Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

《傲慢與偏見》（Pride?and?Prejudice）是英國女小說家簡·奧斯汀的長篇小說。??? 小說描寫了鄉(xiāng)紳班納特五個(gè)待字閨中的千金的生活，主角是二女兒伊麗莎白。她在一次舞會(huì)上認(rèn)識了一位年輕的紳士達(dá)西，但是耳聞他為人傲慢，就一直對他心生排斥。經(jīng)歷了一番周折，伊麗莎白終于消除了對達(dá)西的偏見，達(dá)西也不再傲慢，有情人終成眷屬。??? 這部作品以日常生活為素材，一反當(dāng)時(shí)社會(huì)上流行的感傷小說矯揉造作的寫作手法，生動(dòng)地反映了18世紀(jì)末到19世紀(jì)初處于保守和閉塞狀態(tài)下的英國鄉(xiāng)鎮(zhèn)生活和人情世態(tài)。它多次被改編成電影和電視劇。

本文節(jié)選自《傲慢與偏見》第二十四章。

MISS Bingley's letter arrived， and put an end to doubt. The very first sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for the winter， and concluded with her brother's regret at not having had time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left the country.

彬格萊小姐的信來了，疑慮消除了。信上第一句話就說，她們決定在倫敦過冬，結(jié)尾是替他哥哥道歉，說他在臨走以前，沒有來得及向哈?？さ呐笥褌冝o行，很覺遺憾。

Hope was over， entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the rest of the letter， she found little， except the professed affection of the writer， that could give her any comfort. Miss Darcy's praise occupied the chief of it. Her many attractions were again dwelt on， and Caroline boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy， and ventured to predict the accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former letter. She wrote also with great pleasure of her brother's being an inmate of Mr. Darcy's house， and mentioned with raptures some plans of the latter with regard to new furniture.

希望破滅了，徹底破滅了。吉英繼續(xù)把信讀下去，只覺得除了寫信人那種裝腔作勢的親切之外，就根本找不出可以自慰的地方。滿篇都是贊美達(dá)西小姐的話，絮絮叨叨地談到她的千嬌百媚。珈羅琳又高高興興地說，她們倆之間已經(jīng)一天比一天來得親熱，而且竟大膽地作出預(yù)言，說是她上封信里面提到的那些愿望，一定可以實(shí)現(xiàn)。她還得意非凡地寫道，她哥哥已經(jīng)住到達(dá)西先生家里去，又歡天喜地地提到達(dá)西打算添置新家具。

Elizabeth， to whom Jane very soon communicated the chief of all this， heard it in silent indignation. Her heart was divided between concern for her sister， and resentment against all the others. To Caroline's assertion of her brother's being partial to Miss Darcy she paid no credit. That he was really fond of Jane， she doubted no more than she had ever done; and much as she had always been disposed to like him， she could not think without anger， hardly without contempt， on that easiness of temper， that want of proper resolution which now made him the slave of his designing friends， and led him to sacrifice his own happiness to the caprice of their inclinations. Had his own happiness， however， been the only sacrifice， he might have been allowed to sport with it in what ever manner he thought best; but her sister's was involved in it， as， she thought， he must be sensible himself. It was a subject， in short， on which reflection would be long indulged， and must be unavailing. She could think of nothing else， and yet whether Bingley's regard had really died away， or were suppressed by his friends' interference; whether he had been aware of Jane's attachment， or whether it had escaped his observation; whichever were the case， though her opinion of him must be materially affected by the difference， her sister's situation remained the same， her peace equally wounded.

吉英立刻把這些事大都告訴了伊麗莎白，伊麗莎白聽了，怒而不言。她真?zhèn)耐噶?，一方面是關(guān)懷自己的姐姐，另方面是怨恨那幫人。珈羅琳信上說她哥哥鐘情于達(dá)西小姐，伊麗莎白無論如何也不相信。她仍舊象以往一樣，相信彬格萊先生真正喜歡吉英。伊麗莎白一向很看重他，現(xiàn)在才知道他原來是這樣一個(gè)容易說話而沒有主意的人，以致被他那批詭計(jì)多端的朋友們牽制住了，聽?wèi){他們反復(fù)無常地作弄他，拿他的幸福作犧牲品──想到這些，她就不能不氣憤，甚至不免有些看不起他。要是只有他個(gè)人的幸福遭到犧牲，那他愛怎么胡搞都可以，可是這里面畢竟還牽涉著她姐姐的幸福，她相信他自己也應(yīng)該明白。簡單說來，這問題當(dāng)然反復(fù)考慮過，到頭來一定是沒有辦法。她想不起什么別的了。究竟是彬格萊先生真的變了心呢，還是根本不知道？雖然對她說來，她應(yīng)該辨明其中的是非曲直，然后才能斷定他是好是壞，可是對她姐姐說來，反正都是一樣地傷心難受。

