ON THE 25TH of August, on the eve of the battle of Borodino, the prefect of the French Emperor’s palace, M. de Beausset, and Colonel Fabvier, arrived, the former from Paris, and the latter from Madrid, at Napoleon’s encampment at Valuev.
8月25日，在伏尔加河畔的拜约斯基，即将发生博罗金诺战役的前夜，法国皇帝宫廷的总督Boisset先生和Fabvier上校分别来自巴黎和马德里，抵达了拿破仑在瓦尔列夫的军营。

After changing into a court uniform M. de Beausset ordered the package he had brought for the Emperor to be carried before him, and walked into the first compartment of Napoleon’s tent, where he busied himself while conversing with the aides-de-camp in unpacking the box.
Boisset穿上一身宫廷制服，命令自己带来的包裹放在他前面，走进了拿破仑的帐篷的第一个隔间，在与副官交谈时，忙着打开箱子。

Fabvier stood talking with generals of his acquaintance in the entrance of the tent.
Fabvier站在帐篷入口处，与他认识的将军们交谈。

The Emperor Napoleon had not yet left his bedroom, he was finishing his toilet. —
拿破仑皇帝还没有离开卧室，他在整理打扮。 —

With snorts and grunts of satisfaction, he was turning first his stout back and then his plump, hirsute chest towards the flesh-brush with which a valet was rubbing him down. —
他满足地哼哼着，用力地转动他肥胖的背部和多毛的胸膛，一个贴身男仆正在给他擦拭。 —

Another valet, holding a bottle with one finger on it, was sprinkling eau de cologne on the Emperor’s pampered person with an expression which seemed to say that he alone knew where and how much eau de cologne must be sprinkled. —
另一个男仆只用一根手指紧握着一瓶香水，在拿破仑宠爱的身上洒上香水，他眼神中透露出他一个人知道在哪里以及要洒多少香水。 —

Napoleon’s short hair was wet and matted on his brow. —
拿破仑的短发湿漉漉地贴在他的额头上。 —

But his face, though puffy and yellow, expressed physical satisfaction.
但他的脸虽然浮肿而黄，却表达出身体上的满足。

“Go on, hard, go on …” he said, shrugging and clearing his throat, to the valet brushing him. —
“继续，用力，继续……”他对给他擦拭的男仆耸耸肩膀，清清嗓子。 —

An adjutant, who had come into the bedroom to report to the Emperor the number of prisoners taken in the last engagement, was standing at the door, after giving his message, awaiting permission to withdraw. —
一名副官走进卧室向皇帝报告上次交战中俘虏的数量，在传达完消息后，站在门口等待离去的许可。 —

Napoleon, frowning, glanced up from under his brows at the adjutant. —
拿破仑皱着眉头，从眉毛下面向上瞥了一眼副官。 —

“No prisoners,” he repeated the adjutant’s words. “They are working their own destruction. —
“没有俘虏，”他重复了副官的话。“他们正在自取灭亡。 —

So much the worse for the Russian army,” said he. —
俄国军队越糟糕越好，”他说。 —

“Harder, brush harder,” he said, hunching his fat shoulders before the valet. —
“擦得更用力一些，更用力一些，”他对男仆弯着肥胖的肩膀说。 —

“Good. Let Beausset come in and Fabvier too,” he said to the adjutant, nodding.
“好的。让Beausset和Fabvier进来，”他对副官点点头，说道。

“I obey, sire,” and the adjutant disappeared.
“陛下，我遵命而去。”副官消失了。

The two valets rapidly dressed his majesty, and in the blue uniform of the guards he walked into the reception-room with firm, rapid steps.
两个侍从迅速给他的陛下穿好衣服，穿上卫队的蓝色制服，他坚定而快速地走进接待室。

Beausset meanwhile was in great haste setting up the present he had brought from the Empress on two chairs just before the Emperor as he entered. —
与此同时，博塞特匆忙将他从皇后那里带来的礼物摆在两把椅子上，放在皇帝刚刚进来的地方。 —

