcouldnotcalmhimforalongtime。Itwasplainthatwhattroubledhimmostwasthathehadgrievedme。AfterwardsintheeveningwhenIgavehimhisticket，heagainbegancryingpiteouslyandkissingme。Onecandoanythingwithhimbytenderness。
\"Whatisa’ticket’？\"Nicholasinquired。
\"Ihavebegungivingtheelderonesmarkseveryevening，showinghowtheyhavebehaved。\"
Nicholaslookedintotheradianteyesthatweregazingathim，andcontinuedtoturnoverthepagesandread。Inthediarywassetdowneverythinginthechildren’slivesthatseemednoteworthytotheirmotherasshowingtheircharactersorsuggestinggeneralreflectionsoneducationalmethods。Theywereforthemostpartquiteinsignificanttrifles，butdidnotseemsotothemotherortothefathereither，nowthathereadthisdiaryabouthischildrenforthefirsttime。
Underthedate\"5\"wasentered：
Mityawasnaughtyattable。Papasaidhewastohavenopudding。
Hehadnone，butlookedsounhappilyandgreedilyattheotherswhiletheywereeating！Ithinkthatpunishmentbydeprivingchildrenofsweetsonlydevelopstheirgreediness。MusttellNicholasthis。
Nicholasputdownthebookandlookedathiswife。Theradianteyesgazedathimquestioningly：wouldheapproveordisapproveofherdiary？Therecouldbenodoubtnotonlyofhisapprovalbutalsoofhisadmirationforhiswife。
Perhapsitneednotbedonesopedantically，thoughtNicholas，orevendoneatall，butthisuntiring，continualspiritualeffortofwhichthesoleaimwasthechildren’smoralwelfaredelightedhim。HadNicholasbeenabletoanalyzehisfeelingshewouldhavefoundthathissteady，tender，andproudloveofhiswiferestedonhisfeelingofwonderatherspiritualityandattheloftymoralworld，almostbeyondhisreach，inwhichshehadherbeing。
Hewasproudofherintelligenceandgoodness，recognizedhisowninsignificancebesideherinthespiritualworld，andrejoicedallthemorethatshewithsuchasoulnotonlybelongedtohimbutwaspartofhimself。
\"Iquite，quiteapprove，mydearest！\"saidhewithasignificantlook，andafterashortpauseheadded：\"AndIbehavedbadlytoday。
Youweren’tinthestudy。Webegandisputing—PierreandI—andIlostmytemper。Butheisimpossible：suchachild！Idon’tknowwhatwouldbecomeofhimifNatashadidn’tkeephiminhand……HaveyouanyideawhyhewenttoPetersburg？Theyhaveformed……\"
\"Yes，Iknow，\"saidCountessMary。\"Natashatoldme。\"
\"Well，then，youknow，\"Nicholaswenton，growinghotatthemererecollectionoftheirdiscussion，\"hewantedtoconvincemethatitiseveryhonestman’sdutytogoagainstthegovernment，andthattheoathofallegianceandduty……Iamsorryyouweren’tthere。Theyallfellonme—DenisovandNatasha……Natashaisabsurd。Howsherulesoverhim！Andyetthereneedonlybeadiscussionandshehasnowordsofherownbutonlyrepeatshissayings……\"addedNicholas，yieldingtothatirresistibleinclinationwhichtemptsustojudgethosenearestanddearesttous。HeforgotthatwhathewassayingaboutNatashacouldhavebeenappliedwordforwordtohimselfinrelationtohiswife。
\"Yes，Ihavenoticedthat，\"saidCountessMary。
\"WhenItoldhimthatdutyandtheoathwereaboveeverything，hestartedprovinggoodnessknowswhat！Apityyouwerenotthere—whatwouldyouhavesaid？\"
\"AsIseeityouwerequiteright，andItoldNatashaso。Pierresayseverybodyissuffering，tortured，andbeingcorrupted，andthatitisourdutytohelpourneighbor。Ofcourseheisrightthere，\"
saidCountessMary，\"butheforgetsthatwehaveotherdutiesnearertous，dutiesindicatedtousbyGodHimself，andthatthoughwemightexposeourselvestoriskswemustnotriskourchildren。\"
\"Yes，that’sit！That’sjustwhatIsaidtohim，\"putinNicholas，whofanciedhereallyhadsaidit。\"Buttheyinsistedontheirownview：loveofone’sneighborandChristianity—andallthisinthepresenceofyoungNicholas，whohadgoneintomystudyandbrokeallmythings。\"
\"Ah，Nicholas，doyouknowIamoftentroubledaboutlittleNicholas，\"saidCountessMary。\"Heissuchanexceptionalboy。IamafraidIneglecthiminfavorofmyown：weallhavechildrenandrelationswhilehehasnoone。Heisconstantlyalonewithhisthoughts。\"
\"Well，Idon’tthinkyouneedreproachyourselfonhisaccount。
Allthatthefondestmothercoulddoforhersonyouhavedoneandaredoingforhim，andofcourseIamgladofit。Heisafinelad，afinelad！ThiseveninghelistenedtoPierreinasortoftrance，andfancy—asweweregoingintosupperIlookedandhehadbrokeneverythingonmytabletobits，andhetoldmeofithimselfatonce！Ineverknewhimtotellanuntruth。Afinelad，afinelad！\"
repeatedNicholas，whoatheartwasnotfondofNicholasBolkonskibutwasalwaysanxioustorecognizethathewasafinelad。
\"Still，Iamnotthesameashisownmother，\"saidCountessMary。\"I
feelIamnotthesameandittroublesme。Awonderfulboy，butIamdreadfullyafraidforhim。Itwouldbegoodforhimtohavecompanions。\"
\"Wellitwon’tbeforlong。NextsummerI’lltakehimtoPetersburg，\"saidNicholas。\"Yes，Pierrealwayswasadreamerandalwayswillbe，\"hecontinued，returningtothetalkinthestudywhichhadevidentlydisturbedhim。\"Well，whatbusinessisitofminewhatgoesonthere—whetherArakcheevisbad，andallthat？
WhatbusinesswasitofminewhenImarriedandwassodeepindebtthatIwasthreatenedwithprison，andhadamotherwhocouldnotseeorunderstandit？Andthenthereareyouandthechildrenandouraffairs。IsitformyownpleasurethatIamatthefarmorintheofficefrommorningtonight？No，butIknowImustworktocomfortmymother，torepayyou，andnottoleavethechildrensuchbeggarsasIwas。\"
CountessMarywantedtotellhimthatmandoesnotlivebybreadaloneandthatheattachedtoomuchimportancetothesematters。Butsheknewshemustnotsaythisandthatitwouldbeuselesstodoso。Sheonlytookhishandandkissedit。Hetookthisasasignofapprovalandaconfirmationofhisthoughts，andafterafewminutes’reflectioncontinuedtothinkaloud。
\"Youknow，Mary，todayEliasMitrofanych\"thiswashisoverseer
\"camebackfromtheTambovestateandtoldmetheyarealreadyofferingeightythousandrublesfortheforest。\"
AndwithaneagerfaceNicholasbegantospeakofthepossibilityofrepurchasingOtradnoebeforelong，andadded：\"AnothertenyearsoflifeandIshallleavethechildren……inanexcellentposition。\"
