Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.

CHAPTER X

Prince Vasíli (a powerful nobleman close to the Emperor) kept the promise he had given to Princess Drubetskáya (a noble lady, a princess, with no money, whose son matters more to her than anything) who had spoken to him on behalf of (for) her only son Borís (her son) on the evening of Anna Pávlovna’s (the lady in whose home the story began) soiree (French: evening party). The matter was mentioned to the Emperor, an exception made (the usual rules were not applied to him), and Borís transferred (moved) into the regiment of Semënov Guards (one of the regiments, large army units, that guard the ruler) with the rank of cornet (the lowest rank of officer). He received, however, no appointment (job) to Kutúzov’s (the general who leads the Russian army) staff (group of officers who help a general) despite all Anna Mikháylovna’s (a noble lady, a princess, with no money, whose son matters more to her than anything) endeavors and entreaties (efforts and begging). Soon after Anna Pávlovna’s (the lady in whose home the story began) reception Anna Mikháylovna returned to Moscow (Russia's old capital) and went straight to her rich relations (relatives), the Rostóvs (a rich noble family related to her), with whom she stayed when in the town and where her darling (dearly loved) Bóry (Borís, her son; Bóry is a pet name), who had only just entered a regiment of the line (an ordinary army unit, not the Guards) and was being at once (immediately) transferred to the Guards (moved to the Emperor's best army units) as a cornet (as the lowest rank of officer), had been educated from childhood (had been raised and taught since he was a child) and lived for years at a time (with them for many years without a break). The Guards (the Emperor's best army units, who guard him) had already left Petersburg (St. Petersburg, then the capital of Russia) on the tenth of August (August 10), and her son, who had remained in Moscow for his equipment (to buy his uniform and supplies), was to join them (was going to join them) on the march to Radzivílov (as the soldiers walked west to Radzivílov, a town near Russia's border).

It was St. Natalia’s day (now we are in this family's home. This is the church's day for Saint Natalia, which people named after her celebrate like a birthday) and the name day of two of the Rostóvs—the mother and the youngest daughter—both named Nataly (the Russian name Natalia). Ever since the morning, carriages with six horses had been coming and going continually (arriving and leaving all day), bringing visitors to the Countess Rostóva’s (the lady of the Rostóv family; Rostóva is the woman's form of the name) big house on the Povarskáya (a street in Moscow), so well known to all Moscow. The countess herself (lady of the house in person) and her handsome (good-looking) eldest (oldest) daughter were in the drawing room (the best sitting room, where guests are welcomed) with the visitors who came to congratulate (wish them well), and who constantly succeeded one another in relays (kept arriving, one group after another).

The countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady) was a woman of about forty-five, with a thin Oriental (Eastern, as if from Asia) type of face, evidently worn out with childbearing (clearly weak from giving birth so many times)—she had had twelve. A languor of motion and speech (a slow, tired way of moving and speaking), resulting from (caused by) weakness, gave her a distinguished air which inspired respect (made her look noble, so people respected her). Princess Anna Mikháylovna (a noble lady, a princess, with no money, whose son matters more to her than anything) Drubetskáya, who as a member of the household (as someone who lived with the family) was also seated in the drawing room (the best sitting room, where guests are welcomed), helped to receive and entertain (welcome and talk with) the visitors. The young people were in one of the inner rooms, not considering it necessary (not thinking they needed) to take part in receiving the visitors. The count (master of the house, a nobleman) met the guests and saw them off (walked with them to the door), inviting them all to dinner.

“I am very, very grateful to you, mon cher (French: my dear, said to a man),” or “ma chère (French: my dear, said to a woman)”—he called everyone without exception (every single one) and without the slightest variation in his tone (in exactly the same voice), “my dear,” whether they were above or below him in rank (more or less important than him)—“I thank you for myself (I thank you, from me) and for our two dear ones whose name day we are keeping (whose name day we are celebrating). But mind you come to dinner (be sure to come to dinner) or I shall be offended (I will be hurt), ma chère! On behalf of the whole family (speaking for the whole family) I beg you to come, mon cher!” These words he repeated to everyone (he says exactly the same kind words to every guest) without exception or variation, and with the same expression on his full, cheerful, clean-shaven face (round, happy face with no beard), the same firm pressure of the hand (firm handshake) and the same quick, repeated bows. As soon as he had seen a visitor off (walked a visitor to the door) he returned to one of those who were still in the drawing room (the best sitting room, where guests are welcomed), drew a chair toward him or her (pulled a chair close to the guest), and jauntily (in a lively, easy way) spreading out his legs and putting his hands on his knees with the air of a man (looking like a man) who enjoys life and knows how to live, he swayed to and fro with dignity (rocked back and forth, calm and proud), offered surmises about the weather (made guesses about the weather), or touched on questions of health (talked a little about health), sometimes in Russian and sometimes in very bad but self-confident (sure of itself) French; then again (then, once more), like a man weary but unflinching in the fulfillment of duty (tired but firm in doing his duty), he rose (stood up) to see some visitors off and, stroking (smoothing with his hand) his scanty gray hairs over his bald patch (few gray hairs over the bare spot on his head), also asked them to dinner. Sometimes on his way back from the anteroom (entrance room) he would pass through the conservatory (a glass room for plants) and pantry (a small room where food and dishes are kept) into the large marble (smooth polished stone) dining hall, where tables were being set out (put in place) for eighty people; and looking at the footmen (male servants), who were bringing in silver and china (knives, forks, spoons and fine plates), moving tables, and unfolding damask table linen (tablecloths of fine patterned cloth), he would call Dmítri Vasílevich (the man who runs the count's house and money), a man of good family (a man from a respected family) and the manager of all his affairs (who ran all his business), and while looking with pleasure at the enormous table would say: “Well, Dmítri (so, Dmítri), you’ll see that things are all (you will make sure everything is) as they should be? That’s right! The great thing is the serving (what matters most is how the food is served), that’s it (yes, that is the main thing).” And with a complacent (pleased with himself) sigh he would return to the drawing room (go back to the best sitting room).

