FROM THE 28TH of October, when the frosts began, the flight of the French assumed a more tragic aspect, from the men being frozen or roasted to death by the camp-fires, while the Emperor, and kings, and dukes, still drove on with their stolen booty in fur cloaks and closed carriages. —
从10月28日开始，随着严寒的到来，法军的撤退变得更加悲惨，有些士兵被冰冻或被篝火烧死，而皇帝、国王和公爵们仍然坐在他们抢来的战利品上，穿着毛皮斗篷，坐在密闭的马车里。 —

But in its essentials, the process of the flight and disintegration of the French army went on unchanged.
但是，法军的溃败和解体过程基本上没有改变。

From Moscow to Vyazma of the seventy-three thousands of the French army (not reckoning the Guards, who had done nothing but pillage all through the war), only thirty-six thousand were left, though only five thousand had been killed in battle. —
从莫斯科到维亚兹马，法军数量为73,000人（不包括那些在整个战争中只进行掠夺的卫队），但只有36,000人幸存下来，而且在战斗中只有5,000人被杀。 —

Here we have the first term of a progression, by which the remaining terms are determined with mathematical exactness. —
这里我们有一个等比数列的第一项，剩下的项都可以用数学上的精确方法确定。 —

The French army went on melting away and disappearing in the same ratio from Moscow to Vyazma, from Vyazma to Smolensk, from Smolensk to the Berezina, from the Berezina to Vilna, apart from the greater or less degree of cold, the pursuit and barring of the way, and all other conditions taken separately. —
从莫斯科到维亚兹马，从维亚兹马到斯摩棱斯克，从斯摩棱斯克到别雷津，从别雷津到维尔纳，法军以同样的比例不断融化和消失，除了因为寒冷程度不同、追击和封堵道路等各种单独的条件。 —

After Vyazma, instead of three columns, the French troops formed a single mass, and so they marched on to the end. —
在维亚兹马之后，法军部队不再分成三列，而是形成了一个整体，这样他们就一直行进到最后。 —

This is how Berthier wrote to the Emperor (and we know that generals feel it permissible to depart rather widely from the truth in describing the condition of their armies):—
这是贝尔蒂埃给皇帝写的信（我们知道将军们在描述他们的军队情况时常常离真相较远）：—

“I think it my duty to report to your majesty the condition of the various corps under my observation on the march the last two or three days. —
“我认为向陛下报告我最近两三天观察到的行军部队的状况是我的职责。 —

They are almost disbanded. Hardly a quarter of the men remain with the flags of their regiments; —
他们几乎已经解散了。只有四分之一的人还跟随团旗； —

the rest wander off on their own account in different directions, trying to seek food and to escape discipline. —
其余的人各自为战，朝不同的方向流散，试图寻找食物和逃避纪律。 —

All think only of Smolensk, where they hope to recover. —
所有人都只想着斯摩棱斯克，他们希望在那里恢复元气。 —

During the last few days many soldiers have been observed to throw away their cartridges and muskets. —
在过去几天里，观察到很多士兵扔掉了他们的弹药和步枪。 —

In such a condition of affairs, whatever your further plans may be, the interests of your majesty’s service make it essential to muster the army at Smolensk, and to rid them of ineffectives, such as cavalry men without horses, as well as of superfluous baggage and a part of the artillery, which is now out of proportion with the numbers of the effective army. —
在这种情况下，无论您进一步的计划是什么，为了陛下的利益，必须在斯摩棱斯克集结军队，并且清除无马的骑兵、多余的行李和现在超过有效军队人数的一部分火炮。 —

Supplies and some days’ rest are essential: the soldiers are exhausted by hunger and fatigue; —
补给和一些天的休息是必不可少的：士兵们因为饥饿和疲劳而精疲力尽； —

during the last few days many have died by the roadside or in the bivouacs. —
在过去的几天里，许多士兵倒在路边或者宿营地中死去。 —

This state of things is growing continually worse, and if steps are not quickly taken for averting the danger, we shall be exposed to the risk of being unable to control the army in the event of a battle.
形势不断恶化，如果不迅速采取措施来避免危险，我们将面临无法控制军队在战斗中的风险。

“November 9. Thirty versts from Smolensk.”
11月9日，距离斯摩棱斯克30英里。

After struggling into Smolensk, the promised land of their dreams, the French killed one another fighting over the food there, sacked their own stores, and when everything had been pillaged, they ran on further. —
艰难地进入斯摩棱斯克，他们梦想中的乐土，法国人争夺那里的食物，相互杀死，洗劫自己的仓库，当一切都被掠夺一空后，他们又继续前行。 —

All hastened on, not knowing whither or for what end they were going; —
大家都匆忙前行，不知道去何处，为了什么目的； —

least of all knew that great genius, Napoleon, since there was no one to give him orders. —
最不知道的是那位伟大的天才拿破仑，因为没有人给他下命令。 —

But still he and those about him clung to their old habits: —
但他和身边的人仍然坚持着他们的老习惯： —

wrote commands, letters, reports, orders of the day; —
写指令、信件、报告和日常指示； —

called each other your majesty, mon frère, Prince d’Eckmühl, roi de Naples, and so on. —
相互称呼为陛下，兄弟，埃克米勒亲王，那不勒斯国王等等。 —

But the orders and reports were all on paper: —
但是这些指令和报告都只是纸上谈兵： —

no attempt was made to carry them out, because they could not be carried out. —
因为无法执行，也就没有尝试去执行。 —

And although they addressed each other as “majesty,” “highness,” and “mon cousin,” they all felt that they were pitiful and loathsome creatures, who had done a great wrong, for which they had now to pay the penalty. —
尽管他们互相称呼为“陛下”、“殿下”和“表亲”，他们都觉得自己是可怜和可憎的人物，犯下了大错，现在必须为此付出代价。 —

And in spite of their pretence of caring for the army, each was thinking only of himself, and how to make his escape as quickly as possible to safety.
尽管他们假装关心军队，但每个人都只想着自己，如何尽快逃离到安全地带。