Short Fiction, Leo Tolstoy [general ebook reader .txt] 📗

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“Forgive me” or “farewell” are almost interchangeable expressions in Russian. “Goodbye” (prostсháyte) etymologically means “forgive.” The form (prostíte) here used, however, means primarily “forgive me.” ↩

The Army and Navy Gazette. ↩

The term junker, borrowed from the German and pronounced “yunker,” is used in Russian in more than one sense, but at the time of the Crimean war it meant a volunteer, usually of good family, who had not yet received a commission, but was not treated as a private, and on an emergency was allowed to take an officer’s duty. Our word “cadet” nearly translates it. ↩

A common way in Russia of protecting a bed from the damp or cold of a wall is to nail a rag or carpet to the wall by the side of the bed. ↩

“I tell you, at one time it was the only thing talked of in Petersburg.” ↩

The thick walls of Russian houses allow ample space to sit or lounge by the windows. ↩

“Well, gentlemen, I think there will be warm work tonight.” ↩

“No, tell me, will there really be anything on, tonight?” ↩

“What a charming sight! eh?” ↩

Rifles, except some clumsy stutzers, had not been introduced into the Russian army, but were used by the besiegers, who had a yet greater advantage in their artillery. It is characteristic of Tolstoy that, occupied with men rather than mechanics, he does not, in these Sketches, dwell on this disparity of weapons. ↩

Our soldiers, fighting the Turks, have become so accustomed to this cry of the enemy that they now always say that the French also shout Allah. —⁠L. T. ↩

“You are wounded?” ↩

“Excuse me, sire, I am dead.” ↩

The Russian icons are paintings, in Byzantine style, of God, the Mother of God, Christ, or some saint, martyr, or angel. They are usually on wood, and are often covered over, except the face and hands, with an embossed gilt cover. ↩

“Has the flag of truce been lowered yet?” ↩

“No, not yet.” ↩

“Had it remained dark for another half-hour, the ambuscades would have been recaptured.” ↩

“Sir, I will not say no, lest I give you the lie.” ↩

“What regiment do you belong to?” ↩

“He’s come to look at our works, the confounded⁠—” ↩

“And this, what is this tied bird for?” ↩

“Because this is a cartridge pouch of a Guard regiment, monsieur, and bears the Imperial eagle.” ↩

“And do you belong to the Guards?” ↩

“No, monsieur, to the 6th Regiment of the line.” ↩

“And this: where did you buy?” ↩

“At Balaclava, Monsieur! It’s only made of palm wood.” ↩

“Pretty.” ↩

“If you will be so good as to keep it as a souvenir of this meeting, you will do me a favour.” ↩

“They are not handsome, these d⁠⸺ Russians.” ↩

“What are they laughing about?” ↩

“Don’t leave your ranks; to your places, damn it!” ↩

“Whom I knew very intimately, Monsieur. He is one of those real Russian Counts, of whom we are so fond.” ↩

“I am acquainted with a Sazónof, but he is not a Count, as far as I know⁠—a small, dark man, of about your age.” ↩

“Just so, Monsieur, that is he. Oh! how I should like to meet the dear Count! If you should see him, please be so kind as to give him my compliments⁠—Captain Latour.” ↩

“Is it not terrible, this sad duty we are engaged in? It was warm work last night, was it not?” ↩

“Ah, Monsieur, it is terrible! But what fine fellows your men are, what fine fellows! It is a pleasure to fight with fellows of that make.” ↩

“It must be admitted that yours are no fools either.” ↩

The last posting-station north of Sevastopol. —⁠L. T. ↩

Vodka is a spirit distilled from rye. It is the commonest form of strong drink in Russia. ↩

This pontoon bridge was erected during the summer of 1855. At first it was feared that the water was too rough in the Roadstead for a secure bridge to be built, but it served its purpose and even stood the strain put upon it by the retreat of the Russian army to the North Side. ↩

In addressing anyone in Russian, it is usual to employ the Christian name and patronymic: i.e., to the Christian name (in this case Michael) the father’s Christian name is joined (in this case Semyón), with the termination vitch (o-vitch or e-vitch), which means, “son of.” The termination is often shortened to itch. Surnames are less used than in English, for the patronymic is suitable for all circumstances of life⁠—both for speaking to and of anyone⁠—except where people on very intimate terms use only the Christian name, or a pet name. ↩

The Korábelnaya was a suburb of Sevastopol lying to the east of the South Bay and to the south of the Roadstead. Like the “North Side,” it was connected with Sevastopol by a floating bridge. ↩

That is, a medal granted for service in the