名著精讀《傲慢與偏見》第八章 第7節

"Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, "is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own, and with many men, I dare say, it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art."

門關上之後，彬格萊小姐說，“有些女人們爲了自擡身價，往往在男人們面前編派女人，伊麗莎白·班納特就是這樣一個女人，這種手段在某些男人身上也許會發生效果，但是我認爲這是一種下賤的詭計，一種卑鄙的手腕。”

"Undoubtedly," replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, "there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable."

達西聽出她這幾句話是有意說給他自己聽的，便連忙答道：“毫無疑問，姑娘們爲了勾引男子，有時竟不擇手段，使用巧計，這真是卑鄙。只要你的做法帶有幾分狡詐，都應該受到鄙棄。”

Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to continue the subject.

彬格萊小姐不太滿意他這個回答，因此也就沒有再談下去。

Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse, and that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mr. Jones's being sent for immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could be of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most eminent physicians. This she would not hear of, but she was not so unwilling to comply with their brother's proposal; and it was settled that Mr. Jones should be sent for early in the morning if Miss Bennet were not decidedly better. Bingley was quite uncomfortable; his sisters declared that they were miserable. They solaced their wretchedness, however, by duets after supper, while he could find no better relief to his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every possible attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister.

伊麗莎白又到他們這兒來了一次，只是爲了告訴他們一聲，她姐姐的病更加嚴重了，她不能離開。彬格萊再三主張立刻請鍾斯大夫來，他的姐妹們卻都以爲鄉下郎中無濟於是，主張趕快到城裏去請一位最有名的大夫來，伊麗莎白不贊成，不過她也不便太辜負她們兄弟的一番盛意，於是大家協商出了一個辦法；如果班納特小姐明兒一大早依舊毫無起色，就馬上去請鍾斯大夫來。彬格萊先生心裏非常不安，他的姐姐和妹妹也說是十分擔憂。吃過晚飯以後，她們倆總算合奏了幾支歌來消除了一些煩悶，而彬格萊先生因爲想不出好辦法來解除焦慮，便只有關照他那管家婆盡心盡意地照料病人和病人的妹妹。

rvalue vt. 低估價值, 看輕

Don't undervalue Jim's contribution to the research.
不要低估了吉姆在研究工作中的貢獻.

escend vi. 屈尊，俯就，懷着優越感對待

Mr. Smith sometimes condescends to help his wife with the housework.
史密斯先生有時屈尊幫他的妻子做家務。

ivation n. 吸引力, 魅力

nity n. 姻親,密切關係,吸引力

She feels a strong affinity to him.
她感到他對她有很強的吸引力。

icable adj. 可鄙的, 卑劣的

He is a stupid or despicable person.
他是一個愚蠢或卑劣的人。

ent adj. 著名的, 卓越的

He is eminent among scientists.
他在科學家中是聞名的。

ce n. 安慰 v. 使快樂

She was distracted with grief and refused to be solaced.
她悲痛得精神恍惚, 怎麼安慰也沒用.

chedness n. 可憐, 悲慘

Her wretchedness made him feel miserable.
她的不幸讓他感到十分難受。

ley urged Mr. Jones's being sent for immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could be of any service...

【難句解析】be of any service意思是“有用”；

【句子翻譯】彬格萊再三主張立刻請鍾斯大夫來，他的姐妹們卻都以爲鄉下郎中無濟於是...