中英双语阅读 傲慢与偏见 七

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《傲慢与偏见》是英国女小说家简·奥斯汀创作的长篇小说。

小说描写了小乡绅班纳特五个待字闺中的千金，主角是二女儿伊丽莎白。她在舞会上认识了达西，但是耳闻他为人傲慢，一直对他心生排斥，经历一番周折，伊丽莎白解除了对达西的偏见，达西也放下傲慢，有情人终成眷属。

这部作品以日常生活为素材，一反当时社会上流行的感伤小说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。

“You are a very strange creature by way of a friend! — always wanting me to play and sing before any body and every body! — If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable, but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers.” On Miss Lucas’s persevering, however, she added, “Very well; if it must be so, it must.” And gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, “There is a fine old saying, which every body here is of course familiar with — “Keep your breath to cool your porridge,” — and I shall keep mine to swell my song.”

“你这种朋友真是世上少有！──不管当着什么人的面，总是要我弹琴唱歌！──要是我存心在音乐会上出风头，我真要对你感激不尽。可是宾客们都是听惯了第一流演奏家的，我实在不好意思在他们面前坐下来献憾丑。”话虽如此，怎奈卢卡斯小姐再三要求，她便说道：“好吧，既是非献丑不可，只得献献丑吧。”她又板着脸对达西瞥了一眼，说道：“有名老古话说得好，在场的人当然也晓得这句话：‘留口气吹凉稀饭’；我也就留口气唱歌吧。”

Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.

entreaty n. 乞求，恳求

她得表演虽然说不上奇妙绝伦，也还娓娓动听。唱了一两支歌以后，大家要求她再唱几支。她还没来得及回答，她的妹妹曼丽早就急切地接替她坐到钢琴跟前去了。原来在她们几个姐妹之间，就只有曼丽长得不好看，因此她发愤钻研学问，讲究才艺，老是急着要卖弄卖弄自己的本领。

Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who, with some of the Lucases and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the room.

application n. 刻苦，用功

pedantic adj. 卖弄学问的

concerto n. 协奏曲

曼丽既没有天才，格调也不高，虽说虚荣心促使她刻苦用功，但是同样也造成了她一脸的女才子气派和自高自大的态度。有了这种气派和态度，即使她的修养再好些也无补于事，何况她不过如此而已。再说伊丽莎白，虽说弹琴弹得并不如她，可是落落大方，没有矫揉造作的气习，因此大家听起来就高兴得多了。曼丽的几位妹妹，本在房间那头和卢家小姐们在一起，正在跟两三个军官跳舞跳得起劲，曼丽奏完了一支很长的协奏曲之后，她们便要求她再奏几支苏格兰和爱尔兰小调，她也高高兴兴地照办了，为的是要博得别人的夸奖和感激。

Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too much engrossed by his own thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was his neighbour, till Sir William thus began.

indignation n. 愤怒，愤慨

达西先生就站在她们附近。他看到她们就这样度过一个晚上，也不跟别人攀谈攀谈，心里很是生气。他心思很重，威廉·卢卡斯爵士站在他身边他也不知道，最后他才听到爵士这样跟他说：

“What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! — There is nothing like dancing after all. — I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies.”

“达西先生，跳舞对于年轻人是多么可爱的一种娱乐！说来说去，什么都比不上跳舞，我认为这是上流社会里最出色的才艺。”

“Certainly, Sir; — and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. — Every savage can dance.”

in vogue 变得流行

“当然罗，先生；──而且好就好在跳舞在低等社会里也很风行。哪个野蛮人不会跳舞。”

Sir William only smiled. “Your friend performs delightfully;” he continued after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; — “and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy.”

威廉先生笑了笑没作声。接下来他看见彬格莱也来参加跳舞，便对达西这么说：“你的朋友跳得很不错，我相信你对此道也是驾轻就熟吧，达西先生。

“You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, Sir.”

“你大概在麦里屯看见过我跳舞的吧，先生。”

“Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do you often dance at St. James’s?”

“见过，不错，而且看得非常高兴。你常到宫里去跳舞吗？”

“Never, sir.”

“从来没去过，先生。”

“Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?”

“你连在宫里都不肯赏脸吗？”

“It is a compliment which I never pay to any place, if I can avoid it.”

“无论在什么地方，我也不愿意赏这种脸，能避免总是避免。”

“You have a house in town, I conclude?”

“你在城里一定有住宅吧？”

Mr. Darcy bowed.

