AT THE MEN’S END of the table the conversation was becoming more and more lively. —
在餐桌的男生那一头，对话变得越来越活跃。 —

The colonel was asserting that the proclamation of the declaration of war had already been issued in Petersburg, and that a copy, which he had seen himself, had that day been brought by a courier to the commander-in-chief.
上校断言称战争宣言已在彼得堡发布，并且他亲眼见过一份副本，当天由一名信使带给总司令。

“And what evil spirit must make us go to war with Bonaparte?” said Shinshin. —
“是什么恶魔让我们与波拿巴交战？”辛辛问道。 —

“He has already made Austria take a back seat. —
“他已经让奥地利屈居次席。 —

I am afraid it may be our turn this time.”
这次轮到我们了，我担心这样。”

The colonel was a stout, tall, and plethoric German, evidently a zealous officer and good patriot. —
该上校是一位肥胖、高大的德国人，显然是一位热心的军官和忠诚的爱国者。 —

He resented Shinshin’s words.
他对辛辛的话感到愤慨。

“The reason why, my good sir,” he said, speaking with a German accent, “is just that the emperor knows that. —
“亲爱的先生，原因就是因为皇帝知道。 —

In his proclamation he says that he cannot behold with equanimity the danger threatening Russia, and the security of the empire, its dignity, and the sacredness of its alliances. —
在他的宣言中，他说他无法冷眼看着威胁俄罗斯的危险，以及帝国的安全、尊严和盟约的神圣性。 —

” He laid a special emphasis on the word alliances, as though the gist of the matter lay in that word. —
虽然他没有明确提及, 但他特别强调了“联盟”这个词, 似乎问题的要点就在于这个词。 —

And with the unfailing memory for official matters that was peculiar to him, he repeated the introductory words of the proclamation … “and the desire, which constitutes the Sovereign’s sole and immutable aim, to establish peace on a secure foundation, have determined him to despatch now a part of the troops abroad, and to make dispositions for carrying out this new project. —
而凭借他对官方事务的无误记忆, 这是他所特有的, 他重复了公告的开场白…“以及建立和平稳固基础的渴望, 构成君主唯一也是不可改变的目标, 这决定了派遣部分军队出国和安排实施这一新计划。 —

That is the reason why, my dear sir,” he concluded, tossing off a glass of wine in edifying fashion, and looking towards the count for encouragement.
那就是, 亲爱的先生, 这就是原因,” 他最后这样说道, 一副教训人的姿态, 一边一口气喝下一杯酒, 一边看着伯爵希望得到鼓励。

“Do you know the proverb, ‘Erema, Erema, you’d better stay at home and mind your spindle’? —
“您知道这句谚语吗, ‘埃雷玛, 埃雷玛, 你最好呆在家里（这里直译为“安心在家照看你的纺车”）吗？ —

” said Shinshin, frowning and smiling. “That suits us to a hair. —
”辛辛皱着眉头, 微笑着说道, “非常适合我们。 —

Why, Suvorov even was defeated hollow, and where are our Suvorovs nowadays? —
为什么我们连苏沃洛夫（军事将领）都被彻底击败了,而现在哪里还有我们的苏沃洛夫？ —

I just ask you that,” he said, continually shifting from Russian to French and back again.
我就问你,” 他说道, 总是在俄语和法语之间不停地转换。

“We ought to fight to the last drop of our blood,” said the colonel, thumping the table, “and to die for our emperor, and then all will be well. —
“我们应该奋不顾身地战斗到最后一滴血，” 上校说着，重重地敲着桌子，“为我们的皇帝而死，那时一切都会好起来。” —

And to discuss it as little as possible,” he concluded, turning again to the count, and drawling out the word “possible. —
并且尽量少讨论它，”他转向伯爵，慢吞吞地说出“尽量少讨论”。 —

” “That’s how we old hussars look at it; that’s all we have to say. —
“我们老一辈的胡萨尔骑兵就是这么看待它的；我们只有这么说。 —

And how do you look at it, young man and young hussar? —
年轻人和年轻的胡萨尔骑兵，你们怎么看待这个？ —

