"I hope my dear," said Mr. Bennet to his wife as they were at breakfast the next morning, "that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party."
第二天吃過(guò)早飯的時(shí)候，班納特先生對(duì)他的太太說(shuō)：“我的好太太，我希望你今天的午飯準(zhǔn)備得好一些，因?yàn)槲翌A(yù)料今天一定有客人來(lái)?！?/span>

"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in, and I hope my dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home."
“你指的是那一位客人，我的好老爺?我一些也不知道有誰(shuí)要來(lái)，除非夏綠蒂·盧卡斯碰巧會(huì)來(lái)看我們，我覺(jué)得拿我們平常的飯餐招待她也夠好了。我不相信她在家里經(jīng)常吃得這么好?！?/span>

"The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger."
“我所說(shuō)到的這位客人是位男賓，又是個(gè)生客?！?/span>

Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. -- "A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure. Why Jane -- you never dropt a word of this; you sly thing! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley. -- But -- good lord! how unlucky! there is not a bit of fish to be got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill, this moment."
班納特太太的眼睛閃亮了起來(lái)?！耙晃荒匈e又是一位生客!那準(zhǔn)是彬格萊先生，沒(méi)有錯(cuò)。──哦，吉英，你從來(lái)沒(méi)出過(guò)半點(diǎn)兒風(fēng)聲，你這個(gè)狡猾的東西!──嘿，彬格萊先生要來(lái)，真叫我太高興啦?？墒签ぉだ咸鞝斞?/span>!運(yùn)氣真不好，今天連一點(diǎn)兒魚也買不著。──麗迪雅寶貝兒，代我按一按鈴。我要馬上吩咐希爾一下?！?/span>

"It is not Mr. Bingley," said her husband; "it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life."
她的丈夫連忙說(shuō)：“并不是彬格萊先生要來(lái)；說(shuō)起這位客人，我一生都沒(méi)見(jiàn)過(guò)他?！?/span>

This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once.
這句話叫全家都吃了一驚。他的太太和五個(gè)女兒立刻迫切地追問(wèn)他，使他頗為高興。

After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained. "About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases."
拿他太太和女兒們的好奇心打趣了一陣以后，他便原原本本地說(shuō)：“大約在一個(gè)月以前，我就收到了一封信，兩星期以前我寫了回信，因?yàn)槲矣X(jué)得這是件相當(dāng)傷腦筋的事，得趁早留意。信是我的表侄柯林斯先生寄來(lái)的。我死了以后，這位表侄可以高興什么時(shí)候把你們攆出這所屋子，就什么時(shí)候攆出去?！?/span>

"Oh! my dear," cried his wife, "I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it."
“噢，天啊，”他的太太叫起來(lái)了。“聽(tīng)你提起這件事我就受不了。請(qǐng)你別談那個(gè)討厭的家伙吧。你自己的產(chǎn)業(yè)不能讓自己的孩子繼承，卻要讓別人來(lái)繼承，這是世界上最難堪的事。如果我是你，一定早就想出辦法來(lái)補(bǔ)救這個(gè)問(wèn)題啦?！?/span>

Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an entail. They had often attempted it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.
吉英和伊麗莎白設(shè)法把繼承權(quán)的問(wèn)題跟她解釋了一下。其實(shí)她們一直沒(méi)法跟她解釋，可是這個(gè)問(wèn)題跟她是講不明白的。她老是破口大罵，說(shuō)是自己的產(chǎn)業(yè)不能由五個(gè)親生女兒繼承，卻白白送給一個(gè)和她們毫不相干的人，這實(shí)在是太不合情理。

"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet, "and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself."
“這的確是一最不公道的事，”班納特先生說(shuō)，“柯林斯先生要繼承浪博恩的產(chǎn)業(yè)，他這樁罪過(guò)是洗也洗不清的。不過(guò)，要是你聽(tīng)聽(tīng)他這封信里所說(shuō)的話，那你就會(huì)心腸軟一些，因?yàn)樗@番表明心跡還算不錯(cuò)。”

"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it was very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false friends. Why could not he keep on quarrelling with you, as his father did before him?"
“不，我相信我絕對(duì)不會(huì)心軟下來(lái)；我覺(jué)得他寫信給你真是既沒(méi)有禮貌，又非常虛偽。我恨這種虛偽的朋友。他為什么不象他的爸爸那樣跟你吵得不可開(kāi)交呢？”

"Why, indeed, he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, as you will hear."
“哦，真的，他對(duì)這個(gè)問(wèn)題，好象也有些為了顧全孝道，猶豫不決，且讓我把信讀給你們聽(tīng)吧：

"Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent,

15th October.

DEAR SIR,

THE disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with any one with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance." -- "There, Mrs. Bennet." -- "My mind however is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends, -- but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'nnight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,

WILLIAM COLLINS."