CountessMarylistenedtoherhusbandandunderstoodallthathetoldher。Sheknewthatwhenhethoughtaloudinthiswayhewouldsometimesaskherwhathehadbeensaying，andbevexedifhenoticedthatshehadbeenthinkingaboutsomethingelse。Butshehadtoforceherselftoattend，forwhathewassayingdidnotinterestheratall。Shelookedathimanddidnotthink，butfelt，aboutsomethingdifferent。Shefeltasubmissivetenderloveforthismanwhowouldneverunderstandallthatsheunderstood，andthisseemedtomakeherloveforhimstillstrongerandaddedatouchofpassionatetenderness。Besidesthisfeelingwhichabsorbedheraltogetherandhinderedherfromfollowingthedetailsofherhusband’splans，thoughtsthathadnoconnectionwithwhathewassayingflittedthroughhermind。Shethoughtofhernephew。Herhusband’saccountoftheboy’sagitationwhilePierrewasspeakingstruckherforcibly，andvarioustraitsofhisgentle，sensitivecharacterrecurredtohermind；andwhilethinkingofhernephewshethoughtalsoofherownchildren。Shedidnotcomparethemwithhim，butcomparedherfeelingforthemwithherfeelingforhim，andfeltwithregretthattherewassomethinglackinginherfeelingforyoungNicholas。
Sometimesitseemedtoherthatthisdifferencearosefromthedifferenceintheirages，butshefeltherselftoblametowardhimandpromisedinherhearttodobetterandtoaccomplishtheimpossible—
inthislifetoloveherhusband，herchildren，littleNicholas，andallherneighbors，asChristlovedmankind。CountessMary’ssoulalwaysstrovetowardtheinfinite，theeternal，andtheabsolute，andcouldthereforeneverbeatpeace。Asternexpressionofthelofty，secretsufferingofasoulburdenedbythebodyappearedonherface。Nicholasgazedather。\"OGod！Whatwillbecomeofusifshedies，asIalwaysfearwhenherfaceislikethat？\"thoughthe，andplacinghimselfbeforetheiconhebegantosayhiseveningprayers。
EP1CH16
CHAPTERXVI
NatashaandPierre，leftalone，alsobegantotalkasonlyahusbandandwifecantalk，thatis，withextraordinaryclearnessandrapidity，understandingandexpressingeachother’sthoughtsinwayscontrarytoallrulesoflogic，withoutpremises，deductions，orconclusions，andinaquitepeculiarway。NatashawassousedtothiskindoftalkwithherhusbandthatforheritwasthesurestsignofsomethingbeingwrongbetweenthemifPierrefollowedalineoflogicalreasoning。Whenhebeganprovinganything，ortalkingargumentativelyandcalmlyandshe，ledonbyhisexample，begantodothesame，sheknewthattheywereonthevergeofaquarrel。
FromthemomenttheywerealoneandNatashacameuptohimwithwide—openhappyeyes，andquicklyseizinghisheadpressedittoherbosom，saying：\"Nowyouareallmine，mine！Youwon’tescape！\"—fromthatmomentthisconversationbegan，contrarytoallthelawsoflogicandcontrarytothembecausequitedifferentsubjectsweretalkedaboutatoneandthesametime。Thissimultaneousdiscussionofmanytopicsdidnotpreventaclearunderstandingbutonthecontrarywasthesurestsignthattheyfullyunderstoodoneanother。
Justasinadreamwhenallisuncertain，unreasoning，andcontradictory，exceptthefeelingthatguidesthedream，sointhisintercoursecontrarytoalllawsofreason，thewordsthemselveswerenotconsecutiveandclearbutonlythefeelingthatpromptedthem。
NatashaspoketoPierreaboutherbrother’slifeanddoings，ofhowshehadsufferedandlackedlifeduringhisownabsence，andofhowshewasfonderthaneverofMary，andhowMarywasineverywaybetterthanherself。InsayingthisNatashawassincereinacknowledgingMary’ssuperiority，butatthesametimebysayingitshemadeademandonPierrethatheshould，allthesame，preferhertoMaryandtoallotherwomen，andthatnow，especiallyafterhavingseenmanywomeninPetersburg，heshouldtellhersoafresh。
Pierre，answeringNatasha’swords，toldherhowintolerableithadbeenforhimtomeetladiesatdinnersandballsinPetersburg。
\"Ihavequitelosttheknackoftalkingtoladies，\"hesaid。\"Itwassimplydull。Besides，Iwasverybusy。\"
Natashalookedintentlyathimandwenton：
\"Maryissosplendid，\"shesaid。\"Howsheunderstandschildren！Itisasifshesawstraightintotheirsouls。Yesterday，forinstance，Mityawasnaughty……\"
\"Howlikehisfatherheis，\"Pierreinterjected。
NatashaknewwhyhementionedMitya’slikenesstoNicholas：therecollectionofhisdisputewithhisbrother—in—lawwasunpleasantandhewantedtoknowwhatNatashathoughtofit。
\"Nicholashastheweaknessofneveragreeingwithanythingnotgenerallyaccepted。ButIunderstandthatyouvaluewhatopensupafreshline，\"saidshe，repeatingwordsPierrehadonceuttered。
\"No，thechiefpointisthattoNicholasideasanddiscussionsareanamusement—almostapastime，\"saidPierre。\"Forinstance，heiscollectingalibraryandhasmadeitarulenottobuyanewbooktillhehasreadwhathehadalreadybought—SismondiandRousseauandMontesquieu，\"headdedwithasmile。\"YouknowhowmuchI……\"hebegantosoftendownwhathehadsaid；butNatashainterruptedhimtoshowthatthiswasunnecessary。
\"Soyousayideasareanamusementtohim……\"
\"Yes，andformenothingelseisserious。AllthetimeinPetersburgIsaweveryoneasinadream。WhenIamtakenupbyathought，allelseismereamusement。\"
\"Ah，I’msosorryIwasn’ttherewhenyoumetthechildren，\"saidNatasha。\"Whichwasmostdelighted？Lisa，I’msure。\"
\"Yes，\"Pierrereplied，andwentonwithwhatwasinhismind。
\"Nicholassaysweoughtnottothink。ButIcan’thelpit。Besides，whenIwasinPetersburgIfeltIcanthistoyouthatthewholeaffairwouldgotopieceswithoutme—everyonewaspullinghisownway。ButIsucceededinunitingthemall；andthenmyideaissoclearandsimple。Yousee，Idon’tsaythatweoughttoopposethisandthat。Wemaybemistaken。WhatIsayis：’Joinhands，youwholovetheright，andlettherebebutonebanner—thatofactivevirtue。’PrinceSergeyisafinefellowandclever。\"
NatashawouldhavehadnodoubtastothegreatnessofPierre’sidea，butonethingdisconcertedher。\"Canamansoimportantandnecessarytosocietybealsomyhusband？Howdidthishappen？\"Shewishedtoexpressthisdoubttohim。\"Nowwhocoulddecidewhetherheisreallyclevererthanalltheothers？\"sheaskedherself，andpassedinreviewallthosewhomPierremostrespected。JudgingbywhathehadsaidtherewasnoonehehadrespectedsohighlyasPlatonKarataev。
\"DoyouknowwhatIamthinkingabout？\"sheasked。\"AboutPlatonKarataev。Wouldhehaveapprovedofyounow，doyouthink？\"
Pierrewasnotatallsurprisedatthisquestion。Heunderstoodhiswife’slineofthought。
\"PlatonKarataev？\"herepeated，andpondered，evidentlysincerelytryingtoimagineKarataev’sopiniononthesubject。\"Hewouldnothaveunderstood……yetperhapshewould。\"
\"Iloveyouawfully！\"Natashasuddenlysaid。\"Awfully，awfully！\"
\"No，hewouldnothaveapproved，\"saidPierre，afterreflection。
