War and Peace

Chapter 20

"You don't know him, sir, and that's your misfortune. You don't know him, but he is real, in my heart, in my actions, he will be in yours, and even in what you just said ungodly words!" said the Mason in a stern, trembling voice. "He actually exists, but it's very difficult to really understand it," said the fellow mason, his eyes were not looking this way, but looking forward, "If he is a real thing, you don't believe that he really exists , then I can bring this object here for you to have a closer look at. But how can such an insignificant person as I show a blind man the sight of the Almighty, Eternal, and revered God? What's more, this blind man keeps his eyes closed and refuses to recognize him, refuses to understand him, and this blind man is also blind to what he has done." He was silent for a while, and then said, "Who are you? What are you? You think you are smart to say these blasphemous words." There was a contemptuous sneer on his face.

Bin-Air listened carefully to his words, not even daring to show his breath. He stared at the fellow mason with staring eyes, neither interjecting nor asking questions. He believed everything the stranger said to him with all his heart.I don’t know whether it was the sound truths in the Tongji members’ conversations that convinced him, or the trusting tone, firm belief, and pious attitude in the Tongji members’ words, as well as his sometimes excited voice, because he realized his mission. And the calmness shown made Bin Air admire.Compared with Bin-Air's disappointment and pessimism, Bin-Air was deeply moved by the expressions of the Masons, which reflected the joy of peace of mind, new life, and resurrection.

"The highest wisdom is not only based on ideals, nor is it based on real science, such as physics, history, chemistry and other scientific and technological knowledge acquired by intelligence. There is only one highest wisdom. It is the spiritual realm, which is an all-encompassing science. It is a science that explains the entire universe and man's position in the universe. If people want to use these sciences, they must cleanse and reform their own brains. Therefore, first of all, it is not just knowledge, but conversion and self-cultivation. In the spiritual realm, we must have the light of God in our minds, which is the so-called conscience."

"Know your reality again, sir. How do you live? You live in drinking and debauchery, you take everything from society and give nothing back to society. You get money, but You didn't use it properly? Did you do something for your friends? Did you care about the poor around you? Did you help them materially and spiritually? No. You appropriated other people's sweat, you lived a life of debauchery life. That's what you do. Did you ever think of doing something nice for your friends or folks? No. You were lazy and idle all day, and then you got married, sir, and you took on a good job. Your own young wife's duty, and you have done nothing? Instead of bringing her a happy life, sir, you have pushed her into the abyss of gossip and gossip. Someone insults you, and you start fighting with him. You say You don't believe in God, and hate your life, and it's really nothing to wonder at, sir!"

After speaking these long paragraphs, he felt a little sleepy, and he leaned on the sofa, resting his mind.Just then his servant came in to say that the horse was ready and he was going on his way.When he reached the door, he turned and asked Binzokhov politely but coldly:
"Where are you going, sir?"

"Me? . . . I'm going to Petersburg," said Bin-Air, stammering like a child. "I'm very grateful to you and agree with you completely, but don't think too badly of me. I I sincerely want to be the kind of person you want, but no one has ever reminded me..."

"Only God can help you," said the Kisoner, "and we can only help you when we have the opportunity, sir. When you arrive in Petersburg, give this note to Count Willangoshje." In the future, you can listen to my advice: After arriving in the capital, you should be quiet and quiet for a while, reflect on yourself, and get out of the shadow of your previous life. Now, I wish you a safe journey, sir." Seeing the servant coming in, he He said again: "I wish you success..."

Bin-Air asked the postmaster: "Who is he?" He was the well-known Freemason Osip Bazdeyev.

[three]

After Binair came to Petersburg, he didn't tell anyone. He stayed in the apartment all day and read the works of Thomas Kempis sent by others. This book opened Binair's mind, Bazdeyev The near-perfect state revealed to him, where everyone helps each other and gets along well, is possible to achieve.

One night after a week, a foreign friend that Bin-Air had met in the ballroom before came to him and said that a high-ranking person in the Kiwi Association had applied for special approval for him to join the Kiwi Association and suggested that his foreign friend be his recruiter. guarantor.Bin-Air agrees to join the Kiwanis.This foreign friend led him into a secret place, covered his eyes with a towel, took him into a dark room, and asked him to open the towel after hearing three knocks on the door.

