Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

THEIR sister's wedding day arrived; and Jane and Elizabeth felt for her probably more than she felt for herself. The carriage was sent to meet them at ----， and they were to return in it by dinner-time. Their arrival was dreaded by the elder Miss Bennets， and Jane more especially， who gave Lydia the feelings which would have attended herself， had she been the culprit， and was wretched in the thought of what her sister must endure.

妹妹的婚期到了，吉英和伊麗莎白都為她擔(dān)心，恐怕比妹妹自己擔(dān)心得還要厲害。家里打發(fā)了一部馬車到某某地方去接新夫婦，吃中飯時(shí)他們就可以來(lái)到。兩位姐姐都怕他們來(lái)，尤其是吉英怕得厲害。她設(shè)身處地地想：要是麗迪雅這次丑行發(fā)生在她自己身上，她一定會(huì)感觸萬(wàn)千，再想到妹妹心里的難受，便越發(fā)覺得不好過(guò)。

They came. The family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive them. Smiles decked the face of Mrs. Bennet as the carriage drove up to the door; her husband looked impenetrably grave; her daughters， alarmed， anxious， uneasy.

新婚夫婦來(lái)了。全家都集合在起居室里迎接他們。當(dāng)馬車停在門前的時(shí)候，班納特太太滿面堆著笑容，她丈夫卻板著臉。女兒們又是驚奇又是焦急，而且十分不安。

Lydia's voice was heard in the vestibule; the door was thrown open， and she ran into the room. Her mother stepped forwards， embraced her， and welcomed her with rapture; gave her hand， with an affectionate smile， to Wickham， who followed his lady; and wished them both joy with an alacrity which shewed no doubt of their happiness.

只聽得門口已經(jīng)有了麗迪雅說(shuō)話的聲音，一會(huì)兒，門給打開了，麗迪雅跑進(jìn)屋來(lái)。母親高興得要命，連忙走上前來(lái)歡迎她，擁抱她，一面又帶著親切的笑容把手伸給韋翰（他走在新婦后面），祝他們夫婦倆快活。班太太的話講得那么響亮，說(shuō)明了她相信他們倆一定會(huì)幸福。

Their reception from Mr. Bennet， to whom they then turned， was not quite so cordial. His countenance rather gained in austerity; and he scarcely opened his lips. The easy assurance of the young couple， indeed， was enough to provoke him. Elizabeth was disgusted， and even Miss Bennet was shocked. Lydia was Lydia still; untamed， unabashed， wild， noisy， and fearless. She turned from sister to sister， demanding their congratulations; and when at length they all sat down， looked eagerly round the room， took notice of some little alteration in it， and observed， with a laugh， that it was a great while since she had been there.

然后新夫婦轉(zhuǎn)身到班納特先生跟前，他對(duì)他們可沒(méi)有他太太那么熱誠(chéng)。只見他的臉色顯得分外嚴(yán)峻，連嘴也不張一下。這一對(duì)年輕夫婦那種安然自得的樣子，實(shí)在叫他生氣。伊麗莎白覺得厭惡，連吉英也禁不住感到驚駭。麗迪雅還是麗迪雅──不安分，不害羞，撒野吵嚷，天不怕地不怕的。她從這個(gè)姐姐跟前走到那個(gè)姐姐跟前，要她們一個(gè)個(gè)恭喜她。最后大家都坐下來(lái)了，她連忙掃視了一下這間屋子，看到里面稍許有些改變，便笑著說(shuō)，好久不曾到這兒來(lái)了。

Wickham was not at all more distressed than herself， but his manners were always so pleasing， that had his character and his marriage been exactly what they ought， his smiles and his easy address， while he claimed their relationship， would have delighted them all. Elizabeth had not before believed him quite equal to such assurance; but she sat down， resolving within herself to draw no limits in future to the impudence of an impudent man. She blushed， and Jane blushed; but the cheeks of the two who caused their confusion suffered no variation of colour.

