it had a peculiarly strong attraction. The town where she had formerly passed some years of her life, and where they were now to spend a few days, was probably as great an object of her curiosity, as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dovedale, or the Peak.
他们北上旅行的日期已经迫近,只下两个星期
了,不料这时候嘉丁纳太太却寄来了一封信,
使行期耽搁下来,旅行范围也得缩小。信上说
,因为嘉丁纳先生有事,行期必须延迟两个星
期,到七月里才能动身,又因为他只能出外旅
行一个月便得回到伦敦,日期很短促,不能照
原来的计划作长途旅行,饱餐山川景色,至少
不能照原来所安排的那样悠闲自在地去游览,
湖区必须放弃,旅程必须缩短,只能到德比郡
为止。其实德比郡就足够供他们游览,足够他
们消磨短短三星期的旅行日程,而且嘉丁纳太
太非常向往那个地方。她以前曾在那儿住过儿
年,现在能够旧地重游,盘桓数日,便不禁对
于马特洛克、恰滋华斯、鸽谷、秀阜的风景名
胜,心醉神往。
Elizabeth was excessively disappointed; she had set her heart on seeing the Lakes; and still thought there might have been time enough. But it was her business to be satisfied -- and certainly her temper to be happy; and all was soon right again.
这封信使伊丽莎白非常失望。她本来一心想去
观赏湖区风光,到现在还觉得时间很充裕。不
过,她既没有权利可以反对,她的心境又很洒
脱,不多一会,便又觉得好受了。
With the mention of Derbyshire, there were many ideas connected. It was impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pemberley and its owner. "But surely," said she, "I may enter his county with impunity, and rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me."
一提到德比郡,就免不了勾起多少联想。她看
到这个地名,就不禁想到彭伯里和彭伯里的主
人。她说:“我一定可以大摇大摆地走进他的
故乡,趁他不知不觉的时候,攫取几块透明的
晶石。”
The period of expectation was now doubled. Four weeks were to pass away before her uncle and aunt's arrival. But they did pass away, and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, with their four children, did at length appear at Longbourn. The children, two girls of six and eight years old, and two younger boys, were to be left under the particular care of their cousin Jane, who was the general favourite, and whose steady sense and sweetness of temper exactly adapted her for attending to them in every way -- teaching them, playing with them, and loving them.
行期一延再延。舅父母还得过四个星期才能来
。可是四个星期毕竟过去了,嘉丁纳夫妇终于
带着他们的四个孩子来到浪搏恩。四个孩子中
间不两个女孩子,一个六岁,一个八岁,另外
两个男孩子年纪还小。孩子们都将留在这儿,
由他们的表姐吉英照管,因为他们都喜欢吉英
,加上吉英举止稳重,性情柔和,无论是教孩
子们读书,跟他们游戏,以及照顾他们,都非
常适合。
The Gardiners stayed only one night at Longbourn, and set off the next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. One enjoyment was certain -- that of suitableness as companions; a suitableness which comprehended health and temper to bear inconveniences -- cheerfulness to enhance every pleasure -- and affection and intelligence, which might supply it among themselves if there were disappointments abroad.
嘉丁纳夫妇只在浪搏恩住了一夜,第二天一大
早就带着伊丽莎白去探新异,导欢作乐。这几
个旅伴确实非常适当,所谓适当,就是说大家
身体健壮,性子柔和,路上遇到不方便的地方
可以忍受得了,这实在叫人称心如意。他们一
个个都生气勃勃,这自然可以促进愉快,而且
他们感情丰富,人又聪明,万一在外地碰到了
什么扫兴的事情,互相之间仍然可以过得很快
活。
It is not the object of this work to give a description of Derbyshire, nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither lay; Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenelworth, Birmingham, &c. are sufficiently known. A small part of Derbyshire is all the present concern. To the little town of Lambton, the scene of Mrs. Gardiner's former residence, and where she had latelylearned that some acquaintance still remained, they bent their steps, after having seen all the principal wonders of the country; and within five miles of Lambton, Elizabeth found from her aunt that Pemberley was situated. It was not in their direct road, nor more than a mile or two out of it. In talking over their route the evening before, Mrs. Gardiner expressed an inclination to see the place again. Mr. Gardiner declared his willingness, and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation.
本书不打算详细描写德比郡怕风光,至于他们
的旅程所必须经过的一些名胜地区,例如牛津
、布楞恩、沃里克、凯尼尔沃思、伯明翰等,
大家都知道得够多了,也不打算写。现在只讲
一讲德比郡的一小部分。且说有个小镇名叫蓝
白屯,嘉丁纳夫妇从前曾在那儿住过,她最近
听说还有些熟人依旧住在那边,于是看完了乡
间的一切名胜古迹之后,便绕道到那儿去看看
。伊丽莎白听见舅母说,离开蓝白屯不到五英
里路就是彭伯里,虽然不是路过必经之处,可
是也不过弯了一两英里路。前一个晚上讨论旅
程的时候,嘉丁纳太太说是想到那边再去看看
。嘉丁纳先生表示愿意,于是他们便来征求伊
丽莎白同意。
"My love, should not you like to see a place of which you have heard so much?" said her aunt. "A place too, with which so many of your acquaintance are connected. Wickham passed all his youth there, you know."
舅母对她说:“亲爱的,那个地方你是久闻大
名的,愿意去看看吗?你的许多朋友都跟那地
方有关系。韦翰的整个少年时代都是在那儿度
过的,你知道。”
Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no business at Pemberley, and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it. She must own that she was tired of great houses; after going over so many, she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains. Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity. "If it were merely a fine house richly furnished," said she, "I should not care about it myself; but the grounds are delightful. They have some of the finest woods in the country."
伊丽莎白给说得窘极了。她觉得不必到彭伯里
去,便只得说不想去。她但说高楼大厦、锦绣
帏,已经见识得够多了,实在无意再去浏览嘉
丁纳太太骂她蠢,她说:“要是光光只有一幢
富丽堂皇的房子,我也不会把它摆在心上;可
是那儿的放置庭园景色实在可爱,那儿的树木
是全国最美丽的树林。”
Elizabeth said no more -- but her mind could not acquiesce. The possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly occurred. It would be dreadful! She blushed at the very idea; and thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such a risk. But against this there were objections; and she finally resolved that it could be the last resource, if her private enquiries as to the absence of the family were unfavourably answered.
伊丽莎白不做声了,可是她心里依旧不敢赞同
。她立刻想到,如果到那儿去欣赏风景,很可
能碰到达西先生,那多糟糕!她想到这里就羞
红了脸,自以为还不如把事情跟舅母开诚布公
地说个明白,免得要担这么大的风险。可是这
也不妥当;也最后决定先去暗地打听一下达西
先生家里有没有人,如果有人,那么,她再来
用最后一着还不为迟。
Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chambermaid whether Pemberley were not a very fine place, what was the name of its proprietor, and, with no little alarm, whether the family were down for the summer. A most welcome negative followed the last question -- and her alarms being now removed, she was at leisure to feel a great deal of curiosity to see the house herself; and when the subject was revived the next morning, and she was again applied to, could readily answer, and with a proper air of indifference, that she had not really any dislike to the scheme. To Pemberley, therefore, they were to go.