評(píng)論
打印
The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying himself in love with her friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two; but that Charlotte could encourage him, seemed almost as far from possibility as that she could encourage him herself, and her astonishment was consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and she could not help crying out, "Engaged to Mr. Collins! my dear Charlotte, -- impossible!"
早在前一兩天，伊麗莎白就一度想到，柯林斯先生可能一廂情愿，自以為愛上了她這位朋友，可是，要說夏綠蒂會(huì)慫恿他，那未免太不可能，正如她自己不可能慫恿他一樣，因此她現(xiàn)在聽到這件事，不禁大為驚訝，連禮貌也不顧了，竟大聲叫了起來：“跟柯林斯先生訂婚！親愛的夏綠蒂，那怎么行！”
The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her story, gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a reproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained her composure, and calmly replied, "Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? -- Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?"
盧卡斯小姐乍聽得這一聲心直口快的責(zé)備，鎮(zhèn)靜的臉色不禁變得慌張起來，好在這也是她意料中事，因此她立刻就恢復(fù)了常態(tài)，從容不迫地說：“你為什么這樣驚奇，親愛的伊麗莎？柯林斯先生不幸沒有得到你的賞識(shí)，難道就不作興他得到別的女人的賞識(shí)嗎？”
But Elizabeth had now recollected herself, and making a strong effort for it, was able to assure her with tolerable firmness that the prospect of their relationship was highly grateful to her, and that she wished her all imaginable happiness.
伊麗莎白這時(shí)候已經(jīng)鎮(zhèn)定下來，便竭力克制著自己，用相當(dāng)肯定的語氣預(yù)祝他們倆將來良緣美滿，幸福無疆。
"I see what you are feeling," replied Charlotte, -- "you must be surprised, very much surprised, -- so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think it all over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state."
夏綠蒂回答道：“我明白你的心思，你一定會(huì)感到奇怪，而且感到非常奇怪，因?yàn)樵诓痪靡郧埃铝炙瓜壬€在想跟你結(jié)婚。可是，只要你空下來把這事情細(xì)細(xì)地想一下，你就會(huì)贊成我的做法。你知道我不是個(gè)羅曼諦克的人，我決不是那樣的人。我只希望有一個(gè)舒舒服服的家。論柯林斯先生的性格、社會(huì)關(guān)系和身份地位，我覺得跟他結(jié)了婚，也能夠獲得幸福，并不下于一般人結(jié)婚時(shí)所夸耀的那種幸福。”
Elizabeth quietly answered "Undoubtedly;" -- and after an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay much longer, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. It was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins's making two offers of marriage within three days, was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted. She had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed it possible that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins, was a most humiliating picture! -- And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen.
伊麗莎白心平氣和地回答道：“毫無問題。”她們倆別別扭扭地在一起待了一會(huì)兒，便和家人一塊坐下。夏綠蒂?zèng)]有過多久就走了；伊麗莎白獨(dú)自把剛才聽到的那些話仔細(xì)想了一下。這樣不合適的一門親事，真使她難受了好久。說起柯林斯先生三天之內(nèi)求了兩次婚，本就夠稀奇了，如今竟會(huì)有人應(yīng)承他，實(shí)在是更稀奇。她一向覺得，夏綠蒂關(guān)于婚姻問題方面的見解，跟她頗不一致，卻不曾料想到一旦事到臨頭，她竟會(huì)完全不顧高尚的情操，來屈就一些世俗的利益。夏綠蒂做了柯林斯的妻子，這真是天下最丟人的事！她不僅為這樣一個(gè)朋友的自取其辱、自貶身份而感到難受，而且她還十分痛心地?cái)喽ǎ笥涯榈倪@一個(gè)鬮兒，決不會(huì)給她自己帶來多大的幸福。