A day or two passed before Jane had courage to speak of her feelings to Elizabeth; but at last on Mrs. Bennet's leaving them together， after a longer irritation than usual about Netherfield and its master， she could not help saying， "Oh！ that my dear mother had more command over herself; she can have no idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him. But I will not repine. It cannot last long. He will be forgot， and we shall all be as we were before."

隔了一兩天，吉英才鼓起勇氣，把自己的心事說給伊麗莎白聽。且說那天班納特太太象往常一樣說起尼日斐花園和它的主人，嘮叨了老半天，后來總算走開了，只剩下她們姐妹倆，吉英這才禁不往說道：“噢，但愿媽媽多控制她自己一些吧！她沒曉得她這樣時(shí)時(shí)刻刻提起他，叫我多么痛苦。不過我決不怨誰。這局面不會(huì)長久的。他馬上就會(huì)給我們忘掉，我們還是會(huì)和往常一樣?！?/p>

Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude， but said nothing.

伊麗莎白半信半疑而又極其關(guān)切地望著姐姐，一聲不響。

"You doubt me，" cried Jane， slightly colouring; "indeed you have no reason. He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my acquaintance， but that is all. I have nothing either to hope or fear， and nothing to reproach him with. Thank God！ I have not that pain. A little time therefore. -- I shall certainly try to get the better.

吉英微微紅著臉嚷道?！澳悄阏媸呛翢o理由。他在我的記憶里可能是個(gè)最可愛的朋友，但也不過如此而已。我既沒有什么奢望，也沒有什么擔(dān)心，更沒有什么要責(zé)備他的地方。多謝上帝，我還沒有那種苦惱。因此稍微過一些時(shí)候，我一定會(huì)就慢慢克服過來的?！?/p>

With a stronger voice she soon added， "I have this comfort immediately， that it has not been more than an error of fancy on my side， and that it has done no harm to any one but myself.

"她立刻又用更堅(jiān)強(qiáng)的聲調(diào)說道：“我立刻就可以安慰自己說：這只怪我自己瞎想，好在并沒有損害別人，只損害了我自己?！?/p>

"My dear Jane！" exclaimed Elizabeth， "you are too good. Your sweetness and disinterestedness are really angelic; I do not know what to say to you. I feel as if I had never done you justice， or loved you as you deserve."

伊麗莎白連忙叫起來了：“親愛的吉英，你太善良了。你那樣好心，那樣處處為別人著想，真象天使一般;我不知道應(yīng)該怎么同你說才好。我覺得我從前待你還不夠好，愛你還不夠深?！?/p>

Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit， and threw back the praise on her sister's warm affection.

吉英竭力否認(rèn)這一切言過其實(shí)的夸獎(jiǎng)，反而用這些贊美的話來贊揚(yáng)妹妹的熱情。

"Nay，" said Elizabeth， "this is not fair. You wish to think all the world respectable， and are hurt if I speak ill of any body. I only want to think you perfect， and you set yourself against it. Do not be afraid of my running into any excess， of my encroaching on your privilege of universal good will. You need not. There are few people whom I really love， and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world， the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters， and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense. I have met with two instances lately; one I will not mention; the other is Charlotte's marriage. It is unaccountable！ in every view it is unaccountable！"

“別那么說，”伊麗莎白說，“這樣說不公平的，你總以為天下都是好人。我只要說了誰一句壞話，你就難受。我要把你看作一個(gè)完美無瑕的人，你就來駁斥。請你放心，我決不會(huì)說得過分，你有權(quán)利把四海之內(nèi)的人一視同仁，我也不會(huì)干涉你。你用不著擔(dān)心。至于我，我真正喜歡的人沒有幾個(gè)，我心目中的好人就更少了。世事經(jīng)歷得愈多，我就愈對世事不滿;我一天比一天相信，人性都是見異思遷，我們不能憑著某人表面上一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)長處或見解，就去相信他。最近我碰到了兩件事：其中一件我不愿意說出來，另一件就是夏綠蒂的婚姻問題。這簡直是莫明其妙！任你怎樣看法，都是莫明其妙！”

