WHILE HALF of Russia was conquered, and the inhabitants of Moscow were fleeing to remote provinces, and one levy of militia after another was being raised for the defence of the country, we, not living at the time, cannot help imagining that all the people in Russia, great and small alike, were engaged in doing nothing else but making sacrifices, saving their country, or weeping over its downfall. —
当俄罗斯的一半领土被征服时，莫斯科的居民正在逃往遥远的省份，一支又一支的民兵部队被征召起来保卫国家，对于我们这些生活在当时之外的人来说，不禁想象整个俄罗斯的人民无论大小都在做的事情就是做出牺牲，拯救国家或者为其垮台而流泪。 —

The tales and descriptions of that period without exception tell us of nothing but the self-sacrifice, the patriotism, the despair, the grief, and the heroism of the Russians. —
那个时期的故事和描述一概只告诉我们，俄罗斯人的牺牲精神、爱国主义、绝望、悲痛和英勇。 —

In reality, it was not at all like that. —
而实际情况并非如此。 —

It seems so to us, because we see out of the past only the general historical interest of that period, and we do not see all the personal human interests of the men of that time. —
之所以会对我们显得如此，是因为我们只从过去看到了那段历史的整体利益，而没有看到那个时代的个人人物利益。 —

And yet in reality these personal interests of the immediate present are of so much greater importance than public interests, that they prevent the public interest from ever being felt—from being noticed at all, indeed. —
实际上，当下的个人利益要比公共利益重要得多，以至于它们阻止了公共利益的发挥，实际上几乎察觉不到。 —

The majority of the people of that period took no heed of the general progress of public affairs, and were only influenced by their immediate personal interests. —
那个时期的大多数人并没有关注公共事务的整体进展，他们只受到自己的当下个人利益的影响。 —

And those very people played the most useful part in the work of the time.
而这些人正是那个时代工作中最有用的一部分人。

Those who were striving to grasp the general course of events, and trying by self-sacrifice and heroism to take a hand in it, were the most useless members of society; —
那些试图把握事件的整体进程，以自我牺牲和英勇来参与其中，实际上是社会中最无用的成员； —

they saw everything upside down, and all that they did with the best intentions turned out to be useless folly, like Pierre’s regiment, and Mamonov’s, that spent their time pillaging the Russian villages, like the lint scraped by the ladies, that never reached the wounded, and so on. —
他们看事情总是颠倒，而他们的一切善意行为都变成了无用的愚蠢，就像皮埃尔的团队和马莫诺夫的团队那样，他们浪费时间抢劫俄罗斯的村庄，就像那些妇女搜集的棉絮从未送到伤员那里，等等。 —

Even those who, being fond of talking on intellectual subjects and expressing their feelings, discussed the position of Russia, unconsciously imported into their talk a shade of hypocrisy or falsity or else of useless fault-finding and bitterness against persons, whom they blamed for what could be nobody’s fault.
即使是那些喜欢讨论智力问题和表达自己感受的人，也不自觉地在谈话中带入了虚伪、假冒或无谓的挑剔和对责任无从归咎的人的苦涩。

In historical events we see more plainly than ever the law that forbids us to taste of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. —
在历史事件中，我们比以往更清楚地看到了禁止我们品尝知识之树果实的法则。 —

It is only unselfconscious activity that bears fruit, and the man who plays a part in an historical drama never understands its significance. —
只有不自觉的行动才能结出果实，而在历史戏剧中扮演角色的人从来不明白它的意义。 —

If he strives to comprehend it, he is stricken with barrenness
如果他努力理解，他将一无所获。

The significance of the drama taking place in Russia at that time was the less easy to grasp, the closer the share a man was taking in it. —
在那个时候，对于参与其中的人来说，更难理解俄罗斯正在发生的戏剧的意义。 —

In Petersburg, and in the provinces remote from Moscow, ladies and gentlemen in volunteer uniforms bewailed the fate of Russia and the ancient capital, and talked of self-sacrifice, and so on. —
在圣彼得堡和远离莫斯科的省份中，穿着志愿军制服的绅士和淑女们对俄罗斯和古老的首都的命运感到痛心，并谈论自我牺牲等等。 —

