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。????小說描寫了鄉紳班納特五個待字閨中的千金的生活，主角是二女兒伊麗莎白。她在一次舞會上認識了一位年輕的紳士達西，但是耳聞他為人傲慢，就一直對他心生排斥。經歷了一番周折，伊麗莎白終于消除了對達西的偏見，達西也不再傲慢，有情人終成眷屬。????這部作品以日常生活為素材，一反當時社會上流行的感傷小說矯揉造作的寫作手法，生動地反映了18世紀末到19世紀初處于保守和閉塞狀態下的英國鄉鎮生活和人情世態。它多次被改編成電影和電視劇。

本文節選自《傲慢與偏見》第五十四章。

The contents of this letter threw Elizabeth into a?flutter?of spirits， in which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or pain?bore?the greatest share. The?vague?and unsettled?suspicions?which uncertainty had produced of what Mr. Darcy might have been doing to forward her sister's match， which she had feared to encourage as an?exertion?of goodness too great to be probable， and at the same time dreaded to be just， from the pain of obligation， were proved beyond their greatest extent to be true！ He had followed them purposely to town， he had taken on himself all the trouble and?mortificationattendant?on such a research; in which?supplication?had been necessary to a woman whom he must?abominate?and?despise， and where he was reduced to meet， frequently meet， reason with， persuade， and finally bribe， the man whom he always most wished to avoid， and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce. He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor?esteem. Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her.

伊麗莎白讀了這封信，真是心神搖蕩。她這種心情，叫人家弄不明白她是高興多于苦痛，還是苦痛多于高興。她本來也曾隱隱約約、疑疑惑惑地想到達西先生可能會成全她妹妹的好事，可是又不敢往這方面多想，怕他不可能好心到這個地步;另一方面她又顧慮到，如果他當真這樣做了，那又未免情意太重，報答不了人家，因此她又痛苦。如今這些揣測卻成了千真萬確的事實！想不到他那天竟會跟隨著她和舅父母趕到城里去。他不惜擔當起一切的麻煩和艱苦，來探索這件事。他不得不向一個他所深惡痛絕、極其鄙視的女人去求情。他不得不委曲求全，同一個他極力要加以回避、而且連名字也不愿意提起的人去見面，常常見面，跟他說理，規勸他，最后還不得不賄賂他。他這般仁至義盡，只不過是為了一個他既無好感又不器重的姑娘。她心里輕輕地說，他這樣做，都是為了她。

But it was a hope shortly checked by other considerations， and she soon felt that even her?vanity?was insufficient， when required to depend on his?affection?for her -- for a woman who had already refused him -- as able to overcome a sentiment so natural as?abhorrence?against relationship with Wickham. Brother-in-law of Wickham！ Every kind of pride must?revolt?from the connection. He had， to be sure， done much. She was ashamed to think how much. But he had given a reason for his interference， which asked no extraordinary?stretch?of belief. It was reasonable that he should feel he had been wrong; he had?liberality， and he had the means of exercising it; and though she would not place herself as his principal?inducement， she could， perhaps， believe that remaining?partiality?for her might assist his endeavours in a cause where her peace of mind must be?materially?concerned. It was painful，?exceedingly?painful， to know that they were under obligations to a person who could never receive a return. They owed the restoration of Lydia， her character， every thing， to him. Oh！ how heartily did she grieve over every?ungracious?sensation she had ever encouraged， every?saucy?speech she had ever directed towards him. For herself she was humbled; but she was proud of him. Proud that in a cause of compassion and honour， he had been able to get the better of himself. She read over her aunt's?commendation?of him again and again. It was hardly enough; but it pleased her. She was even sensible of some pleasure， though mixed with regret， on finding how?steadfastly?both she and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence?subsisted?between Mr. Darcy and herself.

但是，再想到一些別的方面，她立刻就不敢再存這個希望。她馬上感覺到，她本可以從虛榮心出發，認為他確實愛她，可是她哪能存著那么大的虛榮心，指望他會愛上一個已經拒絕過他的女人！他不愿意跟韋翰做親戚，這種情緒本來也極其自然，又哪能指望他去遷就！何況是跟韋翰做連襟！凡是稍有自尊心的人，都容忍不了這種親戚關系。毫無問題，他為這件事出了很大的力。她簡直不好意思去想象他究竟出了多大的力。他所以要過問這件事，理由已經由他自己加以說明，你不必多費思索就可以深信無疑。他怪他自己當初做事欠妥，這自然講得通;他很慷慨，而且有資格可以慷慨;雖然她不愿意認為他這次主要就是為了她，可是她也許可以相信，他對她依舊未能忘情，因此遇到這樣一件與她心境攸關的事情，他還是愿意盡心竭力。一想起這樣一個人對她們情意隆重，而她們卻無法報答他，這真是痛苦，說不盡的痛苦。麗迪雅能夠回來，能夠保全了人格，這一切都得歸功于他。她一想起自己以前竟會那樣厭惡他，竟會對他那樣出言唐突，真是萬分傷心！她不勝自愧，同時又為他感到驕傲。驕傲的是，他竟會一本同情之心，崇尚義氣，委曲求全。于是她把舅母信上恭維他的那段話讀了又讀，只覺還嫌說得不夠，可是也足以叫她十分高興。她發覺舅父母都斷定她跟達西先生感情深切，推心置腹。她雖然不免因此而感到幾分懊惱，卻也頗為得意。

