Война и мир

Chapter 5

           

           “Andofstateinteresttosomeextent,”saidPrinceAndrew.

           “Whatdoyoumean?”askedSperánskiquietly,loweringhiseyes.

           “IamanadmirerofMontesquieu,”repliedPrinceAndrew,“andhisideathatleprincipedesmonarchiesestl’honneurmeparaîtincontestable.Certainsdroitsetprivilègesdelanoblessemeparaissentêtredesmoyensdesoutenircesentiment.”*

           *“Theprincipleofmonarchiesishonorseemstome

           incontestable.Certainrightsandprivilegesforthe

           aristocracyappeartomeameansofmaintainingthat

           sentiment.”

           ThesmilevanishedfromSperánski’swhiteface,whichwasmuchimprovedbythechange.ProbablyPrinceAndrew’sthoughtinterestedhim.

           “Sivousenvisagezlaquestionsouscepointdevue,”*hebegan,pronouncingFrenchwithevidentdifficulty,andspeakingevenslowerthaninRussianbutquitecalmly.

           *“Ifyouregardthequestionfromthatpointofview.”

           Speránskiwentontosaythathonor,l’honneur,cannotbeupheldbyprivilegesharmfultotheservice;thathonor,l’honneur,iseitheranegativeconceptofnotdoingwhatisblameworthyoritisasourceofemulationinpursuitofcommendationandrewards,whichrecognizeit.Hisargumentswereconcise,simple,andclear.

           “Aninstitutionupholdinghonor,thesourceofemulation,isonesimilartotheLégiond’honneurofthegreatEmperorNapoleon,notharmfulbuthelpfultothesuccessoftheservice,butnotaclassorcourtprivilege.”

           “Idonotdisputethat,butitcannotbedeniedthatcourtprivilegeshaveattainedthesameend,”returnedPrinceAndrew

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