【經(jīng)典名著閱讀】《傲慢與偏見》第十五章
作者:Jane Austen
2011-05-28 10:00
In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them.
他一路廢話連篇,表妹們只得客客氣氣地隨聲附和,就這樣打發(fā)著時間,來到了麥里屯。幾位年紀小的表妹一到那里,就再也不去理會他了。她們的眼睛立刻對著街頭看來看去,看看有沒有軍官們走過,此外就只有商店櫥窗里的極漂亮的女帽,或者是最新式的花洋布,才能吸引她們。
But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered who he could be, and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under pretence of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say, had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty -- a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address.
不到一會兒工夫,這許多小姐都注意到一位年輕人身上去了。那人她們從來沒見過,一副道地的紳士氣派,正跟一個軍官在街道那邊散步。這位軍官就是丹尼先生,麗迪雅正要打聽他從倫敦回來了沒有。當她們打那兒走過的時候,他鞠了一個躬。大家看到那個陌生人風度翩翩,都楞了一下,只是不知道這人是誰。吉蒂和麗迪雅決定想法子去打聽,便借口要到對面鋪子里去買點東西,帶頭走到街那邊去了。也正是事有湊巧,她們剛剛走到人行道上,那兩個男人也正轉過身來,走到那地方。丹尼馬上招呼她們,并請求她們讓他把他的朋友韋翰先生介紹給她們。他說韋翰是前一天跟他一塊兒從城里回來的,而且說來很高興,韋翰已經(jīng)被任命為他們團里軍官。這真是再好也沒有了,因為韋翰這位青年,只要穿上一身軍裝,便會十全十美。他的容貌舉止確實討人喜歡。他沒有一處長得不漂亮,眉目清秀,身材魁梧,談吐又十分動人。
The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation -- a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat -- a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? -- It was impossible to imagine; it was impossible not to long to know. In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend.
一經(jīng)介紹之后,他就高高興興,懇懇切切地談起話來──既懇切,又顯得非常正派,而且又有分寸。他們正站在那兒談得很投機的時候,忽然聽到一陣得得的馬蹄聲,只見達西和彬格萊騎著馬從街上過來。這新來的兩位紳士看見人堆里有這幾位小姐,便連忙來到她們跟前,照常寒喧了一番,帶頭說話的是彬格萊,他大部分的話都是對班納特小姐說的。他說他正要趕到浪博恩去拜訪她。達西證明他沒有撒謊,同時鞠了個躬。達西正打算把眼睛從伊麗莎白身上移開,這時突然看到了那個陌生人。只見他們兩人面面相覷,大驚失色,伊麗莎白看到這個邂逅相遇的場合,覺得很是驚奇。兩個人都變了臉色,一個慘白,一個通紅,過了一會兒,韋翰先生按了按帽子,達西先生勉強回了一下禮。這是什么意思呢?既叫人無從想象,又叫人不能不想去打聽一下。又過了一會兒,彬格萊先生若無其事地跟她們告別了,騎著馬跟他朋友管自走了。
Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Philips's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they would come in, and even in spite of Mrs. Philips' throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the invitation.
丹呢先生和韋翰先生陪著幾位年輕的小姐,走到腓力普家門口,麗迪雅小姐硬要他們進去,甚至腓力普太太也打開了窗戶,大聲地幫著她邀請,他們卻鞠了個躬告辭而去。
Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nieces, and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received him with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much more, apologising for his intrusion without any previous acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself, however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice.
腓力普太太一向喜歡看到她的侄女們,那大的兩個新近不常見面,因此特別受歡迎。她懇切地說。她們姐妹倆突然回家來,真叫她非常驚奇,要不是碰巧在街上遇到鐘斯醫(yī)生的藥鋪子里那個跑街的小伙子告訴她,說是班納特家的兩位小姐都已回家了呢,這是因為她們家里沒有打發(fā)馬車去接她們的緣故,正當她們這樣閑談的時候,吉英向她介紹柯林斯先生,她不得不跟他寒喧幾句,她極其客氣地表示歡迎他,他也加倍客氣地應酬她而且向她道歉,說是素昧生平,不該這么冒冒失失闖到她府上來,又說他畢竟還是非常高興,因為介紹他的那幾位年輕小姐和他還有些親戚關系,因此他的冒昧前來也還勉強說得過去。
Mrs. Philips was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of one stranger was soon put an end to by exclamations and inquiries about the other, of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission in the ----shire. She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed the windows now except a few of the officers, who in comparison with the stranger, were become "stupid, disagreeable fellows." Some of them were to dine with the Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Philips protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless.
這種過分的禮貌使腓力普太太受寵若驚。不過,正當她仔細量著這一位生客的時候,她們姐妹倆卻又把另一位生客的事情,大驚小怪地提出來向她問長問短,她只得又來回答她們的話,可是她能夠說給侄女兒們聽的,也無非是她們早已知道了的一些情形。她說那位生客是丹尼先生剛從倫敦帶來的,他將要在某某郡擔任起一個中尉的職責,又說,他剛剛在街上走來走去的時候,她曾經(jīng)對他望了整整一個鐘頭之久。這時如果韋翰先生從這兒經(jīng)過,吉蒂和麗迪雅一定還要繼續(xù)張望他一番;可惜現(xiàn)在除了幾位軍官之外,根本沒有人從窗口走過,而這些軍官們同韋翰先生一比較,都變成一些“愚蠢討厭的家伙”了。有幾個軍官明天要上腓力普家里來吃飯。姨母說,倘若她們一家人明天晚上能從浪博恩趕來,那么她就要打發(fā)她的丈夫去拜訪韋翰先生一次,約他也來。大家都同意了;腓力普太太說,明天要給她們來一次熱鬧而有趣的抓彩票的玩藝兒,玩過之后再吃一頓晚飯。想到了明天這一場歡樂真叫人興奮,因此大家分別的時候都很快樂??铝炙瓜壬叱鲩T來,又再三道謝,主人也禮貌周全地請他不必過分客氣。
As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than her sister.
回家的時候,伊麗莎白一路上把剛剛親眼看見的那兩位先生之間的一幕情景說給吉英聽。假使他們兩人之間真有什么宿怨,吉英一定要為他們兩人中間的一人辯護,或是為兩人辯護,只可惜她跟她妹妹一樣,對于這兩個人的事情完全摸不著頭腦。
Mr. Collins, on his return, highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Philips's manners and politeness. He protested that except Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman; for she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but had even pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly unknown to her before. Something he supposed might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so much attention in the whole course of his life.
柯林斯先生回來之后,大大稱贊腓力普太太的殷勤好客,班納特太太聽得很滿意。柯林斯說,除了咖苔琳夫人母女之外,他生平從來沒見過更風雅的女人,因為他雖然和她素昧生平,她卻對他禮貌周全,甚至還指明要請他明天一同去吃晚飯。他想,這件事多少應該歸功于他和她們的親戚關系??墒沁@樣殷勤好客的事,他還是生平第一次碰到呢。