Chapter Summaries: Dole: Description of Pierre. Pierre and Prince Andrei arguing about war and Napoleon.
Maude (chapters 6-8): Pierre at Prince Andrew's.
Pevear and Volkhonsky (chapters 5-6): Pierre goes to supper at Prince Andrei's and then to Anatole Kuragin's. The bet with Dolokhov.
Briggs: Pierre's indecision over choosing a career.
Translation:
V.
Thanking Anna Pavlovna for her charming evening,95 the visitors dispersed.
Pierre was clumsy. Thick, higher than ordinary stature, broad, with huge red hands, he, as they say, was not able to enter a salon and still less able to exit, that is before exiting saying something especially pleasant. Besides this, he was scattered. Getting up, he instead of his hat seized the triangular hat from the general with the plume and held it, yanking the sultan, until the general asked him to return it. Yet all his distraction and unluckiness in entering the salon and speaking was bathed in an expression of good nature, simplicity and modesty. Anna Pavlovna turned to him and, with Christian meekness expressed forgiveness for his antics, nodded to him and said:
— Hope to see you more, but I hope too, that you change your opinions, my sweet Monsieur Pierre, — she said.
When she said this to him, he replied with nothing, only bending down and showing to all, one more time, his smile, which said nothing, only that: “opinions are opinions, but you see that I am kind and nice». And all, including Anna Pavlovna, unwittingly felt this.
Prince Andrey got out into the hall and, placing his shoulders to lackey, throwing him his cloak, indifferently listened to the chatter of his wife with Prince Ippolit, coming out into the hall as well. Prince Ippolit stood near the pretty pregnant princess and stubbornly watched her in his lorgnette.
— Go, Annette, you’ll catch a cold, — said the small princess, saying goodbye to Anna Pavlovna. — So it’s decided,96 — she added quietly.
Anna Pavlovna had already managed to talk with Lise about matchmaking, which she had started between Anatole and the sister-in-law of the little princess.
— I hope in you, sweet friend, — said Anna Pavlovna too quietly, — you write to her and say to me how the father will look at the business. Goodbye,97 — and she left out the front.
Prince Ippolit came up to the little princess and, closely tilting towards her face, in a whisper speaking something to her.
Two lackeys, one the princess’s, the other his, waiting for when they would finish speaking, were standing with the shawl and the riding-coat and listening to the French dialect that was incomprehensible to them, with such faces as if they understood what was being said, but would not like to show this. The princess, as always, spoke while smiling and listened while laughing.
— I am very glad that I did not go to the messenger’s, — said Prince Ippolit: — boredom... Beautiful evening, is it not really beautiful?
— They say that the ball will be very good, — answered the princess, pulling up her mustached lip. — all the beautiful woman of society will there.
— Not all, because you will not be there; not all, — said Prince Ippolit, happily laughing, and, grabbing the shawl from the lackey, even pushing him and putting it on the princess. From awkwardness or intentionally (nothing could be made out of this) he didn’t lower his hands for a long time, when the shawl was already put on, as if he was to embrace a young woman.
She gracefully, but all smiling, pulled back, turned and looked at her husband. Prince Andrey’s eyes were closed: he seemed tired and sleepy.
— You ready? — he asked his wife, giving her a look.
Prince Ippolit hastily gathered his riding-coat, which for him, in the new way, was longer than his heels, and, getting confused in it, ran to the porch for the princess, whom the lackey sat down in the carriage.
—Princess, goodbye98 — he shouted, getting confused in the tongue the same as his feet.
The princess, picking up her dress, sat down in the dark carriage; her husband set up his saber; Prince Ippolit, in the pretext of serving, hindered all.
— Please, sir, — dry and unpleasantly Prince Andrey in Russian turned to Prince Ippolit, disturbed by him.
— I am waiting for you, Pierre, — was affectionately and tenderly spoken from that same voice of Prince Andrey.
The postillion set off, and the coach’s wheels rattled. Prince Ippolit jerkily laughed, standing up on the porch and waiting for the viscount, whom he promised to bring home.
