NEXT DAY when Prince Andrey thought of the ball it did not occupy his mind for long. —
第二天当安德烈王子想起舞会时，他并没有长时间地去思考。 —

“Yes, it was a very successful ball. And besides…yes, the younger Rostov is very charming. —
“是的，那是一个非常成功的舞会。而且……是的，年轻的罗斯托夫很迷人。 —

There’s something fresh in her, original, unlike Petersburg. —
她身上有一种新鲜感，原创性，与彼得堡不同。 —

” That was all he thought about the previous day’s ball, and after his morning tea he set to work.
前一天的舞会就是他所有的思考，早茶之后他就开始工作。

But from fatigue and want of sleep he was not very well disposed for work, and could get nothing done. —
但由于疲劳和睡眠不足，他对工作的心情并不好，一事无成。 —

He was continually criticising his own work—a habit common with him—and was glad when he heard a visitor arrive.
他不断地批评自己的工作，这是他的一个习惯，当他听到有访客到来时，他感到高兴。

The visitor was Bitsky, a man who was a member of various committees and of all the societies in Petersburg. —
访客是比茨基，他是彼得堡各种委员会和社团的成员。 —

He was a passionate adherent of the new ideas and of Speransky, and the busiest purveyor of news in Petersburg, one of those men who choose their opinions like their clothes—according to the fashion—but for that very reason seem the most vehement partisans. —
他是新思想和斯佩兰斯基的热情拥护者，也是彼得堡最忙碌的新闻传播者之一，这样的人选择观点就像选择服装一样—根据时尚来挑选—因此显得最狂热的支持者。 —

Scarcely waiting to remove his hat, he ran fussily up to Prince Andrey, and at once began talking. —
迫不及待地摘下帽子，他仓促地跑向安德烈王子，立即开始说话。 —

He had just learned particulars of the sitting of the State Council of that morning, opened by the Tsar, and began enthusiastically upon the subject. —
他刚刚得知了今天早上国务会议的细节，由沙皇主持开幕，并对此充满热情地谈论起来。 —

The Tsar’s speech had been, he said, an extraordinary one. —
他说沙皇的讲话非同寻常。 —

It had been a speech such as are only delivered by constitutional monarchs. —
这是只有君主立宪制国家才会有的讲话。 —

“The Emperor directly asserted that the Council and the Senate are the estates of the realm; —
“皇帝直接表明，议会和参议院是国家的机构； —

he said that government should be founded not on arbitrary authority, but on a secure basis. —
他说，政府应该建立在稳定的基础上，而不是任意的权威之上。 —

The Emperor said that the fiscal system must be reconstituted and the accounts must be public,” Bitsky announced, laying stress on certain words, and opening his eyes significantly. —
沙皇说，财政系统必须重组，账目必须公开，”比茨基强调着某些词语，并有意地睁大了眼睛。 —

“Yes, to-day’s sitting marks an epoch, the greatest epoch in our history,” he concluded.
“是的，今天的会议标志着一个时代，我们历史上最伟大的时代，”他总结道。

Prince Andrey heard his account of the opening of the State Council, to which he had been looking forward with such eagerness, and to which he had attached so much consequence, and was amazed that now, when it had come to pass, this event, far from affecting him, struck him as less than insignificant. —
安德烈王子聆听着他渴望已久并且认为非常重要的国务院的开幕情况，但却感到惊讶的是，这一事件并没有对他产生任何影响，反而被他看作微不足道。 —

With quiet irony he listened to Bitsky’s enthusiastic description. —
他以冷嘲热讽的口吻倾听着彼茨基热情洋溢的描述。 —

The idea in his mind was of the simplest. —
他心里的想法非常简单。 —

“What is it to me and Bitsky,” he thought, “what is it to us, whatever the Emperor is pleased to say in the Council? —
他想，“对我和彼茨基来说，皇帝在国务院说了什么又有什么关系呢？ —

Can all that make me any happier or better?”
那些能让我更加快乐或更好吗？”

And this simple reflection suddenly destroyed all Prince Andrey’s former interest in the reforms that were being made. —
这个简单的思考突然破坏了安德烈王子对正在进行的改革的以往兴趣。 —

That day Prince Andrey was to dine with Speransky, “with only a few friends,” as the host had said in inviting him. —
当天晚上，安德烈王子要和斯佩兰斯基一起用餐，“只有几个朋友”，主人在邀请他时这样说。 —

That dinner, in the intimate home circle of the man who had so fascinated him, had seemed very attractive to Prince Andrey, especially as he had not hitherto seen Speransky in his home surroundings. —
那顿晚餐，发生在那位令他着迷的人的亲密家庭圈子里，对安德烈伯爵显得非常有吸引力，尤其是因为他之前还没有在斯佩兰斯基的家里见过他。 —

