第216章

第216章“oh,ifyouputthequestionlikethat,it’sadifferentmatter,”saidprinceandrey.“i’mbuildingahouseandlayingoutagarden,whileyouarebuildinghospitals.eitheroccupationmayservetopassthetime.butastowhat’srightandwhat’sgood—leavethattoonewhoknowsalltojudge;it’snotforustodecide.well,youwantanargument,”headded;“allright,letushaveone.”theygotupfromthetableandsatoutonthestepsindefaultofabalcony.“come,letusarguethematter,”saidprinceandrey.“youtalkofschools,”hewenton,crookingonefinger,“instruction,andsoforth,thatis,youwanttodrawhim”（hepointedtoapeasantwhopassedbythemtakingoffhiscap）,“outofhisanimalconditionandtogivehimspiritualneeds,butitseemstomethattheonlypossiblehappinessisanimalhappiness,andyouwanttodeprivehimofit.ienvyhim,whileyouaretryingtomakehimintome,withoutgivinghimmycircumstances.anotherthingyouspeakofislighteninghistoil.buttomynotions,physicallabourisasmuchanecessityforhim,asmuchaconditionofhisexistence,asintellectualworkisformeandforyou.youcan’thelpthinking.igotobedatthreeo’clock,thoughtscomeintomymind,andican’tgotosleep;iturnover,andcan’tsleeptillmorning,becausei’mthinking,andican’thelpthinking,justashecan’thelpploughingandmowing.ifhedidn’t,hewouldgotothetavern,orbecomeill.justasicouldnotstandhisterriblephysicallabour,butshoulddieofitinaweek,sohecouldnotstandmyphysicalinactivity,hewouldgrowfatanddie.thethirdthing—whatwasityoutalkedabout？”

princeandreycrookedhisthirdfinger.

“oh,yes,hospitals,medicine.hehasafitanddies,butyouhavehimbledandcurehim.hewilldragaboutaninvalidfortenyears,aburdentoeveryone.itwouldbeeversomuchsimplerandmorecomfortableforhimtodie.othersareborn,andtherearealwaysplenty.ifyougrudgelosingalabourer—that’showilookathim—butyouwanttocurehimfromloveforhim.buthehasnoneedofthat.andbesides,whatanotionthatmedicinehasevercuredanyone！killedthem—yes！”hesaid,scowlingandturningawayfrompierre.

princeandreygavesuchaclearandpreciseutterancetohisideasthatitwasevidenthehadthoughtmorethanonceofthisalready,andhetalkedrapidlyandeagerly,asamandoeswhohaslongbeensilent.hiseyesgrewkeener,themorepessimisticweretheviewsheexpressed.

“oh,thisisawful,awful！”saidpierre.“idon’tunderstandhowonecanlivewithsuchideas.ihavehadmomentsofthinkinglikethat;itwasnotlongagoatmoscowandonajourney,butthenibecomesoabjectthatidon’tliveatall,everything’shatefultome…myself,mostofall.thenidon’teat,idon’twash…howcanyougoon？…”

“whynotwash,that’snotclean,”saidprinceandrey;“onthecontrary,onehastotryandmakeone’slifemoreagreeableasfarasonecan.i’malive,andit’snotmyfaultthatiam,andsoihavetotrywithouthurtingotherstogetonaswellasicantilldeath.”

“butwhatimpulsehaveyoutolivewithsuchideas？youwouldsitstillwithoutstirring,takingnopartinanything.…”