\"Whathewouldhaveapprovedofisourfamilylife。Hewasalwayssoanxioustofindseemliness，happiness，andpeaceineverything，andIshouldhavebeenproudtolethimseeus。Therenow—youtalkofmyabsence，butyouwouldn’tbelievewhataspecialfeelingIhaveforyouafteraseparation……\"
\"Yes，Ishouldthink……\"Natashabegan。
\"No，it’snotthat。Ineverleaveofflovingyou。Andonecouldn’tlovemore，butthisissomethingspecial……Yes，ofcourse—\"hedidnotfinishbecausetheireyesmeetingsaidtherest。
\"Whatnonsenseitis，\"Natashasuddenlyexclaimed，\"abouthoneymoons，andthatthegreatesthappinessisatfirst！Onthecontrary，nowisthebestofall。Ifonlyyoudidnotgoaway！Doyourememberhowwequarreled？Anditwasalwaysmyfault。Alwaysmine。Andwhatwequarreledabout—Idon’tevenremember！\"
\"Alwaysaboutthesamething，\"saidPierrewithasmile。\"Jealo……\"
\"Don’tsayit！Ican’tbearit！\"Natashacried，andhereyesglitteredcoldlyandvindictively。\"Didyouseeher？\"sheadded，afterapause。
\"No，andifIhadIshouldn’thaverecognizedher。\"
Theyweresilentforawhile。
\"Oh，doyouknow？WhileyouweretalkinginthestudyIwaslookingatyou，\"Natashabegan，evidentlyanxioustodispersethecloudthathadcomeoverthem。\"Youareaslikehimastwopeas—
liketheboy。\"Shemeantherlittleson。\"Oh，it’stimetogotohim……Themilk’scome……ButI’msorrytoleaveyou。\"
Theyweresilentforafewseconds。Thensuddenlyturningtooneanotheratthesametimetheybothbegantospeak。Pierrebeganwithself—satisfactionandenthusiasm，Natashawithaquiet，happysmile。
Havinginterruptedoneanothertheybothstoppedtolettheothercontinue。
\"No。Whatdidyousay？Goon，goon。\"
\"No，yougoon，Iwastalkingnonsense，\"saidNatasha。
Pierrefinishedwhathehadbegun。ItwasthesequeltohiscomplacentreflectionsonhissuccessinPetersburg。AtthatmomentitseemedtohimthathewaschosentogiveanewdirectiontothewholeofRussiansocietyandtothewholeworld。
\"Ionlywishedtosaythatideasthathavegreatresultsarealwayssimpleones。Mywholeideaisthatifviciouspeopleareunitedandconstituteapower，thenhonestfolkmustdothesame。Nowthat’ssimpleenough。\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Andwhatwereyougoingtosay？\"
\"I？Onlynonsense。\"
\"Butallthesame？\"
\"Ohnothing，onlyatrifle，\"saidNatasha，smilinglystillmorebrightly。\"IonlywantedtotellyouaboutPetya：todaynursewascomingtotakehimfromme，andhelaughed，shuthiseyes，andclungtome。I’msurehethoughthewashiding。Awfullysweet！There，nowhe’scrying。Well，good—by！\"andshelefttheroom。
MeanwhiledownstairsinyoungNicholasBolkonski’sbedroomalittlelampwasburningasusual。Theboywasafraidofthedarkandtheycouldnotcurehimofit。DessallessleptproppeduponfourpillowsandhisRomannoseemittedsoundsofrhythmicsnoring。
LittleNicholas，whohadjustwakedupinacoldperspiration，satupinbedandgazedbeforehimwithwide—openeyes。Hehadawakedfromaterribledream。HehaddreamedthatheandUnclePierre，wearinghelmetssuchasweredepictedinhisPlutarch，wereleadingahugearmy。ThearmywasmadeupofwhiteslantinglinesthatfilledtheairlikethecobwebsthatfloataboutinautumnandwhichDessallescalledlesfilsdelaVierge。InfrontwasGlory，whichwassimilartothosethreadsbutratherthicker。HeandPierrewerebornealonglightlyandjoyously，nearerandnearertotheirgoal。Suddenlythethreadsthatmovedthembegantoslackenandbecomeentangledanditgrewdifficulttomove。AndUncleNicholasstoodbeforetheminasternandthreateningattitude。
\"Haveyoudonethis？\"hesaid，pointingtosomebrokensealingwaxandpens。\"Ilovedyou，butIhaveordersfromArakcheevandwillkillthefirstofyouwhomovesforward。\"LittleNicholasturnedtolookatPierrebutPierrewasnolongerthere。Inhisplacewashisfather—
PrinceAndrew—andhisfatherhadneithershapenorform，butheexisted，andwhenlittleNicholasperceivedhimhegrewfaintwithlove：hefelthimselfpowerless，limp，andformless。Hisfathercaressedandpitiedhim。ButUncleNicholascamenearerandnearertothem。TerrorseizedyoungNicholasandheawoke。
\"Myfather！\"hethought。ThoughthereweretwogoodportraitsofPrinceAndrewinthehouse，Nicholasneverimaginedhiminhumanform。\"Myfatherhasbeenwithmeandcaressedme。HeapprovedofmeandofUnclePierre。Whateverhemaytellme，Iwilldoit。
MuciusScaevolaburnedhishand。Whyshouldnotthesamesortofthinghappentome？Iknowtheywantmetolearn。AndIwilllearn。ButsomedayIshallhavefinishedlearning，andthenIwilldosomething。IonlyprayGodthatsomethingmayhappentomesuchashappenedtoPlutarch’smen，andIwillactastheydid。Iwilldobetter。Everyoneshallknowme，loveme，andbedelightedwithme！\"
Andsuddenlyhisbosomheavedwithsobsandhebegantocry。
\"Areyouill？\"heheardDessalles’voiceasking。
\"No，\"answeredNicholas，andlaybackonhispillow。
\"HeisgoodandkindandIamfondofhim！\"hethoughtofDessalles。
\"ButUnclePierre！Oh，whatawonderfulmanheis！Andmyfather？
Oh，Father，Father！Yes，Iwilldosomethingwithwhichevenhewouldbesatisfied……\"SECONDEPILOGUE
CHAPTERI
Historyisthelifeofnationsandofhumanity。Toseizeandput
intowords，todescribedirectlythelifeofhumanityorevenofa
singlenation，appearsimpossible。
Theancienthistoriansallemployedoneandthesamemethodto
describeandseizetheapparentlyelusive—thelifeofapeople。
Theydescribedtheactivityofindividualswhoruledthepeople，and
regardedtheactivityofthosemenasrepresentingtheactivityofthe
wholenation。
Thequestion：howdidindividualsmakenationsactastheywished
andbywhatwasthewilloftheseindividualsthemselvesguided？the
ancientsmetbyrecognizingadivinitywhichsubjectedthenations
tothewillofachosenman，andguidedthewillofthatchosenmanso
astoaccomplishendsthatwerepredestined。
Fortheancientsthesequestionsweresolvedbyabeliefinthe
directparticipationoftheDeityinhumanaffairs。
Modernhistory，intheory，rejectsboththeseprinciples。
Itwouldseemthathavingrejectedthebeliefoftheancientsin
man’ssubjectiontotheDeityandinapredeterminedaimtoward
whichnationsareled，modernhistoryshouldstudynotthe
manifestationsofpowerbutthecausesthatproduceit。Butmodern
historyhasnotdonethis。Havingintheoryrejectedtheviewheld
bytheancients，itstillfollowstheminpractice。
Insteadofmenendowedwithdivineauthorityanddirectlyguided
bythewillofGod，modernhistoryhasgivenuseitherheroes
endowedwithextraordinary，superhumancapacities，orsimplymenof
veryvariouskinds，frommonarchstojournalists，wholeadthemasses。