But now he had no wish to go to it.
但是现在他并不想去参加。

At the hour fixed, however, Prince Andrey was entering the small house in Tavritchesky Garden. —
然而，在约定的时间，安德烈伯爵正在塔夫里切斯基公园的小房子里。 —

The little house, which was Speransky’s property, was distinguished by an extraordinary cleanliness, suggestive of the cleanliness of a convent. —
这座小房子是斯佩兰斯基的财产，以非寻常的整洁闻名，让人联想到修道院的整洁。 —

In the parqueted dining-room, Prince Andrey, who was a little late, found all that circle of Speransky’s intimate friends already gathered together at five o’clock. —
在铺着镶嵌木地板的餐厅里，安德烈伯爵稍微迟到了，已经有斯佩兰斯基的亲密朋友们在五点钟的时候聚集在一起。 —

There were no ladies present, except Speransky’s little daughter (with a long face like her father’s) and her governess. —
除了斯佩兰斯基的小女儿（长着一个像她父亲一样的长脸）和她的女教师外，没有其他女士在场。 —

The guests were Gervais, Magnitsky and Stolypin. —
客人包括热尔韦，马尼茨基和斯托利平。 —

From the vestibule Prince Andrey had caught the sound of loud voices and a ringing, staccato laugh—a laugh such as one hears on the stage. —
从门厅里，安德烈伯爵听到了大声的声音和一个尖锐、急促的笑声——这种笑声就像在舞台上听到的那样。 —

Some one—it sounded like Speransky—was giving vent to a staccato “ha…ha…ha…” Prince Andrey had never before heard Speransky laugh, and this shrill, ringing laugh from the great statesman made a strange impression on him.
有人——听起来像是斯佩兰斯基——发出了一串断断续续的“哈……哈……哈……”安德烈王子以前从未听过斯佩兰斯基笑过，而这位伟大政治家发出的尖锐而响亮的笑声给他留下了奇怪的印象。

Prince Andrey went into the dining-room. The whole party were standing between the two windows at a little table laid with hors d’? —
安德烈王子走进了餐厅。整个团队站在两扇窗户之间的小桌子旁，上面摆着开胃菜。 —

uvres. Speransky was standing at the table with a mirthful countenance, wearing a grey frock coat with a star, and the white waistcoat and high white stock, in which he had been at the famous sitting of the State Council. —
斯佩兰斯基站在桌子旁，面带愉快的表情，穿着一件带星的灰色外套，配着白色背心和高高的白领结，就像他参加国务会议那天一样。 —

His guests formed a ring round him. Turning towards him Magnitsky was relating an anecdote. —
客人们围成一个圆圈站在他周围。马格尼茨基转向他讲述一个笑话。 —

Speransky listened, laughing beforehand at what Magnitsky was going to say. —
斯佩兰斯基听着，已经提前笑着等待着马格尼茨基要说的话。 —

Just as Prince Andrey walked into the room, Magnitsky’s words were again drowned in laughter. —
正当安德烈王子走进房间时，马格尼茨基的话再次被笑声淹没。 —

Stolypin gave vent to a bass guffaw as he munched a piece of bread and cheese. —
斯托利平啃着一块面包和奶酪，发出低沉的大笑声。 —

Gervais softly hissed a chuckle, and Speransky laughed his shrill, staccato laugh.
格尔维斯轻声嘶哑地笑了起来，斯佩兰斯基发出了他尖利而断断续续的笑声。

Speransky, still laughing, gave Prince Andrey his soft, white hand. —
斯佩兰斯基还在笑着，将他柔软而白皙的手伸向安德烈王子。 —

“Very glad to see you, prince,” he said. —
“很高兴见到您, 王子。”他说道。 —

“One minute…” he turned to Magnitsky, whose tale he was interrupting. —
“稍等一下…”他转向了正在打断他讲故事的马格尼茨基。 —

“We have made a compact to-day; this is a holiday dinner, and not one word about business. —
“我们今天达成了一个约定；这是一顿节日晚餐，与业务无关。” —

” And he turned again to the story-teller, and again he laughed.
他再次转向讲故事的人，再次笑了起来。

With a sense of wondering and melancholy disillusion, Prince Andrey heard his laughter and looked at Speransky laughing. —
安德烈王子听到他的笑声，带着惊讶和忧郁的幻灭感，看着斯佩兰斯基笑着。 —

It was not Speransky, but some other man, it seemed to Prince Andrey. —
那不是斯佩兰斯基，似乎是另外一个人，安德烈王子觉得。 —

All that had seemed mysterious and attractive in Speransky suddenly seemed to Prince Andrey obvious and unattractive.
斯佩兰斯基之前所有看起来神秘而吸引人的东西，突然对安德烈王子来说显而易见且不吸引人。