She was roused from her seat， and her?reflections， by some one's?approach; and before she could strike into another path， she was overtaken by Wickham.

這時已經有人走近前來，打斷了她的深思，使她從座位上站起來;她剛要從另一條小徑過去，只見韋翰卻趕了上來。

"I am afraid I interrupt your?solitary?ramble， my dear sister？" said he， as he joined her.

他走到她身邊說道：“我怕打擾了你清靜的散步吧，親愛的姐姐?！?/p>

"You certainly do，" she replied with a smile; "but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome."

她笑著回答道：“的確是這樣，不過，打擾未必就不受歡迎?！?/p>

"I should be sorry indeed， if it were. We were always good friends; and now we are better."

“要是這樣，我真過意不去。我們一向是好朋友，現在更加親近了?！?/p>

"True. Are the others coming out？"

“你說得是。他們都出來了嗎？”

"I do not know. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to Meryton. And so， my dear sister， I find， from our uncle and aunt， that you have actually seen Pemberley."

“不知道。媽媽和麗迪雅乘著馬車到麥里屯去了。親愛的姐姐，聽舅父母說起，你當真到彭伯里去玩過了?！?/p>

She replied in the?affirmative.

她說，當真去過了。

"I almost envy you the pleasure， and yet I believe it would be too much for me， or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle. And you saw the old housekeeper， I suppose？ Poor Reynolds， she was always very fond of me. But of course she did not mention my name to you."

“你這眼福幾乎叫我嫉妒，可惜我又消受不了，否則，我到紐卡斯爾去的時候，也可以順道一訪。我想，你看到了那位年老的管家奶奶吧？可憐的雷諾奶奶！她從前老是那么喜歡我。不過，她當然不會在你面前提起我的名字?！?/p>

"Yes， she did."

“她倒提到了?！?/p>

"And what did she say？"

“她怎么說來著？”

"That you were gone into the army， and she was afraid had -- not turned out well. At such a distance as that， you know， things are strangely?misrepresented."

“她說你進了軍隊，就怕──-就怕你情形不大好。路隔得那么遠，傳來的話十分靠不住?！?/p>

"Certainly，" he replied， biting his lips.

“當然羅，”他咬著嘴唇回答道。

Elizabeth hoped she had silenced him; but he soon afterwards said， "I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other several times. I wonder what he can be doing there."

伊麗莎白滿以為這一下可以叫他住嘴了;但是過不了一會兒，他又說道：“上個月真出乎意料，在城里碰到了達西。我們見了好幾次面。我不知道他到城里有什么事?！?/p>

"Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh，" said Elizabeth. "It must be something particular， to take him there at this time of year."

“或許是準備跟德·包爾結婚吧，”伊麗莎白說?！八谶@樣的季節到城里去，一定是為了什么特別的事?！?/p>

"Undoubtedly. Did you see him while you were at Lambton？ I thought I understood from the Gardiners that you had."

“毫無疑問。你在藍白屯見到過他嗎？聽嘉丁納夫婦說，你見到過他的?！?/p>

"Yes; he introduced us to his sister."

“見過，他還把我們介紹給他的妹妹?！?/p>

"And do you like her？"

“你喜歡她嗎？”

"Very much."

“非常喜歡?！?/p>

"I have heard， indeed， that she is uncommonly?improved?within this year or two. When I last saw her， she was not very?promising. I am very glad you liked her. I hope she will turn out well."

“真的，我聽說她這一兩年來有了很大的長進。以前看到他的時候，我真覺得她沒有什么出息。你喜歡她，我很高興。但愿她能夠改好得象個人樣?！?/p>

"I dare say she will; she has got over the most?trying?age."

“她一定會那樣;她那最容易惹禍的年齡已經過去了?！?/p>

"Did you go by the village of Kympton？"

“你們經過金泊屯村的嗎？”

"I do not recollect that we did."