“Márya Lvóvna Karágina (a Moscow lady and mother) and her daughter!” announced (said loudly) the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady)’ gigantic (very big) footman (male servant) in his bass voice (very deep voice), entering the drawing room (the best sitting room, where guests are welcomed). The countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady) reflected a moment (thought for a moment) and took a pinch (took a tiny amount) from a gold snuffbox (a gold box of powdered tobacco, taken by sniffing) with her husband’s portrait on it.

“I’m quite worn out by these callers (tired by these visitors). However, I’ll see her and no more (I will see her, but nobody else after her). She is so affected (false in her manner, not natural). Ask her in (tell her to come in),” she said to the footman (male servant) in a sad voice, as if saying (a sad little joke about how tired she is): “Very well (all right then), finish me off (kill me).”

A tall, stout (fat), and proud-looking woman, with a round-faced smiling daughter, entered the drawing room (the best sitting room, where guests are welcomed), their dresses rustling (making soft sounds as the cloth moved).

“Dear Countess (a polite way to greet the countess), what an age (it has been so long)... She has been laid up (she has been sick in bed), poor (unlucky) child ... at the Razumóvski’s (a rich Moscow family) ball (big dancing party) ... and Countess Apráksina (a lady the guests all know) ... I was so delighted (very happy)...” came the sounds of animated feminine voices (lively women's voices), interrupting one another and mingling with (mixing with) the rustling of dresses (the soft sounds of long dresses moving) and the scraping (rough sound as they were pushed) of chairs. Then one of those conversations began (the writer shows the same empty polite talk that every visit has) which last out (continue only) until, at the first pause, the guests rise (the guests stand up) with a rustle of dresses (their dresses making a soft sound) and say, “I am so delighted... Mamma’s (Mother) health... and Countess (Title of a noble lady) Apráksina...” and then, again rustling, pass into the anteroom (entrance room), put on cloaks (long loose coats) or mantles (loose capes), and drive away. The conversation was on the chief topic of the day (the main thing everyone was talking about): the illness of the wealthy (rich) and celebrated beau of Catherine’s day (a famous handsome man, admired by women when Catherine the Great ruled Russia), Count Bezúkhov (a very rich old nobleman), and about his illegitimate (born to parents who were not married) son Pierre (the big young man from Anna Pávlovna's party), the one who had behaved so improperly (acted so badly) at Anna Pávlovna’s (the lady in whose home the story began) reception.

“I am so sorry for the poor (unlucky) count (old Count Bezúkhov, the sick rich nobleman),” said the visitor. “He is in such bad health, and now this vexation (trouble and worry) about his son is enough to kill him!”

“What is that?” asked the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady) as if she did not know what the visitor alluded to (meant), though she had already heard about the cause of Count Bezúkhov’s distress (why Count Bezúkhov was so upset) some fifteen times (about fifteen times).

“That’s what comes of (that is the result of) a modern education,” exclaimed (said loudly) the visitor. “It seems that while he was abroad (in other countries) this young man was allowed to do as he liked, now in Petersburg (Saint Petersburg, the capital of Russia) I hear he has been doing such terrible things that he has been expelled by the police (sent out of the city by the police).”

“You don’t say so! (really? how surprising!)” replied the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady).

“He chose his friends badly,” interposed (added quickly) Anna Mikháylovna (a noble lady, a princess, with no money, whose son matters more to her than anything). “Prince Vasíli’s son, he, and (three young men: the son of Prince Vasíli, a powerful nobleman; Pierre himself; and) a certain Dólokhov (the officer who drank rum on the window ledge) have, it is said, been up to heaven only knows what (doing bad things no one can even name)! And they have had to suffer for it. Dólokhov has been degraded to the ranks (made an ordinary soldier again, no longer an officer) and Bezúkhov’s son (Pierre) sent back to Moscow. Anatole Kurágin’s (the wild younger son of a powerful prince) father managed somehow to get his son’s affair (his son's trouble, the bad thing he did) hushed up (kept secret), but even he (even the son himself) was ordered out of (told to leave) Petersburg.”

“But what have they been up to (what have they done)?” asked the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady).