— Well, my dear, your small princess is very sweet! — said the viscount, sitting down on the carriage with Ippolit. — Very sweet. — he kissed the tips of his fingers. — And totally, totally a Frenchwoman.99
.
Ippolit, snorting, bursted out laughing.
— And I know you are terrible with your innocent look, — continued the viscount. — I regret the poor husband, this officer, who writhes from being a possessive person.100
Ippolit snorted more and through laughter spoke:
— But you said that the Russian ladies were not worth the French. You need to be able to take them.101
Pierre, having arrived, as a person at home, passed into the office of Prince Andrey and immediately again, by habit, lied down onto the sofa, taking the first book caught from the shelf (this was the Commentaries of Caesar) and began, leaning on his elbows, to read it from the middle.
— What did you do to M-lle Sherer? She is now really ill, — said, entering the office, Prince Andrey and rubbing his small, white hands.
Pierre turned around with his whole body, so that the sofa creaked, turning his lively face to Prince Andrey, smiling and waving his hand.
— No, this abbot is very interesting, but only doesn’t understand the business... to my mind, that eternal peace is possible, but I can’t, how to say this... but not by political balance alone...
Prince Andrey was not interested, apparently, in these distracted conversations.
— It cannot be, my dear,102 that everywhere you speak everything that you think. Well, all the same, have you decided, finally, on something? Cavalry guard or will you be a diplomat? — asked Prince Andrey after a minute of silence.
Pierre sat down on the sofa, tucking his legs under himself.
— I may represent myself; I still don't know at all. Or that, I don’t like one or another.
— But you need to decide something. Your father waits.
Pierre from the age of ten was sent with a governor and abbot to go abroad, where he stayed until the age of twenty. When he returned to Moscow, the father let the abbot go and said to the young person: “Now go to Petersburg, examine and choose. I agree to everything. Here is a letter to Prince Vasiliy, and here is some money. Write about everything, I will help you in everything.” Pierre already had had three months to choose a career and had done nothing. About this choice Prince Andrei was speaking to him. Pierre rubbed his forehead.
— Yet, he should be a Mason, — he said, concerning the abbot he saw in the evening.
— All this is ravings, — again Prince Andrey stopped him, — better talk about this case. Will you go into the horse guard?...
— No, no, but here is what has me coming to the head, and I wanted to say to you. Now there’s war against Napoleon. If this was a war for freedom, I would get it, I would be the first to enter into military service; but to help England and Austria against the greatest human in the world... This is no good...
Prince Andrey only shook his shoulders at the childish speech of Pierre. He had the view that such nonsense cannot be responded to; yet really this naive question was difficult to answer with something other than how Prince Andrey replied.
— If everyone fought only by their beliefs, war would not be, — he said.
— This would be perfect, — said Pierre.
Prince Andrey grinned.
— Maybe this would be something perfect, but this will never be...
— Well, for what do you go to war? — asked Pierre.
— For what? I do not know. I need to. Besides this, I go... — he stopped. — I go because the life which I lead here, this life — is not for me!
95. charmante soirée, (charming evening)
96. C’est arrêté, (it's stopped)
97. comment le père envisagera la chose. Au revoir, (how the father envisions it. Goodbye)
98. Princesse, au revoir, (Princess, goodbye)
99. Eh bien, mon cher, votre petite princesse est très bien, très bien...Et tout-à-fait française (Well, my dear, your little princess is very good, very good...And absolutely French)
100. Et savez-vous que vous êtes terrible avec votre petit air innocent... Je plains le pauvre mari, ce petit officier, qui se donne des airs de prince régnant (And do you know that you are terrible with your innocent little air...I pity the poor husband, that little officer, who gives himself the air of a reigning prince.)
101. Et vous disiez, que les dames russes ne valaient pas les dames françaises. Il faut savoir s’y prendre. (And you said, Russian ladies were not worth the French ladies. You should know to take them)
102. mon cher, (my dear)
Time: Not explicitly said, but July 1805. When Pierre was 10 is mentioned.
