名著精讀《傲慢與偏見》第13章 第3節

"At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peacemaking gentleman," said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. "He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word; and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again."

“那麼，四點鐘的時候，這位息事寧人的先生就要來啦，”班納特先生一邊把信摺好，一邊說。“他倒是個很有良心、很有禮貌的青年，一定是的；我相信他一定會成爲一個值得器重的朋友，只要咖苔琳夫人能夠開開恩，讓他以後再上我們這兒來，那更好啦。”

"There is some sense in what he says about the girls however; and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him."

“他講到我們女兒們的那幾句話，倒還說得不錯；要是他果真打算設法補償，我倒不反對。”

"Though it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit."

吉英說：“他說要給我們補償，我們雖然猜不出他究竟是什麼意思，可是他這一片好意也的確難得。”

Elizabeth was chiefly struck with his extraordinary deference for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his parishioners whenever it were required.

伊麗莎白聽到他對咖苔琳夫人尊敬得那麼出奇，而且他竟那麼好心好意，隨時替他自己教區裏的居民行洗禮，主持婚禮和喪禮，不覺大爲吃驚。

"He must be an oddity, I think," said she. "I cannot make him out. -- There is something very pompous in his stile. -- And what can he mean by apologizing for being next in the entail? -- We cannot suppose he would help it, if he could. -- Can he be a sensible man, sir?"

“我看他一定是個古怪人，”她說。“我真弄不懂他。他的文筆似乎有些浮誇。他所謂因爲繼承了我們的產權而感到萬分抱歉，這話是什麼意思呢？即使這件事可以取消，我們也不要以爲他就肯取消，他是個頭腦清楚的人嗎，爸爸？”

"No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him."

“不，寶貝，我想他不會是的。我完全認爲他是恰恰相反。從他信裏那種既謙卑又自大的口氣上就可以看得出來。我倒真想見見他。”

"In point of composition," said Mary, "his letter does not seem defective. The idea of the olive branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed."

曼麗說：“就文章而論，他的信倒好象寫得沒有什麼毛病。橄欖枝這種說法雖然並不新穎，可是我覺得用得倒很恰當。”

To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished her husband and daughters.

在咖苔琳和麗迪雅看來，無論是那封信也好，寫信的人也好，都沒有一點兒意思。反正她們覺得她們的表兄絕不會穿着“紅制服”來，而這幾個星期以來，穿其他任何顏色的衣服的人，她們都不樂意結交。至於她們的母親，原來的一般怨氣已經被柯林斯先生一封信打消了不少，她倒準備相當平心靜氣地會見他，這使得她的丈夫和女兒們都覺得非常奇怪。

emaking n. 調解，調停

cientious adj. 勤勉認真的；一絲不苟的

We should be conscientious to our work.
我們應該對工作負責。

lgent adj. 縱容的，任性的，寬縱的

They are indulgent parents.
他們對子女很縱容。

ement n. 贖罪，彌補

Christ's atonement is for the sins of mankind.
耶穌的贖罪是爲了人類。

rence n. 順從，敬重

I changed my plan in deference to your opinion.
我聽從你的意見，改變了計劃。

stening n. 洗禮儀式 動詞christen的現在分詞形式

The ceremony was something like a christening.
那個典禮有點像洗禮儀式。

shioner n. 教區居民

A business meeting of parishioners in a parish.
教區會議在教區裏的教徒們的商業性聚會

ous adj. 傲慢的，自大的，浮華的

He is a pompous official.
他是個自命不凡的官員。

ility n. 奴性，卑躬屈膝

-importance n. 自尊，自負，自大

osure n. 鎮靜，沉著

Keep calm; don't lose your composure.
保持鎮靜，不要驚慌失措。

gh it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit."

【難句解析】make sb. atonement “爲某人作出補償”；to one's credit “值得讚揚”；

【句子翻譯】吉英說：“他說要給我們補償，我們雖然猜不出他究竟是什麼意思，可是他這一片好意也的確難得。”

it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour.

【難句解析】society在這裏的意思不是“社會”，而是“結交、交往”；

【句子翻譯】而這幾個星期以來，穿其他任何顏色的衣服的人，她們都不樂意結交。