Війна і мир

Chapter 3

           

           “Sire,”hesaid,withrespectfulplayfulness,“theyareonlyafraidlestYourMajesty,inthegoodnessofyourheart,shouldallowyourselftobepersuadedtomakepeace.Theyareburningforthecombat,”declaredthisrepresentativeoftheRussiannation,“andtoprovetoYourMajestybythesacrificeoftheirliveshowdevotedtheyare....”

           “Ah!”saidtheEmperorreassured,andwithakindlygleaminhiseyes,hepattedMichaudontheshoulder.“Yousetmeatease,Colonel.”

           Hebenthisheadandwassilentforsometime.

           “Well,then,gobacktothearmy,”hesaid,drawinghimselfuptohisfullheightandaddressingMichaudwithagraciousandmajesticgesture,“andtellourbravemenandallmygoodsubjectswhereveryougothatwhenIhavenotasoldierleftIshallputmyselfattheheadofmybelovednobilityandmygoodpeasantsandsousethelastresourcesofmyempire.Itstilloffersmemorethanmyenemiessuppose,”saidtheEmperorgrowingmoreandmoreanimated;“butshoulditeverbeordainedbyDivineProvidence,”hecontinued,raisingtoheavenhisfineeyesshiningwithemotion,“thatmydynastyshouldceasetoreignonthethroneofmyancestors,thenafterexhaustingallthemeansatmycommand,Ishallletmybeardgrowtohere”(hepointedhalfwaydownhischest)“andgoandeatpotatoeswiththemeanestofmypeasants,ratherthansignthedisgraceofmycountryandofmybelovedpeoplewhosesacrificesIknowhowtoappreciate

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