韋翰更沒(méi)有一點(diǎn)難受的樣子。他的儀表一向親切動(dòng)人，要是他為人正派一些，娶親合乎規(guī)矩一些，那么，這次來(lái)拜見岳家，他那笑容可掬、談吐安詳?shù)臉幼樱匀粫?huì)討人家歡喜。伊麗莎白從來(lái)不相信他竟會(huì)這樣厚顏無(wú)恥，她坐下來(lái)思忖道：一個(gè)人不要起臉來(lái)可真是漫無(wú)止境。她不禁紅了臉，吉英也紅了臉;可是那兩位當(dāng)事人，別人都為他們難為情，他們自己卻面不改色。

There was no want of discourse. The bride and her mother could neither of them talk fast enough; and Wickham， who happened to sit near Elizabeth， began enquiring after his acquaintance in that neighbourhood， with a good humoured ease which she felt very unable to equal in her replies. They seemed each of them to have the happiest memories in the world. Nothing of the past was recollected with pain; and Lydia led voluntarily to subjects which her sisters would not have alluded to for the world.

這個(gè)場(chǎng)合確實(shí)是不愁沒(méi)有話談。新娘和她母親只覺得有話來(lái)不及說(shuō);韋翰湊巧坐在伊麗莎白身旁，便向她問(wèn)起附近一帶的熟人近況如何，問(wèn)得極其和悅從容，弄得她反而不能對(duì)答如流。這一對(duì)夫婦儼然心安理得，毫無(wú)羞恥之心。他們想起過(guò)去的事，心里絲毫不覺得難受;麗迪雅又不由自主地談到了許多事情──要是換了她姐姐們，這種事情是無(wú)論如何也說(shuō)不出口的。

"Only think of its being three months，" she cried， "since I went away; it seems but a fortnight I declare; and yet there have been things enough happened in the time. Good gracious！ when I went away， I am sure I had no more idea of being married till I came back again！ though I thought it would be very good fun if I was."

只聽得麗迪雅大聲說(shuō)道：“且想想看，我已經(jīng)走了三個(gè)月了！好象還只有兩個(gè)星期呢;可是時(shí)間雖短，卻發(fā)生了多少事情。天啊！我走的時(shí)候，的確想也沒(méi)想到這次要結(jié)了婚再回來(lái)，不過(guò)我也想到：如果真就這樣結(jié)了婚，倒也挺有趣的?！?/p>

Her father lifted up his eyes. Jane was distressed. Elizabeth looked expressively at Lydia; but she， who never heard nor saw any thing of which she chose to be insensible， gaily continued， "Oh！ mamma， do the people here abouts know I am married today？ I was afraid they might not; and we overtook William Goulding in his curricle， so I was determined he should know it， and so I let down the side-glass next to him， and took off my glove， and let my hand just rest upon the window frame， so that he might see the ring， and then I bowed and smiled like any thing."

父親瞪著眼睛。吉英很難受，伊麗莎白啼笑皆非地望著麗迪雅;可是麗迪雅，凡是她不愿意知道的事，她一概不聞不問(wèn)，她仍然得意洋洋地說(shuō)下去：“噢，媽媽，附近的人們都知道我今天結(jié)婚了嗎？我怕他們還不見得都知道;我們一路來(lái)的時(shí)候，追上了威廉·戈丁的馬車，這為了要讓他知道我結(jié)婚了，便把我自己車子上的一扇玻璃窗放了下來(lái)，又脫下手套，把手放在窗口，好讓他看見我手上的戒指，然后我又對(duì)他點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭笑得什么似的。”

Elizabeth could bear it no longer. She got up， and ran out of the room; and returned no more， till she heard them passing through the hall to the dining parlour. She then joined them soon enough to see Lydia， with anxious parade， walk up to her mother's right hand， and hear her say to her eldest sister， "Ah！ Jane， I take your place now， and you must go lower， because I am a married woman."

