LESSON 26 The Burning of Moscow

第二十六课 焚烧莫斯科

A. D. 1812

公元1812年

When Napoleon first came within sight of Moscow, with its domes, and towers, and palaces, he gazed long and thoughtfully on that goal of his wishes. Murat was the first to enter the gates, with his splendid cavalry; but as he passed along the streets he was struck by the solitude that surrounded him. Nothing was heard but the heavy tramp of his squadrons: a deserted and abandoned city was the meagre prize for which such unparalleled efforts had been made.

当拿破仑第一次俯瞰莫斯科，望着那些圆屋顶、塔楼和宫殿时，他凝视了很久，思索着自己的一个愿望和目标。缪拉元帅是进入城门的第一人，率领着浩浩荡荡的骑兵。然而当他经过那些街道的时候，他被四周的荒僻震惊了，除了骑兵厚重的踩踏声之外，四周鸦雀无声：他们那前所未有的付出换来的难道仅是这一座荒芜的废城吗？

As night drew its curtain over the splendid capital, Napoleon entered the gates, and immediately appointed Mortier governor. In his directions he commanded him to abstain from all pillage "For this," said he, "you shall be answerable with your life. Defend Moscow against all, whether friend or foe."

在这座辉煌的首都夜幕降临之际，拿破仑入城了，入城后随即任命了莫蒂埃为州长。之后，拿破仑命令莫蒂埃放弃所有的掠夺，他说：“你要对自己的生命负责，要保卫莫斯科免受一切威胁，不管是朋友还是敌人。”

The bright moon rose over the mighty city, tipping with silver the domes of more than two hundred churches, and pouring a flood of light over a thousand palaces, and the dwellings of three hundred thousand inhabitants. The weary arm sank to rest; but there was no sleep for Mortier's eyes. Not the gorgeous and variegated palaces and their rich ornaments, nor the parks and gardens and Oriental magnificence that everywhere surrounded him, kept him wakeful, but the ominous forebodings that some dire calamity was hanging over the silent capital.

当一轮明月在这座雄伟的城市上空升起之时，两百多座教堂的圆屋顶像是镀上了银光，一千多座宫殿和三十多万居民的住宅也沐浴在月光之下，疲倦的士兵已经耷拉着手臂沉沉睡去，但是莫蒂埃没有睡着，他一直保持着清醒，并不是被那华丽的宫殿和丰富的装饰品所震撼，也不是被四周的公园、花园和东方的富丽堂皇所震惊，而是因为他总有一种不祥的预感：一些可怕的灾难正笼罩着这座寂静的首都。

When he had entered it, scarcely a living soul met his gaze as he looked down the long streets; and when he broke open the buildings, he found salons, and parlours, and bed-rooms, all furnished and in order—but no occupants! This sudden abandonment of their homes betokened some secret purpose, yet to be fulfilled. The midnight moon was stealing over the city, when the cry of "Fire!" reached the ears of Mortier: the first light over Napoleon's faltering empire was kindled, and that most wondrous scene of modern times commenced—The Burning of Moscow.

莫蒂埃在进入这座城、沿着长长的街道往下看时，几乎没有看到一个活人。而当他闯进一栋大楼、发现大厅、客厅和卧室都装饰的井井有条时，竟然没有发现一名居住者！他们对家的突然离弃肯定预示着某些不为人知的目的，而他们的目的已经达到了。当午夜的月光偷偷地洒满这座城市，莫蒂埃只听一声大喊“起火啦！”：自此拿破仑那摇摇欲坠的帝国上空的第一缕曙光被点燃，当代最令人震惊的一幕开始上演——焚烧莫斯科。