BOOK 9, Chptr. 23, P&V pg. 680

Book 9, Chapter 23

The leading men of Moscow very willingly agree to contribute. The nobility will provide many serfs for the war. The wealthy merchants will give millions of rubles.

Summary:

Just prior to the Emperor’s arrival, Count Rostopchín comes into the hall and tells the nobility what is wanted from them. He says The Emperor has deigned to summon us and the merchants. Millions will pour forth from there-he pointed to the merchants’ hall-but our business is to supply men and not spare ourselves…. That is the least we can do! Everyone patriotically agrees, without reservation or argument, to give the Emperor what he asks for. The Emperor is moved by emotion. Pierre now felt ashamed for earlier implying the Emperor owed them a report on the state of the war.

quote from the chapter:

Pierre wished to say that he was ready to sacrifice his money, his serfs, or himself, only one ought to know the state of affairs in order to be able to improve it, but he was unable to speak. Many voices shouted and talked at the same time, so that Count Rostóv had not time to signify his approval of them all, and the group increased, dispersed, re-formed, and then moved with a hum of talk into the largest hall and to the big table. Not only was Pierre’s attempt to speak unsuccessful, but he was rudely interrupted, pushed aside, and people turned away from him as from a common enemy. This happened not because they were displeased by the substance of his speech, which had even been forgotten after the many subsequent speeches, but to animate it the crowd needed a tangible object to love and a tangible object to hate. Pierre became the latter.

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