伊麗莎白實(shí)在忍無(wú)可忍了，只得站起身來(lái)跑回屋外去，一直聽到她們走過(guò)穿堂，進(jìn)入飯廳，她才回來(lái)。來(lái)到她們這里，又見麗迪雅急急匆匆大搖大擺走到母親右邊，一面對(duì)她的大姐姐說(shuō)：“喂，吉英，這次我要坐你的位子了，你得坐到下手去，因?yàn)槲乙呀?jīng)是出了嫁的姑娘?！?/p>

It was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia that embarrassment from which she had been so wholly free at first. Her ease and good spirits increased. She longed to see Mrs. Phillips， the Lucases， and all their other neighbours， and to hear herself called "Mrs. Wickham" by each of them; and in the mean time， she went after dinner to shew her ring， and boast of being married， to Mrs. Hill and the two housemaids.

麗迪雅既然從開頭起就完全不覺得難為情，這時(shí)候當(dāng)然更是若無(wú)其事。她反而越來(lái)越不在乎，越來(lái)興頭越高。她很想去看看腓力普太太，看看盧卡斯全家人，還要把所有的鄰居都統(tǒng)統(tǒng)拜訪一遍，讓大家都叫她韋翰太太。吃過(guò)中飯，她立刻把結(jié)婚戒指顯給希爾奶奶和其他兩個(gè)女傭人看，夸耀她自己已經(jīng)結(jié)了婚。

"Well， mamma，" said she， when they were all returned to the breakfast room， "and what do you think of my husband？ Is not he a charming man？ I am sure my sisters must all envy me. I only hope they may have half my good luck. They must all go to Brighton. That is the place to get husbands. What a pity it is， mamma， we did not all go."

大家都回到起坐間以后，她又說(shuō)道：“媽媽，你覺得我丈夫怎么樣？他不是挺可愛嗎？姐姐們一定都要羨慕我。但愿她們有我一半運(yùn)氣就好啦。誰(shuí)叫她們不到白利屯去。那里才是個(gè)找丈夫的地方。真可惜，媽媽，我們沒(méi)有大家一起去！”

"Very true; and if I had my will， we should. But my dear Lydia， I don't at all like your going such a way off. Must it be so？"

“你講得真對(duì);要是照我的意見，我們?cè)缇蛻?yīng)該一起都去?？墒?，麗迪雅寶貝兒，我不愿意你到那么遠(yuǎn)的地方去。你難道非去不可嗎？”

"Oh， lord！ yes; -- there is nothing in that. I shall like it of all things. You and papa， and my sisters， must come down and see us. We shall be at Newcastle all the winter， and I dare say there will be some balls， and I will take care to get good partners for them all."

“天??！當(dāng)然非去不可，那有什么關(guān)系。我真高興極了。你和爸爸，還有姐姐們，一定要來(lái)看我們呀。我們整個(gè)冬天都住在紐卡斯?fàn)?，那兒一定?huì)有很多舞會(huì)，而且我一定負(fù)責(zé)給姐姐們找到很好舞伴。”

"I should like it beyond any thing！" said her mother.

“那我真是再喜歡也沒(méi)有了！”母親說(shuō)。

"And then when you go away， you may leave one or two of my sisters behind you; and I dare say I shall get husbands for them before the winter is over."

“等你動(dòng)身回家的時(shí)候，你可以讓一兩個(gè)姐姐留在那兒;我擔(dān)保在今年冬天以內(nèi)就會(huì)替她們找到丈夫?！?/p>

"I thank you for my share of the favour，" said Elizabeth; "but I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands."

伊麗莎白連忙說(shuō)：“謝謝你的關(guān)懷，可惜你這種找丈夫的方式，我不太欣賞。”

Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them. Mr. Wickham had received his commission before he left London， and he was to join his regiment at the end of a fortnight.

新婚夫婦只能和家里相聚十天。韋翰先生在沒(méi)有離開倫敦之前就已經(jīng)受到了委任，必須在兩星期以內(nèi)就到團(tuán)部去報(bào)到。

No one but Mrs. Bennet regretted that their stay would be so short; and she made the most of the time by visiting about with her daughter， and having very frequent parties at home. These parties were acceptable to all; to avoid a family circle was even more desirable to such as did think， than such as did not.