親愛(ài)的長(zhǎng)者：

以前你為先父之間曾有些芥蒂，這一直使我感到不安。自先父不幸棄世以來(lái)，我常常想到要彌補(bǔ)這個(gè)裂痕;但我一時(shí)猶豫，沒(méi)有這樣做，怕的是先父生前既然對(duì)閣下唯恐仇視不及，而我今天卻來(lái)與閣下修好，這未免有辱先人。──“注意聽(tīng)呀，我的好太太?！暴ぉげ贿^(guò)目前我對(duì)此事已經(jīng)拿定主張，因?yàn)槲乙言趶?fù)活節(jié)那天受了圣職。多蒙故劉威斯·德·包爾公爵的孀妻咖苔琳·德·包爾夫人寵禮有加，恩惠并施，提拔我擔(dān)任該教區(qū)的教士，此后可以勉盡厥誠(chéng)，恭待夫人左右，奉行英國(guó)教會(huì)所規(guī)定的一切儀節(jié)，這真是拜三生不幸。況且以一個(gè)教士的身份來(lái)說(shuō)，我覺(jué)得我有責(zé)任盡我之所及，使家家戶戶得以敦穆親誼，促進(jìn)友好。因此我自信這番好意一定會(huì)受到你的重視，而有關(guān)我繼承浪博恩產(chǎn)權(quán)一事，你也可不必介意。并請(qǐng)接受我獻(xiàn)上的這一枝橄欖枝。我這樣侵犯了諸位令媛的利益，真是深感不安，萬(wàn)分抱歉，但請(qǐng)你放心，我極愿給她們一切可能的補(bǔ)償，此事容待以后詳談。如果你不反對(duì)我踵門拜候，我建議于十一月十八是，星期一，四點(diǎn)鐘前來(lái)拜謁，甚或在府上叨擾至下星期六為止。這對(duì)于我毫無(wú)不便之處，因?yàn)榭α辗蛉藳Q不會(huì)反對(duì)我星期日偶而離開(kāi)教堂一下，只消有另一個(gè)教士主持這一天的事懷就行了。敬向尊夫人及諸位令媛致候。

你的祝福者和朋友威廉·柯林斯

十月十五日寫于威斯特漢附近的肯特郡漢斯福村

"At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peacemaking gentleman," said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. "He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word; and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again."
“那么，四點(diǎn)鐘的時(shí)候，這位息事寧人的先生就要來(lái)啦，”班納特先生一邊把信折好，一邊說(shuō)?！八故莻€(gè)很有良心、很有禮貌的青年，一定是的；我相信他一定會(huì)成為一個(gè)值得器重的朋友，只要咖苔琳夫人能夠開(kāi)開(kāi)恩，讓他以后再上我們這兒來(lái)，那更好啦?！?/span>

"There is some sense in what he says about the girls however; and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him."
“他講到我們女兒們的那幾句話，倒還說(shuō)得不錯(cuò);要是他果真打算設(shè)法補(bǔ)償，我倒不反對(duì)?！?/span>

"Though it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit."
吉英說(shuō)：“他說(shuō)要給我們補(bǔ)償，我們雖然猜不出他究竟是什么意思，可是他這一片好意也的確難得?！?/span>

Elizabeth was chiefly struck with his extraordinary deference for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his parishioners whenever it were required.
伊麗莎白聽(tīng)到他對(duì)咖苔琳夫人尊敬得那么出奇，而且他竟那么好心好意，隨時(shí)替他自己教區(qū)里的居民行洗禮，主持婚禮和喪禮，不覺(jué)大為吃驚。

"He must be an oddity, I think," said she. "I cannot make him out. -- There is something very pompous in his stile. -- And what can he mean by apologizing for being next in the entail? -- We cannot suppose he would help it, if he could. -- Can he be a sensible man, sir?"
“我看他一定是個(gè)古怪人，”她說(shuō)?！拔艺媾欢Ｋ奈墓P似乎有些浮夸。他所謂因?yàn)槔^承了我們的產(chǎn)權(quán)而感到萬(wàn)分抱歉，這話是什么意思呢?即使這件事可以取消，我們也不要以為他就肯取消，他是個(gè)頭腦清楚的人嗎，爸爸？”

"No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him."
“不，寶貝，我想他不會(huì)是的。我完全認(rèn)為他是恰恰相反。從他信里那種既謙卑又自大的口氣上就可以看得出來(lái)。我倒真想見(jiàn)見(jiàn)他?！?/span>

"In point of composition," said Mary, "his letter does not seem defective. The idea of the olive branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed."
曼麗說(shuō)：“就文章而論，他的信倒好象寫得沒(méi)有什么毛病。橄欖枝這種說(shuō)法雖然并不新穎，可是我覺(jué)得用得倒很恰當(dāng)?！?/span>