Locations: Anna Pavlovna's parlour, antechamber, and porch in St Petersburg, as well as Prince Andrei's house.
Mentioned: The English Ambassador's party. Moscow. England and Austria are mentioned as nations. The war is also discussed as a place and Pierre is referenced to have been sent "abroad".
Pevear and Volkhonsky Reading:
Maude (chapters 6-8): Pierre at Prince Andrew's.
Pevear and Volkhonsky (chapters 5-6): Pierre goes to supper at Prince Andrei's and then to Anatole Kuragin's. The bet with Dolokhov.
Briggs: Pierre's indecision over choosing a career.
Translation:
V.
Thanking Anna Pavlovna for her charming evening,95 the visitors dispersed.
Pierre was clumsy. Thick, higher than ordinary stature, broad, with huge red hands, he, as they say, was not able to enter a salon and still less able to exit, that is before exiting saying something especially pleasant. Besides this, he was scattered. Getting up, he instead of his hat seized the triangular hat from the general with the plume and held it, yanking the sultan, until the general asked him to return it. Yet all his distraction and unluckiness in entering the salon and speaking was bathed in an expression of good nature, simplicity and modesty. Anna Pavlovna turned to him and, with Christian meekness expressed forgiveness for his antics, nodded to him and said:
— Hope to see you more, but I hope too, that you change your opinions, my sweet Monsieur Pierre, — she said.
When she said this to him, he replied with nothing, only bending down and showing to all, one more time, his smile, which said nothing, only that: “opinions are opinions, but you see that I am kind and nice». And all, including Anna Pavlovna, unwittingly felt this.
Prince Andrey got out into the hall and, placing his shoulders to lackey, throwing him his cloak, indifferently listened to the chatter of his wife with Prince Ippolit, coming out into the hall as well. Prince Ippolit stood near the pretty pregnant princess and stubbornly watched her in his lorgnette.
— Go, Annette, you’ll catch a cold, — said the small princess, saying goodbye to Anna Pavlovna. — So it’s decided,96 — she added quietly.
Anna Pavlovna had already managed to talk with Lise about matchmaking, which she had started between Anatole and the sister-in-law of the little princess.
— I hope in you, sweet friend, — said Anna Pavlovna too quietly, — you write to her and say to me how the father will look at the business. Goodbye,97 — and she left out the front.
Prince Ippolit came up to the little princess and, closely tilting towards her face, in a whisper speaking something to her.
Two lackeys, one the princess’s, the other his, waiting for when they would finish speaking, were standing with the shawl and the riding-coat and listening to the French dialect that was incomprehensible to them, with such faces as if they understood what was being said, but would not like to show this. The princess, as always, spoke while smiling and listened while laughing.
— I am very glad that I did not go to the messenger’s, — said Prince Ippolit: — boredom... Beautiful evening, is it not really beautiful?
— They say that the ball will be very good, — answered the princess, pulling up her mustached lip. — all the beautiful woman of society will there.
— Not all, because you will not be there; not all, — said Prince Ippolit, happily laughing, and, grabbing the shawl from the lackey, even pushing him and putting it on the princess. From awkwardness or intentionally (nothing could be made out of this) he didn’t lower his hands for a long time, when the shawl was already put on, as if he was to embrace a young woman.
She gracefully, but all smiling, pulled back, turned and looked at her husband. Prince Andrey’s eyes were closed: he seemed tired and sleepy.
— You ready? — he asked his wife, giving her a look.
Prince Ippolit hastily gathered his riding-coat, which for him, in the new way, was longer than his heels, and, getting confused in it, ran to the porch for the princess, whom the lackey sat down in the carriage.
—Princess, goodbye98 — he shouted, getting confused in the tongue the same as his feet.
The princess, picking up her dress, sat down in the dark carriage; her husband set up his saber; Prince Ippolit, in the pretext of serving, hindered all.
— Please, sir, — dry and unpleasantly Prince Andrey in Russian turned to Prince Ippolit, disturbed by him.
