impassable between them. Had Lydia's marriage been concluded on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed that Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family where, to every other objection would now be added an alliance and relationship of the nearest kind with the man whom he so justly scorned.
她并不是担心达西会把这事情向外界传开。讲
到保守秘密,简直就没有第二个人比他更能使
她信任;不过,这一次如果是别的人知道了她
妹妹的丑行,她决不会象现在这样难受。这倒
不是生怕对她本身有任何不利,因为她和达西
之间反正隔着一条跨不过的鸿沟。即使丽迪雅
能够体体面面地结了婚,达西先生也决不会跟
这样一家人家攀亲,因为这家人家本来已经缺
陷够多,如今又添上了一个一向为他所不齿的
人做他的至亲,那当然一切都不必谈了。
From such a connection she could not wonder that he should shrink. The wish of procuring her regard, which she had assured herself of his feeling in Derbyshire, could not in rational expectationsurvive such a blow as this. She was humbled, she was grieved; she repented, though she hardly knew of what. She became jealous of his esteem, when she could no longer hope to be benefited by it. She wanted to hear of him, when there seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence. She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet.
她当然不怪他对这门亲事望而却步。她不德比
郡的时候就看出他想要博得她的欢心,可是他
遭受了这一次打击以后,当然不会不改变初衷
。她觉得丢脸,她觉得伤心;她后悔了,可是
她又几乎不知道在后悔些什么。如今她已经不
想攀附他的身份地位,却又忌恨他的身份地位
;如今她已经没有机会再听到他的消息,她可
又偏偏希望能够听到他的消息;如今他们俩已
经再不可能见面,她可又认为,如果他们俩能
够朝夕聚首,那会多么幸福。
What a triumph for him, as she often thought, could he know that the proposals which she had proudly spurned only four months ago, would now have been gladly and gratefully received! He was as generous, she doubted not, as the most generous of his sex. But while he was mortal, there must be a triumph.
她常常想,才不过四个月以前,她那么高傲地
拒绝了他的求婚,如今可又心悦诚服地盼望他
再来求婚,这要是让他知道了,他坐感到怎样
的得意!她完全相信他是个极其宽宏大量的男
人。不过,他既然是人,当然免不了要得意。
She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved, and from his judgment, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance. But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what connubial felicity really was. An union of a different tendency, and precluding the possibility of the other, was soon to be formed in their family.
她开始理解到,他无论在个性方面和才能方面
,都百分之百是一个最适合她的男人。纵使他
的见解,他的脾气,和她自己不是一模一样,
可是一定能够叫她称心如意。这个结合对双方
都有好处:女方从容活泼,可以把男方陶治提
心境柔和,作风优雅;男方精明通达,阅历颇
深,也一定会使女方得到莫大的裨益。可惜这
件幸福的婚姻已经不可能实现,天下千千万万
想要缔结真正幸福婚姻的情人,从此也错过了
一个借鉴的榜样。她家里立刻就要缔结一门另
一种意味的亲事,也就是那门亲事破坏了这门
亲事。
How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence, she could not imagine. But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue, she could easily conjecture.
她无从想象韦翰和丽迪雅究竟怎么样独立维持
生活。可是她倒很容易想象到另一方面:这种
只顾情欲不顾道德的结合,实在很难得到久远
的幸福。
Mr. Gardiner soon wrote again to his brother. To Mr. Bennet's acknowledgments he briefly replied, with assurances of his eagerness to promote the welfare of any of his family, and concluded with entreaties that the subject might never be a mentioned to him again. The principalpurport of his letter was to inform them that Mr. Wickham had resolved on quitting the Militia.
