Book 3 Part 1 Chapter 7 (Chapter 171 overall)

Chapter Summaries: Dole: Balashof dines with Napoleon. Balashof's repartees. Napoleon pulls his ear.
Briggs: Balashev dines with Napoleon.
Maude: Balashev dines with Napoleon

Translation:

VII.

After Napoleon only spoke to him, after these explosions of anger and after the last, drily said words: "je ne vous retiens plus, général, vous recevrez ma lettre," (I will not hold you more, general, you get my letter to the sovereign) Balashev was sure that Napoleon now not only did not wish to see him, but will try to not see him — offended by the ambassador and, the main thing, his witnessing of his obscene fervor. But to his surprise, Balashev through Duroc received an invitation on this day to the table of the emperor.

At lunch were Bessieres, Caulaincourt and Berthier.

Napoleon met Balashev with a fun and affectionate look. Not only was not on him an expression of shyness or reproach for himself for his morning flash, but he, the opposite, tried to cheer up Balashev. It was seen that now for a long time for Napoleon in his conviction did not exist the opportunity of mistakes and that in his notions all that he did was okay not because of how it came down with presentation that was good or bad, but because of how he did this.

The Emperor was very happy after his riding walks by Vilna, in which a crowd of people with delight met and escorted him. In all the windows of the street, by which he drove through, were exhibiting carpets, banners, his monograms, and a Polish lady, welcoming him, waved her handkerchiefs.

Behind lunch, having planted himself beside Balashev, he approached with him not only affectionately, but approached so, as if he and Balashev were counted in the number of his courtiers, in the number of those people that sympathized with his plans and must have been rejoicing in his success. Between the way of conversation he began talking about Moscow and began to ask Balashev about the Russian capital, not only as asks a curious traveller about a new location which he intends to visit, but as would with the conviction that Balashev, as a Russian, should be flattered by this curiosity.

— How many inhabitants are in Moscow, how many houses? Whether it is real that Moscou (Moscow) is called Moscou (Moscow) the holy?591 How many churches are in Moscou (Moscow)? — he asked.

And to the answer that the churches are more than two hundred, he said:

— Why such an abyss of churches?

— Russians are very devout, — was the response of Balashev.

— However, a great number of monasteries and churches is always a sign of the backwardness of the people, — said Napoleon, looking back at Caulaincourt for an assessment of these judgments.

Balashev respectfully allowed himself not to agree with the opinion of the French emperor.

— In each country is their morals, — he said.

— Yet now nowhere in Europe is anything like that, — said Napoleon.

— I beg apology to your majesty,— said Balashev: — besides Russia is still Spain, where there are so the same many churches and monasteries.

This answer of Balashev, hinting at the recent defeat of the French in Spain, was highly appreciated, by the stories of Balashev, in the courtyard of Emperor Aleksandr and very little appreciated now behind the lunch of Napoleon and passed unnoticed.

By the indifferent and perplexed face of the gentlemen marshals it was seen that they were puzzled at the acuity consisting here in what was hinted in the intonation of Balashev. "If it was, then we do not understand it or it is quite not witty," said the expressions of the marshal persons. So little was this answer appreciated that Napoleon even resolutely did not see it and naively asked Balashev about to what cities are going from here to a straight road to Moscow. Balashev arriving all the time of lunch alert, responded that as any road in the proverb leads to Rome, so all the roads lead to Moscow,592 that there are many dear, and that in this number of different ways is the road to Poltava, which was elected by Karl XII, said Balashev, unwittingly flaring up from pleasure in the luck of this answer. Not giving the time for Balashev to finish the last word: "Poltawa," (Poltava) now Caulaincourt began talking about the inconvenient roads from Petersburg to Moscow and about his Petersburg memories.

After lunch they got over to drink coffee in the office of Napoleon, four days to that backwards the former office of Emperor Aleksandr. Napoleon sat down, touching coffee in a Sevres cup, and pointed out the chair beside himself to Balashev.

There is in man a famous, afternoon location of spirit, which stronger than all reasonable reasons force a man to be satisfied by himself and count all as their own friends. Napoleon was found in this location. To him it seemed that he was surrounded by people adoring him. He was convinced that Balashev after his lunch was his friend and adorer. Napoleon turned to him with a nice and a little mocking smile.

— This is that same room, as to me it was said, in which lived the Emperor Aleksandr. Weird, if not true, general? — he said, obviously not doubting that this appeal could not be nice to his interlocutor, so as it proved his superiority, Napoleon’s, above Aleksandr.

Balashev could not respond to this and silently tipped his head.

— Yes, in this room, four days to that backwards, consulted Wintsengerode and Stein, — with that same mocking, confident smile continued Napoleon. — What I cannot understand, — he said, — this is that the Emperor Aleksandr moved closer to himself all my personal enemies. I this do not... understand. He did not think about how I can do the same? — with issue he turned to Balashev, and obviously this memory pushed him again into that footprint of morning anger, which was still fresh in him.

— And let him know that I do this, — said Napoleon, getting up and pushing away with his hand his cup. — I will drive out from Germany all his relatives, Virtemberg, Baden, Weimar... Yes, I will drive them out. Let him prepare for them refuge in Russia!

Balashev tipped his head, his look showing that he would desire to take a bow, and was listening only because that he may not not listen to what was spoken to him. Napoleon did not notice this expression; he approached to Balashev not as to the ambassador of his enemy, but as to a person, which was now quite loyal to him and should rejoice in the humiliation of his former gentleman.

— And what for the Emperor Aleksandr accepted superiors above the troops? Why is this? War is my craft, and his business is to reign, but not to command the troops. What for does he take on himself such liability?