— I am waiting for you, Pierre, — was affectionately and tenderly spoken from that same voice of Prince Andrey.
The postillion set off, and the coach’s wheels rattled. Prince Ippolit jerkily laughed, standing up on the porch and waiting for the viscount, whom he promised to bring home.
— Well, my dear, your small princess is very sweet! — said the viscount, sitting down on the carriage with Ippolit. — Very sweet. — he kissed the tips of his fingers. — And totally, totally a Frenchwoman.99
.
Ippolit, snorting, bursted out laughing.
— And I know you are terrible with your innocent look, — continued the viscount. — I regret the poor husband, this officer, who writhes from being a possessive person.100
Ippolit snorted more and through laughter spoke:
— But you said that the Russian ladies were not worth the French. You need to be able to take them.101
Pierre, having arrived, as a person at home, passed into the office of Prince Andrey and immediately again, by habit, lied down onto the sofa, taking the first book caught from the shelf (this was the Commentaries of Caesar) and began, leaning on his elbows, to read it from the middle.
— What did you do to M-lle Sherer? She is now really ill, — said, entering the office, Prince Andrey and rubbing his small, white hands.
Pierre turned around with his whole body, so that the sofa creaked, turning his lively face to Prince Andrey, smiling and waving his hand.
— No, this abbot is very interesting, but only doesn’t understand the business... to my mind, that eternal peace is possible, but I can’t, how to say this... but not by political balance alone...
Prince Andrey was not interested, apparently, in these distracted conversations.
— It cannot be, my dear,102 that everywhere you speak everything that you think. Well, all the same, have you decided, finally, on something? Cavalry guard or will you be a diplomat? — asked Prince Andrey after a minute of silence.
Pierre sat down on the sofa, tucking his legs under himself.
— I may represent myself; I still don't know at all. Or that, I don’t like one or another.
— But you need to decide something. Your father waits.
Pierre from the age of ten was sent with a governor and abbot to go abroad, where he stayed until the age of twenty. When he returned to Moscow, the father let the abbot go and said to the young person: “Now go to Petersburg, examine and choose. I agree to everything. Here is a letter to Prince Vasiliy, and here is some money. Write about everything, I will help you in everything.” Pierre already had had three months to choose a career and had done nothing. About this choice Prince Andrei was speaking to him. Pierre rubbed his forehead.
— Yet, he should be a Mason, — he said, concerning the abbot he saw in the evening.
— All this is ravings, — again Prince Andrey stopped him, — better talk about this case. Will you go into the horse guard?...
— No, no, but here is what has me coming to the head, and I wanted to say to you. Now there’s war against Napoleon. If this was a war for freedom, I would get it, I would be the first to enter into military service; but to help England and Austria against the greatest human in the world... This is no good...
Prince Andrey only shook his shoulders at the childish speech of Pierre. He had the view that such nonsense cannot be responded to; yet really this naive question was difficult to answer with something other than how Prince Andrey replied.
— If everyone fought only by their beliefs, war would not be, — he said.
— This would be perfect, — said Pierre.
Prince Andrey grinned.
— Maybe this would be something perfect, but this will never be...
— Well, for what do you go to war? — asked Pierre.
— For what? I do not know. I need to. Besides this, I go... — he stopped. — I go because the life which I lead here, this life — is not for me!
95. charmante soirée, (charming evening)
96. C’est arrêté, (it's stopped)
97. comment le père envisagera la chose. Au revoir, (how the father envisions it. Goodbye)
98. Princesse, au revoir, (Princess, goodbye)
99. Eh bien, mon cher, votre petite princesse est très bien, très bien...Et tout-à-fait française (Well, my dear, your little princess is very good, very good...And absolutely French)
100. Et savez-vous que vous êtes terrible avec votre petit air innocent... Je plains le pauvre mari, ce petit officier, qui se donne des airs de prince régnant (And do you know that you are terrible with your innocent little air...I pity the poor husband, that little officer, who gives himself the air of a reigning prince.)