InsteadoftheformerdivinelyappointedaimsoftheJewish，Greek，or
Romannations，whichancienthistoriansregardedasrepresentingthe
progressofhumanity，modernhistoryhaspostulateditsownaims—
thewelfareoftheFrench，German，orEnglishpeople，or，inits
highestabstraction，thewelfareandcivilizationofhumanityin
general，bywhichisusuallymeantthatofthepeoplesoccupyinga
smallnorthwesterlyportionofalargecontinent。
Modernhistoryhasrejectedthebeliefsoftheancientswithout
replacingthembyanewconception，andthelogicofthesituationhas
obligedthehistorians，aftertheyhadapparentlyrejectedthe
divineauthorityofthekingsandthe\"fate\"oftheancients，toreach
thesameconclusionbyanotherroad，thatis，torecognize1nations
guidedbyindividualmen，and2theexistenceofaknownaimto
whichthesenationsandhumanityatlargearetending。
AtthebasisoftheworksofallthemodernhistoriansfromGibbon
toBuckle，despitetheirseemingdisagreementsandtheapparent
noveltyoftheiroutlooks，liethosetwoold，unavoidableassumptions。
Inthefirstplacethehistoriandescribestheactivityof
individualswhoinhisopinionhavedirectedhumanityonehistorian
considersonlymonarchs，generals，andministersasbeingsuchmen，
whileanotherincludesalsoorators，learnedmen，reformers，
philosophers，andpoets。Secondly，itisassumedthatthegoaltoward
whichhumanityisbeingledisknowntothehistorians：tooneofthem
thisgoalisthegreatnessoftheRoman，Spanish，orFrenchrealm；
toanotheritisliberty，equality，andacertainkindofcivilization
ofasmallcorneroftheworldcalledEurope。
In1789afermentarisesinParis；itgrows，spreads，andis
expressedbyamovementofpeoplesfromwesttoeast。Severaltimesit
moveseastwardandcollideswithacountermovementfromtheeast
westward。In1812itreachesitsextremelimit，Moscow，andthen，with
remarkablesymmetry，acountermovementoccursfromeasttowest，
attractingtoit，asthefirstmovementhaddone，thenationsof
middleEurope。Thecountermovementreachesthestartingpointof
thefirstmovementinthewest—Paris—andsubsides。
Duringthattwenty—yearperiodanimmensenumberoffieldswereleft
untilled，houseswereburned，tradechangeditsdirection，millionsof
menmigrated，wereimpoverished，orwereenriched，andmillionsof
Christianmenprofessingthelawofloveoftheirfellowsslewone
another。
Whatdoesallthismean？Whydidithappen？Whatmadethosepeople
burnhousesandslaytheirfellowmen？Whatwerethecausesofthese
events？Whatforcemademenactso？Thesearetheinstinctive，
plain，andmostlegitimatequestionshumanityasksitselfwhenit
encountersthemonumentsandtraditionofthatperiod。
Forareplytothesequestionsthecommonsenseofmankindturns
tothescienceofhistory，whoseaimistoenablenationsandhumanity
toknowthemselves。
Ifhistoryhadretainedtheconceptionoftheancientsitwouldhave
saidthatGod，torewardorpunishhispeople，gaveNapoleonpowerand
directedhiswilltothefulfillmentofthedivineends，andthat
reply，wouldhavebeenclearandcomplete。Onemightbelieveor
disbelieveinthedivinesignificanceofNapoleon，butforanyone
believinginittherewouldhavebeennothingunintelligibleinthe
historyofthatperiod，norwouldtherehavebeenanycontradictions。
Butmodernhistorycannotgivethatreply。Sciencedoesnotadmit
theconceptionoftheancientsastothedirectparticipationofthe
Deityinhumanaffairs，andthereforehistoryoughttogiveother
answers。
Modernhistoryreplyingtothesequestionssays：youwanttoknow
whatthismovementmeans，whatcausedit，andwhatforceproduced
theseevents？Thenlisten：
\"LouisXIVwasaveryproudandself—confidentman；hehadsuch
andsuchmistressesandsuchandsuchministersandheruledFrance
badly。HisdescendantswereweakmenandtheytooruledFrance
badly。Andtheyhadsuchandsuchfavoritesandsuchandsuch
mistresses。Moreover，certainmenwrotesomebooksatthattime。At
theendoftheeighteenthcenturytherewereacoupleofdozenmen
inPariswhobegantotalkaboutallmenbeingfreeandequal。This
causedpeoplealloverFrancetobegintoslashatanddrownone
another。Theykilledthekingandmanyotherpeople。Atthattime
therewasinFranceamanofgenius—Napoleon。Heconquered
everybodyeverywhere—thatis，hekilledmanypeoplebecausehewas
agreatgenius。AndforsomereasonhewenttokillAfricans，and
killedthemsowellandwassocunningandwisethatwhenhe
returnedtoFranceheorderedeverybodytoobeyhim，andtheyall
obeyedhim。HavingbecomeanEmperorheagainwentouttokill
peopleinItaly，Austria，andPrussia。Andtheretoohekilledagreat
many。InRussiatherewasanEmperor，Alexander，whodecidedto
restoreorderinEuropeandthereforefoughtagainstNapoleon。In1807
hesuddenlymadefriendswithhim，butin1811theyagainquarreled
andagainbegankillingmanypeople。Napoleonledsixhundredthousand
menintoRussiaandcapturedMoscow；thenhesuddenlyranawayfrom
Moscow，andtheEmperorAlexander，helpedbytheadviceofSteinand
others，unitedEuropetoarmagainstthedisturberofitspeace。All
Napoleon’salliessuddenlybecamehisenemiesandtheirforces
advancedagainstthefreshforcesheraised。TheAlliesdefeated
Napoleon，enteredParis，forcedNapoleontoabdicate，andsenthim
totheislandofElba，notdeprivinghimofthetitleofEmperorand
showinghimeveryrespect，thoughfiveyearsbeforeandoneyearlater
theyallregardedhimasanoutlawandabrigand。ThenLouisXVIII，
whotillthenhadbeenthelaughingstockbothoftheFrenchandthe
Allies，begantoreign。AndNapoleon，sheddingtearsbeforehisOld
Guards，renouncedthethroneandwentintoexile。Thentheskillful
statesmenanddiplomatistsespeciallyTalleyrand，whomanagedto
sitdowninaparticularchairbeforeanyoneelseandtherebyextended
thefrontiersofFrancetalkedinViennaandbytheseconversations
madethenationshappyorunhappy。Suddenlythediplomatistsand
monarchsnearlyquarreledandwereonthepointofagainordering
theirarmiestokilloneanother，butjustthenNapoleonarrivedin
Francewithabattalion，andtheFrench，whohadbeenhatinghim，
immediatelyallsubmittedtohim。ButtheAlliedmonarchswereangry
atthisandwenttofighttheFrenchoncemore。Andtheydefeated
thegeniusNapoleonand，suddenlyrecognizinghimasabrigand，sent
himtotheislandofSt。Helena。Andtheexile，separatedfromthe
belovedFrancesodeartohisheart，diedalingeringdeathonthat
rockandbequeathedhisgreatdeedstoposterity。ButinEuropea
