Война и мир

Chapter 1

           Thenletusimaginethatthecombatantwhososensiblyemployedthebestandsimplestmeanstoattainhisendwasatthesametimeinfluencedbytraditionsofchivalryand,desiringtoconcealthefactsofthecase,insistedthathehadgainedhisvictorywiththerapieraccordingtoalltherulesofart.Onecanimaginewhatconfusionandobscuritywouldresultfromsuchanaccountoftheduel.

           ThefencerwhodemandedacontestaccordingtotherulesoffencingwastheFrencharmy;hisopponentwhothrewawaytherapierandsnatchedupthecudgelwastheRussianpeople;thosewhotrytoexplainthematteraccordingtotherulesoffencingarethehistorianswhohavedescribedtheevent.

           AftertheburningofSmolénskawarbeganwhichdidnotfollowanyprevioustraditionsofwar.Theburningoftownsandvillages,theretreatsafterbattles,theblowdealtatBorodinóandtherenewedretreat,theburningofMoscow,thecaptureofmarauders,theseizureoftransports,andtheguerrillawarwerealldeparturesfromtherules.

           Napoleonfeltthis,andfromthetimehetookupthecorrectfencingattitudeinMoscowandinsteadofhisopponent’srapiersawacudgelraisedabovehishead,hedidnotceasetocomplaintoKutúzovandtotheEmperorAlexanderthatthewarwasbeingcarriedoncontrarytoalltherules—asiftherewereanyrulesforkillingpeople

Содержание книги
Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 1899 из 2250