Book 2 Part 3 Chapter 11 (Chapter 114 Overall)

Chapter Summaries: Dole: The Rostofs at Petersburg. Their finances. Berg becomes engaged to Viera. Berg's boastfulness. Story of his engagement. The marriage portion.
Briggs: Berg demands a dowry for marrying Count Rostov's eldest daughter, Vera.
Maude: The Rostovs in Petersburg. Berg engaged to Vera and demands her dowry
Pevear and Volkhonsky: The Rostovs go to Petersburg. Berg proposes to Vera.

Translation:

XI.

The cash affairs of the Rostovs were not mended in the continuation of the two years that they stayed in the village.

Despite that Nikolay Rostov, firmly holding his intentions, continued to serve in a dead-end regiment, spending relatively little money, the movement of life at Otradnoe was such, and in particular Mitenka so led affairs, that debts uncontrollably grew with every year. The only help, which obviously presented to the old count was in service, and he had arrived in Petersburg to search for a place; to search for a place and together with that, as he said, for the last time to amuse the girls.

Soon after the arrival of the Rostovs in Petersburg, Berg made a proposal to Vera, and his proposal was accepted.

Despite that in Moscow the Rostovs belonged to higher society, themselves not knowing and not thinking about to which society they belonged, in Petersburg their society was mixed and undefined. In Petersburg they were provincials, to which most people did not go down to, not asking them to which society they belonged to when going to the Rostovs in Moscow.

The Rostovs in Petersburg lived so the same hospitably, as in Moscow, and at their dinners converged the most diverse faces: neighbors in Otradnoe, old poor landowners with daughters and the maid of honor Peronskaya, Pierre Bezuhov and the son of the county postmaster, serving in Petersburg. The men of the home at the house of the Rostovs in Petersburg were very soon made Boris, Pierre, whom, met in the street, was himself dragged to the old count, and Berg, who spent the whole day at the Rostovs and manifested the older countess Vera such attention which may be manifested to a young person intending to make a proposal.

Berg not without reason showed to all his wound from the battle of Austerlitz on his right arm and held the completely not necessary sword in his left. He so stubbornly and with such significance talked to all about this event that all believed in the expediency and dignity of this act, and Berg received for Austerlitz two awards.

In the war in Finland he also succeeded to be distinguished. He raised the shard of a grenade, which killed the adjutant beside the commander in chief and brought the chief this shard. So the same as after Austerlitz, he for so long and stubbornly talked to all about this event that all also believed that this was needed to do, and for the war in Finland Berg received two awards. In the year of 1809 he was captain of the guard with orders and occupied in Petersburg some special profitable places.

Although some freethinkers smiled when they talked about the virtues of Berg, it could not be to not agree that Berg was serviceable, a brave officer, on an excellent account with superiors, and a moral young person with a brilliant career ahead and even a durable position in society. Four years to that backwards, meeting in the seats of the Moscow theatre with a German friend, Berg pointed out to him Vera Rostov and in German said: “She will be my wife,”501 and from that minute decided to marry her. Now, in Petersburg, realizing the position of the Rostovs and himself, he decided that it had become time, and made a proposal.

The proposal of Berg was accepted first with unflattering for him disbelief. First it was introduced to themselves as weird that a son of a dark, Livonian nobleman made a proposal to Countess Rostov; but the main thing the property of the character of Berg consisted in such a naive and good-natured egoism that unwittingly the Rostovs thought that this would be okay, if he himself was so firmly convinced that this was okay and even very good. Moreover again the affairs of the Rostovs were very disturbed that they could not be unknown to the fiance, but the main thing was that Vera was 24 years-old, she had left for everywhere, and, despite that she was undoubtedly good and reasonable, before no one had ever made her an offer. Consent was given.

— Here see whether, — spoke Berg to his friend, whom he called friend only because he knew that in all people there are friends. — here see whether I realized this all, and I would not have married, I would not have thought only this was somewhat uncomfortable. But now it is the opposite, my daddy and mama are now provided for, I arranged for them that rent in the Ostsee region, but I can live in Petersburg on my salary, in her condition and my neatness. To live can be okay. I am not for money marrying, I think this is ignoble, but it is needed so that the wife brings theirs and the husband theirs. In my service — in her communication and small means. This in our time means something, doesn’t it? But the main thing is she is a beautiful, venerable girl and loves me...