reactionoccurredandthesovereignsonceagainallbegantooppress
theirsubjects。\"
Itwouldbeamistaketothinkthatthisisironic—acaricature
ofthehistoricalaccounts。Onthecontraryitisaverymild
expressionofthecontradictoryreplies，notmeetingthequestions，
whichallthehistoriansgive，fromthecompilersofmemoirsandthe
historiesofseparatestatestothewritersofgeneralhistoriesand
thenewhistoriesofthecultureofthatperiod。
Thestrangenessandabsurdityoftheserepliesarisefromthefact
thatmodernhistory，likeadeafman，answersquestionsnoonehas
asked。
Ifthepurposeofhistorybetogiveadescriptionofthemovement
ofhumanityandofthepeoples，thefirstquestion—intheabsence
ofareplytowhichalltherestwillbeincomprehensible—is：whatis
thepowerthatmovespeoples？Tothis，modernhistorylaboriously
replieseitherthatNapoleonwasagreatgenius，orthatLouisXIVwas
veryproud，orthatcertainwriterswrotecertainbooks。
Allthatmaybesoandmankindisreadytoagreewithit，butit
isnotwhatwasasked。Allthatwouldbeinterestingifwe
recognizedadivinepowerbasedonitselfandalwaysconsistently
directingitsnationsthroughNapoleons，Louis—es，andwriters；butwe
donotacknowledgesuchapower，andthereforebeforespeakingabout
Napoleons，Louis—es，andauthors，weoughttobeshownthe
connectionexistingbetweenthesemenandthemovementofthenations。
Ifinsteadofadivinepowersomeotherforcehasappeared，it
shouldbeexplainedinwhatthisnewforceconsists，forthewhole
interestofhistoryliespreciselyinthatforce。
Historyseemstoassumethatthisforceisself—evidentandknownto
everyone。Butinspiteofeverydesiretoregarditasknown，anyone
readingmanyhistoricalworkscannothelpdoubtingwhetherthisnew
force，sovariouslyunderstoodbythehistoriansthemselves，isreally
quitewellknowntoeverybody。
EP2CH2
CHAPTERII
Whatforcemovesthenations？
Biographicalhistoriansandhistoriansofseparatenations
understandthisforceasapowerinherentinheroesandrulers。In
theirnarrationeventsoccursolelybythewillofaNapoleon，and
Alexander，oringeneralofthepersonstheydescribe。Theanswers
givenbythiskindofhistoriantothequestionofwhatforcecauses
eventstohappenaresatisfactoryonlyaslongasthereisbutone
historiantoeachevent。Assoonashistoriansofdifferent
nationalitiesandtendenciesbegintodescribethesameevent，the
repliestheygiveimmediatelyloseallmeaning，forthisforceis
understoodbythemallnotonlydifferentlybutofteninquite
contradictoryways。Onehistoriansaysthataneventwasproducedby
Napoleon’spower，anotherthatitwasproducedbyAlexander’s，athird
thatitwasduetothepowerofsomeotherperson。Besidesthis，
historiansofthatkindcontradicteachotherevenintheir
statementastotheforceonwhichtheauthorityofsomeparticular
personwasbased。Thiers，aBonapartist，saysthatNapoleon’spower
wasbasedonhisvirtueandgenius。Lanfrey，aRepublican，saysitwas
basedonhistrickeryanddeceptionofthepeople。Sothehistorians
ofthisclass，bymutuallydestroyingoneanother’spositions，destroy
theunderstandingoftheforcewhichproducesevents，andfurnishno
replytohistory’sessentialquestion。
Writersofuniversalhistorywhodealwithallthenationsseemto
recognizehowerroneousisthespecialisthistorians’viewofthe
forcewhichproducesevents。Theydonotrecognizeitasapower
inherentinheroesandrulers，butastheresultantofa
multiplicityofvariouslydirectedforces。Indescribingawaror
thesubjugationofapeople，ageneralhistorianlooksforthecause
oftheeventnotinthepowerofoneman，butintheinteractionof
manypersonsconnectedwiththeevent。
Accordingtothisviewthepowerofhistoricalpersonages，
representedastheproductofmanyforces，cannolonger，itwould
seem，beregardedasaforcethatitselfproducesevents。Yetin
mostcasesuniversalhistoriansstillemploytheconceptionofpower
asaforcethatitselfproducesevents，andtreatitastheircause。
Intheirexposition，anhistoriccharacterisfirsttheproductofhis
time，andhispoweronlytheresultantofvariousforces，andthenhis
powerisitselfaforceproducingevents。Gervinus，Schlosser，and
others，forinstance，atonetimeproveNapoleontobeaproductof
theRevolution，oftheideasof1789andsoforth，andatanother
plainlysaythatthecampaignof1812andotherthingstheydonot
likeweresimplytheproductofNapoleon’smisdirectedwill，and
thattheveryideasof1789werearrestedintheirdevelopmentby
Napoleon’scaprice。TheideasoftheRevolutionandthegeneraltemper
oftheageproducedNapoleon’spower。ButNapoleon’spower
suppressedtheideasoftheRevolutionandthegeneraltemperofthe
age。
Thiscuriouscontradictionisnotaccidental。Notonlydoesitoccur
ateverystep，buttheuniversalhistorians’accountsareallmade
upofachainofsuchcontradictions。Thiscontradictionoccurs
becauseafterenteringthefieldofanalysistheuniversal
historiansstophalfway。
Tofindcomponentforcesequaltothecompositeorresultant
force，thesumofthecomponentsmustequaltheresultant。This
conditionisneverobservedbytheuniversalhistorians，andsoto
explaintheresultantforcestheyareobligedtoadmit，inadditionto
theinsufficientcomponents，anotherunexplainedforceaffectingthe
resultantaction。
Specialisthistoriansdescribingthecampaignof1813orthe
restorationoftheBourbonsplainlyassertthattheseeventswere
producedbythewillofAlexander。Buttheuniversalhistorian
Gervinus，refutingthisopinionofthespecialisthistorian，tries
toprovethatthecampaignof1813andtherestorationoftheBourbons
wereduetootherthingsbesideAlexander’swill—suchastheactivity
ofStein，Metternich，MadamedeStael，Talleyrand，Fichte
Chateaubriand，andothers。Thehistorianevidentlydecomposes
Alexander’spowerintothecomponents：Talleyrand，Chateaubriand，
andtherest—butthesumofthecomponents，thatis，theinteractions
ofChateaubriand，Talleyrand，MadamedeStael，andtheothers，
evidentlydoesnotequaltheresultant，namelythephenomenonof
millionsofFrenchmensubmittingtotheBourbons。That
Chateaubriand，MadamedeStael，andothersspokecertainwordsto
oneanotheronlyaffectedtheirmutualrelationsbutdoesnot
accountforthesubmissionofmillions。Andthereforetoexplainhow
fromtheserelationsoftheirsthesubmissionofmillionsofpeople
resulted—thatis，howcomponentforcesequaltooneAgavea
resultantequaltoathousandtimesA—thehistorianisagain
