名著精讀《傲慢與偏見》第六章 第4節

On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such a subject to him, which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said,

不到一會兒工夫，達西又走到她身邊來了，他表面上雖然並不想跟她們攀談，盧卡斯小姐卻不時慫恿伊麗莎白向他把這個問題正面提出來。伊麗莎白給她這樣一激，便立刻轉過臉來跟他說：

"Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teazing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?"

“達西先生，我剛剛跟弗斯脫上校講笑話，要他給我們在麥裏屯開一次跳舞會，你看我的話是不是說得非常得體？”

"With great energy; -- but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic."

“的確說得起勁極了，不過這件事本來就是叫小姐們非常起勁的。”

"You are severe on us."

“你這樣說我們，未免太尖刻了些吧。”

"It will be her turn soon to be teazed," said Miss Lucas. "I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows."

“你這一下反而被別人嘲笑了，”盧卡斯小姐說。“我去打開琴，伊麗莎，下文如何，你自個兒明白。”

"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."

“你這種朋友真是世上少有！──不管當着什麼人的面，總是要我彈琴唱歌！──要是我存心在音樂會上出風頭，我真要對你感激不盡。可是賓客們都是聽慣了第一流演奏家的，我實在不好意思在他們面前坐下來獻憾醜。”話雖如此，怎奈盧卡斯小姐再三要求，她便說道：“好吧，既是非獻醜不可，只得獻獻醜吧。”她又板着臉對達西瞥了一眼，說道：“有名老古話說得好，在場的人當然也曉得這句話：‘留口氣吹涼稀飯’；我也就留口氣唱歌吧。”

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.

她得表演雖然說不上奇妙絕倫，也還娓娓動聽。唱了一兩支歌以後，大家要求她再唱幾支。她還沒來得及回答，她的妹妹曼麗早就急切地接替她坐到鋼琴跟前去了。原來在她們幾個姐妹之間，就只有曼麗長得不好看，因此她發憤鑽研學問，講究才藝，老是急着要賣弄賣弄自己的本領。

oke vt. 激怒, 惹起, 驅使

He tried to provoke them into fighting.
他企圖挑撥他們打架。

getic adj. 精力旺盛的, 有力的, 能量的

He seems an energetic person.
他似乎是一個精力充沛的人。

evering adj. 堅忍不拔的

He is a persevering student.
他是個有恆心的學生。

idge n. 粥, 麥片粥

Porridge is good for digestion.
粥有益於消化。

eaty [in'tri:ti] n. 懇求, 哀求

He felt very uncomfortable and looked entreaty at us.
他感到很不自在, 用懇求的目光望着我們。

Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added...

【難句解析】這裏的on這裏表示原因，意思是“由於”；

【句子翻譯】怎奈盧卡斯小姐再三要求，她便說道...

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.

【難句解析】in consequence of意思是“由於”；accomplishment的意思是“才藝”；

【句子翻譯】她的妹妹曼麗早就急切地接替她坐到鋼琴跟前去了。原來在她們幾個姐妹之間，就只有曼麗長得不好看，因此她發憤鑽研學問，講究才藝，老是急着要賣弄賣弄自己的本領。