Briggs: Helene writes to Pierre asking for his co-operation over the divorce.
Translation:
VII.
Elen understood that the business was very simple and easy from the confessor’s point of view, but that her leader made difficulty only because of how they feared what way societal power will look at this business.
And owing to this Elen decided that the need was to in society prepare this business. She called the jealousy of the old man noble and told him that same as that first seeker, i.e. placed the question so that the only means to get rights to her consisted so that to marry her. The old major face, in the first moment, was so the same defeated by this proposal to exit to get married from a living husband, as the first young face; but the unshakable confidence of Elen in that this is so the same simple and natural as exit girls to get married, acted on him. If would have been noticeable though the slightest signs of hesitation the shame to go in secrecy for Elen, that business of hers would undoubtedly be lost; but not only were there not these signs of secrecy and shame, but, the opposite, she with simplicity and good-natured naivety told her close friends (but this was all Petersburg), that to her were made offers by the prince and grandee, and that she loved both and was afraid to upset that and another.
By Petersburg instantly spread hearing not about how Elen wanted to get a divorce from her husband (if would have spread this hearing, very many would have rebelled against such illegal intentions), but all spread hearing about how the unhappy, interesting Elen was located in perplexity about for whom of the two of hers to exit to get married to. The question now did not consist in what extent this was possible, but only in what party was more profitable, and how the court will look at this. There were really some inveterate people, not able to go up to the height of the issue and who saw in this conception profaning the sacrament of marriage; but these were little, and they were silent, the majority were already interested in questions about the happiness which befell Elen, and which of the choosing was better. About this same, whether it was okay or bad to exit from a living husband to get married, was not said because of how this question obviously was already decided for people smarter than us with you (as it was said) and to doubt in the correctness of the decision of the issue meant to risk to express their stupidity and inability to live in the world.
Only Marya Dmitrievna Ahrosimova, visiting in this summer in Petersburg for a meeting with one of her sons, allowed herself of all to express her, disgusting to public, opinion. Meeting Elen at a ball, Marya Dmitrievna stopped her by the middle of the hall, and in the overall silence her rude voice told her:
— You are here from a living husband to exit to get married. You may think that you brand newly invented this. — You were preempted, mother. Already for a long time it has been made up. In all........ that do so. — And with these words Marya Dmitrievna with a habitual formidable gesture, rolling up her wide sleeves and strictly looking back, passed through the room.
At Marya Dmitrievna, although they were afraid of her, looked Petersburg as at a jester and because of the words said by her, they noticed only the gross word and whisperingly repeated it to each other, assuming that in this word concluded all the salt of the said.
Prince Vasiliy, in the latter time especially often forgot that what he spoke and repeated one hundred times that same, spoke at any time when he happened to see his daughter:
— Elen, I need to say something to you,— he spoke to her, taking her somewhere to the side and yanking her downwards behind the arm. — I heard about some air regarding...you know. Well so, my sweet child, you know that the heart of your father rejoices to that what you...you have suffered so much...But sweet child...Act, as orders your heart. That is all my advice.
747 — And, always hiding equal excitement, he pressed his cheek to the cheek of his daughter and walked away.
Bilibin, not losing the reputation of the smartest man and a formerly disinterested friend of Elen, was one of those friends which there are always in brilliant women, men friends, which may never cross in the role of lovers, Bilibin once in the "small committee"748 expressed to his friend Elen his look on all this business.
— Listen, Bilibin:— (Elen these friends, as Bilibin, always called by name) and she touched his white in rings hand to the sleeves of his tailcoat. Say to me, as you would tell a sister, what do I do? Which of the two? —749
Bilibin collected the skin above his eyebrows and with a smile on his lips thought.
—You have not seized me by surprise, you know. — he said. — As a true friend I have long pondered your business. See that: if to exit for the prince, (this was the young person), — he bent his finger, — then you forever lose the opportunity to be the wife of another, and in addition the court will be displeased. (You know, after all, here is implicated kinship.) but if to exit for the old count, then you composite the happiness of his last days, and then... the prince already will not be derogatory in marrying the widow of a noble.750 — and Bilibin loosened his skin.