But the Emperor had been so unaccountably rapid over getting dressed and coming in that he had not time to have the surprise ready for him.
但是皇帝却因为换衣服和进来的速度太快，来不及准备给他的惊喜。

Napoleon at once noticed what they were about, and guessed they were not ready. —
拿破仑立即注意到他们在干什么，猜到他们还没有准备好。 —

He did not want to deprive them of the pleasure of preparing an agreeable surprise for him. —
他不想剥夺他们为他准备一个愉快的惊喜的乐趣。 —

He pretended not to see M. de Beausset, and beckoned Fabvier to him. —
他假装没有看见博塞特，向法比埃示意。 —

Napoleon, frowning sternly, listened in silence to what Fabvier was saying of the gallantry and devotion of his army, fighting before Salamanca, at the other end of Europe; —
拿破仑严厉地皱起眉头，静静地听着法比埃讲述他的军队在萨拉曼卡之战中的英勇和忠诚，那是在欧洲的另一端战斗的； —

they had, he said, but one dream—to be worthy of their Emperor, and one fear—to displease him. —
他说，他们只有一个梦想——配得上他们的皇帝，只有一个恐惧——惹他生气。 —

The result of the battle had been disastrous. —
这场战斗的结果是灾难性的。 —

Napoleon made ironical remarks during Fabvier’s account of it, as though he had not expected it to be otherwise in his absence.
拿破仑在法比埃叙述期间讽刺地发表评论，似乎在他不在场的情况下他没有期望结果会不同。

“I must make up for it at Moscow,” said Napoleon. “A tant? —
“我必须在莫斯科补偿一下，”拿破仑说。“为此，我做了什么吗？” —

t,” he added, and summoned Beausset, who had by this time succeeded in preparing his effect, had stood something on the chairs and thrown a cover over it.
他补充道，然后召见了博塞特，到那时他已经成功地准备好了他的效果，放了些东西在椅子上，并且用一块布盖住了。

Beausset made a courtier’s low bow, such as only the old retainers of the Bourbons knew how to make, and approached him, handing him a letter.
博塞特向他低头行了一个像波旁王朝的老仆人才会行的厚礼，并且走近他递给他一封信。

Napoleon addressed him gaily and pinched him by the ear.
拿破仑欢快地对他说话，并捏了捏他的耳朵。

“You have been quick, delighted to see you. Well, what is Paris saying? —
“你来得真快，见到你很高兴。嗯，巴黎那边怎么说？” —

” he said, his look of sternness suddenly changing to the most cordial expression.
他说完，严肃的表情突然变得最友好。

“Sire, all Paris is regretting your absence,” answered Beausset, as in duty bound. —
“陛下，巴黎全城都在为您的离别感到惋惜。”贝松按照职责回答道。 —

But though Napoleon knew Beausset was bound to say this or something like it, though at his lucid moments he knew it was all false, he was glad to hear this from him. —
虽然拿破仑知道贝松必须说出这样的话或类似的话，他在清醒的时候知道这都是假的，但他很高兴从贝松那里听到这些话。 —

He condescended to pinch his ear again.
他又摸了一下贝松的耳朵。

“I am very sorry to have made you to travel so far,” he said.
“真抱歉让您长途跋涉，”他说。

“Sire, I expected to find you at least at the gates of Moscow,” said Beausset.
“陛下，我本来预计能在莫斯科门口找到您的。”贝松说。

Napoleon smiled, and lifting his head absently looked round to the right. —
拿破仑微笑了起来，一抬头心不在焉地向右边望去。 —

An adjutant approached obsequiously with a gold snuffbox and offered it. Napoleon took it.
一个副官亲近地递上一只金烟盒。拿破仑接过来。

“Yes, it’s a happy chance for you,” he said, putting the open snuffbox to his nose. —
“是的，这对您来说是个幸运的机会。”他说着，把打开的烟盒放到鼻子底下。 —