101. Et vous disiez, que les dames russes ne valaient pas les dames françaises. Il faut savoir s’y prendre. (And you said, Russian ladies were not worth the French ladies. You should know to take them)
102. mon cher, (my dear)
Time: Not explicitly said, but July 1805. When Pierre was 10 is mentioned.
Locations: Anna Pavlovna's parlour, antechamber, and porch in St Petersburg, as well as Prince Andrei's house.
Mentioned: The English Ambassador's party. Moscow. England and Austria are mentioned as nations. The war is also discussed as a place and Pierre is referenced to have been sent "abroad".
Pevear and Volkhonsky Reading:
I’m sure you can make something of Pierre accidentally taking the general’s hat, though mostly it is to demonstrate his awkwardness, referred to as “fat...with enormous red hands.”
Pavlovna has a Christian meekness, forgives, and this chapter adds some depth to her character. Andrei treats those he likes well, but those he doesn’t like badly and is defined by a kind of tiredness, an exhausted non-idealism.
Ippolit and the viscount’s conversation about the little Princess, Andrei, and Russian women probably bears some discussion.
The Gallic Wars, a year-by-year account of the Roman conquest of Gaul by the general and statesman Julius Caesar, who carried out the conquest. (Probably should see some parallels between him and Napoleon)
Pierre’s indecision on his career, he doesn’t know what he wants to do.
We get a mention of masons that are important for later on in the book.
“If everyone made war only according to his own convictions, there would be no war.”
“It might very well be excellent, but it will never happen…"
Andrei does not find meaning in his current life. He looks for meaning by going to battle.
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 *):
Anna Pavlovna (also referred to as “Annette” and “Mlle. Scherer” in dialogue)
Pierre (called “Monsieur Pierre” by Pavlovna, though Bell doesn’t have her call him by his name at all)
The General (“a general”. “Some general” in Dole)
Prince Andrei
Prince Ippolit
Princess Lisa Bolkonsky (again referred to as “the little princess” but also “Lisa”)
Anatole (only referred to by his first name)
Princess Mary Bolkonsky (still not referred to by first name, but just as “the little princess’s sister-in-law”)
Prince Bolkonsky (only referred to as “the father” or in French, “le pere”)
Two Footmen (as in Maude and Mandelker, “two lackeys” in Dole, “two men-servants” in Bell, “servants”
in Briggs)
The English Ambassador (technically only referring to his fete, ball, or party)
The Postillion (as in Dole, Dunnigan, Garnett, and Edmonds, Bell spells it “postilion”, “outrider” in Weiner,
this wouldn’t be the same as one of the footmen would it?
Because Tolstoy failed to differentiate between many servants, workers, and coachmen, my early efforts to
differentiate between them turn more toward apathy as we get further along in the book.)
Mortemart (again just “the viscount”)
Abbe Morio (referred to as just “that abbe”)
Count Bezukhov (just referred to as “Your (Pierre’s) father”)
Abbe for a tutor (as in Dole and Bell, “abbe, his tutor” in Weiner, “abbe as tutor” in Edmonds and Garnett)
Prince Vasily
Napoleon Bonaparte (just “Napoleon” and “the greatest man in the world”)
Abridged Versions: Bell ends chapter 2 after Ippolit’s comment about Russian and French women, leading
this section into chapter 3, but combining (at least the start) of chapter 6 into the chapter as well). Edmonds
puts a star for a line break (her normal decision) after Prince Ippolit has watched the princess go and is
waiting for the viscount, with no line break or star after Ippolit’s conversation with the viscount. For Maude,
this chapter is of course chapter 6, but the chapter break here follows other versions.
Gibian: Start of chapter 2. Line break after "One has to know how to deal with them." Line break at end.
this section into chapter 3, but combining (at least the start) of chapter 6 into the chapter as well). Edmonds
puts a star for a line break (her normal decision) after Prince Ippolit has watched the princess go and is
waiting for the viscount, with no line break or star after Ippolit’s conversation with the viscount. For Maude,
this chapter is of course chapter 6, but the chapter break here follows other versions.
