Briggs: Kutuzov, his job done, declines and dies.
Pevear and Volokhonsky: Kutuzov gives a dinner and ball for the emperor. His opposition to continuing the war in Europe. He is replaced as commander in chief. His death foretold.
Translation:
XI.
On the next day at the field marshal’s was a dinner and a ball, which the sovereign honored his presence. Kutuzov was granted the George of the 1st extent; the sovereign manifested him the highest honors; but the displeasure of the sovereign against the field marshal was known by all. Decency was observed, and the sovereign showed the first example of this; but all knew that the old man was to blame and was nowhere fit. When at the ball Kutuzov, by old Catherine habit, at the entrance of the sovereign in the ballroom hall, told to his legs to topple the taken banners, the sovereign unpleasantly grimaced and spoke words, in which some were heard: "old comedian."
The displeasure of the sovereign against Kutuzov intensified at Vilna in particular because of how Kutuzov obviously did not want to or could not understand the matters of the lying ahead campaigns.
When on the next morning the sovereign said to the gathered at him officers —"you saved not only Russia; you saved Europe" — all now then understood that the war was not over.
Only Kutuzov did not want to understand this and openly spoke his opinion about that the new war may not improve the position and increase the glory of Russia, but only may worsen its position and reduce that higher measure of fame, in which, by his opinion, now stood Russia. He tried to prove to the sovereign the impossibility to utter new troops; spoke about the heavy position of the populations, about the opportunity of failures and so on.
In such a mood, the field marshal naturally presented only a hindrance and brake of the lying ahead war.
To avoid collisions with the old man, himself finding an exit, taking place so that as in Austerlitz and as at the beginning of the campaigns of Barclay, to take out from below commander in chief, not worrying him, not announcing to him about that the soil of authority, at which he stood, was brought to the very sovereign.
From this purpose little by little was reformed the staff, and all the significant power of the staff of Kutuzov was destroyed and carried over to the sovereign. Toll, Konovnitsyn, Ermolov — received other destinations. All loudly said that the field marshal had become very fragile and disturbed in health.
He was needed to be in weak health so that to deliver to his place that who interceded him. And it was valid that his health was weak.
As naturally, and simply, and gradually appeared Kutuzov from Turkey at the governmental ward of Petersburg to collect the militia, and then the army, it was then, when it was necessary, exactly so the same naturally, gradually and simply now, when the role of Kutuzov was played, in his place appeared a new, demanded activist.
The war of the 1812th year, besides its dear Russian heart’s popular meanings, should have another — European.
Behind the movement of peoples from west to east, must follow the move of peoples from east to west, and for this new war was needed a new activist, having other than Kutuzov’s, properties, looks, moving by other motives.
Aleksandr the First, for the movements of peoples from east to west and for recovering the boundaries of peoples, was also necessary, as necessary was Kutuzov for the safety and fame of Russia.
Kutuzov did not understand what meant Europe, equilibrium, and Napoleon. He could not understand this. The representative Russian people, after how the enemy was destroyed, Russia freed and delivered to the higher measure of their fame, for the Russian person, as Russians, was nothing more to do. For the representative of the folk war nothing stayed, besides death. and he died.
Mentioned: the days of Catherine, 1812
Locations: Vilna
Mentioned: Russia (also Russian), Europe (also European), Austerlitz, Turkey, St. Petersburg, West, East
Pevear and Volokhonsky Notes: Kutuzov throws a dinner and makes a faux pas by throwing the standards at Alexander's feet like was done in Catherine's time. Alexander and the court, unlike Kutuzov, do not see the war as over. Kutuzov's health weakens and all his power is taken away from him.
"The movement of peoples from west to east was to be followed by a movement of peoples from east to west, and for this new war a new leader was needed...Alexander I was as necessary for the movement of peoples from east to west and for the restoration of national frontiers, as Kutuzov had been necessary for the salvation and gory of Russia."
Kutuzov has nothing left to do but die, which he does.
Characters (characters who do not appear, but are mentioned are placed in italics. First appearances are in Bold. First mentions are underlined. Final appearance denoted by *):
Kutuzof (also "field-marshal", "old actor", and "old general".)
Alexander the First (also "sovereign".)
Catherine
Barclay
Toll
Konovnitsuin
Yermolof
Napoleon
Abridged Versions: End of Chapter 16 in Bell.
Gibian: end of Chapter 4.
Fuller: Entire chapter is cut.
Komroff: Chapter basically preserved. No line break, but chapter ends at the end of a chapter.
Kropotkin: The episode with the standards and a lot of the early discussion of the chapter is removed, leaving us with the reflections of the necessity of Kutuzof and Alexander the First. End of Chapter 5.
Simmons: The episode with the standards is removed. End of Chapter 4.
Additional Notes:
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