“You are fond of travelling, and in three days you will see Moscow. —
“您喜欢旅行，三天后您就能看到莫斯科。恐怕您没想到会见到这座亚洲的首都。您将会有愉快的旅程。” —

You probably did not expect to see the Asiatic capital. —
贝松为拿破仑对他的旅行兴趣表示感激（他之前一直不知道拿破仑对此有兴趣）。 —

You will have a delightful journey.”
“啊！这是什么？”拿破仑注意到朝臣们都在看着一个被遮盖的东西。

Beausset bowed with gratitude for this interest in his tastes for travel (of which he had till that moment been unaware).
朝臣们收到的礼物内心戚然激动，但为了表达感激之情也不好多说什么。

“Ah! what’s this?” said Napoleon, observing that all the courtiers were gazing at something concealed under a covering. —
“呃，足球赛开启！”拿破仑意识到大家在为获得的袋鼠大奖迫不及待。 —

Beausset with courtier-like agility retired two steps with a half turn, not showing his back, and at the same moment twitched off the covering, saying: —
贝奥赛特像一个宫廷般敏捷的人一样退了两步半转身，没有露出自己的背，同时扯掉了罩布，说道： —

“A present to your majesty from the Empress.”
“这是皇后陛下送给您的礼物。”

It was a portrait, painted in brilliant colours by Gérard, of the child of Napoleon and the daughter of the Austrian Emperor, the little boy whom every one for some unknown reason called the King of Rome.
这是由杰拉德用鲜艳的颜色绘制的一幅肖像，描绘了拿破仑和奥地利皇帝的女儿的孩子，每个人出于某种未知的原因都称他为罗马国王。

The very pretty, curly-headed child, with eyes like the Christ with the Sistine Madonna, had been portrayed playing cup and ball. —
这个非常漂亮、蓬松头发的孩子，眼睛像西斯廷圣母的基督一样，被描绘得在玩球杯游戏。 —

The ball represented the terrestrial globe and the cup in the other hand was a sceptre.
球代表地球，另一只手中的杯是一根权杖。

Though it was not altogether clear what the painter had intended to express by representing the so-called King of Rome tossing the terrestrial globe on a sceptre, the allegory apparently seemed to Napoleon, as it had to every one who had seen it in Paris, quite clear and extremely pleasing.
虽然画家描绘所谓的罗马国王用权杖扔地球的寓意并不完全清楚，但显然这个寓意对拿破仑和在巴黎看过这幅画的每个人来说都很明确和极其令人愉悦。

“The King of Rome!” he said, pointing with a graceful gesture to the portrait. “Admirable! —
“罗马国王！”他指着肖像说道，“太棒了！” —

” With the characteristic Italian facility for changing his expression at will, he went up to the portrait and assumed an air of pensive tenderness. —
具有特色的意大利人易于随意改变表情的能力，他走向肖像，并呈现出一种忧思温柔的神情。 —

He felt that what he might say or do at that moment would be historical. —
他感觉到，此刻他可能会说或做的任何事情都将成为历史。 —

And it struck him that the best line he could take at that moment, at the height of his grandeur—so great that his child was playing cup and ball with the earth—would be to display, in contrast with that grandeur, the simplest, fatherly tenderness. —
他觉得在他伟大至极的巅峰时刻——如此伟大以至于他的孩子正在玩球杯游戏与地球——他应该以最简单、父爱般的温柔来展现与伟大形成对比。 —

His eyes were veiled by emotion; he moved up, looked round for a chair (a chair seemed to spring up under him), and sat down, facing the portrait. —
他的眼睛被感情所掩盖；他走近，四处找椅子坐下（仿佛椅子蓦然间出现在他身下），面对着肖像。 —

At a single gesture from him all withdrew on tip-toe, leaving the great man to himself and his feelings. —
他一个手势，所有人都踮起脚尖退了出去，留下这位伟人独自面对他自己和他的情感。 —

After sitting there a little while and passing his fingers, he could not have said why, over the rough surface of the painting, he got up and again sent for Beausset and the officer on duty. —
在那里坐了一会儿，他不知为什么用手指轻轻摩擦着绘画的粗糙表面，他站起身，再次叫来了贝奥赛特和值班军官。 —

