ad not left him since。
When he waked up in a cold sweat and moved on the couch； Natasha went up and asked him what was the matter。 He did not answer； and looked at her with strange eyes； not understanding her。
That was the change that had come over him two days before Princess Marya’s arrival。 The doctor said that from that day the wasting fever had assumed a more serious aspect； but Natasha paid little heed to what the doctor said； she saw the terrible moral symptoms； that for her were far more convincing。
With his awakening from sleep that day there began for Prince Andrey an awakening from life。 And in relation to the duration of life it seemed to him not more prolonged than the awakening from sleep in relation to the duration of a dream。 There was nothing violent or terrible in this relatively slow awakening。
His last days and hours passed in a simple and commonplace way。 Princess Marya and Natasha； who never left his side； both felt that。 They did not weep nor shudder； and towards the last they both felt they were waiting not on him （he was no more； he had gone far away from them）； but on the nearest memory of him—his body。 The feelings of both of them were so strong that the external； horrible side of death did not affect them； and they did not find it needful to work up their grief。 They did not weep either in his presence nor away from him； and they never even talked of him together。 They felt that they could not express in words what they understood。
They both saw that he was slowly and quietly slipping further and further away from them； and both knew that this must be so； and that it was well。 He received absolution and extreme unction； every one came to bid him good…bye。 When his son was brought in to him； he pressed his lips to him and turned away； not because it was painful or sad to him （Princess Marya and Natasha saw that）； but simply because he supposed he had done all that was required of him。 But he was told to give him his blessing； he did what was required； and looked round as though to ask whether there was anything else he must do。 When the body； deserted by the spirit； passed through its last struggles； Princess Marya and Natasha were there。
“It is over！” said Princess Marya； after the body had lain for some moments motionless； and growing cold before them。 Natasha went close； glanced at the dead eyes； and made haste to shut them。 She closed them； and did not kiss them； but hung over what was the nearest memory of him。 “Where has he gone？ Where is he now？ …”
When the body lay； dressed and washed； in the coffin on the table every one came to take leave of him； and every one cried。 Nikolushka cried from the agonising bewilderment that was rending his heart。 The countess and Sonya cried from pity for Natasha； and from grief that he was gone。 The old count cried because he felt that he too must soon take the same terrible step。
Natasha and Princess Marya wept too now。 But they did not weep for their personal sorrow； they wept from the emotion and awe that filled their souls before the simple and solemn mystery of death that had been accomplished before their eyes。
Part Thirteen
Chapter 1
THE COMBINATION of causes of phenomena is beyond the grasp of the human intellect。 But the impulse to seek causes is innate in the soul of man。 And the human intellect； with no inkling of the immense variety and complexity of circumstances conditioning a phenomenon； any one of which may be separately conceived of as the cause of it； snatches at the first and most easily understood approximation； and says here is the cause。 In historical events； where the actions of men form the subject of observation； the most primitive conception of a cause was the will of the gods； succeeded later on by the will of those men who stand in the historical foreground—the heroes of history。 But one had but to look below the surface of any historical event； to look； that is； into the movement of the whole mass of men taking part in that event； to be convinced that the will of the hero of history； so far from controlling the actions of the multitude； is continually controlled by them。 It may be thought that it is a matter of no importance whether historical events are interpreted in one way or in another。 But between the man who says that the peoples of the West marched into the East； because Napoleon willed they should do so； and the man who says that that movement came to pass because it was bound to come to pass； there exists the same difference as between the men who maintained that the earth was stationary and the planets revolved about it； and the men who said that they did not know what holds the earth in its place； but they did know that there were laws controlling its motions and the motions of the other planets。 Causes of historical events—there are not and cannot be； save the one cause of all causes。 But there are laws controlling these events； laws partly unknown； partly accessible to us。 The discovery of these laws is only possible when we entirely give up looking for a cause in the will of one man； just as the discovery of the laws of the motions of the planets has only become possible since men have given up the conception of the earth being stationary。
After the battle of Borodino； and the taking and burning of Moscow； historians consider the most important episode of the war of 1812 to be the movement of the Russian army from the Ryazan to the Kaluga road and to the Tarutino camp； the so…called oblique march behind Krasnaya Pahra。 Historians ascribe the credit of this stroke of genius to various persons； and dispute to whom it is rightfully due。 Even foreign； even French historians； admit the genius of the Russian generals when they mention this flank march。 But why military writers； and others following their lead； assume this oblique movement to be a project profoundly planned by some one person for the deliverance of Russia and the overthrow of Napoleon it is very difficult to see。 It is difficult in the first place to see wherein the profound wisdom and genius of this march lies； for no great intellectual effort is needed to guess that the best position for an army； when not being attacked； is where supplies are most plentiful。 And every one； even a stupid boy of thirteen； could have guessed that the most advantageous position for the army in 1812； after the retreat from Moscow； would be on the Kaluga road。 And so one cannot understand； in the first place； what conclusions led the historians to see some deep wisdom in this man？uvre。 Secondly； it is even more difficult to understand why the historians ascribe to this man？uvre the deliverance of Russia and the overthrow of the French； for； had other circumstances preceded； accompanied； or followed it； this flank movement might as well have led to the destruction of the Russian army and the deliverance of the French。 If the position of the Russian army did； in fact； begin to improve from the time of that march； it does not at all follow that the improvement was caused by it。
That oblique march might have been not simply of no use； it might have led to the destruction of the Russian army； but for the conjunction of other circumstances。 What would have happened if Moscow had not been burnt？ If Murat had not lost sight of the Russians？ If Napoleon had not remained inactive？ If； as Bennigsen and Barclay advised； the Russians had given battle near Krasnaya Pahra？ What would have happened if the French had attacked the Russians when they were marching behind Pahra？ What would have happened if later on Napoleon； on reaching Tarutino； had attacked the Russians with one…tenth of the energy with which he had attacked them at Smolensk？ What would have happened if the French had marched to Petersburg？ … On any of these hypotheses； the oblique march might have led to ruin instead of to safety。
The third point； most difficult of all to understand； is that students of history seem intentionally to refuse to see that this march cannot be ascribed to any one man； that no one foresaw it at any time； that； like the retreat to Fili； the man？uvre was； in reality； never conceived of by any one in its entirety； but arose step by step； incident by incident； moment by moment from a