“我記不得是否到過那個地方?！?/p>

"I mention it， because it is the living which I ought to have had. A most delightful place！ -- Excellent Parsonage House！ It would have suited me in every respect."

“我所以要提到那個地方，就因為我當初應該得到的一份牧師俸祿就在那兒。那是個非常好玩的地方！那所牧師住宅也好極了！各方面都適合我?！?/p>

"How should you have liked making?sermons？"

“你竟喜歡講道嗎？”

"Exceedingly well. I should have considered it as part of my duty， and the exertion would soon have been nothing. One ought not to?repine; -- but， to be sure， it would have been such a thing for me！ The quiet， the retirement of such a life would have answered all my ideas of happiness！ But it was not to be. Did you ever hear Darcy mention the circumstance， when you were in Kent？"

“喜歡極了。我本當把它看作我自己本份的職務，即使開頭要費點力氣，過不了多久也就無所謂了。一個人不應該后悔;可是，這的確是我的一份好差事！這樣安閑清靜的生活，完全合乎我幸福的理想！只可惜已經事過境遷。你在肯特郡的時候，有沒有聽到達西談起過這件事？”

"I have heard from?authority， which I thought as good， that it was left you?conditionally?only， and at the will of the present patron."

“聽到過的，而且我認為他的話很靠得住，聽說那個位置給你是有條件的，而且目前這位施主可以自由處理?！?/p>

"You have. Yes， there was something in that; I told you so from the first， you may remember."

“你聽到過！不錯，這話也有道理;我開頭就告訴過你，你可能還記得?！?/p>

"I did hear， too， that there was a time， when sermon-making was not so?palatable?to you as it seems to be at present; that you actually declared your resolution of never taking orders， and that the business had been compromised accordingly."

“我還聽說，你過去有一個時期，并不象現在這樣喜歡講道，你曾經慎重其事地宣布過，決計不要當牧師，于是這件事就此解決了?！?/p>

"You did！ and it was not wholly without?foundation. You may remember what I told you on that point， when first we talked of it."

“你真聽說過！這話倒不是完全沒有根據。你也許還記得，我們第一次談起這件事的時候，我也提起過的?！?/p>

They were now almost at the door of the house， for she had walked fast to get rid of him; and unwilling， for her sister's sake， to?provoke?him， she only said in reply， with a good-humoured smile， "Come， Mr. Wickham， we are brother and sister， you know. Do not let us?quarrel?about the past. In future， I hope we shall be always of one mind."

他們兩人現在快要走到家門口了，因為她有意走得很快，要摔脫他;不過看在妹妹份上，她又不愿意使他生氣，因此她只是和顏悅色地笑了笑，回答道：“算了吧，韋翰先生;你要知道，我們現在已是兄弟姐妹。不要再為了過去的事去爭論吧。但愿將來一直不會有什么沖突?！?/p>

She held out her hand; he kissed it with?affectionate?gallantry， though he hardly knew how to look， and they entered the house.

她伸出手來，他親切而殷勤地吻了一下。他這時候簡直有些啼笑皆非。他們就這樣走進了屋子。

MR. Wickham was so perfectly satisfied with this conversation that he never again?distressed?himself， or?provoked?his dear sister Elizabeth， by introducing the subject of it; and she was pleased to find that she had said enough to keep him quiet.

韋翰先生對于這場談話完全感到滿意，從此他便不再提起這件事，免得自尋苦惱，也免得惹他親愛的大姨伊麗莎白生氣;伊麗莎白見他居然給說得不再開口，也覺得很高興。

The day of his and Lydia's?departure?soon came， and Mrs. Bennet was forced to?submit?to a separation， which， as her husband by no means entered into her scheme of their all going to Newcastle， was likely to continue at least a twelvemonth.

轉眼之間，他和麗迪雅的行期來到了，班納特太太不得不和他們分離，而且至少要分別一年，因為班納特先生堅決不贊同她的計劃，不肯讓全家都搬到紐卡斯去。

"Oh！ my dear Lydia，" she cried， "when shall we meet again？"

她哭了：“哦，我的麗迪雅寶貝，我們到哪一天才能見面呢？”

"Oh， lord！ I don't know. Not these two or three years， perhaps."

“天哪！我也不知道。也可能兩年三年見不著面?！?/p>

"Write to me very often， my dear."

“常常寫信給我吧，好孩子?！?/p>

"As often as I can. But you know married women have never much time for writing. My sisters may write to me. They will have nothing else to do."