At dinner the conversation never paused for a moment, and consisted of something like the contents of a jest-book. —
晚餐时，对话从未停歇，内容类似于一个俏皮话集。 —

Magnitsky had hardly finished his anecdote when another gentleman expressed his readiness to relate something even more amusing. —
玛格尼茨基刚讲完一个笑话，另一位绅士立刻表示自己准备讲一个更有趣的。 —

The anecdotes for the most part related, if not to the service itself, to persons prominent in the service. —
这些笑话大多数都与这个系统本身有关，或者与服务中的重要人物有关。 —

It was as though in this circle the utter insignificance of these prominent persons was so completely accepted that the only attitude possible towards them was one of good-humoured hilarity. —
仿佛在这个圈子里，这些重要人物的微不足道被完全接受，唯一可能的态度就是友好的欢笑。 —

Speransky told them how at the council that morning a deaf statesman, on being asked his opinion, replied that he was of the same opinion. —
斯佩兰斯基告诉他们，当天早上在议会上，一位聋哑的政治家被问及意见时，回答说他持相同意见。 —

Gervais described a whole episode of the revision, only remarkable for the imbecility of all concerned in it. —
格尔韦描述了整个修订事件，唯一引人注意的是其中所有人的愚蠢。 —

Stolypin, stammering, took up the conversation and began talking of the abuses of the old order of things, with a warmth that threatened to give the conversation a serious turn. —
斯托利品结结巴巴地接过话题，开始谈论旧秩序的滥用，他的激动态度似乎可能让谈话变得严肃起来。 —

Magnitsky began to make fun of Stolypin’s earnestness. —
玛格尼茨基开始取笑斯托利品的认真态度。 —

Gervais put in his joke, and the conversation resumed its former lively tone. —
格尔维斯讲了个笑话，谈话又恢复到以前热烈的氛围中。 —

It was obvious that after his labours Speransky liked to rest and be amused in the circle of his friends; —
显然，斯佩兰斯基在劳累后喜欢在朋友圈里休息和娱乐。 —

and all his friends understood his tastes, and were trying to amuse him and themselves. —
他所有的朋友都了解他的喜好，都在努力取悦他和自己。 —

But this kind of gaiety seemed to Prince Andrey tiresome and anything but gay. —
但是，这种欢乐在安德烈亲王看来令人厌倦，并非真正快乐。 —

Speransky’s high voice struck him unpleasantly, and his continual laugh in its high-pitched, falsetto note was for some reason an offence to Prince Andrey’s feelings. —
斯佩兰斯基高亢的声音让他感到不悦，他的持续笑声中那尖锐的假音以某种原因冒犯到安德烈亲王的感情。 —

Prince Andrey did not laugh, and was afraid he would be felt uncongenial by this party. —
安德烈亲王没有笑，他担心自己会被这个聚会感到格格不入。 —

But no one noticed his lack of sympathy with the general merriment. —
但是没有人注意到他对普遍欢乐的缺乏共鸣。 —

All of them appeared to be greatly enjoying themselves.
他们每个人似乎都玩得非常开心。

Several times he tried to enter into the conversation, but every time the word was snatched out of his mouth, like a cork out of water, and he could not bandy jokes with them. —
他几次试图加入谈话，但每次话都被抢在嘴边，像水中的塞子一样，他无法和他们互相开玩笑。 —

There was nothing wrong or unseemly in what they said; —
他们说的话没有什么不对或不得体的地方。 —

it was all witty, and might have been amusing, but something—that very something that makes the zest of gaiety—was wanting, and they did not even know of its existence.
它们都很机智，可能很有趣，但某种——正是使欢乐充满生气的某种东西——是缺失的，他们甚至没有意识到它的存在。

After dinner Speransky’s daughter and her governess rose from the table. —
晚饭后，斯佩兰斯基的女儿和她的家庭教师离开了餐桌。 —

Speransky patted his daughter with his white hand, and kissed her. —
斯佩兰斯基用他白皙的手拍了拍女儿，亲了她一下。 —

And that gesture, too, seemed to Prince Andrey unnatural.
这个姿势，对安德烈亲王来说也显得不自然。

The men sat on over their port, after the English fashion. —
男人们按照英国人的方式继续喝着他们的葡萄酒。 —

A conversation sprang up about Napoleon’s doings in Spain, of which all were united in approving, while Prince Andrey attacked them. —
有关拿破仑在西班牙的所作所为的讨论开始了，所有人都对此表示支持，而安德烈亲王则进行了攻击。 —