— That is a true friend! — said the coming out Elen, another time touching her hand to the sleeves of Bilibin. — But after all I love this and another, and would not want to grieve anybody. For the happiness of both I am ready to donate my life,751 — she said.
Bilibin shook his shoulders, expressing that such grief even he now may not help.
"A well done woman! That which calls firmly puts the question. She would want to be the wife of all three in one and the same time,"752 — thought Bilibin.
— But say, how will your husband look at this business? — he said, owing to the hardness of his reputation, not fearing to drop himself in so naive an issue. — Whether he will agree?
— Ah! He loves me so! — said Elen, whom for some reason it seemed that Pierre also loved her. — He is all ready for me.753
Bilibin picked up his skin, so to indicate a prepared word.754
— And even in divorce,755 — he said. Elen laughed.
In the number of people that allowed themselves to doubt the lawfulness to undertake marriage was the mother of Elen, Princess Kuragin. She was constantly tormented by envy to her daughter, and now, when the subject of envy was the closest to the heart of the princess, she could not reconcile with this thought. She advised with a Russian clergy about what is the least possible in divorce and introduction in marriage with an alive husband, and the priest said to her that this is impossible and, to her joy, pointed out to her in the gospel text, in which (to the clergy it seemed) rejected all opportunity in entry in marriage from a living husband.
Armed with these arguments, seeming to her irrefutable, the princess in the early morning, so that to catch her alone, went to her daughter.
Listening to the objections of her mother, Elen meekly and mockingly smiled.
— Yes because all say: who marries to a divorced wife... — said the old princess.
— Ah, mama, do not speak stupid things. you understand nothing. In my position there are responsibilities,756 — began talking Elen, translating the conversation to the French from the Russian language, in which to her always seemed somehow indefinite in her case.
— But, my friend...
— Ah, mama, how do you not understand that the saintly father has the power of absolution...757
In this time a lady companion, living at Elen’s, entered to her to report that his highness was in the hall and wished to see her.
No, say to him that I do not want to see him, that I am mad at him, because of how he did not hold back his words.
— Countess, there is mercy for any sin,758 — said the entering young, blond person with a long face and nose.
The old princess respectfully got up and sat down. The entering young person did not turn to her attention. The princess nodded her head to her daughter and floated to the door.
"No, she is right," thought the old princess, all of her beliefs destroyed before the emergence of his highnesses. "She is right; but how did we in our irrecoverable youth not know this? But this is so simple," thought, sitting down in her carriage, the old princess.
In the beginning of August the business of Elen was completely defined, and she wrote to her husband (which extremely loved her, as she thought) a letter which informed him about her intentions to exit to get married for NN, and about how she marched in the united true religion, and that she asked him to perform all those necessary for divorce formalities, about which will deliver him the bearer of this letter.
Then pray to God, and he will be with you, my friend, under the saints and his strong cover. Your friend Elen.759
This letter was brought to the house of Pierre, at that time as he was found at Borodino field.
747 Hélène, j’ai un mot à vous dire, J’ai eu vent de certains projets relatifs à... Vous savez. Eh bien, ma chère enfant, vous savez que mon coeur de père se réjouit de vous savoir... Vous avez tant souffert... Mais, chère enfant... ne consultez que votre coeur. C’est tout ce que je vous dis. (Helene, I have a word to tell you, I've heard of certain projects related to... You know. Well, my dear child, you know that my father's heart rejoices to know you...You have suffered so much...But, dear child...consult only your heart. This is all I'm telling you.)
748 petit comité (small committee)
749 Ecoutez, Bilibine, Dites moi comme vous diriez à une soeur, que dois-je faire? Lequel des deux? (Listen, Bilibine, tell me like you would tell a sister, what should I do? Which of the two?)