But in the army, which had retreated behind Moscow, men scarcely talked or thought at all about Moscow, and, gazing at the burning city, no one swore to be avenged on the French, but every one was thinking of the next quarter’s pay due to him, of the next halting-place, of Matryoshka the canteen-woman, and so on.
但在已经撤退至莫斯科后方的军队中，人们几乎没有谈论或思考莫斯科，凝视着燃烧的城市，没有人发誓要向法国人复仇，而每个人都在想着下一个季度的工资，下一个休息地，莫特罗夏卡（Matryoshka），餐馆女招待等等。

Nikolay Rostov, without any idea of self-sacrifice, simply because the war had happened to break out before he left the service, took an immediate and continuous part in the defence of his country, and consequently he looked upon what was happening in Russia without despair or gloomy prognostications. —
尼古拉·罗斯托夫并没有自我牺牲的想法，仅仅因为战争偏偏在他离开军队前爆发，他就立即参与并持续参与了保卫国家的战斗，因此他对俄罗斯正在发生的事情没有绝望或者黑暗的预测。 —

If he had been asked what he thought of the present position of Russia, he would have said that it was not his business to think about it, that that was what Kutuzov and the rest of them were for, but that he had heard that the regiments were being filled up to their full complements, and that they must therefore be going to fight for a good time longer, and that under the present circumstances he might pretty easily obtain the command of a regiment within a couple of years.
如果问他对俄罗斯目前的形势有何看法，他会说那不是他的事，应该由库图佐夫和其他人来考虑，但他听说团队正在补充兵员，所以他们可能还要继续战斗一段时间，并且在目前的情况下，他很容易在几年内得到一个团的指挥权。

Since this was his point of view, it was with no regret at taking no part in the approaching battle, but with the greatest satisfaction—which he did not conceal, and his comrades fully understood—that he received the news of his appointment to go to Voronezh to purchase remounts for his division.
鉴于这是他的观点，他没有参加即将到来的战斗感到任何遗憾，而是非常满意——他并没有隐藏自己的满意，他的战友们完全理解——他得知自己被任命去沃罗涅日购买补充马匹。

A few days before the battle of Borodino, Nikolay received the sums of money and official warrants required, and, sending some hussars on before him, he drove with posting-horses to Voronezh.
在博罗季诺战役前几天，尼古拉收到所需的金钱和官方准许证，并且派遣一些骠骑兵在他之前赶到，他则乘坐驿站马匹驱车前往沃罗涅日。

Only one who has had the same experience—that is, has spent several months continuously in the atmosphere of an army in the field—can imagine the delight Nikolay felt when he got out of the region overspread by the troops with their foraging parties, trains of provisions, and hospitals; —
只有那些有着相同经历的人——也就是连续数月在战场军队的环境中度过的人——才能够想象出尼古拉离开了满地部队、搜寻队、供应队和医院的地区后所感受到的愉悦； —

when he saw no more soldiers, army waggons, and filthy traces of the camp, but villages of peasants and peasant women, gentlemen’s country houses, fields with grazing oxen, and station-houses and sleepy overseers, he rejoiced as though he were seeing it all for the first time. —
当他再也看不到士兵、军车和营地肮脏的痕迹，而是看到乡村的农民和农妇、绅士们的乡间别墅、放牧的牛群以及火车站和昏昏欲睡的监工时，他欢喜得仿佛第一次看到这一切。 —

What in particular remained for a long while a wonder and a joy to him was the sight of women, young and healthy, without dozens of officers hanging about every one of them; —
令他长时间以来感到奇迹和喜悦的事情是他看到了年轻健康的女性，她们不再被几十个军官围着，还有那些高兴并为军官和她们开玩笑的女性。 —

and women, too, who were pleased and flattered at an officer’s cracking jokes with them.
这些女性让他感到愉悦和受宠若惊。