He gave orders for the portrait to be carried out in front of his tent, so that the Old Guard, standing about his tent, might not be deprived of the happiness of seeing the King of Rome, the son and heir of their adored Emperor.
他下令在自己的帐篷前进行肖像的拍摄，这样站在他帐篷周围的老卫兵才能看到罗马国王，也就是他们敬仰的皇帝的儿子和继承人，不会失去享受的快乐。

While he sat at breakfast with M. de Beausset—whom he had honoured by an invitation to join him—he heard, as he had expected, enthusiastic shouts from the soldiers and officers of the Old Guard, who had run up to see the portrait.
当他与德·博塞共进早餐时，他听到了他预料到的老卫兵和军官们的赞叹声，他们跑过来看肖像。

“Vive l’Empereur! Vive le roi de Rome! Vive l’Empereur!” shouted enthusiastic voices.
“Vive l’Empereur! Vive le roi de Rome! Vive l’Empereur!”热情洋溢的声音喊道。

After breakfast, in Beausset’s presence, Napoleon dictated his proclamation to the army.
在早餐过后，在博塞的面前，拿破仑口授了给军队的公告。

“Courte et énergique!” Napoleon pronounced it, when he had read over the proclamation that he had dictated straight off without corrections. It was as follows:
“简短而有力！”拿破仑这样宣布，他一边口授一边直接地念着自己口授的公告，没有作任何修改。公告如下：

“Soldiers! This is the battle you have so greatly desired. Victory is in your hands. —
“士兵们！这是你们一直渴望的战斗。胜利就在你们的手中。 —

It is essential for us; it will give us everything we need: —
对我们来说至关重要；它将给我们带来一切需要的东西：舒适的营房和快速返回自己国家的机会。 —

comfortable quarters and a speedy return to our own country. —
行为要像你们在奥斯特利茨、弗里德兰、维捷布斯克和斯摩棱斯克的时候表现的那样。 —

Behave as you behaved at Austerlitz, Friedland, Vitebsk, and Smolensk. —
愿后代为你们在这一天的成就而自豪！ —

May posterity recall with pride your achievement on this day! —
愿他们说起你们每个人：他曾参加过莫斯科前的伟大战斗！” —

And may they say of each of you: he was at the great battle before Moscow!”
“在莫斯科前”，拿破仑重复了一遍，并邀请喜欢旅行的德·博塞陪同他骑马。他们走出帐篷，外面等着已备好的马匹。

“Before Moscow,” repeated Napoleon, and inviting M. de Beausset, so fond of travel, to accompany him on his ride, he went out of the tent to the saddled horses awaiting them outside.
“陛下过于客气了，”博塞回答了陪同皇帝的邀请。

“Your majesty is too kind,” said Beausset, in response to the invitation to accompany the Emperor. —
他很困。他不会骑马，也害怕马。 —

He was very sleepy. He could not ride well, and was afraid of horses.
但拿破仑向这位旅行者点了点头，博塞不得不上马。

But Napoleon nodded to the traveller, and Beausset had to mount. —
请参考第14行，他非常困，不会骑马，也害怕马。 —

When Napoleon came out of the tent the shouts of the Guards before his son’s portrait were redoubled. Napoleon frowned.
拿破仑走出帐篷时，卫队在他儿子的肖像前的喊声更加震耳欲聋。拿破仑皱了皱眉。

“Take him away,” he said, with a gracefully majestic gesture, pointing to the portrait. —
“把他带走，”他优雅而威严地指着肖像说。 —

“It is too early yet for him to look upon the field of battle.”
“对他来说，现在看战场为时尚早。”

Beausset, dropping his eyelids, and bowing his head, heaved a deep sigh, to testify how well he was able to appreciate and comprehend the Emperor’s words.
波塞特垂下眼睑，低下头，深深地叹了口气，以示他对皇帝的话能够欣赏和理解。