more than ten voices said all at once： “Sic transit gloria mundi。”
Pierre gradually began to regain his self…possession； and to look about at the room and the people in it。 Round a long table covered with black were sitting some dozen men； all in the same strange garment that he had seen before。 Several of them Pierre knew in Petersburg society。 In the president’s chair sat a young man； with a peculiar cross on his neck； whom he did not know。 On his right hand sat the Italian abbé whom Pierre had seen two years before at Anna Pavlovna’s。 There were among them a dignitary of very high standing and a Swiss tutor； who had once been in the Kuragin family。 All preserved a solemn silence； listening to the president； who held a hammer in his hand。 In the wall was carved a blazing star； on one side of the table was a small rug with various figures worked upon it； on the other was something like an altar with the gospel and a skull on it。 Round the table stood seven big ecclesiastical…looking candlesticks。 Two of the brothers led Pierre up to the altar； set his feet at right angles and bade him lie down； saying that he would be casting himself down at the gates of the temple。
“He ought first to receive the spade；” said one of the brothers in a whisper。
“Oh！ hush； please；” said another。
Pierre did not obey； but with uneasy short…sighted eyes looked about him； and suddenly doubt came over him。 “Where am I？ What am I doing？ Aren’t they laughing at me？ Shan’t I be ashamed to remember this？” But this doubt only lasted a moment。 Pierre looked round at the serious faces of the people round him； thought of all he had just been through； and felt that there was no stopping half…way。 He was terrified at his own hesitation； and trying to arouse in himself his former devotional feeling； he cast himself down at the gates of the temple。 And the devotional feeling did in fact come more strongly than ever upon him。 When he had lain there some time； he was told to get up； and a white leather apron such as the others wore was put round him； and a spade and three pairs of gloves were put in his hands； then the grand master addressed him。 He told him that he must try never to stain the whiteness of that apron； which symbolised strength and purity。 Then of the unexplained spade he told him to toil with it at clearing his heart from vice； and with forbearing patience smoothing the way in the heart of his neighbour。 Then of the first pair of gloves he said that he could not know yet their significance； but must treasure them； of the second pair he said that he must put them on at meetings； and finally of the third pair—they were women’s gloves—he said：
“Dear brother； and these woman’s gloves are destined for you too。 Give them to the woman whom you shall honour beyond all others。 That gift will be a pledge of your purity of heart to her whom you select as a worthy helpmeet in masonry。” After a brief pause； he added： “But beware； dear brother； that these gloves never deck hands that are impure。”
While the grand master uttered the last words it seemed to Pierre that he was embarrassed。 Pierre was even more embarrassed； he blushed to the point of tears； as children blush； looking about him uneasily； and an awkward silence followed。
This silence was broken by one of the brothers who； leading Pierre to the rug； began reading out of a manuscript book the interpretation of all the figures delineated upon it： the sun； the moon； the hammer； the balance； the spade； the rough stone and the shaped stone； the past； the three windows； etc。 Then Pierre was shown his appointed place； he was shown the signs of the lodge； told the password； and at last permitted to sit down。 The grand master began reading the exhortation。 The exhortation was very long； and Pierre in his joy； his emotion； and his embarrassment was hardly in a condition to understand what was read。 He only grasped the last words of the exhortation； which stuck in his memory。
“In our temples we know of no distinctions；” read the grand master； “but those between virtue and vice。 Beware of making any difference that may transgress against equality。 Fly to the succour of a brother whoever he may be； exhort him that goeth astray； lift up him that falleth； and cherish not malice nor hatred against a brother。 Be thou friendly and courteous。 Kindle in all hearts the fire of virtue。 Share thy happiness with thy neighbour； and never will envy trouble that pure bliss。 Forgive thy enemy； revenge not thyself on him but by doing him good。 Fulfilling in this wise the highest law； thou wilt regain traces of the ancient grandeur thou hadst lost；” he concluded； and getting up he embraced Pierre and kissed him。
Pierre looked round with tears of joy in his eyes； not knowing how to answer the congratulations and greetings from acquaintances with which he was surrounded。 He did not recognise any acquaintances； in all these men he saw only brothers； and he burned with impatience to get to work with them。 The grand master tapped with his hammer； all sat down in their places； and one began reading a sermon on the necessity of meekness。
The grand master proposed that the last duty be performed； and the great dignitary whose duty it was to collect the alms began making the round of all the brothers。 Pierre would have liked to give to the list of alms all the money he had in the world； but he feared thereby to sin by pride； and only wrote down the same sum as the others。
The sitting was over； and it seemed to Pierre on returning home that he had come back from a long journey on which he had spent dozens of years； and had become utterly changed； and had renounced his old habits and manner of life。
Chapter 5
THE DAY after his initiation at the Lodge； Pierre was sitting at home reading a book； and trying to penetrate to the significance of the square； which symbolised by one of its sides； God； by another the moral； by the third the physical； by the fourth the nature of both mingled。 Now and then he broke off from the book and the symbolic square； and in his imagination shaped his new plan of life。 On the previous day he had been told at the lodge that the rumour of the duel had reached the Emperor’s ears； and that it would be more judicious for him to withdraw from Petersburg。 Pierre proposed going to his estates in the south； and there occupying himself with the care of his peasants。 He was joyfully dreaming of this new life when Prince Vassily suddenly walked into his room。
“My dear fellow； what have you been about in Moscow？ What have you been quarrelling over with Ellen； my dear boy？ You have been making a mistake；” said Prince Vassily； as he came into the room。 “I have heard all about it； I can tell you for a fact that Ellen is as innocent in her conduct towards you as Christ was to the Jews。”
Pierre would have answered； but he interrupted him。
“And why didn’t you come simply and frankly to me as to a friend？ I know all about it； I understand it all；” said he。 “You have behaved as was proper for a man who valued his honour； too hastily； perhaps； but we won’t go into that。 One thing you must think of； the position you are placing her and me in； in the eyes of society and even of the court；” he added； dropping his voice。 “She is in Moscow； while you are here。 Think of it； my dear boy。” He drew him down by the arm。 “It’s simply a misunderstanding； I expect you feel it so yourself。 Write a letter with me now at once； and she’ll come here； and everything will be explained； or else； I tell you plainly； my dear boy； you may very easily have to suffer for it。”
Prince Vassily looked significantly at Pierre。
“I have learned from excellent sources that the Dowager Empress is taking a keen interest in the whole affair。 You know she is very graciously disposed to Ellen。”
Several times Pierre had prepared himself to speak； but on one hand Prince Vassily would not let him； and on the other hand Pierre himself was loath to begin to speak in the tone of resolute refusal and denial； in which he was firmly resolved to answer his father…in…law。 Moreover the words of the masonic precept： “Be thou friendly and courteous；” recurred to his mind。 He blinked and blushed； got up and sank back again； trying to force himself to do what was for him the hardest thing in life—to say an unpleasant thing to a man’s face； to say what was not expected by that man； whoever he might be。 He was so much in the habit of submitting to that tone of careless authority in which Prince Vassily spoke； that even now he felt incapable of resisting it。 But he felt； too； that on what he said now all his future fate would depend； that it would decide whether he continued along the old way of his past life； or advanced along the new path that had been so attractively pointed out to him by the masons； and that he firmly believed would lead him to regeneration in a new life。
“Come； my dear boy；” said Prince Vassily playfully； “simply say ‘yes；’ and I’ll write on my own account to her； and we’ll kill the fatted calf。” But before Prince Vassily had finished uttering his playful words； Pierre not looking at him； but with a fury in his face that made him like his father； whispered； “Prince； I did not invite you here： go； pleas