評論
打印
Colonel Brandon's partiality for Marianne, which had so early been discovered by his friends, now first became perceptible to Elinor, when it ceased to be noticed by them. Their attention and wit were drawn off to his more fortunate rival; and the raillery which the other had incurred before any partiality arose, was removed when his feelings began really to call for the ridicule so justly annexed to sensibility. Elinor was obliged, though unwillingly, to believe that the sentiments which Mrs. Jennings had assigned him for her own satisfaction, were now actually excited by her sister; and that however a general resemblance of disposition between the parties might forward the affection of Mr. Willoughby, an equally striking opposition of character was no hindrance to the regard of Colonel Brandon.
布蘭登上校對瑪麗安的愛慕最早是被他的朋友們發現的，現在這些人注意不到了，卻第一次被埃麗諾察覺出來了。大伙兒的注意力和插科打諢都轉移到他那位更加幸運的情敵身上了。上校還沒產生愛慕之心之前招來了別人的戲謔，而待他果真產生了感情，該當受人嘲弄的時候，卻得到了解脫。埃麗諾不得不勉強承認：詹寧斯太太原來說他對自己有感情，現在看來，他的感情實際上是讓她妹妹激發起來的。雖然雙方的情投意合促使威洛比產生了感情，但是雙方性格上的格格不入也沒有妨礙布蘭登上校產生好感。
She saw it with concern; for what could a silent man of five and thirty hope, when opposed to a very lively one of five and twenty? and as she could not even wish him successful, she heartily wished him indifferent. She liked him--in spite of his gravity and reserve, she beheld in him an object of interest. His manners, though serious, were mild; and his reserve appeared rather the result of some oppression of spirits than of any natural gloominess of temper. Sir John had dropped hints of past injuries and disappointments, which justified her belief of his being an unfortunate man, and she regarded him with respect and compassion.
她為此深感憂慮；因為一個三十五歲的沉默寡言的人，跟一個二十五歲的朝氣蓬勃的人相競爭，哪里能有什么希望呢？既然她無法祝愿他獲得成功，她衷心希望他不要那么癡心。她喜歡他——盡管他莊重矜持，她仍然認為他是個有趣味的人。他的言談舉止雖說一本正經，卻也溫文爾雅。他的矜持似乎是精神受到某種壓抑的結果，而不是由于性情天生憂郁引起的。約翰爵士曾經暗示過，他以前遭受過創傷和挫折，這就證明她有理由認為他是個不幸的人，因而對他充滿了敬意和同情。
Perhaps she pitied and esteemed him the more because he was slighted by Willoughby and Marianne, who, prejudiced against him for being neither lively nor young, seemed resolved to undervalue his merits.
也許正因為上校受到威洛比和瑪麗安的冷眼看待，埃麗諾便更加同情他，敬重他。那兩個人覺得他既不活潑，又不年輕，就對他存有偏見，硬是設法貶低他的長處。
"Brandon is just the kind of man, " said Willoughby one day, when they were talking of him together, "whom every body speaks well of, and nobody cares about; whom all are delighted to see, and nobody remembers to talk to. "
“布蘭登就是那么一種人，”一天，他們一起議論他時，威洛比說，“口頭上人人都稱贊他，內心里誰也不喜歡他；大家都愿意見到他，可是誰也想不到要和他談話。”
"That is exactly what I think of him, " cried Marianne.
“這正是我的看法，”瑪麗安嚷道。