"My dear Lizzy， do not give way to such feelings as these. They will ruin your happiness. You do not make allowance enough for difference of situation and temper. Consider Mr. Collins's respectability， and Charlotte's prudent， steady character. Remember that she is one of a large family; that as to fortune， it is a most eligible match; and be ready to believe， for every body's sake， that she may feel something like regard and esteem for our cousin."

“親愛的麗萃，不要這樣胡思亂想吧。那會(huì)毀了你的幸福的。你對于各人處境的不同和脾氣的不同，體諒得不夠。你且想一想柯林斯先生的身份地位和夏綠蒂的謹(jǐn)慎穩(wěn)重吧。你得記住，她也算一個(gè)大家閨秀，說起財(cái)產(chǎn)方面，倒是一門挺適當(dāng)?shù)挠H事。你且顧全大家的面子，只當(dāng)她對我們那位表兄確實(shí)有幾分敬愛和器重吧?！?/p>

"To oblige you， I would try to believe almost any thing， but no one else could be benefited by such a belief as this; for were I persuaded that Charlotte had any regard for him， I should only think worse of her understanding， than I now do of her heart. My dear Jane， Mr. Collins is a conceited， pompous， narrow-minded， silly man; you know he is， as well as I do; and you must feel， as well as I do， that the woman who marries him， cannot have a proper way of thinking. You shall not defend her， though it is Charlotte Lucas. You shall not， for the sake of one individual， change the meaning of principle and integrity， nor endeavour to persuade yourself or me that selfishness is prudence， and insensibility of danger， security for happiness."

“要是看你的面子，我?guī)缀蹼S便對什么事都愿意以為真，可是這對于任何人都沒有益處;我現(xiàn)在只覺得夏綠蒂根本不懂得愛情，要是再叫我去相信她是當(dāng)真愛上了柯林斯，那我又要覺得她簡直毫無見識。親愛的吉英，柯林斯先生是個(gè)自高自大、喜愛炫耀、心胸狹窄的蠢漢，這一點(diǎn)你和我懂得一樣清楚，你也會(huì)同我一樣地感覺到，只有頭腦不健全的女人才肯嫁給他。雖說這個(gè)女人就是夏綠蒂·盧卡斯，你也不必為她辯護(hù)。你千萬不能為了某一個(gè)人而改變原則，破格遷就，也不要千方百計(jì)地說服我，或是說服你自己去相信，自私自利就是謹(jǐn)慎，糊涂膽大就等于幸福有了保障?！?/p>

"I must think your language too strong in speaking of both，" replied Jane， "and I hope you will be convinced of it， by seeing them happy together. But enough of this. You alluded to something else. You mentioned two instances. I cannot misunderstand you， but I intreat you， dear Lizzy， not to pain me by thinking that person to blame， and saying your opinion of him is sunk. We must not be so ready to fancy ourselves intentionally injured. We must not expect a lively young man to be always so guarded and circumspect. It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does."

“講到這兩個(gè)人，我以為你的話說得太過火，”吉英說?！暗改闳蘸罂吹剿麄儌z幸福相處的時(shí)候，就會(huì)相信我的話不假。這件事可也談夠了，你且談另外一件吧。你不是舉出了兩件事嗎？我不會(huì)誤解你，可是，親愛的麗萃，我求求你千萬不要以為錯(cuò)是錯(cuò)在那個(gè)人身上，千萬不要說你瞧不起他，免得我感到痛苦。我們決不能隨隨便便就以為人家在有意傷害我們。我們決不可能指望一個(gè)生龍活虎的青年會(huì)始終小心周到。我們往往會(huì)因?yàn)槲覀冏约旱奶摌s心，而給弄迷了心竅。女人們往往會(huì)把愛情這種東西幻想得太不切合實(shí)際。”

"And men take care that they should."

“因此男人們就故意逗她們那么幻想?！?/p>

"If it is designedly done， they cannot be justified; but I have no idea of there being so much design in the world as some persons imagine."

