名著精讀《傲慢與偏見》第13章 第4節

Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet, indeed, said little; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, heavy looking young man of five and twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers, but Mrs. Bennet who quarrelled with no compliments, answered most readily,

柯林斯先生準時來了，全家都非常客氣地接待他，班納特先生簡直沒有說什麼話；可是太太和幾位小姐都十分願意暢談一下，而柯林斯先生本人好象既不需要人家鼓勵他多說話，也不打算不說話。他是個二十五歲的青年，高高的個兒，望上去很肥胖，他的氣派端莊而堂皇，又很拘泥禮節。他剛一坐下來就恭維班納特太太福氣好，養了這麼多好女兒，他說，早就聽到人們對她們美貌讚揚備至，今天一見面，才知道她們的美貌遠遠超過了她們的名聲；他又說，他相信小姐們到時候都會結下美滿良緣。他這些奉承話，人家真不大愛聽，只有班納特太太，沒有哪句恭維話聽不下去，於是極其乾脆地回答道：

"You are very kind, sir, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may prove so; for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly."

“我相信你是個好心腸的人，先生；我一心希望能如你的金口，否則她們就不堪設想了。事情實在擺佈得太古怪啦。”

"You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate."

“你大概是說產業的繼承權問題吧。”

"Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such things, I know, are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed."

“唉，先生，我的確是說到這方面。你得承認，這對於我可憐的女兒們真是件不幸的事。我並不想怪你，因爲我也知道，世界上這一類的事完全靠命運。一個人的產業一旦要限定繼承人，那你就無從知道它會落到誰的手裏去。”

"I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, -- and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more, but perhaps when we are better acquainted --"

“太太，我深深知道，這件事苦了表妹們，我在這個問題上有很多意見，一時卻不敢莽撞冒失。可是我可以向年輕的小姐們保證，我上這兒來，就是爲了要向她們表示我的敬慕。目前我也不打算多說，或許等到將來我們相處得更熟一些的時候──”

He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the girls smiled on each other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture were examined and praised; and his commendation of every thing would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property. The dinner too, in its turn, was highly admired; and he begged to know to which of his fair cousins, the excellence of its cookery was owing. But here he was set right by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended; but he continued to apologise for about a quarter of an hour.

主人家請他吃午飯了，於是他的話不得不被打斷。小姐們彼此相視而笑。柯林斯先生所愛慕的纔不光光是她們呢。他把客廳、飯廳、以及屋子裏所有的傢俱，都仔細看了一遍，讚美了一番。班納特太太本當聽到他讚美一句，心裏就得意一陣，怎奈她也想到，他原來是把這些東西都看作他自己未來的財產，因此她又非常難受。連一頓午飯也蒙他稱賞不置，他請求主人告訴他，究竟是哪位表妹燒得這一手好菜。班納特太太聽到他這句話，不禁把他指責了一番。她相當不客氣地跟他說，她們家裏現在還僱得起一個象樣的廚子，根本用不到女兒們過問廚房裏的事。他請求她原諒，不要見怪。於是她用柔和的聲調說，她根本沒有怪他，可是他卻接接連連地道歉了一刻鐘之久。

tual adj. 嚴守時刻的，準時的，正點的

He's very punctual always arrives on the dot.
他很守時--總是按時到。

ely['steitli] adj. 莊嚴的，堂皇的，高貴的 adv. 莊嚴地; 堂皇地

She is stately in personage.
她儀容端莊。

antry n. 勇敢，英勇，殷勤

He got a medal for his gallantry.
他因勇敢而贏得一枚勳章。

ily['redili] adv. 不遲疑地，迅速地，輕易地

She made the proposal, and I readily consented (to it).
她提出了這個建議，我欣然同意。

itute['destitju:t] adj. 困窮的，赤貧的

He was destitute of human feelings.
他毫無人的感情。

il[in'teil] vt. 使必需，使蒙受;限定繼承 n. 限定繼承權

The house and estate are entailed on the eldest daughter.
這所房子和地產限定由長女繼承。

ipitate[pri'sipiteit,pri'sipitit] vt. 使 ... 陷入，促成，使 ... 沉澱，猛摔 n. 沉澱物，冷凝物 adj. 倉促的，迅猛的，感情用事的

They acted with precipitate haste.
他們魯莽倉促地採取了行動。

ify v. 使 ... 受辱，抑制

He felt mortified for his mistake.
他對他的錯深感羞愧。

ery n. 烹調法，烹調術

This cookery book has been written by a real epicure.
這本食譜是由一位真正的美食家寫的。

rity[æs'periti] n. 嚴酷，嚴厲，粗暴

. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet, indeed, said little; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself.

【難句解析】be punctual to“在...事上準時”；be received with...“以...禮相待”；inclined to“傾向於...”；

【句子翻譯】柯林斯先生準時來了，全家都非常客氣地接待他，班納特先生簡直沒有說什麼話；可是太太和幾位小姐都十分願意暢談一下，而柯林斯先生本人好象既不需要人家鼓勵他多說話，也不打算不說話。

had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth;

【難句解析】not re...意思是“一...就...”；fall short of“沒有達到...”；

【句子翻譯】他剛一坐下來就恭維班納特太太福氣好，養了這麼多好女兒，他說，早就聽到人們對她們美貌讚揚備至，今天一見面，才知道她們的美貌遠遠超過了她們的名聲；

that I mean to find fault with you, for such things, I know, are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed.

【難句解析】find fault with“找...的毛病，怪責...”；

【句子翻譯】我並不想怪你，因爲我也知道，世界上這一類的事完全靠命運。一個人的產業一旦要限定繼承人，那你就無從知道它會落到誰的手裏去。

he begged to know to which of his fair cousins, the excellence of its cookery was owing.

【難句解析】owe to...“歸功於...”;

【句子翻譯】他請求主人告訴他，究竟是哪位表妹燒得這一手好菜。