“我一定常常寫信來?？墒悄阒?，結了婚的女人是沒有什么工夫寫信的。姐妹們倒可以常常寫信給我，反正她們無事可做?！?/p>

Mr. Wickham's?adieus?were much more?affectionate?than his wife's. He smiled， looked handsome， and said many pretty things.

韋翰先生一聲聲的再見比他太太叫得親切得多。他笑容滿面，儀態萬方，又說了多少漂亮話。

"He is as fine a fellow，" said Mr. Bennet， as soon as they were out of the house， "as ever I saw. He?simpers， and?smirks， and makes love to us all. I am?prodigiously?proud of him. I defy even Sir William Lucas himself to produce a more valuable son-in-law."

他們一走出門，班納特先生就說：“他是我生平所看到的最漂亮的一個人。他既會假笑，又會癡笑，又會跟大家調笑。我真為他感到莫大的驕傲。我敢說，連盧卡斯爵士也未必拿得出一個更名貴的女婿?！?/p>

The loss of her daughter made Mrs. Bennet very dull for several days.

女兒走了以后，班納特太太郁悶了好多天。

"I often think，" said she， "that there is nothing so bad as parting with one's friends. One seems so?forlorn?without them."

她說：“我常常想，同自己的親人離別，真是再難受不過的事;他們走了，我好象失去了歸宿?！?/p>

"This is the?consequence， you see， Madam， of marrying a daughter，" said Elizabeth. "It must make you better satisfied that your other four are single."

伊麗莎白說：“媽媽，你要明白，這就是嫁女兒的下場，好在你另外四個女兒還沒有人要，一定會叫你好受些?！?/p>

"It is no such thing. Lydia does not leave me because she is married， but only because her husband's regiment happens to be so far off. If that had been nearer， she would not have gone so soon."

“完全不是那么回事。麗迪雅并不是因為結了婚而要離開我，而是因為她丈夫的部隊湊巧駐扎提那么遠。要是近一點，她就用不到走得這樣快了?！?/p>

But the?spiritless?condition which this event threw her into was shortly relieved， and her mind opened again to the?agitation?of hope， by an article of news which then began to be in?circulation. The housekeeper at Netherfield had received orders to prepare for the arrival of her master， who was coming down in a day or two， to shoot there for several weeks. Mrs. Bennet was quite in the?fidgets. She looked at Jane， and smiled and shook her head by turns.

且說這事雖然使班納特太太精神頹喪，不過沒有過多久也就好了，因為這時候外界正流傳著一件新聞，使她的精神又振作起來。原來風聞尼日斐花園的主人一兩天內就要回到鄉下來，打幾個星期的獵，他的管家奶奶正在奉命收拾一切。班納特太太聽到這消息，簡直坐立不安。她一會兒望望吉英，一會兒笑笑，一會兒搖搖頭。

"Well， well， and so Mr. Bingley is coming down， sister，" （for Mrs. Phillips first brought her the news）. "Well， so much the better. Not that I care about it， though. He is nothing to us， you know， and I am sure I never want to see him again. But， however， he is very welcome to come to Netherfield， if he likes it. And who knows what may happen？ But that is nothing to us. You know， sister， we agreed long ago never to mention a word about it. And so， is it quite certain he is coming？"

“好極了，彬格萊先生居然要來了，妹妹”（因為第一個告訴她這消息的正是腓力普太太。）“好極了，實在太好了。不過我倒并不在乎。你知道，我們一點也不把他放在心上，我的確再也不想見到他了。不過，他既然愿意回到尼日斐花園來，我們自然還是歡迎他。誰知道會怎么樣呢？反正與我們無關。你知道，妹妹，我們早就講好，再也不提這件事。他真的會來嗎？”

"You may depend on it，" replied the other， "for Mrs. Nicholls was in Meryton last night; I saw her passing by， and went out myself on purpose to know the truth of it; and she told me that it was certain true. He comes down on Thursday at the latest， very likely on Wednesday. She was going to the butcher's， she told me， on purpose to order in some meat on Wednesday， and she has got three couple of ducks just fit to be killed."

她的妹妹說：“你放心好了，尼可斯奶奶昨兒晚上去過麥里屯。我親眼看見她走過，便特地跑出去向她打聽，是不是真有這回事;她告訴我說，的確真有這回事。他最遲星期四就會來，很可能星期三就來。她又說，她正要上肉鋪子去定點兒肉，準備星期三做菜，她還有六只鴨子，已經可以宰了吃?！?/p>

Miss Bennet had not been able to hear of his coming without changing colour. It was many months since she had mentioned his name to Elizabeth; but now， as soon as they were alone together， she said，

班納特小姐聽到他要來，不禁變了臉色。她已經有好幾個月沒有在伊麗莎白面前提起過他的名字;可是這一次等到只有她們姐妹兩人在一起的時候，她就說道：

"I saw you look at me today， Lizzy， when my aunt told us of the present report; and I know I appeared distressed. But don't imagine it was from any?silly?cause. I was only confused for the moment， because I felt that I should be looked at. I do assure you that the news does not affect me either with pleasure or pain. I am glad of one thing， that he comes alone; because we shall see the less of him. Not that I am afraid of myself， but I dread other people's?remarks."