Berg redly smiled.

— And I love her because of how her character is judicious — very good. Here another is her sister — the same name, but really another, and an unpleasant character, and no mind of this, and such, do you know?... Unpleasant... but my bride... Here come to our... — continued Berg, he wanted to say dinner, but thought and said: "to drink tea," and, piercing his fast tongue, released a round, small ring of tobacco smoke, quite personifying his dreams about happiness.

After the first feeling of perplexity, excited in the parents by the proposal of Berg, in the family settled the ordinary in these cases conviviality and joy, but the joy was not sincere, but external. In the feelings of the relatives regarding this wedding were noticeable confusion and bashfulness. It was as if they were ashamed now for how little they loved Vera, and now so willingly sold her from their hands. More than all embarrassed was the old count. He probably would not have able to name what was the cause of his embarrassment, but this cause was his cash affairs. He resolutely did not know what he had, how much debts he had, and what he in this condition would give in dowry to Vera. When each daughter was given birth to, 300 souls were appointed to their dowry; but all of these villages were already sold, but another laid so expired that it should be sold, and therefore to give an estate was impossible. Money also was not there.

Berg already for more than a month was a groom and only a week stayed before the wedding, but the count had still not decided with himself the issue of the dowry and had not spoken about this with his wife. The count wanted to detach to Vera the Ryazan estate, then wanted to sell a forest, then take the money under a bill of credit. A few days before the wedding Berg entered in the early morning into the office to the count and with a nice smile respectfully asked his future father-in-law to declare to him what will be given for Countess Vera. The count was so embarrassed at this for a long time foreboding question that he thoughtlessly said the first thing that had come into his head.

— I love that you took care, I love that you will stay satisfied...

And he, patting Berg by the shoulder, got up, wishing to stop the conversation. But Berg, nicely smiling, explained that, should he not know rightly what will be given for Vera, and will not receive part of this forward, what was appointed for her, then he will be forced to refuse.

— Because of that reason, count, would I now allow myself to marry, not having certain means for maintaining my wife, I would enter vilely...

The conversation ran out so that the count, wishing to be generous and not subjected to new requests, said that he would give out a bill of credit at 80 thousand. Berg meekly smiled, kissed the count on the shoulder and said that he was very grateful, but he in no way may now settle down in his new life, not receiving pure cash of 30 thousand.

— Although would it be 20 thousand, count, — he added; — But the bill of credit then is only at 60 thousand.

— Yes, yes, okay, — the count began talking in a patter, — only really excuse me, my friend, 20 thousand I will give, but a bill of credit besides this at 80 thousand I will give. So, that’s that, kiss me.

501 "Das soll mein Weib werden"

Time: more than a month, a few days before the wedding (a week in Mandelker and Garnett. one morning in Bell)
Mentioned: two years, 1809

Locations: St. Petersburg, the Rostovs' house
Mentioned: the country, Otradnoe, Moscow, Austerlitz, Finland (Finnish in Maude, Mandelker, and Briggs. Garnett uses both.), German, Livonian (Livonia in Bell. Dole replaces it with country), Baltic Provinces (...estate in Briggs.), villages, Ryazan estate

Pevear and Volokhonsky Notes: Now flipped to the Rostovs, who are having money problems. He takes the girls to Moscow to seek a governmental post and treat them to a good time. Berg and Vera get engaged and "Despite the fact that in Moscow the Rostovs belonged in high society without knowing or thinking what society they belonged to, in Petersburg their society was mixed and indefinite." Pierre appears in their society. Berg got decorations and societal standing for his wound and also fought in the Finnish wars. One gets the impression that a story with Berg as a central character would be quite fascinating as Tolstoy puts the romance of Vera and Berg as just a blurb here. This creates the problem of the dowry for the Rostovs, they really have nothing to give. Berg, who previously said he was not marrying for money, pushes the dowry question and makes him make a decision.

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 *):

Nikolai

Mitenka

Berg

Countess Viera Rostova (as with many of the characters, since the chapter revolves around the thoughts and words of Berg, her actual presence in the chapter can be disputed.)