” he added, addressing Nikolay, who, catching that it was the war they were discussing, had dropped his conversation with Julie, and was all eyes and all ears, intent on the colonel.
”他补充道，对着尼古拉说，尼古拉听到他们在讨论战争，便中断了与茱莉的对话，全神贯注地盯着上校。

“I perfectly agree with you,” answered Nikolay, growing hot all over, twisting his plate round, and changing the places of the glasses with a face as desperate and determined as though he were exposed to great danger at that actual moment. —
“我完全同意你的观点，”尼古拉回答道，满脸通红，他拧动着自己的盘子，用决绝而坚定的表情把酒杯的位置换了一个，好像此刻他正置身于巨大的危险之中。 —

“I am convinced that the Russians must die or conquer,” he said. —
“我相信俄罗斯人要么死亡，要么征服，”他说。 —

He was himself, like the rest of the party, conscious after the words were uttered that he had spoken with an enthusiasm and fervour out of keeping with the occasion, and so he was embarrassed.
他自己也和其他的人一样，在那些话说出来之后意识到自己的激情和热情与场合不符，所以他感到尴尬。

“That was very fine, what you just said,” Julie sitting beside him said breathlessly. —
“你刚才说得很棒。”坐在他旁边的朱莉喘着气说道。 —

Sonya trembled all over and crimsoned to her ears, and behind her ears, and down her neck and shoulders, while Nikolay was speaking. —
索尼娅浑身颤抖，脸红到耳朵，耳后、脖子和肩膀的后面也红了起来，这是在尼古拉讲话的时候。 —

Pierre listened to the colonel’s remarks, and nodded his head approvingly.
皮埃尔听着上校的话，赞同地点了点头。

“That’s capital,” said he.
“太好了。”他说道。

“You’re a true hussar, young man,” the colonel shouted, thumping on the table again.
“你是个真正的胡萨尔，年轻人。”上校又拍了一下桌子。

“What are you making such a noise about over there? —
“你们那边吵什么？”玛丽亚·德米特里耶芙娜的低沉声音突然在桌子那边响起。 —

” Marya Dmitryevna’s bass voice was suddenly heard asking across the table. —
“你拍桌子干什么？”她问上校。 —

“What are you thumping the table for?” she addressed the colonel. —
“你对谁那么激动？难道你以为法国人在你面前？”她问道。 —

“Whom are you so hot against? You imagine, I suppose, that the French are before you?”
“我说实话。”胡萨尔微笑着说道。

“I speak the truth,” said the hussar, smiling.

“It’s all about the war,” the count shouted across the table. —
“这全都是关于战争的，”侯爵大声地在桌子对面喊道。 —

“My son’s going, you see, Marya Dmitryevna, my son’s going.”
“你看，玛丽亚·德米特里耶芙娜，我的儿子要走了。”

“And I’ve four sons in the army, but I don’t grieve. All’s in God’s hands; —
“我有四个儿子在军队里，但我不悲伤。一切都在上帝手中；一个人可以死在床上，而在战斗中上帝可能会保佑他，”玛丽亚·德米特里耶芙娜深沉的声音从桌子另一端毫不费力地回应道。 —

one may die in one’s bed, and in battle God may spare,” Marya Dmitryevna’s deep voice boomed back, speaking without the slightest effort from the further end of the table.
“这是真的。”

“That’s true.”
“这是真的。”

And the conversation concentrated into two groups again, one at the ladies’ end, and one at the men’s.
于是谈话再次集中在两组中，一组在女士们那一头，一组在男士们那一头。

“You don’t dare to ask!” said her little brother to Natasha, “and you won’t ask!”
“你不敢问！”她的小弟弟对娜塔莎说，“你不会问！”

“I will ask,” answered Natasha. Her face suddenly glowed, expressing a desperate and mirthful resolution. —
“我会问的，”娜塔莎回答道。她的脸突然发亮，表达出一种绝望而欢乐的决心。 —

She rose in her seat, her eyes inviting Pierre to listen, and addressed her mother.
她在座位上站起来，眼神邀请皮埃尔来听，然后对她的母亲说话。