只有班納特太太一個(gè)人惋惜他們行期太匆促，因此她盡量抓緊時(shí)間，陪著女兒到處走親訪友，又常常在家里宴客。這些宴會(huì)大家都?xì)g迎：沒(méi)有心思的人固然愿意赴宴，有心思的人更愿意借這個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)出去解解悶。

Wickham's affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth had expected to find it; not equal to Lydia's for him. She had scarcely needed her present observation to be satisfied， from the reason of things， that their elopement had been brought on by the strength of her love， rather than by his; and she would have wondered why， without violently caring for her， he chose to elope with her at all， had she not felt certain that his flight was rendered necessary by distress of circumstances; and if that were the case， he was not the young man to resist an opportunity of having a companion.

果然不出伊麗莎白所料，韋翰對(duì)麗迪雅的恩愛比不上麗迪雅對(duì)韋翰那樣深厚。從一切事實(shí)上都可以看出來(lái)，他們的私奔多半是因?yàn)辂惖涎艧釔垌f翰，而不是因?yàn)轫f翰熱愛麗迪雅，這在伊麗莎白看來(lái)，真是一件顯而易見的事。至于說(shuō)，他既然并不十分愛她為什么還要跟她私奔，伊麗莎白一點(diǎn)也不覺得奇怪，因?yàn)樗龜喽f翰這次為債務(wù)所逼，本來(lái)非逃跑不可;那么，象他這樣一個(gè)青年，路上有一個(gè)女人陪陪他，他當(dāng)然不愿錯(cuò)過(guò)機(jī)會(huì)。

Lydia was exceedingly fond of him. He was her dear Wickham on every occasion; no one was to be put in competition with him. He did every thing best in the world; and she was sure he would kill more birds on the first of September， than any body else in the country.

麗迪雅太喜歡他了，她每說(shuō)一句話就要叫一聲親愛的韋翰。誰(shuí)也比不上他。他無(wú)論做什么事都是天下第一。她相信到了九月一日那一天，他射到的鳥一定比全國(guó)任何人都要多。

One morning， soon after their arrival， as she was sitting with her two elder sisters， she said to Elizabeth， "Lizzy， I never gave you an account of my wedding， I believe. You were not by， when I told mamma and the others all about it. Are not you curious to hear how it was managed？"

他們來(lái)到這兒沒(méi)有多少時(shí)候，有一天早晨，麗迪雅跟兩位姐姐坐在一起，對(duì)伊麗莎白說(shuō)：“麗萃，我還沒(méi)有跟你講起過(guò)我結(jié)婚的情形呢。我跟媽媽和別的姐姐們講的時(shí)候，你都不在場(chǎng)。你難道不想要聽聽這場(chǎng)喜事是怎么辦的嗎？”

"No really，" replied Elizabeth; "I think there cannot be too little said on the subject."

“不想聽，真不想聽，”伊麗莎白回答道：“我認(rèn)為這樁事談得不算少了?！?/p>

"La！ You are so strange！ But I must tell you how it went off. We were married， you know， at St. Clement's， because Wickham's lodgings were in that parish. And it was settled that we should all be there by eleven o'clock. My uncle and aunt and I were to go together; and the others were to meet us at the church. Well， Monday morning came， and I was in such a fuss！ I was so afraid， you know， that something would happen to put it off， and then I should have gone quite distracted. And there was my aunt， all the time I was dressing， preaching and talking away just as if she was reading a sermon. However， I did not hear above one word in ten， for I was thinking， you may suppose， of my dear Wickham. I longed to know whether he would be married in his blue coat."

