評論
打印
Mr. Bennet had very often wished before this period of his life that, instead of spending his whole income, he had laid by an annual sum for the better provision of his children, and of his wife, if she survived him. He now wished it more than ever. Had he done his duty in that respect, Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever of honour or credit could now be purchased for her. The satisfaction of prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be her husband might then have rested in its proper place.
班納特先生遠在好久以前，就希望每年的進款不要全部花光，能夠積蓄一部分，讓兒女往后不至于衣食匱乏；如果太太比他命長，衣食便也有了著落。拿目前來說，他這個希望比以往來得更迫切。要是他在這方面早就安排好了，那么這次麗迪雅挽回面子名譽的事，自然就不必要她舅舅為她花錢；也不必讓舅舅去說服全英國最下流的一個青年給她確定夫婦的名份。
He was seriously concerned that a cause of so little advantage to anyone should be forwarded at the sole expense of his brother-in-law, and he was determined, if possible, to find out the extent of his assistance, and to discharge the obligation as soon as he could.
這事情對任何人都沒有好處，如今卻得由他舅爺獨自拿出錢來成其好事，這實在叫他太過意不去；他決定要竭力打聽出舅爺究竟幫了多大的忙，以便盡快報答這筆人情。
When first Mr. Bennet had married, economy was held to be perfectly useless, for, of course, they were to have a son. The son was to join in cutting off the entail, as soon as he should be of age, and the widow and younger children would by that means be provided for. Five daughters successively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs. Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth, had been certain that he would. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then too late to be saving. Mrs. Bennet had no turn for economy, and her husband's love of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their income.
班納特先生剛結婚的時候，完全不必省吃儉用，因為他們夫婦自然會生兒子，等到兒子成了年，外人繼承產權的這樁事就可以取消，寡婦孤女也就衣食無慮了。可是五個女兒接接連連地出世，兒子還不知道在哪里；麗迪雅出世多少年以后，班納特太太還一直以為會生兒子。這個指望落了空，如今省吃儉用已經太遲了。班納特太太不慣于節(jié)省，好在丈夫自有主張，才算沒有入不敷出。
Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs. Bennet and the children. But in what proportions it should be divided amongst the latter depended on the will of the parents. This was one point, with regard to Lydia, at least, which was now to be settled, and Mr. Bennet could have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him. In terms of grateful acknowledgment for the kindness of his brother, though expressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect approbation of all that was done, and his willingness to fulfil the engagements that had been made for him. He had never before supposed that, could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter, it would be done with so little inconvenience to himself as by the present arrangement. He would scarcely be ten pounds a year the loser by the hundred that was to be paid them; for, what with her board and pocket allowance, and the continual presents in money which passed to her through her mother's hands, Lydia's expenses had been very little within that sum.
當年老夫婦的婚約上規(guī)定了班納特太太和子女們一共應享有五千磅遺產。至于子女們究竟怎樣分享，得由父母在遺囑上解決，班納特先生毫不猶豫地同意了擺在他面前的那個建議。他回信給舅爺，多謝他一片好心。他的措辭極其簡潔，只說他對一切既成事實都表示贊同，而且舅爺所提出的各項條件，他都愿意照辦。原來這次說服韋翰跟他女兒結婚一事，竟安排得這樣好，簡直沒有帶給他什么麻煩，這實在是他所意料不到的。雖說他每年要付給他們倆一百鎊，可是事實上他每年還損失不了十鎊，因為麗迪雅在家里也要吃用開銷，外加她母親還要貼錢給她花，計算起來每年幾乎也不下于一百鎊。
That it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side, too, was another very welcome surprise; for his wish at present was to have as little trouble in the business as possible. When the first transports of rage which had produced his activity in seeking her were over, he naturally returned to all his former indolence. His letter was soon dispatched; for, though dilatory in undertaking business, he was quick in its execution. He begged to know further particulars of what he was indebted to his brother, but was too angry with Lydia to send any message to her.
還有一件可喜的意外，那就是辦起這件事來，他自己簡直可以不費什么力氣，他目前最希望麻煩越少越好。他開頭也曾因為一時沖動，親自去找女兒，如今他已經氣平怒消，自然又變得象往常一樣懶散。他把那封回信立刻寄出去；雖然做事喜歡拖延，可是只要他肯動手，倒也完成得很快。他在信上請他舅爺把一切代勞之處詳詳細細告訴他，可是說起麗迪雅，實在使他太氣惱，因此連問候也沒有問候她一聲。
