Війна і мир

Chapter 25

           

           “Soyouthinkweshallwintomorrow’sbattle?”askedPierre.

           “Yes,yes,”answeredPrinceAndrewabsently.“OnethingIwoulddoifIhadthepower,”hebeganagain,“Iwouldnottakeprisoners.Whytakeprisoners?It’schivalry!TheFrenchhavedestroyedmyhomeandareontheirwaytodestroyMoscow,theyhaveoutragedandareoutragingmeeverymoment.Theyaremyenemies.Inmyopiniontheyareallcriminals.AndsothinksTimókhinandthewholearmy.Theyshouldbeexecuted!Sincetheyaremyfoestheycannotbemyfriends,whatevermayhavebeensaidatTilsit.”

           “Yes,yes,”mutteredPierre,lookingwithshiningeyesatPrinceAndrew.“Iquiteagreewithyou!”

           ThequestionthathadperturbedPierreontheMozháyskhillandallthatdaynowseemedtohimquiteclearandcompletelysolved.Henowunderstoodthewholemeaningandimportanceofthiswarandoftheimpendingbattle.Allhehadseenthatday,allthesignificantandsternexpressionsonthefaceshehadseeninpassing,werelitupforhimbyanewlight.Heunderstoodthatlatentheat(astheysayinphysics)ofpatriotismwhichwaspresentinallthesemenhehadseen,andthisexplainedtohimwhytheyallpreparedfordeathcalmly,andasitwerelightheartedly.

           “Nottakeprisoners,”PrinceAndrewcontinued:“Thatbyitselfwouldquitechangethewholewarandmakeitlesscruel.Asitiswehaveplayedatwar—that’swhat’svile!Weplayatmagnanimityandallthatstuff.

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