obligedtofallbackonpower—theforcehehaddenied—andto
recognizeitastheresultantoftheforces，thatis，hehasto
admitanunexplainedforceactingontheresultant。Andthatisjust
whattheuniversalhistoriansdo，andconsequentlytheynotonly
contradictthespecialisthistoriansbutcontradictthemselves。
Peasantshavingnoclearideaofthecauseofrain，say，according
towhethertheywantrainorfineweather：\"Thewindhasblownthe
cloudsaway，\"or，\"Thewindhasbroughtuptheclouds。\"Andinthe
samewaytheuniversalhistorianssometimes，whenitpleasesthem
andfitsinwiththeirtheory，saythatpoweristheresultofevents，
andsometimes，whentheywanttoprovesomethingelse，saythat
powerproducesevents。
Athirdclassofhistorians—theso—calledhistoriansofculture—
followingthepathlaiddownbytheuniversalhistorianswhosometimes
acceptwritersandladiesasforcesproducingevents—againtake
thatforcetobesomethingquitedifferent。Theyseeitinwhatis
calledculture—inmentalactivity。
Thehistoriansofculturearequiteconsistentinregardtotheir
progenitors，thewritersofuniversalhistories，forifhistorical
eventsmaybeexplainedbythefactthatcertainpersonstreatedone
anotherinsuchandsuchways，whynotexplainthembythefactthat
suchandsuchpeoplewrotesuchandsuchbooks？Oftheimmense
numberofindicationsaccompanyingeveryvitalphenomenon，these
historiansselecttheindicationofintellectualactivityandsaythat
thisindicationisthecause。Butdespitetheirendeavorstoprove
thatthecauseofeventsliesinintellectualactivity，onlybya
greatstretchcanoneadmitthatthereisanyconnectionbetween
intellectualactivityandthemovementofpeoples，andinnocase
canoneadmitthatintellectualactivitycontrolspeople’sactions，
forthatviewisnotconfirmedbysuchfactsastheverycruelmurders
oftheFrenchRevolutionresultingfromthedoctrineoftheequality
ofman，ortheverycruelwarsandexecutionsresultingfromthe
preachingoflove。
Butevenadmittingascorrectallthecunninglydevisedarguments
withwhichthesehistoriesarefilled—admittingthatnationsare
governedbysomeundefinedforcecalledanidea—history’sessential
questionstillremainsunanswered，andtotheformerpowerofmonarchs
andtotheinfluenceofadvisersandotherpeopleintroducedbythe
universalhistorians，another，newerforce—theidea—isadded，the
connectionofwhichwiththemassesneedsexplanation。Itis
possibletounderstandthatNapoleonhadpowerandsoeventsoccurred；
withsomeeffortonemayevenconceivethatNapoleontogetherwith
otherinfluenceswasthecauseofanevent；buthowabook，LeContrat
social，hadtheeffectofmakingFrenchmenbegintodrownone
anothercannotbeunderstoodwithoutanexplanationofthecausal
nexusofthisnewforcewiththeevent。
Undoubtedlysomerelationexistsbetweenallwholive
contemporaneously，andsoitispossibletofindsomeconnection
betweentheintellectualactivityofmenandtheirhistorical
movements，justassuchaconnectionmaybefoundbetweenthe
movementsofhumanityandcommerce，handicraft，gardening，oranything
elseyouplease。Butwhyintellectualactivityisconsideredbythe
historiansofculturetobethecauseorexpressionofthewhole
historicalmovementishardtounderstand。Onlythefollowing
considerationscanhaveledthehistorianstosuchaconclusion：1
thathistoryiswrittenbylearnedmen，andsoitisnaturaland
agreeableforthemtothinkthattheactivityoftheirclass
suppliesthebasisofthemovementofallhumanity，justasa
similarbeliefisnaturalandagreeabletotraders，agriculturists，
andsoldiersiftheydonotexpressit，thatismerelybecause
tradersandsoldiersdonotwritehistory，and2thatspiritual
activity，enlightenment，civilization，culture，ideas，areall
indistinct，indefiniteconceptionsunderwhosebanneritisvery
easytousewordshavingastilllessdefinitemeaning，andwhich
canthereforebereadilyintroducedintoanytheory。
Butnottospeakoftheintrinsicqualityofhistoriesofthis
kindwhichmaypossiblyevenbeofusetosomeoneforsomething
thehistoriesofculture，towhichallgeneralhistoriestendmoreand
moretoapproximate，aresignificantfromthefactthatafter
seriouslyandminutelyexaminingvariousreligious，philosophic，and
politicaldoctrinesascausesofevents，assoonastheyhaveto
describeanactualhistoriceventsuchasthecampaignof1812for
instance，theyinvoluntarilydescribeitasresultingfromanexercise
ofpower—andsayplainlythatthatwastheresultofNapoleon’swill。
Speakingso，thehistoriansofcultureinvoluntarilycontradict
themselves，andshowthatthenewforcetheyhavedeviseddoesnot
accountforwhathappensinhistory，andthathistorycanonlybe
explainedbyintroducingapowerwhichtheyapparentlydonot
recognize。
EP2CH3
CHAPTERIII
Alocomotiveismoving。Someoneasks：\"Whatmovesit？\"Apeasant
saysthedevilmovesit。Anothermansaysthelocomotivemovesbecause
itswheelsgoround。Athirdassertsthatthecauseofitsmovement
liesinthesmokewhichthewindcarriesaway。
Thepeasantisirrefutable。Hehasdevisedacompleteexplanation。
Torefutehimsomeonewouldhavetoprovetohimthatthereisno
devil，oranotherpeasantwouldhavetoexplaintohimthatitis
notthedevilbutaGerman，whomovesthelocomotive。Onlythen，as
aresultofthecontradiction，willtheyseethattheyarebothwrong。
Butthemanwhosaysthatthemovementofthewheelsisthecause
refuteshimself，forhavingoncebeguntoanalyzeheoughttogoon
andexplainfurtherwhythewheelsgoround；andtillhehasreached
theultimatecauseofthemovementofthelocomotiveinthepressure
ofsteamintheboiler，hehasnorighttostopinhissearchfor
thecause。Themanwhoexplainsthemovementofthelocomotiveby
thesmokethatiscarriedbackhasnoticedthatthewheelsdonot
supplyanexplanationandhastakenthefirstsignthatoccursto
himandinhisturnhasofferedthatasanexplanation。
Theonlyconceptionthatcanexplainthemovementofthe
locomotiveisthatofaforcecommensuratewiththemovementobserved。
Theonlyconceptionthatcanexplainthemovementofthepeoples
isthatofsomeforcecommensuratewiththewholemovementofthe
peoples。
Yettosupplythisconceptionvarioushistorianstakeforcesof
differentkinds，allofwhichareincommensuratewiththemovement
observed。Someseeitasaforcedirectlyinherentinheroes，asthe
peasantseesthedevilinthelocomotive；othersasaforce
resultingfromseveralotherforces，likethemovementofthe
wheels；othersagainasanintellectualinfluence，likethesmokethat