“They are regular brigands (real robbers, wild men), especially Dólokhov,” replied the visitor. “He is a son of Márya Ivánovna Dólokhova (Dólokhov's mother), such a worthy woman (a good, respectable woman), but there, just fancy! (but imagine!) Those three got hold of (found) a bear somewhere, put it in a carriage, and set off with it (left, taking the bear with them) to visit some actresses! The police tried to interfere (stop them), and what did the young men do? They tied a policeman and the bear back to back (with their backs pressed together) and put the bear into the Moyka Canal (a man-made river in Petersburg). And there was the bear swimming about with the policeman on his back!”

“What a nice figure the policeman must have cut (how silly the policeman must have looked), my dear (a friendly way to speak to the lady visitor)!” shouted the count (master of the house), dying with laughter (laughing very hard).

“Oh, how dreadful (terrible)! How can you laugh at it, Count (master of the house, called by his noble title)?”

Yet the ladies themselves could not help laughing (could not stop themselves laughing).

“It was all they could do to rescue (they only just managed to save) the poor (unlucky) man,” continued the visitor. “And to think (how shocking that) it is Cyril Vladímirovich Bezúkhov’s (the very rich old nobleman) son who amuses himself in this sensible manner (she means the opposite: it was a stupid way to have fun)! And he was said to be so well educated and clever. This is all that his foreign education has done for him! (she mocks him: his costly schooling abroad has made him only this) I hope that here in Moscow no one will receive him (let him visit their homes), in spite of (even with) his money. They wanted to introduce him to me, but I quite declined (said no): I have my daughters to consider (I must protect what people think of my daughters).”

“Why do you say this young man is so rich?” asked the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady), turning away from the girls, who at once (immediately) assumed an air of inattention (pretended not to be listening). “His children (The old count's children) are all illegitimate (born to parents who were not married). I think Pierre also is illegitimate.”

The visitor made a gesture with her hand (waved her hand).

“I should think (I believe) he has a score of them (about twenty of them).”

Princess Anna Mikháylovna (a noble lady, a princess, with no money, whose son matters more to her than anything) intervened in the conversation (joined the talk), evidently (clearly) wishing to show her connections (friends in important places) and knowledge of what went on (what happened) in society (the world of rich important families).

“The fact of the matter is (the truth is),” said she significantly (in a meaningful way), and also in a half whisper, “everyone knows Count Cyril’s (Count Bezúkhov, the very rich old nobleman) reputation (what people say about him: that he had many women).... He has lost count of his children (he has so many children he does not know the number), but this Pierre was his favorite.”

“How handsome (good-looking) the old man still was only a year ago!” remarked the countess (the lady of the house, a noble lady). “I have never seen a handsomer (better-looking) man.”

“He is very much altered (changed) now,” said Anna Mikháylovna (a noble lady, a princess, with no money, whose son matters more to her than anything). “Well, as I was saying, Prince Vasíli (a powerful nobleman close to the Emperor) is the next heir through his wife (the one who would get the money next, because his wife is related to the count), but the count is very fond of Pierre (old Count Bezúkhov, not Count Rostóv, loves Pierre very much), looked after his education (paid for his schooling), and wrote to the Emperor about him; so that in the case of his death—and he is so ill that he may die at any moment, and Dr. Lorrain (a well-known doctor) has come from Petersburg—no one knows who will inherit his immense fortune (get his huge wealth when he dies), Pierre or Prince Vasíli (a powerful nobleman close to the Emperor). Forty thousand serfs (forty thousand peasants he owned, almost like slaves) and millions of rubles (millions in Russian money)! I know it all very well for (I know all about it, because) Prince Vasíli told me himself. Besides, Cyril Vladímirovich is my mother’s second cousin (Cyril Vladímirovich, old Count Bezúkhov, is a distant relative of her mother: she makes sure they know she is related to the rich man). He’s also my Bóry’s (Borís, her son (Bóry is a pet name)) godfather (a man who promised, when the child was named in church, to guide him),” she added, as if she attached no importance at all (thought it did not matter at all) to the fact.

“Prince Vasíli (a powerful nobleman close to the Emperor) arrived in Moscow yesterday. I hear he has come on some inspection business (to see whether some government work is being done properly),” remarked the visitor.

“Yes, but between ourselves (just between us, secretly),” said the princess (Anna Mikháylovna), “that is a pretext (a false reason). The fact is he has come to see Count Cyril Vladímirovich (Pierre's rich old father, Count Bezúkhov), hearing how ill he is.”

“But do you know, my dear (a friendly way to speak to the lady visitor), that was a capital joke (an excellent joke),” said the count (master of the house); and seeing that the elder visitor was not listening, he turned to the young ladies. “I can just imagine what a funny figure that policeman cut (how silly that policeman looked)!”

And as he waved his arms to impersonate (act like) the policeman, his portly form (big round body) again shook with a deep ringing laugh (loud laugh), the laugh of one who always eats well and, in particular (most of all), drinks well (drinks a lot of wine, with pleasure). “So do come and dine (have dinner) with us!” he said.