Pierre Bezukhoi

Peronskaya (as in Dole, Mandelker, and Maude. "a freilina" in Dole. "a maid of honour". "Madame Peronsky" in Garnett, Edmonds, and Briggs. See Bromfield's version of Chapters 33 and 34. "Peronski" in Wiener. "Peronnsky" in Bell)

Boris

Count Rostov ("the old count")

Natasha ("her sister")

(also, a son of their district postmaster, who had a government appointment at Petersburg and a "general-in-chief's aide" who was killed in Finland, and a "comrade whom he (Berg) called his "friend," simply because he knew that it was fashionable for men to have friends". Berg also references his "papenka" and "mamenka". The Rostof as a family in general is referenced multiple times as well)

Abridged Versions: Chapter 4 in Bell. No break
Gibian: Chapter 6.

Fuller: Entire chapter is cut.

Komroff: Other than an occasional detail or supporting sentence removed, the chapter is preserved and followed by a line break.

Kropotkin: Chapter 3: Entire Chapter is preserved.
Simmons: Chapter 6: The details about Berg's wounds at Austerlitz and "heroics" in Finland are removed. His conversation with his "friend" is also removed.

Additional Notes:

Hosking: Page 250: "The fear that Poland was a dagger menacing Russia rather than a buffer state protecting her in the last resort convinced Alexander that war against France was necessary. In 1808-1809 he prepared for the forthcoming war by invading the Swedish dependency of Finland, occupying the Aland Islands, and moving the frontier several hundred miles back from his capital city. Facing the prospect of guerrilla warfare within the newly conquered territories, Alexander promised to uphold all existing liberties of the Finnish estates and people, and summoned an elected Diet, which he addressed personally. Finland thus became a grand duchy ruled by the tsar, but otherwise separate from the political arrangements of the Russian Empire."

Davidov: Page 67: "The war in Finland, even at its height, did not attract the attention of either civilians or military men.....Moreover, the first half of this new war involved our armies in little more than a stroll almost the the borders of Lapland and the surrender of a well-defended fortress after a weak cannonade and raids by several hundred cossacks...Unfortunately, we were so over-confident of an easy conquest in this region that when the enemy massed its forces against our scattered troops, initiated a people's war in which the local inhabitants intercepted our supply trains carrying food and ammunition, and lit forest fires which blazed out of control over vast areas and cost us many lives as we tried to escape - when our compatriots refused to believe the ensuing rumours and, in their ignorance, even sent us written invitations to family functions and to join them for festivities in the capital....we were spending most of our time shivering in the northern frosts, patrolling the ancient forests and the shores of deserted lakes, pursuing glory which evoked no responding echoes from home!"

Epilogue: "Hostilities ended to the disadvantage of the Swedes because when peace was concluded, Finland was actually wrested from Sweden and incorporated into the Russian Empire. The acquisition of Finland also constituted one more argument used by Alexander at home to keep the peace with Napoleon, since a renewed falling out would have been dangerous and disadvantageous to Russia at that time. For these and other reasons, Russia remained at peace with France after the celebrated interview of the two monarchs at Erfurt on 27 September 1808."

Herold: Page 191: “all of Finland, which Alexander grabbed with Napoleon’s blessings...stipulated that...Russia withdraw her troops from Moldavia and Walachia...but Alexander still postponed the evacuation of Danubian provinces, on the ground that Napoleon was postponing the withdrawal of French troops from Prussia..."

Yanov: Page 106: “Beginning at least in the 1480s, Muscovy was permanently on the offensive against its western neighbors, obtaining western Rus’ from Poland-Lithuania, and Kareliia and the Balti shore from the Swedes and Livonia.”

Davidov: Page 82: "We expected a quick resolution of the conflict, and not in our favour, because our main forces were so far away and we were now outnumbered by about two to one. On 15 April, that is exactly what happened."

Richard F. Gustafson (States of Human Awareness)

Many of the other characters in the work reflect in more detail one facet of these archetypal figures. Helen Kuragin as the body, her brother Anatole as the self-centered will, Berg as the self-interested relative, Rostopchin as the self-interested leader, and Speranksy as the one who knows by reason alone--all reflect aspects of Napoleon.