Texts
Book 8 References
In Moscow as soon as he entered his huge house in which the faded and fading princesses still lived, with its enormous retinue; as soon as, driving through the town, he saw the Iberian shrine with innumerable tapers burning before the golden covers of the icons, the Krémlin Square with its snow undisturbed by vehicles, the sleigh drivers and hovels of the Sívtsev Vrazhók, those old Moscovites who desired nothing, hurried nowhere, and were ending their days leisurely; when he saw those old Moscow ladies, the Moscow balls, and the English Club, he felt himself at home in a quiet haven.
Then she had dinner, a substantial and appetizing meal at which there were always three or four guests; after dinner she played a game of boston, and at night she had the newspapers or a new book read to her while she knitted.
The count’s things? Bring them here, she said, pointing to the portmanteaus and not greeting anyone. The young ladies’? There to the left. Now what are you dawdling for? she cried to the maids. Get the samovar ready!... You’ve grown plumper and prettier, she remarked, drawing Natásha (whose cheeks were glowing from the cold) to her by the hood. Foo! You are cold! Now take off your things, quick! she shouted to the count who was going to kiss her hand. You’re half frozen, I’m sure! Bring some rum for tea!... Bonjour, Sónya dear! she added, turning to Sónya and indicating by this French greeting her slightly contemptuous though affectionate attitude toward her.
All right. All right. They’ll be safe with me, as safe as in Chancery! I’ll take them where they must go, scold them a bit, and pet them a bit, said Márya Dmítrievna, touching her goddaughter and favorite, Natásha, on the cheek with her large hand.
Well, now we’ll talk. I congratulate you on your betrothed. You’ve hooked a fine fellow! I am glad for your sake and I’ve known him since he was so high. She held her hand a couple of feet from the ground. Natásha blushed happily. I like him and all his family. Now listen! You know that old Prince Nicholas much dislikes his son’s marrying. The old fellow’s crotchety! Of course Prince Andrew is not a child and can shift without him, but it’s not nice to enter a family against a father’s will. One wants to do it peacefully and lovingly. You’re a clever girl and you’ll know how to manage. Be kind, and use your wits. Then all will be well.
Natásha remained silent, from shyness Márya Dmítrievna supposed, but really because she disliked anyone interfering in what touched her love of Prince Andrew, which seemed to her so apart from all human affairs that no one could understand it. She loved and knew Prince Andrew, he loved her only, and was to come one of these days and take her. She wanted nothing more.
I can’t bear this waiting and I shall cry in a minute!
Natásha at that moment felt so softened and tender that it was not enough for her to love and know she was beloved, she wanted now, at once, to embrace the man she loved, to speak and hear from him words of love such as filled her heart.
Moscow
Featured Characters: PIERRE, MARYA D, NATASHA, SONYA
[PIERRE]
Raz dva tri!
Natasha and Sonya arrive on sleighs.
[NATASHA]
Marya Dmitryevna Akhrosimova
[MARYA D]
Countess Natalya Ilyinichna Rostova
[NATASHA]
You must call me Natasha
[SONYA]
Marya Dmitryevna Akhrosimova
[MARYA D]
Sofia Alexandrovna Rostova
[SONYA]
You must call me Sonya
[MARYA D]
Welcome
Welcome to Moscow
Where faded and fading princesses
live
I'll take you where you must go
Pet you a bit
And I'll scold
you a bit
My goddaughter, my favorite, Natasha
I will touch
you on the cheek
[NATASHA, SONYA]
My cousin and I
Are so pleased to
be with you
While we wait on our fiances
Fighting in the war
[MARYA D]
Bring in their things!
What are you dawdling
for?
Get the samovar ready!
You're half frozen, I'm sure!
Bring some rum for the tea!
Sonyushka bonjour
And Natasha my
darling
You've grown plumper and prettier
[NATASHA]
My cheeks are glowing from the cold
[SONYA]
She said
Gazing at Marya with kind, glittering
eyes
[MARYA D]
Welcome
Welcome to Moscow
Scruffy
and cozy
Like an old dressing gown
[SONYA]
Countess Natalya
[NATASHA]
Sofia Alexandrovna
[SONYA]
How beautiful you looked in the snow
[NATASHA]
Cousin dear I love you
Trust no one but you
But I can't bear this waiting
I cry and I cry
Andrey where are you?
I want him now, at once
To embrace him and cling to
him
No one can understand
[NATASHA]
I love him
I know him
He loves me only
He'll come home one day
And take me away
I want nothing more
I want nothing more
Hmmm...
[MARYA D]
First thing tomorrow to Madame Chambords
Dresses, dresses, we'll buy what we can afford
Then dinner and a game of Boston
Then you'll read to
me while I knit!
How wonderful to have you here
Instead of these gossips and crybabies
[NATASHA, SONYA]
You'll take us where we must go
Pet
us a bit
And scold us a bit
[SONYA]
Her goddaughter, her favorite, Natasha
She will
touch you on the cheek
Sonya leaves.
[MARYA D]
Well, now we'll talk
I congratulate you and Andrey
You've hooked a fine
fellow!
One of the finest matches in all of Russia
I am glad and
relieved
He'll be the family's saving grace
[NATASHA]
I blush happily
[MARYA D]
But his father, Prince Bolkonsky, much dislikes his sons
marrying
The old fellow's crotchety!
Of course Prince Andrey's not
a child
But it's not nice to enter a family against a father's will
One wants to do it peacefully and lovingly
But you're a clever girl
Just be kind to Andrey's sister
And when the sister loves you
So
will the father
And all will be well