In the happiest frame of mind, Nikolay reached the hotel at Voronezh at night, ordered everything of which he had so long been deprived in the army, and next day, after shaving with special care and putting on the full-dress uniform he had not worn for so long past, he drove off to present himself to the authorities.
心情愉快的尼古拉在晚上到达了沃罗涅茨酒店，他点了很久没享受到的一切，第二天，刮得干净的他穿上很久没有穿过的礼服军装，并前往向当局报到。

The commander of the militia of the district was a civilian general, an old gentleman, who evidently found amusement in his military duties and rank. —
这个地区民兵的指挥官是一位文职将军，一个显然对自己的军事职责和军衔感到享受的老绅士。 —

He gave Nikolay a brusque reception (supposing that this was the military manner), and cross-examining him with an important air, as though he had a right to do so, he expressed his approval and disapproval, as though called upon to give his verdict on the management of the war. —
他对尼古拉的接待相当冷淡（认为这就是军队的风格），并以重要的姿态进行盘问，仿佛他有权这样做，他以此表达对战争管理的赞同和不满，就像是被要求对战争管理进行评审一样。 —

Nikolay was in such high spirits that this only amused him.
尼古拉心情大好，所以对此只感到好笑。

From the commander of militia, he went to the governor’s. —
从民兵指挥官那里，他去找了州长。 —

The governor was a brisk little man, very affable and unpretentious. —
州长是个活泼而谦逊的小个子男人。 —

He mentioned to Nikolay the stud-farms, where he might obtain horses, recommended him to a horse-dealer in the town, and a gentleman living twenty versts from the town, who had the best horses, and promised him every assistance.
州长向尼古拉提及了养马场，他可以在那里买到马，还向他介绍了城里的一个马匹经销商以及一个离城二十公里的绅士，他那里有最好的马，并承诺为他提供一切帮助。

“You are Count Ilya Andreitch’s son? My wife was a great friend of your mamma’s. —
“你是伊利亚安德列维奇伯爵的儿子吧？我妻子和你妈妈是好朋友。我们每周四有招待日：今天是周四，请毫无顾虑地进来吧，”州长在离别时说。 —

We receive on Thursdays: to-day is Thursday, pray come in, quite without ceremony,” said the governor, as he took leave of him.
尼古拉乘坐有马车厢的驿车，连同他的军需官一起，直接从州长那里驶往离城二十公里的那位有优秀马匹的绅士那里。

Nikolay took a posting carriage, and making his quartermaster get in beside him, galloped straight off from the governor’s to the gentleman with the stud of fine horses twenty versts away.
在沃罗涅茨停留的早些日子里，尼古拉觉得一切都很容易愉快，正如通常情况下，当一个人自己心情愉快时，一切都顺利并且与他合作愉快。

During the early days of his stay in Voronezh, everything seemed easy and pleasant to Nikolay, and, as is always the case, when a man is himself in a happy frame of mind, everything went well and prospered with him.
在他一段时间内的快乐的心情下，整个沃罗涅茨逗留期间，对尼古拉来说，一切都是轻松愉快的，正如人们常说的：“心情好事儿多”。

The country gentleman turned out to be an old cavalry officer, a bachelor, a great horse-fancier, a sportsman, and the owner of a smoking-room, of hundred-year-old herb-brandy, of some old Hungarian wine, and of superb horses.
这位乡绅原来是一位老骑兵军官，一个单身汉，一个狂热的马迷，一个运动员，也是一间吸烟室的主人，有一百年历史的草药白兰地，一些古老的匈牙利葡萄酒，还有一些华丽的马匹。

In a couple of words, Nikolay had bought for six thousand roubles seventeen stallions, all perfect examples of their several breeds (as he said), as show specimens of his remounts. —
用几个字来说，尼古拉花了六千卢布买了十七匹种马，各个都是自己品种的完美典范（他自称如此），是他改装的绝佳样本。 —

After dining and drinking a glass or so too much of the Hungarian wine, Rostov, exchanging kisses with the country gentleman, with whom he was already on the friendliest terms, galloped back over the most atrociously bad road in the happiest frame of mind, continually urging the driver on, so that he might be in time for the soirée at the governor’s.
在吃过饭、喝了一两杯过量的匈牙利葡萄酒后，罗斯托夫与这位乡绅拥抱互吻，二人已经成为了非常友好的朋友，在回去的路上高兴地飞奔着，虽然路况极差，但他一直催促着驾驶员加速，以便能够准时参加省长的社交晚会。

