名著精讀《傲慢與偏見》第四章 第3節

His sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own; but though he was now established only as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no means unwilling to preside at his table, nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years, when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation to look at Netherfield House. He did look at it and into it for half an hour, was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.

他的姐妹們倒反而替他着急，希望早些購置產業；不過儘管他現在僅僅是以一個租戶的身分在這兒住了下來，彬格萊小姐還是非常願意替他掌管家務，至於赫斯脫太太--她嫁了個雖身屬名流卻不名幾文的男人--只要房子讓她滿意，她也不是不情願把弟弟的住宅當成自己的家。當時彬格萊先生成年還不滿兩個年頭，只因爲偶然聽到人家推薦尼日斐花園的房子，他便來到這兒看看。他裏裏外外看了半個鐘頭，地段和幾間主要的房間都很中他的意，加上房東又把那幢房子大大讚美了一番，那番話對他也是正中下懷，於是他就當場租了下來。

Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character. -- Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence.

他和達西雖然性格大不相同，彼此之間友誼卻始終如一。達西所以喜歡彬格萊，是因爲彬格萊爲人溫柔敦厚、坦白直爽，儘管個性方面和他自己極端相反，而他自己也從來不曾覺得自己的個性有什麼不完美的地方。達西很器重彬格萊，因此彬格萊對他極其信賴，對他的見解也推崇備至。在智力方面講，達西比他強──這並不是說彬格萊笨，而是說達西聰明些。達西爲人兼有傲慢、含蓄和愛挑剔的性子，他雖說受過良好的教養，可是他的風度總不受人歡迎。從這一方面講，他的朋友可比他高明瞭。彬格萊無論走到哪兒，一定都會討人喜歡，達西卻始終得罪人。

The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life; every body had been most kind and attentive to him, there had been no formality, no stiffness; he had soon felt acquainted with all the room; and as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much.

從他倆談起麥裏屯舞會的態度來看，就足見兩人性格的不同。彬格萊說，他生平從來沒有遇到過什麼人比這兒的人更和藹，也沒有遇到過什麼姑娘比這兒的姑娘更漂亮；在他看來，這兒每個人都極其和善，極其殷勤，不拘禮，不侷促，他一下子就覺得和全場的人都相處得很熟；講起班納特小姐，他想象不出人間會有一個比她更美麗的天使。至於達西，他總覺得他所看到的這些人既不美，又談不上風度，沒有一個人使他感興趣，也沒有一個人對他獻殷勤，博取他的歡心。他承認班納特小姐是漂亮的，可惜她笑得太多。

Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so -- but still they admired her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one whom they should not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorised by such commendation to think of her as he chose.

赫斯脫太太姐妹同意他這種看法──可是她們仍然羨慕她，喜歡她，說她是個甜姐兒，她們並不反對跟她這樣的一位小姐做個深交。班納特小姐就這樣成爲一個甜姐兒了，她們的兄弟聽到了這番讚美，便覺得今後可以愛怎麼樣想她就怎麼樣想她了。

nt n. 房客, 佃戶 vt. 居住

Are you an owner-occupier or a tenant?
你住自己的房子還是租房住？

ide [pri'zaid] v. 任主席, 統轄, 當主人

The hostess presided at table with tact and urbanity.
女主人招待客人進餐時風雅而又得體。

dental adj. 意外的, 偶然的, 附屬的

Our meeting was quite accidental.
我們的相遇是很偶然的。

ility n. 可延展性(延伸度, 可鍛性, 韌性)

This property is known as ductility.
這個性能叫做延展性。

ance n. 信賴, 所信賴的人或物

I have reliance in the testimony of the witness.
我相信證人的證詞。

hty adj. 傲慢的

The nobles treated the common people with haughty contempt.
王公貴族以不屑一顧的傲慢態度對待平民百姓。

idious adj. 難取悅的, 挑剔的, 苛求的

She is so fastidious about her food that I never invite her for dinner.
她對食物過於挑剔, 因此我從不請她吃飯。

fness ['stifnis] n. 僵硬, 硬度

As I got about, the stiffness in my left leg gradually worked off.
我走動走動, 左腿漸漸地不再僵直了。

Bingley was by no means unwilling to preside at his table, nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her.

【難句解析】by no means意思是“決不”；preside at one's table意思是“爲某人主持家務”；

【句子翻譯】彬格萊小姐還是非常願意替他掌管家務，至於赫斯脫太太--她嫁了個雖身屬名流卻不名幾文的男人--只要房子讓她滿意，她也不是不情願把弟弟的住宅當成自己的家。

was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence.

【難句解析】well bred意思是“教養良好”；inviting意思是“吸引人的”；give offence意思是“冒犯人”；

【句子翻譯】達西爲人兼有傲慢、含蓄和愛挑剔的性子，他雖說受過良好的教養，可是他的風度總不受人歡迎。從這一方面講，他的朋友可比他高明瞭。彬格萊無論走到哪兒，一定都會討人喜歡，達西卻始終得罪人。