“Mamma!” her childish contralto rang out over the table.
“妈妈！”她童声乐风嘹亮地传遍整个餐桌。

“What is it?” the countess asked in dismay; —
“怎么了？”女伯爵惊慌地问道； —

but seeing from her daughter’s face that it was mischief, she shook her hand at her sternly, with a threatening and forbidding movement of her head.
但从女儿的脸上看出了她想搞恶作剧的意图，女伯爵严厉地摇了摇手，威胁般地摇了摇头。

All conversation was hushed.
所有的谈话都突然停了下来。

“Mamma! what pudding will there be?” Natasha’s little voice rang out still more resolutely and deliberately.
“妈妈！要吃什么布丁？”娜塔莎的小声音变得更加坚决和谨慎。

The countess tried to frown, but could not. Marya Dmitryevna shook her fat finger.
女伯爵试图皱眉，但无法做到。玛丽亚·德米特里耶夫娜摇了摇她肥胖的手指。

“Cossack!” she said menacingly.
“哥萨克！”她威胁地说。

Most of the guests looked at the parents, not knowing how they were to take this sally.
大多数客人看着父母，不知道他们该如何对待这一戏谑。

“I’ll give it to you,” said the countess.
“我会给你的，”女伯爵说。

“Mamma! what pudding will it be?” Natasha cried, with bold and saucy gaiety, feeling sure that her prank would be taken in the right spirit. —
“妈妈！要吃什么布丁？”娜塔莎大声而又放肆地喊道，确信她的恶作剧会被正确地理解。 —

Sonya and fat little Petya were hiding their giggles. —
索尼娅和胖乎乎的小彼得藏住了他们的咯咯笑声。 —

“You see I did ask,” Natasha whispered to her little brother and Pierre, at whom she glanced again.
“你看，我确实问了，”娜塔莎对她的小弟弟和彼埃尔耳语着，她再次瞥了一眼彼埃尔。

“Ice-pudding, only you are not to have any,” said Marya Dmitryevna. —
“冰布丁，只有你不能吃，”玛丽娅·德缪特里耶夫娜说。 —

Natasha saw there was nothing to be afraid of, and so she was not frightened at Marya Dmitryevna even.
娜塔莎看到没有什么可害怕的，所以她对玛丽娅·德缪特里耶夫娜一点也不害怕。

“Marya Dmitryevna! what sort of ice-pudding? I don’t like ice cream.”
“玛丽娅·德缪特里耶夫娜！什么样的冰布丁？我不喜欢冰淇淋。”

“Carrot-ices.”
“胡萝卜冰激淋。”

“No, what sort, Marya Dmitryevna, what sort?” she almost shrieked. “I want to know. —
“不，什么样的，玛丽娅·德缪特里耶夫娜，什么样的？”她几乎尖叫着说。 “我想知道。” —

” Marya Dmitryevna and the countess burst out laughing, and all the party followed their example. —
玛丽娅·德缪特里耶夫娜和女伯爵都笑了起来，整个团队都效仿她们的样子笑了起来。 —

They all laughed, not at Marya Dmitryevna’s answer, but at the irrepressible boldness and smartness of the little girl, who had the pluck and the wit to tackle Marya Dmitryevna in this fashion.
他们都笑了起来，不是因为玛丽娅·德缪特里耶夫娜的回答，而是因为这个小女孩振振有词、聪明机智，敢于以这种方式挑战玛丽娅·德缪特里耶夫娜。

Natasha only desisted when she had been told it was to be pineapple ice. —
只有当被告知是菠萝冰激凌时，娜塔莎才停止了争论。 —

Before the ices, champagne was passed round. —
在冰淇淋之前，传递着香槟酒。 —

Again the band struck up, the count kissed the countess, and the guests getting up from the table congratulated the countess, and clinked glasses across the table with the count, the children, and one another. —
音乐再次响起，侯爵吻了侯爵夫人，宾客从桌子旁起身，向侯爵夫人表示祝贺，与侯爵、孩子和彼此碰杯。 —

Again the waiters darted about, chairs grated on the floor, and in the same order, but with flushed faces, the guests returned to the drawing-room and the count’s study.
餐厅里侍者们再次忙碌起来，椅子在地板上发出刺耳的声音，宾客们红着脸按照之前的次序返回到客厅和侯爵的书房。