The idea of Mr. Collins, with all his solemn composure, being run away with by his feelings, made Elizabeth so near laughing that she could not use the short pause he allowed in any attempt to stop him farther, and he continued:
想到柯林斯這么一本正經(jīng)的樣子，居然會控制不住他自己的感情，伊麗莎白不禁覺得非常好笑，因此他雖然說話停了片刻，她可沒有來得及阻止他往下說：
"My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly -- which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness. Twice has she condescended to give me her opinion (unasked too!) on this subject; and it was but the very Saturday night before I left Hunsford -- between our pools at quadrille, while Mrs. Jenkinson was arranging Miss de Bourgh's foot-stool, that she said, "Mr. Collins, you must marry. A clergyman like you must marry. -- Chuse properly, chuse a gentlewoman for my sake; and for your own, let her be an active, useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small income go a good way. This is my advice. Find such a woman as soon as you can, bring her to Hunsford, and I will visit her." Allow me, by the way, to observe, my fair cousin, that I do not reckon the notice and kindness of Lady Catherine de Bourgh as among the least of the advantages in my power to offer. You will find her manners beyond any thing I can describe; and your wit and vivacity I think must be acceptable to her, especially when tempered with the silence and respect which her rank will inevitably excite. Thus much for my general intention in favour of matrimony; it remains to be told why my views were directed to Longbourn instead of my own neighbourhood, where I assure you there are many amiable young women.
“我所以要結(jié)婚，有這樣幾點理由：第一，我認(rèn)為凡是象我這樣生活寬裕的牧師，理當(dāng)給全教區(qū)樹立一個婚姻的好榜樣；其次，我深信結(jié)婚會大大地促進(jìn)我的幸福；第三（這一點或許我應(yīng)該早提出來），我三生有幸，能夠等候上這樣高貴的一個女施主，她特別勸告我結(jié)婚，特別贊成我結(jié)婚。蒙她兩次替我在這件事情上提出了意見（而且并不是我請教她的！），就在我離開漢斯福的前一個星期六晚上，我們正在玩牌，姜金生太太正在為德·包爾小姐安放腳蹬，夫人對我說：‘柯林斯先生，你必須結(jié)婚。象你這樣的一個牧師，必須結(jié)婚。好好兒去挑選吧，挑選一個好人家的女兒，為了我，也為了你自己；人要長得活潑，要能做事，不求出身高貴，但要會算計，把一筆小小的收入安排得妥妥貼貼。這就是我的意見。趕快找個這樣的女人來吧，把她帶到漢斯福來，我自會照料她的。’好表妹，讓我說給你聽吧，咖苔琳·德·包爾夫人對我的體貼照顧，也可以算是我一個優(yōu)越的條件。她的為人我真無法形容，你有一天會看到的。我想，你這樣的聰明活潑一定會叫她喜歡，只要你在她那樣身份高貴的人面前顯得穩(wěn)重端莊些，她就會特別喜歡你。大體上我要結(jié)婚就是為的這些打算；現(xiàn)在還得說一說，我們自己村里多的是年輕可愛的姑娘，我為什么看中了浪博恩，而沒有看中我自己村莊的呢。
"But the fact is, that being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father (who, however, may live many years longer), I could not satisfy myself without resolving to chuse a wife from among his daughters, that the loss to them might be as little as possible, when the melancholy event takes place -- which, however, as I have already said, may not be for several years. This has been my motive, my fair cousin, and I flatter myself it will not sink me in your esteem. And now nothing remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection. To fortune I am perfectly indifferent, and shall make no demand of that nature on your father, since I am well aware that it could not be complied with; and that one thousand pounds in the 4 per cents, which will not be yours till after your mother's decease, is all that you may ever be entitled to. On that head, therefore, I shall be uniformly silent; and you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married."
“事情是這樣的：往后令尊過世（但愿他長命百歲），得由我繼承財產(chǎn)，因此我打算娶他的個女兒作家室，使得將來這件不愉快的事發(fā)生的時候，你們的損失可以盡量輕一些，否則我實在過意不去。當(dāng)然，正如我剛才說過的，這事情也許要在多少年以后才會發(fā)生。我的動機就是這樣，好表妹，恕我不揣冒昧地說一句，你不至于因此就看不起我吧。現(xiàn)在我的話已經(jīng)說完，除非是再用最激動的語言把我最熱烈的感情向你傾訴。說到妝奩財產(chǎn)，我完全無所謂，我決不會在這方面向你父親提出什么要求，我非常了解，他的能力也辦不到，你名下應(yīng)得的財產(chǎn)，一共不過是一筆年息四厘的一千鎊存款，還得等你媽死后才歸你所得。因此關(guān)于那個問題，我也一聲不響，而且請你放心，我們結(jié)婚以后，我決不會說一句小氣話。”
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