“麗萃，今天姨母告訴我這個消息的時候，我看到你直望著我，我知道我當時神色很難看;可是人千萬別以為是為了這一類的傻事，只不過當時我覺得大家都在盯著我看所以一時之間有些心亂。老實告訴你，這個消息既不使我感到愉快，也不使我感到痛苦。只有一點使我感到高興──這次他是一個人來的，因此我們看到他的機會就會比較少。我本身并沒有什么顧慮，而是怕別人閑言閑語?！?/p>

Elizabeth did not know what to make of it. Had she not seen him in Derbyshire， she might have supposed him capable of coming there with no other view than what was?acknowledged; but she still thought him?partial?to Jane， and she?wavered?as to the greater?probability?of his coming there with his friend's?permission， or being bold enough to come without it.

伊麗莎白對這件事不知道怎么想才好。如果她上次沒有在德比郡見到他，她也許會以為他此來并非別有用心?？墒撬琅f認為他對吉英未能忘情。這次他究竟是得到了他朋友的允許才來的呢，還是他自己大膽跑來的？這實在叫她無從斷定。

"Yet it is hard，" she sometimes thought， "that this poor man cannot come to a house which he has legally hired， without raising all this?speculation！ I will leave him to himself."

她有時候不由得這么想：“這可憐的人，回到自己租定的房子里來，卻引起人家這樣的紛紛猜測，想起來著實令人難受。我也別去管他吧?！?/p>

In spite of what her sister declared， and really believed to be her feelings in the expectation of his arrival， Elizabeth could easily perceive that her spirits were affected by it. They were more disturbed， more?unequal， than she had often seen them.

不管她姐姐嘴上怎么說，心里怎么想，是否盼望他來，伊麗莎白卻很容易看出了她姐姐精神上受到了影響，比從前更加心魂不定，神色不安。

The subject which had been so warmly?canvassed?between their parents， about a twelvemonth ago， was now brought forward again.

大約在一年以前，父母曾經熱烈地爭論過這個問題，如今又要舊事重提了。

"As soon as ever Mr. Bingley comes， my dear，" said Mrs. Bennet， "you will wait on him of course."

班納特太太又對她丈夫說：“我的好老爺，彬格萊先生一來，你一定要去拜訪他呀?！?/p>

"No， no. You forced me into visiting him last year， and promised， if I went to see him， he should marry one of my daughters. But it ended in nothing， and I will not be sent on a fool's?errand?again."

“不去，不去，去年你硬逼著我去看他，說什么只要我去看了他，他就會挑中我們的某一個女兒做太太，可是結果只落得一場空，我再也不干這種傻事了?！?/p>

His wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an attention would be from all the neighbouring gentlemen， on his returning to Netherfield.

他太太又說，那位貴人一回到尼日斐花園，鄰居們都少不了要去拜候他。

"'Tis an?etiquette?I despise，" said he. "If he wants our society， let him seek it. He knows where we live. I will not spend my hours in running after my neighbours every time they go away and come back again."

他說：“我恨透了這一類的禮節，要是他想跟我們來往，讓他自己找上門來好了。他又不是不知道我們的住址。鄰居們每次來來去去，都得要我來迎送，我可沒有這種功夫?！?/p>

"Well， all I know is， that it will be?abominably?rude if you do not wait on him. But， however， that shan't prevent my asking him to dine here， I am determined. We must have Mrs. Long and the Gouldings soon. That will make thirteen with ourselves， so there will be just room at table for him."

“唔，你不去拜訪他，那就是太不知禮。不過，我還是可以請他到這兒來吃飯，我已經決定要請他來。我們本當早些請郎格太太和戈丁一家人來，加上我們自己家里的人，一共是十三個，所以正好留個位子給他?！?/p>

Consoled?by this resolution， she was the better able to bear her husband's?incivility; though it was very mortifying to know that her neighbours might all see Mr. Bingley， in consequence of it， before they did. As the day of his arrival drew near.

她決定了這么做，心里就覺得快慰了些，因此丈夫的無理也就叫她好受了些;然而，這樣一來，結果就會使鄰居們比他們先看到彬格萊先生。他來的日子迫近了。