After dressing, scenting himself, and douching his head with cold water, Nikolay made his appearance at the governor’s, a little late, but with the phrase, “Better late than never,” ready on the tip of his tongue.
穿好衣服，涂上香水，用冷水冲洗头发后，尼古拉稍稍迟到地出现在省长的府邸，但他已经准备好了那句“宁迟勿缺”的辩解词。

It was not a ball, and nothing had been said about dancing; —
虽然不是正式的舞会，但所有人都知道卡捷琳娜·彼得洛芙娜会在大键琴上演奏华尔兹和爱格萨斯舞曲，而且还会跳舞。每个人都指望着这一点，所以都打扮得像是参加舞会一样。 —

but every one knew that Katerina Petrovna would play waltzes and écossaises on the clavichord, and that there would be dancing, and every one reckoning on it, had come dressed for a ball.
1812年的省会生活和往常一样，在细节上唯一的不同之处在于，由于来自莫斯科的许多富裕家庭的到来，省会城镇变得更加活跃，就像俄罗斯那个时期的其他一切事情一样，那种热闹的气氛中透露着一种恶魔般的、不怕死的鲁莽，同时，现在人们之间不再谈论天气和常见的熟人，而是谈论莫斯科、军队和拿破仑等重要话题。

Provincial life in the year 1812 went on exactly the same as always, the only difference being that the provincial towns were livelier owing to the presence of many wealthy families from Moscow, that, as in everything going on at that time in Russia, there was perceptible in the gaiety a certain devil-may-care, desperate recklessness, and also that the small talk indispensable between people was now not about the weather and common acquaintances, but about Moscow and the army and Napoleon.
在省长府上的聚会上，聚集了沃罗涅什最好的社会精英。

The gathering at the governor’s consisted of the best society in Voronezh.
有很多女士，其中包括尼古拉的几个莫斯科熟人。

There were a great many ladies, among them several Moscow acquaintances of Nikolay’s; —
9 —

but among the men there was no one who could be compared with the cavalier of St. George, the gallant hussar, the good-natured, well-bred Count Rostov. —
然而，在这些男人中没有人能与圣乔治骑兵的骑士、英勇的胡桃骑兵、善良、彬彬有礼的罗斯托夫伯爵相比。 —

Among the men there was an Italian prisoner—an officer of the French army; —
在这些男人中还有一个意大利俘虏——法国军官。 —

and Nikolay felt that the presence of this prisoner gave an added lustre to him—the Russian hero. —
尼古拉感觉到这个俘虏的存在给他增添了光彩，他成为了俄罗斯英雄。 —

He was, as it were, a trophy of victory. —
他好像是一座胜利的象征。 —

Nikolay felt this, and it seemed to him as though every one looked at the Italian in the same light, and he treated the foreign officer with gracious dignity and reserve.
尼古拉感到这一点，仿佛每个人都以同样的眼光看着这个意大利人，而他以亲切的尊严和保留对待这位外国军官。

As soon as Nikolay came in in his full-dress uniform of an officer of hussars, diffusing a fragrance of scent and wine about him, and said himself and heard several times said to him, the words, “Better late than never,” people clustered round him. —
尼古拉一进来，穿着胡桃骑兵官方礼服，身上弥漫着香气和酒味，自己说出并多次听到别人对他说的那句话“宁迟勿缺”，人们就围在他身边。 —

All eyes were turned on him, and he felt at once that he had stepped into a position that just suited him in a provincial town—a position always agreeable, but now after his long privation of such gratifications, intoxicatingly delightful—that of a universal favourite. —
所有的目光都投向他，他立刻感到自己进入了一个非常适合他的地位——乡间小镇上最令人愉快的地位。这个地位是非常愉快的，但在长时间无法得到满足之后，现在却变得令人陶醉——普遍的宠爱。 —