After hearing three knocks on the door, Bin-Air untied the towel.After a while, a middle-aged man walked in.This person is called a trainer in the Kiwanis, and he is dedicated to explaining the purpose of the Kiwanis to new members.Bin-air recognized that this was also an acquaintance, his name was Smolyaninov, which made Bin-air very unhappy.After finding out Bin-Air's motivation for joining the club, the trainer cleared his throat, crossed his gloved hands on his chest, and began to speak:
"Now I want to explain to you the purpose of this association. If the purpose of this association meets your wishes, you will feel beneficial. The first purpose of this association is a common maintenance established by this association that cannot be overthrown by human power. The basis of this is to keep an important secret and pass it down. This secret has been passed down from ancient times, even from the No.1 who created the world to the present. It may be related to the fate of mankind. However, this secret has such a nature , without long-term and painstaking self-purification, no one can unlock it and use it. Not everyone can learn this secret quickly. Therefore, we have a second purpose, which is to maximize Let us thoroughly practice our members, let us thoroughly repent, purify and enlighten their reason, and enable them to acquire the ability to understand the problem, using the methods that have been handed down to us by those who have painstakingly explored this secret. In purifying and perfecting In the process of the Kiwi Association, we must strive to achieve the third point, which is to improve the entire human being at the same time. Our members provide human beings with an example of religious belief and high moral character. This is how we are working hard to fight against the evil forces in society. Fight. Please clarify this issue, and I will come to you later." After finishing speaking, he walked out of the room.

"Fight against the evil forces in society..." Bin-Air repeated, thinking about his future.The last of the three purposes proposed by the trainer is to change human beings, especially making Bin-Air feel very warm.The secret mentioned by the trainer, although Bin-Air's curiosity was aroused, he did not regard it as a real object; the second purpose, self-purification and perfection, did not attract him very much. heart, because at this time he felt that he had stepped out of the sins of the past, and now he only wanted to do good.

Half an hour later, the trainer came over again and conveyed to Bin-Air the seven virtues corresponding to the seven steps of Solomon's Temple. The person with the highest status in this association; [-]. High morality; [-]. Love human beings; [-]. Be brave in doing things; [-]. Generous and generous; [-]. Not afraid of death.

After letting Bin-Air think about it for a while, the trainer walked into the room again.He asked Bin-Air to hand over his valuables, remove his coat, and prepare for the initiation ceremony.At this moment, Bin-Air's heart was filled with ripples of happiness.

[Four]

Then, led by the guarantor Weilang Oshje, Bin Air, who was blindfolded again, completed the complicated and lengthy initiation ceremony.Finally, he was asked to lie down before the altar.At this moment, he hesitated temporarily, but he knew in his heart that he could not give up halfway.Startled by his own hesitation, he wanted to stir up the previous emotion in his heart, and lay down in front of the altar.Sure enough, he felt full of confidence in his heart.He lay down for a while, and someone asked him to stand up, put a white apron around his waist, and handed him a shovel and three pairs of gloves. At this moment, the chairman came out to speak to him.The president said to Bin-Air: Try not to let anything stain your white apron, which is a symbol of purity and innocence: He hoped that Bin-Air would use that shovel to remove the distracting thoughts in his heart; finally, the president said Gloves: the meaning of the first pair of men's gloves, Bin-Air can't yet know, but he should keep them; style.Regarding this pair of gloves, the president went on to say:

"Dear partner, this pair of gloves is also for you. You are going to give it to your favorite girlfriend. You will choose a distinguished Madam Madam for yourself in the future, and you will send her this gift to prove that Your pure heart." After a pause, he continued: "But take care, my dear friend, that these gloves must not become an ornament for unclean hands."

After the ceremony, the members all came forward to congratulate Bin Air.In the end, the chairman talked about the obligations of the members, how much they can donate according to their own ability.Bin-Air wanted to write all his money in the donation book, but was afraid that he would appear arrogant, so he donated as much as everyone else.

Back home, Bin-Air felt as if he had returned from a long journey that lasted decades, his mind completely changed, and he was completely out of his former way of life and habits.

[five]

On the second day after joining the club, Bin-Air was reading a book while imagining the standard of living he had planned for himself.Bin-Air intended to go to his southern estate, where he would look after his serfs.When he was planning a new life full of joy, the Duke of Vohiel came to his room suddenly.

In a gentle but firm tone, the Duke persuaded Bin-Air to reconcile with Hanli, and asked Bin-Air to write to invite Hanli to come to Petersburg.His nagging gradually irritated Bin-Air.

