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痵 how I feel； and you do too。 To the health of Alexander the First！ Hurrah！”
“Hurrah！” rang out the cheery voices of the officers。 And the old captain Kirsten shouted no less heartily and sincerely than Rostov； the boy of twenty。
When the officers had drunk the toast and smashed their glasses； Kirsten filled some fresh ones； and in his shirt…sleeves and riding…breeches went out to the soldiers’ camp…fires； glass in hand； and waving his hand in the air stood in a majestic pose； with his long grey whiskers and his white chest visible through the open shirt in the light of the camp…fire。
“Lads； to the health of our Sovereign the Emperor； to victory over our enemies； hurrah！” he roared in his stalwart old soldier’s baritone。 The hussars thronged about him and responded by a loud shout in unison。
Late at night； when they had all separated； Denisov clapped his short hand on the shoulder of his favourite Rostov。 “To be sure he’d no one to fall in love with in the field； so he’s fallen in love with the Tsar；” he said。
“Denisov； don’t joke about that；” cried Rostov； “it’s such a lofty； such a sublime feeling； so…”
“I believe you； I believe you； my dear； and I share the feeling and approve…”
“No； you don’t understand！” And Rostov got up and went out to wander about among the camp…fires； dreaming of what happiness it would be to die—not saving the Emperor’s life—（of that he did not even dare to dream）； but simply to die before the Emperor’s eyes。 He really was in love with the Tsar and the glory of the Russian arms and the hope of coming victory。 And he was not the only man who felt thus in those memorable days that preceded the battle of Austerlitz： nine…tenths of the men in the Russian army were at that moment in love； though less ecstatically； with their Tsar and the glory of the Russian arms。
Chapter 11
THE FOLLOWING DAY the Tsar stayed in Vishau。 His medical attendant； Villier； was several times summoned to him。 At headquarters and among the troops that were nearer； the news circulated that the Tsar was unwell。 He was eating nothing and had slept badly that night； so those about him reported。 The cause of this indisposition was the too violent shock given to the sensitive soul of the Tsar by the sight of the killed and wounded。
At dawn on the 17th； a French officer was conducted from our outposts into Vishau。 He came under a flag of truce to ask for an interview with the Russian Emperor。 This officer was Savary。 The Tsar had only just fallen asleep； and so Savary had to wait。 At midday he was admitted to the Emperor； and an hour later he rode away accompanied by Prince Dolgorukov to the outposts of the French army。 Savary’s mission was； so it was rumoured； to propose a meeting between Alexander and Napolean。 A personal interview was； to the pride and rejoicing of the whole army； refused； and instead of the Tsar； Prince Dolgorukov； the general victorious in the action at Vishau； was despatched with Savary to undertake negotiations with Napoleon； if these negotiations—contrary to expectation—were founded on a real desire for peace。 In the evening Dolgorukov came back； went straight to the Tsar and remained a long while alone with him。
On the 18th and 19th the troops moved forward two days’ march； and the enemy’s outposts； after a brief interchange of shots； retired。 In the higher departments of the army an intense； bustling excitement and activity prevailed from midday of the 19th till the morning of the following day； the 20th of November； on which was fought the memorable battle of Austerlitz。 Up to midday of the 19th the activity； the eager talk； the bustle； and the despatching of adjutants was confined to the headquarters of the Emperors； after midday the activity had reached the headquarters of Kutuzov and the staff of the commanding officers of the columns。 By evening this activity had been carried by the adjutants in all directions into every part of the army； and in the night of the 19th the multitude of the eighty thousands of the allied army rose from its halting…place； and with a hum of talk moved on； a heaving mass nine versts long。
The intense activity that had begun in the morning in the headquarters of the Emperors； and had given the impetus to all the activity in remoter parts； was like the first action in the centre wheel of a great tower clock。 Slowly one wheel began moving； another began turning； and a third； and more and more rapidly； levers； wheels； and blocks began to revolve； chimes began playing； figures began to pop out； and the hands began moving rhythmically； as a result of that activity。
Just as in the mechanism of the clock； in the mechanism of the military machine too； once the impetus was given； it was carried on to the last results； and just as unsympathetically stationary were the parts of the machinery which the impulse had not yet reached。 Wheels creak on their axles； and teeth bite into cogs； and blocks whir in rapid motion； while the next wheel stands as apathetic and motionless as though it were ready to stand so for a hundred years。 But the momentum reaches it—the lever catches； and the wheel； obeying the impulse； creaks and takes its share in the common movement； the result and aim of which are beyond its ken。
Just as in the clock； the result of the complex action of countless different wheels and blocks is only the slow； regular movement of the hand marking the time； so the result of all the complex human movement of those 160；000 Russians and Frenchmen—of all the passions； hopes； regrets； humiliations； sufferings； impulses of pride； of fear； and of enthusiasm of those men—was only the loss of the battle of Austerlitz； the so…called battle of the three Emperors； that is； the slow shifting of the registering hand on the dial of the history of mankind。
Prince Andrey was on duty that day； and in close attendance on the commander…in…chief。 At six o’clock in the evening Kutuzov visited the headquarters of the Emperors； and after a brief interview with the Tsar； went in to see the Ober…Hofmarschall Count Tolstoy。
Bolkonsky took advantage of this interval to go in to Dolgorukov to try and learn details about the coming action。 Prince Andrey felt that Kutuzov was disturbed and displeased about something； and that they were displeased with him at headquarters； and that all the persons at the Emperor’s headquarters took the tone with him of people who knew something other people are not aware of； and for that reason he wanted to have some talk with Dolgorukov。
“Oh； good evening； my dear boy；” said Dolgorukov； who was sitting at tea with Bilibin。 “The fête’s for to…morrow。 How’s your old fellow？ out of humour？”
“I won’t say he’s out of humour； but I fancy he would like to get a hearing。”
“But he did get a hearing at the council of war； and he will get a hearing when he begins to talk sense。 But to delay and wait about now when Bonaparte fears a general engagement more than anything—is out of the question。”
“Oh yes； you have seen him；” said Prince Andrey。 “Well； what did you think of Bonaparte？ What impression did he make on you？”
“Yes； I saw him； and I’m persuaded he fears a general engagement more than anything in the world；