But in the middle of this discussion Speransky, obviously wishing to change the subject, began with a smile telling an anecdote, which had no connection with it. —
但就在这个讨论的中间，斯佩兰斯基显然想要转换话题，他面带微笑讲起了一个与此无关的笑话。 —

For several instants every one was silent.
几个瞬间，每个人都沉默了。

As they sat at table, Speransky, corking up a bottle of wine and saying, “Nowadays good wine doesn’t go a-begging! —
当他们坐在桌子旁时，斯佩兰斯基塞住一瓶酒并说：“现在好酒不会被抛弃了！” —

” gave it to the servant and got up. All rose, and talking just as noisily, went into the drawing-room. —
“将它给仆人，然后站起来。众人纷纷起身，大声谈笑着走进客厅。 —

Speransky was handed two envelopes brought by a special courier. —
斯佩朗斯基接过了一位特别信使带来的两封信封。 —

He took them and went into his study. As soon as he had gone, there was a lull in the general gaiety, and the guests began conversing sensibly in low tones together.
他拿着信封走进书房。他一走，欢乐的气氛顿时安静下来，客人们低声相互谈论着一些有意义的事情。

“Well, now for the recitation!” said Speransky, coming out of his study. “A marvellous talent! —
“好了，现在该表演了！”斯佩朗斯基走出书房说道。“真是个了不起的才华！ —

” he said to Prince Andrey. Magnitsky at once threw himself into an attitude, and began to recite comic French verses, a skit he had composed on various well-known persons. —
”他对安德烈王子说。马格尼茨基立马摆出姿势，开始朗诵他创作的滑稽的法语诗，这是一首关于几个著名人物的讽刺作品。 —

Several times he was interrupted by applause. —
他的表演被掌声打断了几次。 —

At the conclusion of the recitation Prince Andrey went up to Speransky to say good-bye.
朗诵结束后，安德烈王子走到斯佩朗斯基跟前告别。

“Why so early?” said Speransky.
“为什么这么早？”斯佩朗斯基问道。

“I promised to be at a soirée.…”
“我答应去一个晚会……”

They said no more. Prince Andrey looked at those mirror-like, impenetrable eyes, so close to his, and he felt it ludicrous that he should have expected anything from Speransky, and from all his own work connected with him, and marvelled how he could have ascribed any value to what Speransky was doing. —
他们说再也没有了。安德烈王子看着那双镜子般的、难以穿透的眼睛，离他如此之近，他感到荒谬，他竟然期望从斯佩兰斯基那里得到什么，以及与他有关的所有自己的工作，他不禁惊叹自己为什么会对斯佩兰斯基所做的一切赋予了任何价值。 —

That punctual, mirthless laugh was ringing in Prince Andrey’s ears long after he had left Speransky’s.
那种准时而毫无欢愉的笑声在安德烈王子离开斯佩兰斯基后仍在他耳边回响。

On reaching home Prince Andrey began looking at his life in Peters-burg during the last four months, as though it were something new. —
回到家后，安德烈王子开始审视他在彼得堡的生活，仿佛这是一件新鲜事物。 —

He thought of the efforts he had made, and the people he had tried to see, and the history of his project of army reform, which had been accepted for consideration, and had been shelved because another scheme, a very poor one, had already been worked out and presented to the Tsar. He thought of the sittings of the committee, of which Berg was a member. —
他想起了自己所做的努力，以及他所试图见到的人，以及军队改革计划的历史，该计划已被接受并被搁置，因为已经有了另一个计划，而且是一个很差的计划，已经被制定出来并提交给了沙皇。他想起了委员会的会议，伯格也是其中的一员。 —

He thought of the conscientious and prolonged deliberations that took place at those sittings on every point relating to the formalities of the sittings themselves, and the studious brevity with which anything relating to the reality of their duties was touched on in passing. —
他想起在那些会议上进行的审慎而长期的讨论，讨论的内容涉及会议本身的形式，以及对他们的职责实质性问题的探讨只是轻描淡写提及。 —

He thought of his work on the legislative reforms, of his careful translation of the Roman and French codes into Russian, and he felt ashamed of himself. —
他想起自己在立法改革上的工作，想起自己将罗马法典和法国法典仔细翻译成俄语的事情，他感到羞愧不已。 —

Then he vividly imagined Bogutcharovo, his pursuits in the country, his expedition to Ryazan; —
然后他生动地想象了博古恰罗沃，他在乡村的追求，他到雷扎纳的远征； —

he thought of his peasants, of Dron the village elder; —
他想起了他的农民，村长德龙； —

and applying the section on Personal Rights, which he had divided into paragraphs, to them, he marvelled how he could have so long busied himself on work so idle.
并且将他所分为段落的关于个人权益的部分应用到他们身上，他惊讶地想着自己如何能够在如此无益的工作上忙碌了这么长时间。