"Duke, have I invited you here? Please go, please go!" He jumped up and opened the door for the Duke, "Hurry up." He said over and over again, he couldn't believe why he did it After making such a radical move, Bin-Air was very happy to see Duke Vohiel showing an embarrassed and frightened expression.

"Please go!" He said again in a trembling voice, and Duke Vohiel saw that he had no room for relaxation, and left angrily.

A week later, Bin-Air said good-bye to his new Freemasons, made a large donation to them, and set off for his country estate.

[six]

The matter between Bin-Air and Rookout was settled in private, and although fighting was strictly prohibited by law, neither the dueling parties nor the assistants were punished.But this led to the divorce of the Bin-Airs, which spread throughout society.When Bin Ayr was just an illegitimate child, people looked at him with tolerance and sympathy; when he became a rich man and beautiful women in Russia rushed to marry him, people got close to him and praised him; When married, unmarried girls and their mothers no longer had any hope for him, his position in the social world plummeted, not to mention that he was not good at dealing with people, and he was unwilling to please the social world.

Ina Charleau continues to throw parties at her home.Her balls had two characteristics: first, representatives of outstanding intellectuals in Petersburg society came here; second, Aina would introduce a news figure to the guests every time.Her ball seems to be a political thermometer for the upper class of Petersburg.

At the end of [-], Napoleon was defeated by the Prussian army in Jena and Auerstedt. At this time, the Russian army had also entered Prussia and began to attack Napoleon for the second time. At this time, Aina's There was a party at home.Those who came to the party included the beautiful Hanli who was abandoned by her husband, Mortmar, the handsome and talented Jebritai who had just returned from Austria, two diplomats and Aina's aunt , a well-mannered female officer and her mother, and some lesser-known people.

Ina invited a novelty to this evening party, namely Brits Drubetskoy, who had just returned as a guest of honor from the Prussian army and was now the aide-de-camp of an important person.

Blitz was strong, full of blood, and looked handsome. Wearing a gorgeous uniform of adjutant, he walked into the living room with dignity.

During his service, due to his mother's low trust and his own hard work, he was promoted quickly in the army and became an adjutant of a very important person, taking on a very important mission in Prussia.In the army, Blitz immediately realized that in order to succeed in official career, he does not need hard work, diligence, bravery, or sincerity. He just needs to flatter some important people. He is proud of his own rapid success, but also proud of the fact that other people don't understand this truth.As a result of his discovery, his whole way of life, his relations with all his friends, and his involvement in his own future, were completely changed.He didn't have much money, but in order to dress smarter than others, he would rather spend penniless. He would rather not go to entertainment venues than go out in a shabby carriage, or walk around Peter in an old uniform. on the street of the castle.He associates only with those who are superior to him or who are useful to him.He would rather stay in Petersburg than go to Moscow.He would feel uneasy when he recalled Rosettaph's home and his innocent love for Natess, and he had not been back to Rosettaph's house once since he joined the army.He is especially willing to enter the living room of Aina's house, because there are often big people there, and he immediately understands the role he should play here, and he is happy to let Aina point it around. He observes every face carefully, And mentally weigh the possible benefits of associating with these people.He was arranged to sit next to Hanli, and after sitting down, he patiently listened to everyone talking.

After a few minutes, everyone's topic turned to Prussia, and Aina asked Blitz to talk about what he saw and heard in the Prussian army.Britz immediately agreed, speaking in pure French, telling many interesting tidbits in the army and in the court. Throughout the narration, he tried his best to avoid expressing his own opinions on the things narrated.In the beginning, Blitz attracted everyone's attention, which made Aina feel that the newcomer she invited was unanimously welcomed by everyone.Hanli listened to Blitz's story more seriously than anyone else, and asked him several times about details of his travels, showing great concern for the situation in the Prussian army.No sooner had he finished than Hanli turned to him with her usual smile.

"You must come often," she said in French coquettishly, "between eight and nine on Tuesdays. You will make me very happy."

Blitz promised to be on time for the appointment.

[seven]

The party is still going on.Yepirithai was telling his silly jokes again.Then, everyone started talking about political news, who the emperor had received, and so on.

When everyone stood up to go back, Hanli, who had been silent all evening, ordered Blitz to come and see her on Tuesday, in a subdued, meaningful tone.

(End of this chapter)