Napoleon again took his snuffbox, silently walked a few times by the room and suddenly unexpectedly came up to Balashev and with an easy smile so confidently, fast, and simply, as if he did some not only major, but pleasant for Balashev business, raised his hand to the face of the forty year old Russian General and, taking him behind the ear, a little yanked it, smiling only with his lips.

To be ripped behind the ear by the emperor593 was counted the greatest honor and grace in the French court.

— Well, what the same you speak nothing, adorer and courtier of Emperor Aleksandr?594 — he said, as if it was funny to be in his presence of some courtier and adorer595 besides his, Napoleon’s.

— Whether the horses are ready for the General? — he added, a little tilting his head in answer to the bow of Balashev.

— Give him mine, he has a long way to go...

The letter, brought by Balashev, was the last letter of Napoleon to Aleksandr. All the details of the conversation were delivered to the Russian emperor, and war began.

591 la sainte? (the holy?)

592 comme tout chemin mène à Rome, tout chemin mène à Moscou, (as every road leads to Rome, every road leads to Moscow,)

593 Avoir l’oreille tirée par l’Empereur (To have an ear pulled by the Emperor)

594 Eh bien, vous ne dites rien, admirateur et courtisan de l’Empereur Alexandre? (Well, you say nothing, admirer and courtier of Emperor Alexander?)

595 courtisan and admirateur (courtier and admirer)

Time: see previous chapter, dinner
Mentioned: four days ago

Locations: Vilna
Mentioned: Polish, Moscow (Moscou in French), Russia (and Russian), France (and French), Europe, Spanish, Rome, Poltava (Poltawa in Pevear and Volokhonsky and Mandelker), St. Petersburg, Sevres, Germany

Pevear and Volokhonsky Notes: Balashov meets with Napoleon again at a dinner. “Clearly it was Napoleon’s long-standing conviction that the possibility of mistakes did not exist for him, and to his mind everything he did was good, not because it agreed with any notion of what was good and bad, but because he did it.”

“And to the reply that there were more than two hundred churches, he said, "Why such a profusion of churches?” “The Russians are very pious,” answered Balashov. “However a great number of monasteries and churches is
always a sign of a nation’s backwardness,” said Napoleon, turning to Caulaincourt for an appreciation of this judgment. Balashov respectfully allowed himself to disagree with the French emperor’s opinion. “Each country has
its customs,” he said. “But there’s nothing like that anywhere in Europe now,” said Napoleon. “I beg Your Majesty’s pardon,” said Balashov, “besides Russia there is also Spain, where there are just as many churches and
monasteries.”

Of course this mention of Spain “went unnoticed” because it is inappropriate in the view of the French. Balashov also references Charles XII.

Emphasis on how Napoleon was occupying the room Alexander once had, a foreshadowing of later in Moscow (as is all of Napoleon’s discussion of Moscow here).

The bizarre pulling of the ear, with it being something that is considered a great honor in the French course. The chapter ends with “the war began”.

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 *):

Napoleon (also “emperor”)

Balashof

Duroc

Bessieres

Caulaincourt

Berthier

Emperor Alexander

Charles XII

Winzengerode

Stein

(Alexander’s kindred are referenced)

Abridged Versions: End of Chapter 4 in Bell.
Gibian: Chapter 7.

Fuller: Entire chapter is cut.

Komroff: Entire chapter is cut

Kropotkin: Some of the detail about the dinner is gone, as is some of the conversation, such as the roads to Moscow and Charles XII. End of chapter 5.

Bromfield: Plays out virtually the same. End of chapter 8.
Simmons: Chapter 7: The sections about the Spanish and Swedes is removed.

Additional Notes:  Garnett: “Jean-Baptiste Bessieres (1768-1813) was a Marshal of France. He served under Napoleon from the time of the Italian campaign of 1796, and was made Duke of Istria in 1799. He and his
Guard routed the famous charge of the Russian Chevalier Guards at Austerlitz (mentioned in Tolstoy’s description of that battle). He took an active par in the Peninsular War, and in 1812 commanded the Guard cavalry
at Borodino and during the retreat from Moscow. In 1813 he was appointed to the command of Napoleon’s entire cavalry, but was killed three days after the campaign began.”

Maude: “The French suffered a series of defeats and setbacks in the Iberian peninsula after an army under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) disembarked in Portugal in 1808. After his
victory at Wagram...in June 1809, Napoleon sent 130,000 men under the command of Marshal Andre Massena to Spain in the hope of bringing the Peninsular War to a quick
conclusion. But Massena’s forces were repulsed as they approached Lisbon and in 1812 British troops captured Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz in the west of Spain.”

Troyat/Pinkham: Page 144: “It is quite possible that in recounting this incident Balashov credited himself with an acid retort he never made.”

Segur/Gay: Page 23: "every one of the men opposed him in some way, each according to his character; Berthier, with a long face, lamentations, even tears; Lobau and Caulaincourt with frank disapproval,

displayed in the former by a chilly rudeness, understandable in so intrepid a soldier, and in the latter by resistance to the point of almost violent obstinacy....he exclaimed, "I've made my generals too rich.

All they dream of now is following the hunt and flaunting their elegant carriages in Paris. I suppose they have lost their taste for war!"'

Mikaberidze: Page 246: “According to Meneval, the emperor often criticized Berthier for his carelessness. “Berthier,’ he used to say to him. ‘I would give an arm to have you at Grosbois (the chateau that

Napoleon gave to Berthier). Not only are you no good, but you are actually in my way.’ After these little quarrels Berthier would sulk, and refuse to come to dinner (he was Napoleon’s habitual table-fellow).

The emperor would then send for him, and would not sit down to dinner until he had come; he would put his arms round his neck, tell him that they were inseparable, etc. would chaff him about Madame

Visconti, and in the end would seat him at the table opposite him.’