評論
打印
"It is certainly an unpleasant thing, " replied Mr. Dashwood, "to have those kind of yearly drains on one's income. One's fortune, as your mother justly says, is NOT one's own. To be tied down to the regular payment of such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it takes away one's independence. "
“一個人的收入年年這樣消耗下去，”達(dá)什伍德先生說，“這當(dāng)然是件不偷快的事情。你母親說得對，這財(cái)產(chǎn)就不由自己做主了。一到年金支付日，都要照例支出一筆錢，這著實(shí)有些討厭：它剝奪了一個人的自主權(quán)?！?
"Undoubtedly; and after all you have no thanks for it. They think themselves secure, you do no more than what is expected, and it raises no gratitude at all. If I were you, whatever I did should be done at my own discretion entirely. I would not bind myself to allow them any thing yearly. It may be very inconvenient some years to spare a hundred, or even fifty pounds from our own expenses. "
“那還用說。盡管如此，你還不討好。她們覺得自己到期領(lǐng)取，萬無一失，而你又不會再多給，所以對你壓根兒不領(lǐng)情。我要是你呀，不管做什么事，一定自作裁奪。我決不會作繭自縛，去給她們什么年金。逢到某些年頭，你要從自己的花銷中抽聲一百鎊，甚至五十鎊，可不那么容易。”
"I believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should by no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them occasionally will be of far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they would only enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger income, and would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the year. It will certainly be much the best way. A present of fifty pounds, now and then, will prevent their ever being distressed for money, and will, I think, be amply discharging my promise to my father. "
“親愛的，我看你說得對，這事還是不搞年金為好。偶爾給她們幾個錢，比給年金有益得多，因?yàn)殄X給多了，她們只會變得大手大腳，到了年底．一個小錢也多不出來。這是個最好不過的辦法。不定時地送她們五十鎊，這樣她們什么時候也不會缺錢用，我還能充分履行我對父親的諾言?！?
"To be sure it will. Indeed, to say the truth, I am convinced within myself that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at all. The assistance he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might be reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking out for a comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things, and sending them presents of fish and game, and so forth, whenever they are in season. I'll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed, it would be very strange and unreasonable if he did. Do but consider, my dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively comfortable your mother-in-law and her daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds, besides the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which brings them in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course, they will pay their mother for their board out of it. Altogether, they will have five hundred a-year amongst them, and what on earth can four women want for more than that?--They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will be nothing at all. They will have no carriage, no horses, and hardly any servants; they will keep no company, and can have no expenses of any kind! Only conceive how comfortable they will be! Five hundred a year! I am sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it; and as to your giving them more, it is quite absurd to think of it. They will be much more able to give YOU something. "
“當(dāng)然如此。說實(shí)在話，我認(rèn)為你父親根本沒有讓你資助她們的意思。我敢說，他所謂的幫助，不過是讓你合情合理地幫點(diǎn)忙，比方替她們找座舒適的小房子啦，幫她們搬搬東西啦，等季節(jié)到了給她們送點(diǎn)鮮魚野味啦，等等。我敢以性命擔(dān)保，他沒有別的意思；要不然，豈不成了咄咄怪事。親愛的達(dá)什伍德先生，你只要想一想，你繼母和她的女兒們靠著那七千鎊得來的利息，會過上多么舒適的日子啊。況且每個女兒還有一千鎊，每年能給每人帶來五十鎊的收益。當(dāng)然啦，她們會從中拿來向母親繳納伙食費(fèi)的。總計(jì)起來，她們一年有五百鎊的收入，就那么四個女人家，這些錢還不夠嗎？她們的花銷少得很！管理家務(wù)不成問題。她們一無馬車，二無馬匹，也不用雇仆人。她們不跟外人來往，什么開支也沒有！你看她們有多舒服！一年五百鎊啊！我簡直無法想象她們哪能花掉一半。至于說你想再給她們錢，未免太荒誕了吧，論財(cái)力，她們給你點(diǎn)倒差不多。”