Gibian: Start of chapter 2. Line break after "One has to know how to deal with them." Line break at end.
Fuller: The bit about Pavlovna catching cold and arranging the match between Anatole and Mary Bolkonsky
is removed, as is the conversation between Ippolit and the viscount (and Ippolit waiting for the viscount).
A line break takes us to the Pierre/Andrei conversation which is mostly retained besides the freemason line
and “this is all nonsense”, though the part of him going to the horse guards question is still retained.
is removed, as is the conversation between Ippolit and the viscount (and Ippolit waiting for the viscount).
A line break takes us to the Pierre/Andrei conversation which is mostly retained besides the freemason line
and “this is all nonsense”, though the part of him going to the horse guards question is still retained.
Komroff: The whole Ippolit section, both his conversation with the princess and his conversation with the
viscount, is cut, jumping from Anna Pavlovna’s goodbyes to the little princess to Pierre and Andrei’s
conversation. The bits of what book Pierre gets from the shelf and how he initially lays on the sofa are
removed. Everything else seems to be kept.
viscount, is cut, jumping from Anna Pavlovna’s goodbyes to the little princess to Pierre and Andrei’s
conversation. The bits of what book Pierre gets from the shelf and how he initially lays on the sofa are
removed. Everything else seems to be kept.
Kropotkin: Chapter 4: some of the description of the two footmen’s actions are removed and the Prince
Ippolit’s goodbye words and actions are shortened. Pierre’s discussions about eternal peace and the abbe
are removed, making Pierre and Andrei’s conversation straighter to the point.
Ippolit’s goodbye words and actions are shortened. Pierre’s discussions about eternal peace and the abbe
are removed, making Pierre and Andrei’s conversation straighter to the point.
Bromfield: Chapter 8: While the start of the chapter is essentially the same, Pierre and Andrei have some
conversation as Andrei gets into his carriage. Pierre criticizes defenders of the Bourbons. The chapter ends
after Ippolit and the viscount’s conversation. Chapter 9: Makes it clear Andrei is speaking Russian to Pierre,
Pierre speaks to Andrei formally, Andrei does not return this. “What did you do to Madame Scherer” now
seems redundant because of his earlier comment in this version. Mention of Pierre hanging out with Anatole
Kuragin and they make fun of Ippolit. This more concrete conversation leads into discussion of Pierre’s
opportunities. Andrei also defends the war against Napoleon rather than just being dismissive of the
question. “Since the revolution Europe had been plagued by wars. The cause of the wars, apart from
Napoleon’s ambition, stemmed from an imbalance of power in Europe. One great power was needed to
take the matter in hand with strict impartiality and, through alliances, to define new state boundaries and
establish a new balance of power in Europe together with a new people’s law, by virtue of which war would
become impossible and all misunderstandings between states would be settled by mediation. Russia had
taken this selfless role upon herself in the forthcoming war. Russia would seek only to return France to its
boundaries of 1796, allowing the French themselves to choose their own form of government, and also to
restore the independence of Italy, the Cisalpine kingdom, the new state of the two Belgiums and the new
German alliance, and even to restore Poland.”
conversation as Andrei gets into his carriage. Pierre criticizes defenders of the Bourbons. The chapter ends
after Ippolit and the viscount’s conversation. Chapter 9: Makes it clear Andrei is speaking Russian to Pierre,
Pierre speaks to Andrei formally, Andrei does not return this. “What did you do to Madame Scherer” now
seems redundant because of his earlier comment in this version. Mention of Pierre hanging out with Anatole
Kuragin and they make fun of Ippolit. This more concrete conversation leads into discussion of Pierre’s
opportunities. Andrei also defends the war against Napoleon rather than just being dismissive of the
question. “Since the revolution Europe had been plagued by wars. The cause of the wars, apart from
Napoleon’s ambition, stemmed from an imbalance of power in Europe. One great power was needed to
take the matter in hand with strict impartiality and, through alliances, to define new state boundaries and
establish a new balance of power in Europe together with a new people’s law, by virtue of which war would
become impossible and all misunderstandings between states would be settled by mediation. Russia had
taken this selfless role upon herself in the forthcoming war. Russia would seek only to return France to its
boundaries of 1796, allowing the French themselves to choose their own form of government, and also to
restore the independence of Italy, the Cisalpine kingdom, the new state of the two Belgiums and the new
German alliance, and even to restore Poland.”