达西先生耸了耸身子。

“I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself — for I am fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas.”

“我一度想在城里住家，因为我喜欢上流社会；不过我可不敢说伦敦的空气是否适合于卢卡斯太太。”

He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not disposed to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her,

他停了一会儿，指望对方回答；可是对方根本就懒得回答。不久伊丽莎白朝他们跟前走来，他灵机一动，想乘此献一下殷勤，便对她叫道：

“My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? — Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. — You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you.” And taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William,

discomposure n. 心乱，不安

“亲爱的伊丽莎小姐，你干吗不跳舞呀？──达西先生，让我把这位年轻的小姐介绍给你，这是位最理想的舞伴。有了这样一个美人儿做你的舞伴，我想你总不会不跳了吧。”他拉住了伊丽莎白的手，预备往达西面前送，达西虽然极为惊奇，可亦不是不愿意接住那只玉手，却不料伊丽莎白立刻把手缩了回去，好象还有些神色仓皇地对威廉爵士说：

“Indeed, Sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. — I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.”

“先生，我的确一点儿也不想跳舞。你可千万别以为我是跑到这边来找舞伴的。”

Mr. Darcy with grave propriety requested to be allowed the honour of her hand; but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.

propriety n. 礼貌

达西先生非常有礼貌地要求她赏光，跟他跳一场，可是他白白要求了。伊丽莎白下定了决心就不动摇，任凭威廉爵士怎么劝说也没有用。

“You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour.”

oblige v. 帮忙，施惠

“伊丽莎小姐，你跳舞跳得那么高明，可是却不肯让我享享眼福，看你跳一场，这未免太说不过去了吧。再说，这位先生虽说平常并不喜欢这种娱乐，可是要他赏我们半个钟头的脸，我相信他也不会不肯的。”

“Mr. Darcy is all politeness,” said Elizabeth, smiling.

伊丽莎笑着说：“达西先生未免太客气了。”

“He is indeed — but considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?”

inducement n. 劝诱

complaisance n. 讨好，殷勤

“他真的太客气了──可是，亲爱的伊丽莎小姐，看他这样求你，你总还会怪他多礼吧。谁不想要象你这样的一个舞伴？”

Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley.

complacency n. 自满，沾沾自喜

伊丽莎白笑盈盈地瞟了一眼就转身走开了。她的拒绝并没有使达西觉得难过。达西正在相当高兴地想念着她，恰巧彬格莱小姐走过来招呼他：

“I can guess the subject of your reverie.”

“我猜中你现在在幻想些什么。”

“I should imagine not.”

“谅你也猜不中。”

“You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner — in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity and yet the noise; the nothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people! — What would I give to hear your strictures on them!”

structure n. 指责，批评

“你心里正在想，许多个晚上都是跟这些人在一起无聊度过的，这实在叫人受不了，我跟你颇有同感。我从来不曾这样烦闷过！既枯燥乏味，又吵闹不堪，无聊到了极点。这批人又一个个都自以为了不起！我就想听听你指责他们几句。”

“Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”

meditate v. 打算，沉思

“老实对你说吧，你完全猜错了。我心里想的东西要妙得多呢。我正在玩味着：一个漂亮女人的美丽的眼睛竟会给人这么大的快乐。”

Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity,

intrepidity n. 大胆

彬格莱小姐立刻把眼睛盯在他的脸上，要他告诉她，究竟是哪位小姐有这种妙处使他这样想入非非。达西先生鼓起极大的勇气回答道：

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

伊丽莎白·班纳特小姐。”

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet!” repeated Miss Bingley. “I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite? — and pray when am I to wish you joy?”

“伊丽莎白·班纳特小姐！”彬格莱小姐重复了一遍。“我真感到惊奇。你看中她多久啦？──请你告诉我，我几时可以向你道喜啊？”

“That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy.”

“我料到你会问出这样的话来的。女人的想象力真敏捷；从敬慕一跳就跳到爱情，一眨眼的工夫又从爱情跳到结婚。我知道你要预备来向我道喜了。”

“Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed, and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you.”

“唔，要是你这么一本正经，我就认为这件事百分之百地决定啦。你一定会得到一位有趣的岳母大人，而且当然罗，她会永远在彭伯里跟你待在一起。”

He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to entertain herself in this manner, and as his composure convinced her that all was safe, her wit flowed long.

她说得那么得意，他却完全似听非听，她看到他那般镇定自若，便放了心，于是那张利嘴越发滔滔不绝了。