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By Root 4145 0

flatter power, endowing it with qualities of genius it does not have, that they are called geniuses. On the contrary, the best generals I knew were stupid or absentminded people. Bagration was the best—Napoleon himself recognized that. And Bonaparte himself! I remember his self-satisfied and limited face on the battlefield at Austerlitz. A good commander not only does not need genius or any special qualities, but, on the contrary, he needs the absence of the best and highest human qualities—love, poetry, tenderness, a searching philosophical doubt. He should be limited, firmly convinced that what he is doing is very important (otherwise he would not have patience enough), and only then will he be a brave commander. God forbid he should be a human being and come to love or pity someone, or start thinking about what is just and what isn’t. Understandably, the theory of genius was cut to fit them of old, because they are—power. The merit of success in military affairs does not depend on them, but on the man in the ranks who shouts ‘We’re lost!’ or shouts ‘Hurrah!’ And it is only in the ranks that one can serve with the assurance of being useful!”

So thought Prince Andrei as he listened to the debate, and he came to his senses only when Paulucci called him and everybody was leaving.

At the review the next day the sovereign asked Prince Andrei where he would like to serve, and Prince Andrei was forever lost to the world of the court when he did not ask to remain with the person of the sovereign, but asked permission to serve in the army.

XII

Before the opening of the campaign, Rostov received a letter from his parents in which, informing him briefly of Natasha’s illness and her break with Prince Andrei (this break was explained to him by Natasha’s refusal), they again asked him to resign from the service and come home. Nikolai, on receiving this letter, did not even attempt to ask for a leave or resignation, but wrote to his parents that he was sorry about Natasha’s illness and her break with her fiancé, and that he would do everything possible to fulfill their wishes. To Sonya he wrote separately.

Adored friend of my soul,

Nothing save honor could keep me from returning to the country. But now, before the opening of the campaign, I would consider myself dishonorable not only before all my comrades, but also before my own self, if I were to prefer happiness to my duty and love for the fatherland. But this is our last separation. Believe me, right after the war, if I am alive and you still love me, I will abandon everything and come flying to you, to press you forever to my ardent breast.

Indeed, only the opening of the campaign detained Rostov and prevented him from coming—as he had promised—and marrying Sonya. Autumn in Otradnoe with its hunting, and winter with Christmastime and Sonya’s love, had opened before him the prospect of quiet gentlemanly joys and a tranquillity that he had not known before and which now beckoned to him. “A nice wife, children, a good pack of hounds, ten or twelve leashes of dashing borzois, husbandry, neighbors, local elections!” he thought. But now there was the campaign, and he had to stay in the regiment. And since it had to be so, Nikolai Rostov’s character was such that he was content with the life he led in the regiment and managed to make that life pleasant for himself.

On returning from leave, joyfully welcomed by his comrades, Nikolai had been sent for a remount and had brought excellent horses from Little Russia, which pleased him and earned him the praises of his superiors. During his absence, he had been promoted to captain, and when the regiment was put on wartime status with an increased complement, he was again given his old squadron.

The campaign began, the regiment was moved to Poland, the pay was doubled, new officers arrived, new men and horses, and above all that excitedly cheerful mood spread around which accompanies the beginning of war; and Rostov, conscious of his advantageous position in the regiment, gave himself up wholly to the pleasures and interests of military