750 Vous ne me prenez pas en outright, vous savez, Comme véritable ami j’ai pensé et repensé à votre affaire. Voyez vous. Si vous épousez le prince vous perdez pour toujours la chance d’épouser l’autre, et puis vous mécontentez la Cour. (Comme vous savez, il y a une espèce de parenté.) Mais si vous épousez le vieux comte, vous faites le bonheur de ses derniers jours, et puis comme veuve du grand... le prince ne fait plus de mésaillance en vous épousant, (You do not take me in outright, you know, As a true friend I have thought and rethought your business. You see. If you marry the prince you forever lose the chance to marry the other, and then you upset the Court. (As you know, there is a kind of kinship.) But if you marry the old count, you are the happiness of his last days, and then as the widow of the great...the prince no longer makes a bad alliance in marrying you,)
751 Voilà un véritable ami! Mais c’est que j’aime l’un et l’autre, je ne voudrais pas leur faire de chagrin. Je donnerais ma vie pour leur bonheur à tous deux, (Here is a real friend! But it is that I love one and the other, I would not like to cause them chagrin. I would give my life for the happiness of them both,)
752 "Une maîtresse-femme! Voilà ce qui s’appelle poser carrément la question. Elle voudrait épouser tous les trois à la fois," (A masterful-woman! This is what is called downright asking the question. She would like to marry all three at the same time,")
753 Ah! Il m’aime tant! Il fera tout pour moi. (Ah! He loves me so! He will do anything for me.)
754 mot (word)
755 Même le divorce, (Even divorce,)
756 Ah, maman, ne dites pas de bêtises. Vous ne comprenez rien. Dans ma position j’ai des devoirs, (Ah, mom, don't talk nonsense. You do not understand anything. In my position I have duties,)
757 Ah, maman, comment est-ce que vous ne comprenez pas que le Saint Père, qui a le droit de donner des dispenses... (Ah, mother, how can you not understand that the Holy Father, who has the right to give dispensations...)
758 — Non, dites lui que je ne veux pas le voir, que je suis furieuse contre lui, parce qu’il m’a manqué parole.
— Comtesse, à tout péché miséricorde,
(- No, tell him that I do not want to see him, that I am furious with him, because he broke my word.
- Countess, to all sins mercy,)
759 "Sur ce je prie Dieu, mon ami, de vous avoir sous Sa sainte et puissante garde. Votre amie Hélène".
("On this I pray to God, my friend, to have you under His holy and powerful guard. Your friend Helene.")
Time: see previous chapter, the beginning of August
Mentioned: summer
Locations: St. Petersburg
Mentioned: Russian, Pierre's house, Borodino
Pevear and Volokhonsky Notes: Helene now takes her case to society, first making "the old important person" understand that he had to marry her to maintain "rights over her". She spreads the rumor that both of her suitors have proposed to her, making people no longer focus on the fact that she is already married but to make them wonder which one she would choose. "this question had obviously already been decided by people more intelligent than you and I".
Marya Dmitrievna, staying in character with her condemnation of Natasha, is one of the few to believe Helene is in the wrong and confronts her. Bilibin suggests she marry the older one so she can marry the younger one after the older one dies and she is left a widow.
There is a lot of emphasis, though it is explicitly stated that Bilibin cannot be her lover, on the touches in the scene, from Vassily's to Bilibin's. Helene's mother, motivated by envy, gets a Russian priest to show her that the divorce is wrong. Notably, Helene moves from French to Russian when defending herself. Helene writes a letter to Pierre asking for the divorce, which makes a pretty natural cut into the next chapter, in which we follow Pierre.
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 *):
(also her spiritual advisers, again the grandee and the young prince, and it is unclear which one, or if either one, is supposed to be N.N., all the people of Petersburg society, the Russian priest Ellen's mother discusses Ellen's situation with, the lady companion that lives with Ellen, the one referred to as "highness", which appears to be "a fair young man", most likely different than the prince.)
Abridged Versions: Line break in Bell before "By the beginning of August". Line break in the same place in Wiener, Maude, Edmonds, Dunnigan, Mandelker, and Briggs. End of Chapter 11 in Bell.
Gibian: line break after "she got into her carriage." End of chapter 5.