When Pierre says they should offer this plan to Napoleon, Andrei then says it is because this life doesn’t
suit him. We see his reasoning for this developed. The chapter ends with “Prince Andrei smiled pensively
at his own thoughts, twisting the wedding ring on his third finger with a graceful, effeminate gesture.”
Simmons: Start of chapter 2. The conversation between the viscomte and Hippolyte is cut. Line break after
"he had promised to take home." Followed by a line break.
suit him. We see his reasoning for this developed. The chapter ends with “Prince Andrei smiled pensively
at his own thoughts, twisting the wedding ring on his third finger with a graceful, effeminate gesture.”
Simmons: Start of chapter 2. The conversation between the viscomte and Hippolyte is cut. Line break after
"he had promised to take home." Followed by a line break.
Additional Notes:
Garnett: the commentaries probably are not just the one on the Gallic wars, but also the civil wars since
Garnett: the commentaries probably are not just the one on the Gallic wars, but also the civil wars since
they are generally published in the same volume.
Russian noblemen had to enter into either military, diplomatic, or bureaucratic service.
Ridley: Page 136: "The belief that the Freemasons were responsible for the French Revolution was confirmed by the conduct of the Grand Master of the French Grand Orient. The Freemasons had tried so hard to persuade the King's cousin, Philippe, Duke of Chartres, to become their Grand Master, and had been so pleased when he at least accepted. they had been even better pleased when their Grand Master, on the death of his father, succeeded to the title of Duke of Orleans.
Page 159: "in 1805 he (Alexander I) was visited by Ivan Boeber, a member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and a leading Freemason. He asked the Tsar to exempt the Freemasons from the law against secret societies and allow their lodges to meet. He stressed the loyalty of the Freemasons to Russia and to the Tsar and the good works which they performed. Alexander is supposed to have said to Boeber: 'What you tell me in regard to this institution suggests to me not only to grant it my protection but even to ask for myself to be admitted among Freemasons.' It was certainly believed at the time that Alexander was initiated as a Freemason, though this has been doubted. Many leading figures in Russian society were Freemasons, including Field Marshal Mikhail Larionovich Kutusov, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army in the war of 1812 against Napoleon, and General Count Alexander Ostermann Tolstoy, who distinguished himself by his gallantry at the Battle of Borodino. The poet Alexander Pushkin was a Freemason.
The Law of Love and the Law of Violence:
Page 179: “Why do people act so irrationally? Because, as a result of the perpetuated deception, they can no longer see the connection between their oppression and their participation in violence. Why do they not see the connection? For the same reason that accounts for all human misery: because they lack faith and without faith people can only be guided by self-interest, and men guided only by self-interest cannot do otherwise than deceive or be deceived.”
Claridge introduction:
"Austria's response was to join the Anglo-Russian coalition that had been effected between Great Britain and Russia in April 1805, precisely at tat point when Napoleon had been contemplating invasion of England. Austria's action prompted Napoleon to march La Grande Armee, his most brilliant fighting force, into the Rhineland in the hope that he would be able to eviscerate this new coalition at birth. The French army swept swiftly eastwards with the devastating aggressiveness that marked Napoleon's military strategies when he was at the height of his powers."
Rey:
Page 151: "Czartoryski first proposed ending the Napoleonic expansionism judged to be intolerable and doing so by committing Russia to a military alliance with England....Under the leadership of Russia and England, this new system should make peace in Europe its prime goal and should seek to manage international relations by resorting to reasoned arguments and by refusing the "state of nature" that currently dominated.
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