isblownaway。
Solongashistoriesarewrittenofseparateindividuals，whether
Caesars，Alexanders，Luthers，orVoltaires，andnotthehistoriesof
all，absolutelyallthosewhotakepartinanevent，itisquite
impossibletodescribethemovementofhumanitywithouttheconception
ofaforcecompellingmentodirecttheiractivitytowardacertain
end。Andtheonlysuchconceptionknowntohistoriansisthatof
power。
Thisconceptionistheonehandlebymeansofwhichthematerial
ofhistory，asatpresentexpounded，canbedealtwith，andanyonewho
breaksthathandleoff，asBuckledid，withoutfindingsomeother
methodoftreatinghistoricalmaterial，merelydepriveshimselfofthe
onepossiblewayofdealingwithit。Thenecessityoftheconception
ofpowerasanexplanationofhistoricaleventsisbestdemonstrated
bytheuniversalhistoriansandhistoriansofculturethemselves，
fortheyprofessedlyrejectthatconceptionbutinevitablyhave
recoursetoitateverystep。
Indealingwithhumanity’sinquiry，thescienceofhistoryuptonow
islikemoneyincirculation—papermoneyandcoin。Thebiographies
andspecialnationalhistoriesarelikepapermoney。Theycanbe
usedandcancirculateandfulfilltheirpurposewithoutharmto
anyoneandevenadvantageously，aslongasnooneaskswhatisthe
securitybehindthem。Youneedonlyforgettoaskhowthewillof
heroesproducesevents，andsuchhistoriesasThiers’willbe
interestingandinstructiveandmayperhapsevenpossessatingeof
poetry。Butjustasdoubtsoftherealvalueofpapermoneyarise
eitherbecause，beingeasytomake，toomuchofitgetsmadeor
becausepeopletrytoexchangeitforgold，soalsodoubts
concerningtherealvalueofsuchhistoriesariseeitherbecausetoo
manyofthemarewrittenorbecauseinhissimplicityofheartsomeone
inquires：bywhatforcedidNapoleondothis？—thatis，wantsto
exchangethecurrentpapermoneyfortherealgoldofactual
comprehension。
Thewritersofuniversalhistoriesandofthehistoryofcultureare
likepeoplewho，recognizingthedefectsofpapermoney，decideto
substituteforitmoneymadeofmetalthathasnotthespecific
gravityofgold。Itmayindeedmakejinglingcoin，butwilldonomore
thanthat。Papermoneymaydeceivetheignorant，butnobodyis
deceivedbytokensofbasemetalthathavenovaluebutmerelyjingle。
Asgoldisgoldonlyifitisserviceablenotmerelyforexchange
butalsoforuse，souniversalhistorianswillbevaluableonlywhen
theycanreplytohistory’sessentialquestion：whatispower？The
universalhistoriansgivecontradictoryrepliestothatquestion，
whilethehistoriansofcultureevadeitandanswersomethingquite
different。Andascountersofimitationgoldcanbeusedonlyamong
agroupofpeoplewhoagreetoacceptthemasgold，oramongthosewho
donotknowthenatureofgold，souniversalhistoriansandhistorians
ofculture，notansweringhumanity’sessentialquestion，serveas
currencyforsomepurposesoftheirown，onlyinuniversitiesand
amongthemassofreaderswhohaveatasteforwhattheycall\"serious
reading。\"
EP2CH4
CHAPTERIV
Havingabandonedtheconceptionoftheancientsastothedivine
subjectionofthewillofanationtosomechosenmanandthe
subjectionofthatman’swilltotheDeity，historycannotwithout
contradictionstakeasinglesteptillithaschosenoneoftwo
things：eitherareturntotheformerbeliefinthedirect
interventionoftheDeityinhumanaffairsoradefiniteexplanation
ofthemeaningoftheforceproducinghistoricaleventsandtermed
\"power。\"
Areturntothefirstisimpossible，thebeliefhasbeen
destroyed；andsoitisessentialtoexplainwhatismeantbypower。
Napoleonorderedanarmytoberaisedandgotowar。Weareso
accustomedtothatideaandhavebecomesousedtoitthatthe
question：whydidsixhundredthousandmengotofightwhenNapoleon
utteredcertainwords，seemstoussenseless。Hehadthepowerand
sowhatheorderedwasdone。
Thisreplyisquitesatisfactoryifwebelievethatthepowerwas
givenhimbyGod。Butassoonaswedonotadmitthat，itbecomes
essentialtodeterminewhatisthispowerofonemanoverothers。
Itcannotbethedirectphysicalpowerofastrongmanoveraweak
one—adominationbasedontheapplicationorthreatofphysical
force，likethepowerofHercules；norcanitbebasedontheeffect
ofmoralforce，asintheirsimplicitysomehistoriansthinkwhosay
thattheleadingfiguresinhistoryareheroes，thatis，mengifted
withaspecialstrengthofsoulandmindcalledgenius。Thispower
cannotbebasedonthepredominanceofmoralstrength，for，notto
mentionheroessuchasNapoleonaboutwhosemoralqualitiesopinions
differwidely，historyshowsusthatneitheraLouisXInora
Metternich，whoruledovermillionsofpeople，hadanyparticular
moralqualities，butonthecontraryweregenerallymorallyweaker
thananyofthemillionstheyruledover。
Ifthesourceofpowerliesneitherinthephysicalnorinthemoral
qualitiesofhimwhopossessesit，itmustevidentlybelookedfor
elsewhere—intherelationtothepeopleofthemanwhowieldsthe
power。
Andthatishowpowerisunderstoodbythescienceofjurisprudence，
thatexchangebankofhistorywhichofferstoexchangehistory’s
understandingofpowerfortruegold。
Poweristhecollectivewillofthepeopletransferred，byexpressed
ortacitconsent，totheirchosenrulers。
Inthedomainofjurisprudence，whichconsistsofdiscussionsofhow
astateandpowermightbearrangedwereitpossibleforallthatto
bearranged，itisallveryclear；butwhenappliedtohistorythat
definitionofpowerneedsexplanation。
Thescienceofjurisprudenceregardsthestateandpowerasthe
ancientsregardedfire—namely，assomethingexistingabsolutely。
Butforhistory，thestateandpoweraremerelyphenomena，justasfor
modernphysicsfireisnotanelementbutaphenomenon。
Fromthisfundamentaldifferencebetweentheviewheldbyhistory
andthatheldbyjurisprudence，itfollowsthatjurisprudencecantell
minutelyhowinitsopinionpowershouldbeconstitutedandwhat
power—existingimmutablyoutsidetime—is，buttohistory’squestions
aboutthemeaningofthemutationsofpowerintimeitcananswer
nothing。
Ifpowerbethecollectivewillofthepeopletransferredtotheir
ruler，wasPugachevarepresentativeofthewillofthepeople？If
not，thenwhywasNapoleonI？WhywasNapoleonIIIacriminalwhen
hewastakenprisoneratBoulogne，andwhy，lateron，werethose
criminalswhomhearrested？
Dopalacerevolutions—inwhichsometimesonlytwoorthreepeople
takepart—transferthewillofthepeopletoanewruler？In
internationalrelations，isthewillofthepeoplealsotransferredto
