经典名著：《傲慢与偏见（连载四）》

 导读

 

《傲慢与偏见》（Pride and Prejudice）是英国女小说家简·奥斯汀的创作的长篇小说。这部作品以日常生活为素材，以反当时社会上流行的感伤小说的内容和矫揉造作的写作方法，生动地反映了18世纪末到19世纪初处于保守和闭塞状态下的英国乡镇生活和世态人情。并多次被改编成电影和电视剧。

 

 

"It will be no use to us if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them."

“你既然不愿意去拜访他们，即使有二十个搬了来，对我们又有什么好处！”

 

"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty I will visit them all."

“放心吧，我的好太太，等到有了二十个，我一定去一个个拜望到。”

 

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character.

班纳特先生真是个古怪人，他一方面喜欢插科打浑，爱挖苦人，同时又不拘言笑，变幻莫测，真使他那位太太积二十三年之经验，还摸不透他的性格。

 

Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous.

太太的脑子是很容易加以分析的。她是个智力贫乏、不学无术、喜怒无常的女人，只要碰到不称心的事，她就以为神经衰弱。

 

 

The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

她生平的大事就是嫁女儿；她生平的安慰就是访友拜客和打听新闻。

 

MR. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid, she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with,

班纳特先生尽管在自己太太面前自始至终都说是不想去拜访彬格莱先生，事实上一直都打算去拜访他，而且还是跟第一批人一起去拜访他的。等到他去拜访过以后，当天晚上太太才知道实情。这消息透露出来的经过是这样的 —— 他看到第二个女儿在装饰帽子，就突然对她说：

 

"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy."

“我希望彬格莱先生会喜欢你这顶帽子，丽萃。”

 

We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes," said her mother resentfully, "since weare not to visit."

她母亲气愤愤地说：“我们既然不预备去看彬格莱先生，当然就无从知道他喜欢什么。”

 

"But you forget mama," said Elizabeth,

"that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him."

“可是你忘啦，妈妈，”伊丽莎白说，“我们将来可以在跳舞会上碰到他的，郎格太太不是答应过把他介绍给我们吗？”

 

 

"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is aselfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her."

“我不相信郎格太太肯这么做。她自己有两个亲侄女。她是个自私自利、假仁假义的女人，我瞧不起她。”

 

"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet;

"and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you."

“我也瞧不起她，”班纳特先生说；“你倒不指望她来替你效劳，这叫我听到高兴。”

 

Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but unable to contain herself, began scolding oneof her daughters.

班纳特太太没有理睬他，可是忍不住气，便骂起女儿来。

 

Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."

“别那么咳个不停，吉蒂，看老天爷份上吧！稍许体谅一下我的神经吧。你简直叫我的神经要胀裂啦。”

 

"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father; "she times them ill."

“吉蒂真不知趣，”她的父亲说；“咳嗽也不知道拣个时候。”

 

"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully.

“我又不是故意咳着玩儿。”吉蒂气恼地回答道。

 

 

 

"When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?"

“你们的跳舞会定在那一天开，丽萃？”

 

"To-morrow fortnight."

“从明天算起，还得再过两个星期。”

 

"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself."

“唔，原来如此，”她的母亲嚷道，“郎格太太可要挨到开跳舞会的前一天才能赶回来；那么，她可来不及把他介绍给你们啦，她自己也还不认识他呢。”

 

"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her."

“那么，好太太，你正可以占你朋友的上风，反过来替她介绍这位贵人啦。”

 

"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teazing?"

“办不到，我的好老爷，办不到，我自己还不认识他呢；你怎么可以这样嘲笑人？”