【經(jīng)典名著閱讀】《傲慢與偏見》第四章
作者:Jane Austen
2011-05-17 06:00
They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank; and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune and their own had been acquired by trade.
她們都長得很漂亮,曾經(jīng)在一個(gè)上流的??茖W(xué)校里受過教育,有兩萬鎊的財(cái)產(chǎn),花起錢來總是揮霍無度,愛結(jié)交有身價(jià)地位的人,因此才造成了她們在各方面都自視甚高,不把別人放在眼里。她們出生于英格蘭北部的一個(gè)體面家族。她們對自己的出身記得很牢,可是卻幾乎忘了她們兄弟的財(cái)產(chǎn)以及她們自己的財(cái)產(chǎn)都是做生意賺來的。
Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly an hundred thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate, but did not live to do it. -- Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, and sometimes made choice of his county; but as he was now provided with a good house and the liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to purchase.
彬格萊先生從他的父親那兒只承繼了一筆將近十萬鎊的遺產(chǎn)。他父親生前本來打算購置些田產(chǎn),可惜沒有了卻心愿就與世長辭了。彬格萊先生同樣有這個(gè)打算,并且一度打算就在自己故鄉(xiāng)購置,不過目前他既然有了一幢很好的房子,而且有莊園聽他任意使用,于是那些了解他性格的人都說,象他這樣一個(gè)隨遇而安的人,下半輩子恐怕就在尼日斐花園度過,購置田產(chǎn)的事又要留給下一代去做了。
His sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own; but though he was now established only as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no means unwilling to preside at his table, nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years, when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation to look at Netherfield House. He did look at it and into it for half an hour, was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.
他的姐妹們倒反而替他著急,希望早些購置產(chǎn)業(yè);不過盡管他現(xiàn)在僅僅是以一個(gè)租戶的身分在這兒住了下來,彬格萊小姐還是非常愿意替他掌管家務(wù),再說那位嫁了個(gè)窮措大的赫斯脫太太,每逢上弟弟這兒來作客,依舊象是到了自己家里一樣。當(dāng)時(shí)彬格萊先生成年還不滿兩個(gè)年頭,只因?yàn)榕既宦牭饺思彝扑]尼日斐花園的房子,他便來到這兒看看。他里里外外看了半個(gè)鐘頭,地段和幾間主要的房間都很中他的意,加上房東又把那幢房子大大贊美了一番,那番話對他也是正中下懷,于是他就當(dāng)場租了下來。
Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character. -- Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence.
他和達(dá)西雖然性格大不相同,彼此之間友誼卻始終如一。達(dá)西所以喜歡彬格萊,是因?yàn)楸蚋袢R為人溫柔敦厚、坦白直爽,盡管個(gè)性方面和他自己極端相反,而他自己也從來不曾覺得自己的個(gè)性有什么不完美的地方。達(dá)西很器重彬格萊,因此彬格萊對他極其信賴,對他的見解也推崇備至。在智力方面講,達(dá)西比他強(qiáng)──這并不是說彬格萊笨,而是說達(dá)西聰明些。達(dá)西為人兼有傲慢、含蓄和愛挑剔的性子,他雖說受過良好的教養(yǎng),可是他的風(fēng)度總不受人歡迎。從這一方面講,他的朋友可比他高明了。彬格萊無論走到哪兒,一定都會(huì)討人喜歡,達(dá)西卻始終得罪人。
The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life; everybody had been most kind and attentive to him, there had been no formality, no stiffness; he had soon felt acquainted with all the room; and as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much.
從他倆談起麥里屯舞會(huì)的態(tài)度來看,就足見兩人性格的不同。彬格萊說,他生平從來沒有遇到過什么人比這兒的人更和藹,也沒有遇到過什么姑娘比這兒的姑娘更漂亮;在他看來,這兒每個(gè)人都極其和善,極其殷勤,不拘禮,不局促,他一下子就覺得和全場的人都相處得很熟;講起班納特小姐,他想象不出人間會(huì)有一個(gè)比她更美麗的天使。至于達(dá)西,他總覺得他所看到的這些人既不美,又談不上風(fēng)度,沒有一個(gè)人使他感興趣,也沒有一個(gè)人對他獻(xiàn)殷勤,博取他的歡心。他承認(rèn)班納特小姐是漂亮的,可惜她笑得太多。
Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so -- but still they admired her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one whom they should not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorised by such commendation to think of her as he chose.
赫斯脫太太姐妹同意他這種看法──可是她們?nèi)匀涣w慕她,喜歡她,說她是個(gè)甜姐兒,她們并不反對跟她這樣的一位小姐做個(gè)深交。班納特小姐就這樣成為一個(gè)甜姐兒了,她們的兄弟聽到了這番贊美,便覺得今后可以愛怎么樣想她就怎么樣想她了。