“如果這樁事當(dāng)真是存心安排好了的，那實(shí)在是他們不應(yīng)該;可是世界上是否真如某些人所想象的那樣，到處都是計(jì)謀，我可不知道。”

"I am far from attributing any part of Mr. Bingley's conduct to design，" said Elizabeth; "but without scheming to do wrong， or to make others unhappy， there may be error， and there may be misery. Thoughtlessness， want of attention to other people's feelings， and want of resolution， will do the business，"

“我決不是說彬格萊先生的行為是事先有了計(jì)謀的，”伊麗莎白說?！翱墒牵词箾]有存心做壞事，或者說，沒有存心叫別人傷心，事實(shí)上仍然會(huì)做錯(cuò)事情，引起不幸的后果。凡是粗心大意、看不出別人的好心好意，而且缺乏果斷，都一樣能害人。”

"And do you impute it to either of those？"

“你看這樁事也得歸到這類原因嗎？”

"Yes; to the last. But if I go on， I shall displease you by saying what I think of persons you esteem. Stop me whilst you can."

“當(dāng)然───應(yīng)該歸于最后一種原因。可是，如果叫我再說下去，說出我對于你所器重的那些人是怎么看法，那也會(huì)叫你不高興的。趁著現(xiàn)在我能夠住嘴的時(shí)候，且讓我住嘴吧?！?/p>

"You persist， then， in supposing his sisters influence him."

“那么說，你斷定是他的姐妹們操縱了他啦。”

"Yes， in conjunction with his friend."

“是的，還有他的朋友?！?/p>

"I cannot believe it. Why should they try to influence him？ They can only wish his happiness， and if he is attached to me， no other woman can secure it."

“我不相信。她們?yōu)槭裁匆倏v他？她們只有希望他幸福;要是他果真愛我，別的女人便無從使他幸福?！?/p>

"Your first position is false. They may wish many things besides his happiness; they may wish his increase of wealth and consequence; they may wish him to marry a girl who has all the importance of money， great connections， and pride."

“你頭一個(gè)想法就錯(cuò)了。她們除了希望他幸福以外，還有許多別的打算;她們會(huì)希望他更有錢有勢;她們會(huì)希望他跟一個(gè)出身高貴、親朋顯赫的闊女人結(jié)婚?！?/p>

"Beyond a doubt， they do wish him to chuse Miss Darcy，" replied Jane; "but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing. They have known her much longer than they have known me; no wonder if they love her better. But， whatever may be their own wishes， it is very unlikely they should have opposed their brother's. What sister would think herself at liberty to do it， unless there were something very objectionable？ If they believed him attached to me， they would not try to part us; if he were so， they could not succeed. By supposing such an affection， you make every body acting unnaturally and wrong， and me most unhappy. Do not distress me by the idea. I am not ashamed of having been mistaken -- or， at least， it is slight， it is nothing in comparison of what I should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters. Let me take it in the best light， in the light in which it may be understood."

“毫無問題，她們希望他選中達(dá)西小姐，”吉英說：“不過，說到這一點(diǎn)，她們也許是出于一片好心，并不如你所想象的那么惡劣。她們認(rèn)識她比認(rèn)識我早得多，難怪她們更喜歡她?？墒遣还芩齻冏约涸竿绾?，她們總不至于違背她們兄弟的愿望吧。除非有了什么太看不順眼的地方，哪個(gè)做姐妹的會(huì)這樣冒味？要是她們相信他愛上了我，她們決不會(huì)想要拆散我們;要是他果真愛我，她們要拆散也拆散不成。如果你一定要以為他對我真有感情，那么，她們這樣做法，便是既不近人情，又荒謬絕倫，我也就更傷心了。不要用這種想法來使我痛苦吧。我決不會(huì)因?yàn)橐荒钪疃械叫邜u──即使感到羞恥也極其輕微，倒是一想起他或他的姐妹們無情無義，我真不知道要難受多少倍呢。讓我從最好的方面去想吧，從合乎人情事理的方面去想吧。”

Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish; and from this time Mr. Bingley's name was scarcely ever mentioned between them.