Not only at the posting-stations, at the taverns, and in the smoking-room of the horse-breeding gentleman, had he found servant-girls flattered by his attention, but here, at the governor’s assembly, there were (so it seemed to Nikolay) an inexhaustible multitude of young married ladies and pretty girls, who were only waiting with impatience for him to notice them. —
不仅在驿站、酒馆和养马绅士的吸烟室里，他发现女仆们受到他的关注的奉承，而且在这里，州长的社交聚会上，似乎有无数年轻已婚妇女和漂亮姑娘们，他们只等着他注意到他们。 —

The ladies and the young girls flirted with him, and the old people began even from this first evening bestirring themselves to try and get this gallant young rake of an hussar married and settled down. —
那些妇女和年轻姑娘们与他调情，而老人们甚至从这个第一个晚上开始都开始着手努力，希望这位英勇的年轻骗子骑士能结婚并安定下来。 —

Among the latter was the governor’s wife herself, who received Rostov as though he were a near kinsman, and called him “Nikolay.”
在后者当中，就连州长的妻子自己也把罗斯托夫当作是亲戚，并称呼他为“尼古拉”。

Katerina Petrovna did in fact proceed to play waltzes and écossaises, and dancing began, in which Nikolay fascinated the company more than ever by his elegance. —
卡捷琳娜·佩特罗夫娜事实上开始演奏华尔兹和苏格兰舞，舞蹈开始了，尼古拉以他的优雅比以往任何时候都更吸引人。 —

He surprised every one indeed by his peculiarly free and easy style in dancing. —
他在跳舞时的奇特自由风格确实令所有人都感到惊讶。 —

Nikolay was a little surprised himself at his own style of dancing at that soirée. —
尼古拉自己对自己在晚会上的舞蹈风格也感到有些惊讶。 —

He had never danced in that manner at Moscow, and would indeed have regarded such an extremely free and easy manner of dancing as not correct, as bad style; —
在莫斯科，他从未以那种方式跳过舞，他确实认为那种极其自由随性的舞蹈方式是不正确的，是不好的风格； —

but here he felt it incumbent on him to astonish them all by something extraordinary, something that they would be sure to take for the usual thing in the capital, though new to them in the provinces.
但在这里，他觉得有义务通过一些特别的事情来让他们都感到惊讶，一些他们肯定会认为在首都是常事，尽管在省份中是新的。

All the evening Nikolay paid the most marked attention to a blue-eyed, plump, and pleasing little blonde, the wife of one of the provincial officials. —
整个晚上，尼古拉对一个蓝眼睛、丰满而讨人喜欢的金发小女人特别关注，她是一个省级官员的妻子。 —

With the na?ve conviction of young men who are enjoying themselves, that other men’s wives are created for their special benefit, Rostov never left this lady’s side, and treated her husband in a friendly way, almost as though there were a private understanding between them, as though they knew without speaking of it how capitally they, that is, how Nikolay and the wife, would get on. —
作为年轻人对自己享受的天真信念的表现，认为别人的妻子是为他们专门准备的，罗斯托夫从未离开过这位女士的身边，并友好地对待她的丈夫，几乎就像他们之间有一种私下默契一样，就好像他们在没有说出来的情况下知道他们俩，也就是尼古拉和妻子，会相处得多么好。 —

The husband did not, however, appear to share this conviction, and tried to take a gloomy tone with Rostov. —
然而，丈夫似乎并不认同这种观点，并试图对罗斯托夫摆出一个忧郁的口气。 —

But Nikolay’s good-humoured na?veté was so limitless that at times the husband could not help being drawn into his gay humour. —
但尼古拉快乐的天真无度以至于有时候丈夫无法不被他的快乐幽默所吸引。 —

Towards the end of the evening, however, as the wife’s face grew more flushed and animated, the husband’s grew steadily more melancholy and stolid, as though they had a given allowance of liveliness between them, and as the wife’s increased, the husband’s dwindled.
然而，晚上接近尾声时，当妻子的脸越来越红润和活跃时，丈夫的表情变得越来越黯淡和木讷，好像他们之间有一种固定分配的活泼度，随着妻子的增加，丈夫的活泼度减少了。