Война и мир

Chapter 19

           Butmyclemencyisalwaysreadytodescenduponthevanquished.Imustbemagnanimousandtrulygreat.Butno,itcan’tbetruethatIaminMoscow,”hesuddenlythought.“Yetheresheislyingatmyfeet,withhergoldendomesandcrossesscintillatingandtwinklinginthesunshine.ButIshallspareher.OntheancientmonumentsofbarbarismanddespotismIwillinscribegreatwordsofjusticeandmercy....ItisjustthiswhichAlexanderwillfeelmostpainfully,Iknowhim.”(ItseemedtoNapoleonthatthechiefimportofwhatwastakingplacelayinthepersonalstrugglebetweenhimselfandAlexander.)“FromtheheightoftheKrémlin—yes,thereistheKrémlin,yes—Iwillgivethemjustlaws;Iwillteachthemthemeaningoftruecivilization,Iwillmakegenerationsofboyarsremembertheirconquerorwithlove.IwilltellthedeputationthatIdidnot,anddonot,desirewar,thatIhavewagedwaronlyagainstthefalsepolicyoftheircourt;thatIloveandrespectAlexanderandthatinMoscowIwillaccepttermsofpeaceworthyofmyselfandofmypeople.Idonotwishtoutilizethefortunesofwartohumiliateanhonoredmonarch.‘Boyars,’Iwillsaytothem,‘Idonotdesirewar,Idesirethepeaceandwelfareofallmysubjects.’However,Iknowtheirpresencewillinspireme,andIshallspeaktothemasIalwaysdo:clearly,impressively,andmajestically.ButcanitbetruethatIaminMoscow?Yes,thereshelies.”

           “Qu’onm’amènelesboyars,”*saidhetohissuite.

           *“Bringtheboyarstome.”

           Ageneralwithabrilliantsuitegallopedoffatoncetofetchtheboyars.

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