theirconqueror？WasthewilloftheConfederationoftheRhine
transferredtoNapoleonin1806？WasthewilloftheRussianpeople
transferredtoNapoleonin1809，whenourarmyinalliancewiththe
FrenchwenttofighttheAustrians？
Tothesequestionsthreeanswersarepossible：
Eithertoassume1thatthewillofthepeopleisalways
unconditionallytransferredtotherulerorrulerstheyhavechosen，
andthatthereforeeveryemergenceofanewpower，everystruggle
againstthepoweronceappointed，shouldbeabsolutelyregardedas
aninfringementoftherealpower；or2thatthewillofthe
peopleistransferredtotherulersconditionally，underdefinite
andknownconditions，andtoshowthatalllimitations，conflicts，and
evendestructionsofpowerresultfromanonobservancebytherulers
oftheconditionsunderwhichtheirpowerwasentrustedtothem；or
3thatthewillofthepeopleisdelegatedtotherulers
conditionally，butthattheconditionsareunknownandindefinite，and
thattheappearanceofseveralauthorities，theirstrugglesand
theirfalls，resultsolelyfromthegreaterorlesserfulfillmentby
therulersoftheseunknownconditionsonwhichthewillofthepeople
istransferredfromsomepeopletoothers。
Andthesearethethreewaysinwhichthehistoriansdoexplain
therelationofthepeopletotheirrulers。
Somehistorians—thosebiographicalandspecialisthistorians
alreadyreferredto—intheirsimplicityfailingtounderstandthe
questionofthemeaningofpower，seemtoconsiderthatthecollective
willofthepeopleisunconditionallytransferredtohistorical
persons，andthereforewhendescribingsomesinglestatetheyassume
thatparticularpowertobetheoneabsoluteandrealpower，and
thatanyotherforceopposingthisisnotapowerbutaviolationof
power—mereviolence。
Theirtheory，suitableforprimitiveandpeacefulperiodsof
history，hastheinconvenience—inapplicationtocomplexandstormy
periodsinthelifeofnationsduringwhichvariouspowersarise
simultaneouslyandstrugglewithoneanother—thataLegitimist
historianwillprovethattheNationalConvention，theDirectory，
andBonaparteweremereinfringersofthetruepower，whilea
RepublicanandaBonapartistwillprove：theonethattheConvention
andtheotherthattheEmpirewastherealpower，andthatallthe
otherswereviolationsofpower。Evidentlytheexplanations
furnishedbythesehistoriansbeingmutuallycontradictorycanonly
satisfyyoungchildren。
Recognizingthefalsityofthisviewofhistory，anothersetof
historianssaythatpowerrestsonaconditionaldelegationofthe
willofthepeopletotheirrulers，andthathistoricalleadershave
poweronlyconditionallyoncarryingouttheprogramthatthewill
ofthepeoplehasbytacitagreementprescribedtothem。Butwhatthis
programconsistsinthesehistoriansdonotsay，oriftheydothey
continuallycontradictoneanother。
Eachhistorian，accordingtohisviewofwhatconstitutesanation’s
progress，looksfortheseconditionsinthegreatness，wealth，
freedom，orenlightenmentofcitizensofFranceorsomeothercountry。
Butnottomentionthehistorians’contradictionsastothenature
ofthisprogram—orevenadmittingthatsomeonegeneralprogramof
theseconditionsexists—thefactsofhistoryalmostalwayscontradict
thattheory。Iftheconditionsunderwhichpowerisentrusted
consistinthewealth，freedom，andenlightenmentofthepeople，how
isitthatLouisXIVandIvantheTerribleendtheirreigns
tranquilly，whileLouisXVIandCharlesIareexecutedbytheir
people？TothisquestionhistoriansreplythatLouisXIV’sactivity，
contrarytotheprogram，reactedonLouisXVI。Butwhydiditnot
reactonLouisXIVoronLouisXV—whyshoulditreactjustonLouis
XVI？Andwhatisthetimelimitforsuchreactions？Tothesequestions
thereareandcanbenoanswers。Equallylittledoesthisviewexplain
whyforseveralcenturiesthecollectivewillisnotwithdrawnfrom
certainrulersandtheirheirs，andthensuddenlyduringaperiodof
fiftyyearsistransferredtotheConvention，totheDirectory，to
Napoleon，toAlexander，toLouisXVIII，toNapoleonagain，to
CharlesX，toLouisPhilippe，toaRepublicangovernment，andto
NapoleonIII。Whenexplainingtheserapidtransfersofthepeople’s
willfromfromoneindividualtoanother，especiallyinviewof
internationalrelations，conquests，andalliances，thehistorians
areobligedtoadmitthatsomeofthesetransfersarenotnormal
delegationsofthepeople’swillbutareaccidentsdependenton
cunning，onmistakes，oncraft，orontheweaknessofadiplomatist，a
ruler，orapartyleader。Sothatthegreaterpartoftheeventsof
history—civilwars，revolutions，andconquests—arepresentedby
thesehistoriansnotastheresultsoffreetransferencesofthe
people’swill，butasresultsoftheill—directedwillofoneor
moreindividuals，thatis，onceagain，asusurpationsofpower。Andso
thesehistoriansalsoseeandadmithistoricaleventswhichare
exceptionstothetheory。
Thesehistoriansresembleabotanistwho，havingnoticedthatsome
plantsgrowfromseedsproducingtwocotyledons，shouldinsistthat
allthatgrowsdoessobysproutingintotwoleaves，andthatthe
palm，themushroom，andeventheoak，whichblossomintofullgrowth
andnolongerresembletwoleaves，aredeviationsfromthetheory。
Historiansofthethirdclassassumethatthewillofthepeople
istransferredtohistoricpersonagesconditionally，butthatthe
conditionsareunknowntous。Theysaythathistoricalpersonageshave
poweronlybecausetheyfulfillthewillofthepeoplewhichhas
beendelegatedtothem。
Butinthatcase，iftheforcethatmovesnationsliesnotinthe
historicleadersbutinthenationsthemselves，whatsignificancehave
thoseleaders？
Theleaders，thesehistorianstellus，expressthewillofthe
people：theactivityoftheleadersrepresentstheactivityofthe
people。
Butinthatcasethequestionariseswhetheralltheactivityofthe
leadersservesasanexpressionofthepeople’swilloronlysomepart
ofit。Ifthewholeactivityoftheleadersservesastheexpression
ofthepeople’swill，assomehistorianssuppose，thenallthedetails
ofthecourtscandalscontainedinthebiographiesofaNapoleonor
aCatherineservetoexpressthelifeofthenation，whichis
evidentnonsense；butifitisonlysomeparticularsideofthe
activityofanhistoricalleaderwhichservestoexpressthe
people’slife，asotherso—called\"philosophical\"historians
believe，thentodeterminewhichsideoftheactivityofaleader
expressesthenation’slife，wehavefirstofalltoknowinwhat
thenation’slifeconsists。