嘉丁纳先生马上又写了封信给他姐夫。他先对
班纳特先生信上那些感激的话简捷地应酬了几
句,再说到他极其盼望班纳特府上的男女老幼
都能地得舒舒服服,未了还要求班纳特先生再
也不要提起这件事。他写这封信的主要目的是
,要把韦翰先生已经决定脱离民兵团的消息告
诉他们。
"It was greatly my wish that he should do so," he added, "as soon as his marriage was fixed on. And I think you will agree with me in considering a removal from that corps as highly advisable, both on his account and my niece's. It is Mr. Wickham's intention to go into the regulars; and, among his former friends, there are still some who are able and willing to assist him in the army. He has the promise of an ensigncy in General ----'s regiment, now quartered in the North. It is an advantage to have it so far from this part of the kingdom. He promises fairly; and, I hope, among different people, where they may each have a character to preserve, they will both be more prudent. I have written to Colonel Forster, to inform him of our present arrangements, and to request that he will satisfy the various creditors of Mr. Wickham in and near Brighton with assurances of speedy payment, for which I have pledged myself. And will you give yourself the trouble of carrying similar assurances to his creditors in Meryton, of whom I shall subjoin a list, according to his information. He has given in all his debts; I hope at least he has not deceived us. Haggerston has our directions, and all will be completed in a week. They will then join his regiment, unless they are first invited to Longbourn; and I understand from Mrs. Gardiner that my niece is very desirous of seeing you all, before she leaves the South. She is well, and begs to be dutifully remembered to you and her mother. -- Your's, &c.
他这封信接下去是这样写的:“我非常希望他
婚事一定夺之后就这样办。我认为无论为他自
己着想,为外甥女儿着想离开民兵团确是一个
非常高明的措施,我想你一定会同意我的看法
。韦翰先生想参加正规军,他从前的几个朋友
都愿意协助他,也能够协助他。驻扎在北方的
某将军麾下的一个团,已经答应让他当旗手。
他离开这一带远些,只会有利于他自己。他前
途颇有希望,但愿他们到了人地生疏的地方能
够争点面子,行为稍加检点一些。我已经写了
信给弗斯脱上校,把我们目前的安排告诉了他
,又请他在白利屯一带通知一下韦翰先生所有
债主,就说我一定信守诺言,马上就偿还他们
的债务。是否也可以麻烦你就近向麦里屯的债
主们通知一声?随信附上债主名单一份,这都
是他自己说出来的。他把全部债务都讲了出来
;我希望他至少没有欺骗我们。我们已经委托
哈斯东在一吃苦以内将所有的事统统办好。那
时候你如果不愿意请他们上浪搏恩来,他们就
可以直接到军队里去,听见内人说,外甥女儿
很希望在离开南方之前跟你们见见面。她近况
很好,还请我代她向你和她母亲请安。
E. GARDINER."
爱·嘉丁纳
Mr. Bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wickham's removal from the ----shire as clearly as Mr. Gardiner could do. But Mrs. Bennet was not so well pleased with it. Lydia's being settled in the North, just when she had expected most pleasure and pride in her company -- for she had by no means given up her plan of their residing in Hertfordshire -- was a severe disappointment; and besides, it was such a pity that Lydia should be taken from a regiment where she was acquainted with every body, and had so many favourites.
班纳特先生和他的女儿们都和嘉丁纳先生同样
地看得明明白白,认为韦翰离开某某郡有许多
好处。只有班纳特太太不甚乐意。她正在盼望
着要跟丽迪雅痛痛快快、得意非凡地过一阵,
不料她却要住到北方去,这真叫她太失望。到
现在为止,她还是决计要让女儿和女婿住到哈
德福郡来。再说丽迪雅刚刚在这个民兵团里和
大家处熟了,又有那么多人喜欢她,如今远去
他方,未免太可惜。
"She is so fond of Mrs. Forster," said she, "it will be quite shocking to send her away! And there are several of the young men, too, that she likes very much. The officers may not be so pleasant in General ----'s regiment."
她说:“她那么喜欢弗斯脱太太,把她送走可
太糟了!而且还有好几个年轻小伙子,她也很
喜欢。某某将军那个团里的军官们未必能够这
样讨她喜欢呢。”
His daughter's request, for such it might be considered, of being admitted into her family again before she set off for the North, received at first an absolute negative. But Jane and Elizabeth, who agreed in wishing, for the sake of their sister's feelings and consequence, that she should be noticed on her marriage by her parents, urged him so earnestly, yet so rationally and so mildly, to receive her and her husband at Longbourn as soon as they were married, that he was prevailed on to think as they thought, and act as they wished. And their mother had the satisfaction of knowing that she should be able to show her married daughter in the neighbourhood, before she was banished to the North. When Mr. Bennet wrote again to his brother, therefore, he sent his permission for them to come; and it was settled that, as soon as the ceremony was over, they should proceed to Longbourn. Elizabeth was surprised, however, that Wickham should consent to such a scheme; and, had she consulted only her own inclination, any meeting with him would have been the last object of her wishes.