“哎呀！你這個(gè)人太奇怪！我一定要把經(jīng)過(guò)情形告訴你。你知道，我們是在圣克利門教堂結(jié)的婚，因?yàn)轫f翰住在那個(gè)教區(qū)里面。大家約定十一點(diǎn)鐘到那兒。舅父母跟我一塊兒去的，別的人都約定在教堂里碰頭。唔，到了星期一早上，我真是慌張得要命。你知道，我真怕會(huì)發(fā)生什么意外，把婚期耽擱了，那我可真要發(fā)狂了。我在打扮，舅母一直不住嘴地講呀，說(shuō)呀，好像是在傳道似的。她十句話我最多聽進(jìn)一句，你可以想象得到，我那時(shí)一心在惦記著我親愛的韋翰。我一心想要知道。他是不是穿著他那件藍(lán)衣服去結(jié)婚。

"Well， and so we breakfasted at ten as usual; I thought it would never be over; for， by the by， you are to understand， that my uncle and aunt were horrid unpleasant all the time I was with them. If you'll believe me， I did not once put my foot out of doors， though I was there a fortnight. Not one party， or scheme， or any thing. To be sure London was rather thin， but， however， the Little Theatre was open. Well， and so just as the carriage came to the door， my uncle was called away upon business to that horrid man Mr. Stone. And then， you know， when once they get together， there is no end of it. Well， I was so frightened I did not know what to do， for my uncle was to give me away; and if we were beyond the hour， we could not be married all day. But， luckily， he came back again in ten minutes' time， and then we all set out. However， I recollected afterwards that if he had been prevented going， the wedding need not be put off， for Mr. Darcy might have done as well."

“唔，像平常一樣，我們那天是十點(diǎn)鐘吃早飯的。我只覺得一頓飯老是吃不完，說(shuō)到這里，我得順便告訴你，我待在舅父母那兒的一段時(shí)期，他們一直很不高興。說(shuō)來(lái)你也許不信，我雖在那兒待了兩個(gè)星期，卻沒(méi)有出過(guò)家門一步。沒(méi)有參加過(guò)一次宴會(huì)，沒(méi)有一點(diǎn)兒消遺，真過(guò)得無(wú)聊透頂。老實(shí)說(shuō)，倫敦雖然并不太熱鬧，不過(guò)那個(gè)小戲院還是開著。言歸正傳，那天馬車來(lái)了，舅父卻讓那個(gè)名叫史桐先生的討厭家伙叫去有事。你知道，他們倆一碰頭，就不想分手。我真給嚇壞了，不知道怎么是好，因這需要舅父送嫁;要是我們誤了鐘點(diǎn)，那天就結(jié)不成婚。幸虧他不到十分鐘就回來(lái)了，于是我們一塊兒動(dòng)身。不過(guò)我后來(lái)又想起來(lái)了，要是他真給纏住了不能分身，婚期也不會(huì)延遲，因?yàn)檫€有達(dá)西先生可以代勞。”

"Mr. Darcy！" repeated Elizabeth， in utter amazement."

伊麗莎白大驚失色，又把這話重復(fù)了一遍：“達(dá)西先生！”

Oh， yes！ -- he was to come there with Wickham， you know， But gracious me！ I quite forgot！ I ought not to have said a word about it. I promised them so faithfully！ What will Wickham say？ It was to be such a secret！"

“噢，是呀！他也要陪著韋翰上教堂去呢。天哪，我怎么完全給弄糊涂了！這件事我應(yīng)該一字不提才對(duì)。我早已在他們面前保證不說(shuō)的！不知道韋翰會(huì)怎樣怪我呢？這本來(lái)應(yīng)該嚴(yán)格保守秘密的！”

"If it was to be secret，" said Jane， "say not another word on the subject. You may depend upon my seeking no further."

“如果是秘密，”吉英說(shuō)，“那么，就請(qǐng)你再也不要說(shuō)下去了。你放心，我決不會(huì)再追問(wèn)你?！?/p>

"Oh！ certainly，" said Elizabeth， though burning with curiosity; "we will ask you no questions."

“絕對(duì)的，”伊麗莎白雖然很好奇嘴上卻說(shuō)，“我們不會(huì)追問(wèn)你的?！?/p>

"Thank you，" said Lydia， "for if you did， I should certainly tell you all， and then Wickham would be angry."On such encouragement to ask， Elizabeth was forced to put it out of her power， by running away.