Fuller: Entire chapter is cut.
Komroff: The Vasili and Bilibin sections of the chapter are removed. Followed by a line break.
Kropotkin: Chapter 3: Chapter is preserved.
Bromfield: No apparent corresponding chapter.
Simmons: Entire chapter is cut.
Mentioned: summer
Locations: St. Petersburg
Mentioned: Russian, Pierre's house, Borodino
Pevear and Volokhonsky Notes: Helene now takes her case to society, first making "the old important person" understand that he had to marry her to maintain "rights over her". She spreads the rumor that both of her suitors have proposed to her, making people no longer focus on the fact that she is already married but to make them wonder which one she would choose. "this question had obviously already been decided by people more intelligent than you and I".
Marya Dmitrievna, staying in character with her condemnation of Natasha, is one of the few to believe Helene is in the wrong and confronts her. Bilibin suggests she marry the older one so she can marry the younger one after the older one dies and she is left a widow.
There is a lot of emphasis, though it is explicitly stated that Bilibin cannot be her lover, on the touches in the scene, from Vassily's to Bilibin's. Helene's mother, motivated by envy, gets a Russian priest to show her that the divorce is wrong. Notably, Helene moves from French to Russian when defending herself. Helene writes a letter to Pierre asking for the divorce, which makes a pretty natural cut into the next chapter, in which we follow Pierre.
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 *):
Ellen (also "daughter")
Pierre (also "husband")
Marya Dmitrievna Akhrasimova
Prince Vasili
Bilibin
Princess Kuragina (also "Ellen's mother", "maman", and "old princess".)
Abridged Versions: Line break in Bell before "By the beginning of August". Line break in the same place in Wiener, Maude, Edmonds, Dunnigan, Mandelker, and Briggs. End of Chapter 11 in Bell.
Gibian: line break after "she got into her carriage." End of chapter 5.
Fuller: Entire chapter is cut.
Komroff: The Vasili and Bilibin sections of the chapter are removed. Followed by a line break.
Kropotkin: Chapter 3: Chapter is preserved.
Bromfield: No apparent corresponding chapter.
Simmons: Entire chapter is cut.
Bienstock and Martel: Natasha and Helene are with Mlle Berthe and discuss Maria Dmitrievna (who here only just didn't notice Helene). Helene tells Natasha about how she has affected Anatole. Natasha then gets the secret letter from Anatole and immediately discusses it with Sonia. The two fight and Anatole appears to try to take her away, but Maria Dmitrievna appears. Pierre is immediately on the scene as Natasha claims that she will die and Anatole is confronted in front of her. Helene also appears and confronts Pierre. The scene ends after Count Rostov asks what is wrong and Maria says it will pass.
Additional Notes:
Additional Notes:
The Kreutzer Sonata: Page 6: (on divorce) “‘They did happen, sir, but less often,” he said. “Nowadays it can’t help from happening. People have become so educated.”’
Troyat/Amphoux: Page 321: "Unlike the avant-garde writers of his time who were preaching emancipation, he considered that women must remain in their rightful place, obedient to their husbands and tied to hearth and cradle, if the very structure of the family and hence of society were not to collapse."
Anna Karenina (Kent/Berberova): Chapter 12: “She has forsaken her duty, and deceived her husband. That’s what she has done,” said he (Aleksey Aleksandrovich about Anna)...”It is extremely difficult to be mistaken when a wife herself informs her husband of the fact--informs him that eight years of her life, and a son, all that’s a mistake, and that she wants to begin life again...When I doubted, I was miserable, but it was better than now. When I doubted, I had hope, but now there is no hope, and still I doubt everything. I am in such doubt of everything that I even hate my son, and sometimes do not believe he is my son. I am very unhappy...One must get out of the humiliating position in which one is placed...One may save anyone who does not want to be ruined; but if the whole nature is so corrupt, so depraved, that ruin itself seems to her salvation, what’s to be done?...I am not a spiteful man, I have never hated anyone, but I hate her with my whole soul…”
No comments:
Post a Comment