To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished her husband and daughters.
在咖苔琳和麗迪雅看來(lái)，無(wú)論是那封信也好，寫信的人也好，都沒(méi)有一點(diǎn)兒意思。反正她們覺(jué)得她們的表兄絕不會(huì)穿著“紅制服”來(lái)，而這幾個(gè)星期以來(lái)，穿其他任何顏色的衣服的人，她們都不樂(lè)意結(jié)交。至于她們的母親，原來(lái)的一般怨氣已經(jīng)被柯林斯先生一封信打消了不少，她倒準(zhǔn)備相當(dāng)平心靜氣地會(huì)見(jiàn)他，這使得她的丈夫和女兒們都覺(jué)得非常奇怪。

Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet, indeed, said little; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, heavy looking young man of five and twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers, but Mrs. Bennet who quarrelled with no compliments, answered most readily,
柯林斯先生準(zhǔn)時(shí)來(lái)了，全家都非?？蜌獾亟哟?，班納特先生簡(jiǎn)直沒(méi)有說(shuō)什么話；可是太太和幾位小姐都十分愿意暢談一下，而柯林斯先生本人好象既不需要人家鼓勵(lì)他多說(shuō)話，也不打算不說(shuō)話。他是個(gè)二十五歲的青年，高高的個(gè)兒，望上去很肥胖，他的氣派端莊而堂皇，又很拘泥禮節(jié)。他剛一坐下來(lái)就恭維班納特太太福氣好，養(yǎng)了這么多好女兒，他說(shuō)，早就聽(tīng)到人們對(duì)她們美貌贊揚(yáng)備至，今天一見(jiàn)面，才知道她們的美貌遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過(guò)了她們的名聲;他又說(shuō)，他相信小姐們到時(shí)候都會(huì)結(jié)下美滿良緣。他這些奉承話，人家真不大愛(ài)聽(tīng)，只有班納特太太，沒(méi)有哪句恭維話聽(tīng)不下去，于是極其干脆地回答道：

"You are very kind, sir, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may prove so; for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly."
“我相信你是個(gè)好心腸的人，先生；我一心希望能如你的金口，否則她們就不堪設(shè)想了。事情實(shí)在擺布得太古怪啦。”

"You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate."
“你大概是說(shuō)產(chǎn)業(yè)的繼承權(quán)問(wèn)題吧。”

"Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such things, I know, are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed."
“唉，先生，我的確是說(shuō)到這方面。你得承認(rèn)，這對(duì)于我可憐的女兒們真是件不幸的事。我并不想怪你，因?yàn)槲乙仓溃澜缟线@一類的事完全靠命運(yùn)。一個(gè)人的產(chǎn)業(yè)一旦要限定繼承人，那你就無(wú)從知道它會(huì)落到誰(shuí)的手里去。”

"I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, -- and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more, but perhaps when we are better acquainted --"
“太太，我深深知道，這件事苦了表妹們，我在這個(gè)問(wèn)題上有很多意見(jiàn)，一時(shí)卻不敢莽撞冒失。可是我可以向年輕的小姐們保證，我上這兒來(lái)，就是為了要向她們表示我的敬慕。目前我也不打算多說(shuō)，或許等到將來(lái)我們相處得更熟一些的時(shí)候──”

He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the girls smiled on each other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture were examined and praised; and his commendation of every thing would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property. The dinner too, in its turn, was highly admired; and he begged to know to which of his fair cousins, the excellence of its cookery was owing. But here he was set right by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended; but he continued to apologise for about a quarter of an hour.
主人家請(qǐng)他吃午飯了，于是他的話不得不被打斷。小姐們彼此相視而笑。柯林斯先生所愛(ài)慕的才不光光是她們呢。他把客廳、飯廳、以及屋子里所有的家具，都仔細(xì)看了一遍，贊美了一番。班納特太太本當(dāng)聽(tīng)到他贊美一句，心里就得意一陣，怎奈她也想到，他原來(lái)是把這些東西都看作他自己未來(lái)的財(cái)產(chǎn)，因此她又非常難受。連一頓午飯也蒙他稱賞不置，他請(qǐng)求主人告訴他，究竟是哪位表妹燒得這一手好菜。班納特太太聽(tīng)到他這句話，不禁把他指責(zé)了一番。她相當(dāng)不客氣地跟他說(shuō)，她們家里現(xiàn)在還雇得起一個(gè)象樣的廚子，根本用不到女兒們過(guò)問(wèn)廚房里的事。他請(qǐng)求她原諒，不要見(jiàn)怪。于是她用柔和的聲調(diào)說(shuō)，她根本沒(méi)有怪他，可是他卻接接連連地道歉了一刻鐘之久。

（來(lái)源：網(wǎng)絡(luò)，編輯：劉明）