評論
打印
DURING dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable.
吃飯的時候，班納特先生幾乎一句話也沒有說；可是等到傭人們走開以后，他就想道，現在可以跟這位客人談談了。他料想到，如果一開頭就談到咖苔琳夫人身上去，這位貴客一定會笑逐顏開的，于是他便拿這個話題做開場白，說是柯林斯先生有了那樣一個女施主，真是幸運極了，又說咖苔琳·德·包爾夫人對他這樣言聽計從，而且極其周到地照顧到他生活方面的安適，真是十分難得。
Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank -- such affability and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to approve of both the discourses which he had already had the honour of preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening.
班納特先生這個話題選得再好也沒有了。柯林斯先生果然滔滔不絕地贊美起那位夫人來。這個問題一談開了頭，他本來的那種嚴肅態度便顯得更嚴肅了，他帶著非常自負的神氣說，他一輩子也沒有看到過任何有身價地位的人，能夠象咖苔琳夫人那樣的有德行，那樣的親切謙和。他很榮幸，曾經當著她的面講過兩次道，多蒙夫人垂愛，對他那兩次講道贊美不絕。夫人曾經請他到羅新斯去吃過兩次飯，上星期六晚上還請他到她家里去打過“夸錐”。
Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people he knew, but he had never seen any thing but affability in her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighbourhood, nor to his leaving his parish occasionally for a week or two, to visit his relations.
據他所知，多少人都認為咖苔琳夫人為人驕傲，可是他只覺得親切。她平常跟他攀談起來，總是把他當作一個有身份的人看待。她絲毫不反對他和鄰居們來往，也不反對他偶而離開教區一兩個星期，去拜望拜望親友們。
She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage; where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself, -- some shelves in the closets up stairs.
多蒙她體恤下情，曾經親自勸他及早結婚，只要他能夠謹慎選擇對象。她還到他的寒舍去拜訪過一次，對于他住宅所有經過他整修過的地方都十分贊成，并且蒙她親自賜予指示，叫他把樓上的璧櫥添置幾個架子。
