評論
打印
Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all, that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led to imprudence. She had an excellent heart;--her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn; and which one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.
大女兒埃麗諾的勸解奏效了。埃麗諾思想敏銳，頭腦冷靜，雖然年僅十九歲，卻能為母親出謀劃策。達什伍德太太性情急躁，做事總是冒冒失失。埃麗諾為大家著想，經常出來勸阻勸阻。她心地善良，性格溫柔，感情強烈，然而她會克制自己，—一對于這—手，她母親還有待學習，不過她有個妹妹決計一輩子也不要學。
Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's. She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was everything but prudent. The resemblance between her and her mother was strikingly great.
瑪麗安各方面的才干都堪與埃麗諾相媲美。她聰慧善感，只是做什么事情都心急火燎的。她傷心也罷，高興也罷，都沒有個節制。她為人慷慨，和藹可親，也很有趣，可就是一點也不謹慎，與她母親一模一樣。
Elinor saw, with concern, the excess of her sister's sensibility; but by Mrs. Dashwood it was valued and cherished. They encouraged each other now in the violence of their affliction. The agony of grief which overpowered them at first, was voluntarily renewed, was sought for, was created again and again. They gave themselve up wholly to their sorrow, seeking increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it, and resolved against ever admitting consolation in future. Elinor, too, was deeply afflicted; but still she could struggle, she could exert herself. She could consult with her brother, could receive her sister-in-law on her arrival, and treat her with proper attention; and could strive to rouse her mother to similar exertion, and encourage her to similar forbearance.
埃麗諾見妹妹過于感情用事，不免有些擔心，可達什伍德太太卻覺得這很難能可貴。現在，她們兩人極度悲痛的情緒，互相感染，互相助長。最初的那種悲痛欲絕的情狀，一觸即發，說來就來，反反復復地沒完沒了。她們完全沉湎于悲慟之中，真是哪里傷心往哪里想，越想越痛不欲生，認定這輩子就這么了結啦，誰來解勸也無濟于事。埃麗諾也很悲痛，不過她尚能頂得住，盡量克制自己。她遇事能同哥哥商量著辦，嫂子來了能以禮相待。她還能勸說母親也這樣做，請她多加忍讓。
Margaret, the other sister, was a good-humored, well-disposed girl; but as she had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne's romance, without having much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair to equal her sisters at a more advanced period of life.
三妹瑪格麗特是個快活厚道的小姑娘，不過由于她已經染上了不少瑪麗安的浪漫氣質，而又不像她那么聰明，處在十三歲的年紀，還不可能趕上涉世較深的姐姐。