“謝謝你們，”麗迪雅說(shuō)：“要是你們問(wèn)下去，我當(dāng)然會(huì)把底細(xì)全部告訴你們，這一來(lái)就會(huì)叫韋翰生氣?！彼@話明明是慫恿伊麗莎白問(wèn)下去，伊麗莎白便只得跑開，讓自己要問(wèn)也無(wú)從問(wèn)起。

But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible; or at least it was impossible not to try for information. Mr. Darcy had been at her sister's wedding. It was exactly a scene， and exactly among people， where he had apparently least to do， and least temptation to go. Conjectures as to the meaning of it， rapid and wild， hurried into her brain; but she was satisfied with none. Those that best pleased her， as placing his conduct in the noblest light， seemed most improbable. She could not bear such suspense; and hastily seizing a sheet of paper， wrote a short letter to her aunt， to request an explanation of what Lydia had dropt， if it were compatible with the secrecy which had been intended.

但是，這件事是不可能不聞不問(wèn)的，至少也得去打聽一下。達(dá)西先生竟會(huì)參加了她妹妹的婚禮！那樣一個(gè)場(chǎng)面，那樣兩個(gè)當(dāng)事人，他當(dāng)然萬(wàn)萬(wàn)不愿意參與，也絕對(duì)沒(méi)有理由去參與。她想來(lái)想去，把各種各樣古怪的念頭都想到了，可還是想不出一個(gè)所以然來(lái)。她當(dāng)然愿意從最好的方面去想，認(rèn)為他這次是胸襟寬大，有心表示好意，可是她這種想法又未免太不切合實(shí)際。她無(wú)論如何也摸不著頭腦，實(shí)在難受，于是連忙拿起一張紙，寫了封短短的信給舅母，請(qǐng)求她把麗迪雅剛才無(wú)意中泄露出來(lái)的那句話解釋一下，只要與原來(lái)保守秘密的計(jì)劃能夠并行不悖就是了。

"You may readily comprehend，" she added， "what my curiosity must be to know how a person unconnected with any of us， and （comparatively speaking） a stranger to our family， should have been amongst you at such a time. Pray write instantly， and let me understand it -- unless it is， for very cogent reasons， to remain in the secrecy which Lydia seems to think necessary; and then I must endeavour to be satisfied with ignorance."

她在信上寫道：“你當(dāng)然很容易了解到，他跟我們非親非眷，而且跟我們家里相當(dāng)陌生，竟會(huì)跟你們一同參加這次婚禮，這叫我怎么能夠不想打聽一下底細(xì)呢？請(qǐng)你立刻回信，讓我把事情弄明白。如果確實(shí)如麗迪雅所說(shuō)，此事非保守秘密不可，那我也只得不聞不問(wèn)了?！?/p>

"Not that I shall， though，" she added to herself， as she finished the letter; "and my dear aunt， if you do not tell me in an honourable manner， I shall certainly be reduced to tricks and stratagems to find it out."

寫完了信以后，她又自言自語(yǔ)地說(shuō)：“親愛的舅母，如果你不老老實(shí)實(shí)告訴我，我迫不得已，便只有千方百計(jì)地去打聽了?！?/p>

Jane's delicate sense of honour would not allow her to speak to Elizabeth privately of what Lydia had let fall; Elizabeth was glad of it; -- till it appeared whether her inquiries would receive any satisfaction， she had rather be without a confidante.

且說(shuō)吉英是個(gè)十二萬(wàn)分講究信用的人，她無(wú)論如何也不肯把麗迪雅嘴里漏出來(lái)的話暗地里去說(shuō)給伊麗莎白聽。伊麗莎白很滿意她這種作風(fēng)。她既然已經(jīng)寫信去問(wèn)舅母，不管回信能不能使她滿意，至少在沒(méi)有接到回信以前，最好不要向任何人透露心事。