伊麗莎白無法反對她這種愿望，從此以后，她們就不大提起彬格萊先生的名字。

Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no more， and though a day seldom passed in which Elizabeth did not account for it clearly， there seemed little chance of her ever considering it with less perplexity. Her daughter endeavoured to convince her of what she did not believe herself， that his attentions to Jane had been merely the effect of a common and transient liking， which ceased when he saw her no more; but though the probability of the statement was admitted at the time， she had the same story to repeat every day. Mrs. Bennet's best comfort was that Mr. Bingley must be down again in the summer.

班納特太太見他一去不回，仍然不斷地納悶，不斷地抱怨，盡管伊麗莎白幾乎沒有哪一天不給她解釋個(gè)清楚明白，然而始終無法使她減少些憂煩。女兒盡力說她，盡說一些連她自己也不相信的話給母親聽，說是彬格萊先生對于吉英的鐘情，只不過是出于一時(shí)高興，根本算不上什么，一旦她不在他眼前，也就置諸度外了。雖然班納特太太當(dāng)時(shí)也相信這些話不假，可是事后她又每天舊事重提，最后只有想出了一個(gè)聊以自慰的辦法，指望彬格萊先生來年夏天一定會(huì)回到這兒來。

Mr. Bennet treated the matter differently. "So， Lizzy，" said he one day， "your sister is crossed in love I find. I congratulate her. Next to being married， a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of， and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions. When is your turn to come？ You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jane. Now is your time. Here are officers enough at Meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country. Let Wickham be your man. He is a pleasant fellow， and would jilt you creditably."

班納特先生對這件事可就抱著兩樣的態(tài)度。有一天他對伊麗莎白說：“嘿，麗萃，我發(fā)覺你的姐姐失戀了。我倒要祝賀她。一個(gè)姑娘除了結(jié)婚以外，總喜歡不時(shí)地嘗點(diǎn)兒失戀的滋味。那可以使她們有點(diǎn)兒東西去想想，又可以在朋友們面前露露頭角。幾時(shí)輪到你頭上來呢？你也不愿意讓吉英超前太久吧?，F(xiàn)在你的機(jī)會(huì)來啦。麥里屯的軍官們很多，足夠使這個(gè)村子里的每一個(gè)年輕的姑娘失意。讓韋翰做你的對象吧。他是個(gè)有趣的家伙，他會(huì)用很體面的辦法把你遺棄。”

"Thank you， Sir， but a less agreeable man would satisfy me. We must not all expect Jane's good fortune."

“多謝您，爸爸，差一些的人也能使我滿意了。我們可不能個(gè)個(gè)都指望上吉英那樣的好運(yùn)氣?！?/p>

"True，" said Mr. Bennet， "but it is a comfort to think that， whatever of that kind may befall you， you have an affectionate mother who will always make the most of it."

“不錯(cuò)，”班納特先生說;“不管你交上了哪一種運(yùn)氣，你那位好心的媽媽反正會(huì)盡心竭力來成全你的，你只要想到這一點(diǎn)，就會(huì)感到安慰了?！?/p>

Mr. Wickham's society was of material service in dispelling the gloom， which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the Longbourn family. They saw him often， and to his other recommendations was now added that of general unreserve. The whole of what Elizabeth had already heard， his claims on Mr. Darcy， and all that he had suffered from him， was now openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and every body was pleased to think how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they had known any thing of the matter.

浪搏恩府上因?yàn)榻鼇沓隽藥准豁樌氖?，好些人都悶悶不樂，多虧有韋翰先生跟他們來來往往，把這陣悶氣消除了不少。她們常?？吹剿?，對他贊不絕口，又說他坦白爽直。伊麗莎白所聽到的那一套話───說什么達(dá)西先生有多少地方對他不起，他為達(dá)西先生吃了多少苦頭───大家都公認(rèn)了，而且公開加以談?wù)?。每個(gè)人一想到自己遠(yuǎn)在完全不知道這件事情時(shí)，早就十分討厭達(dá)西先生，便不禁非常得意。

Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be any extenuating circumstances in the case， unknown to the society of Hertfordshire; her mild and steady candour always pleaded for allowances， and urged the possibility of mistakes -- but by everybody else Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men.

只有班納特小姐以為這件事里面一定有些蹊蹺，還不曾為哈?？さ娜藗兣宄?。她是個(gè)性子柔和、穩(wěn)重公正的人，總是要求人家多多體察實(shí)情，以為事情往往可能給弄錯(cuò)，可惜別人全把達(dá)西先生看作天下再混賬不過的人。