【經(jīng)典名著閱讀】《傲慢與偏見》第四十八章 (上)
作者:Jane Austen
2011-07-05 10:00
"I have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out, if possible, from some of the young man's intimates in the regiment, whether Wickham has any relations or connections who would be likely to know in what part of the town he has now concealed himself. If there were any one that one could apply to with a probability of gaining such a clue as that, it might be of essential consequence. At present we have nothing to guide us. Colonel Forster will, I dare say, do every thing in his power to satisfy us on this head. But, on second thoughts, perhaps Lizzy could tell us what relations he has now living better than any other person."
我已經(jīng)寫信給弗斯脫上校,請他盡可能在民兵團里把那個年輕小伙子的要好朋友找?guī)讉€來打聽一下,韋翰有沒有什么親友知道他躲藏在這個城里的哪一個區(qū)域。要是我們有這樣的人可以請教,得到一些線索,那是大有用處的。目前我們還是無從捉摸。也許弗斯上校會盡量把這件事做得使我們滿意。但倡我又想了一下,覺得麗萃也許比任何人都了解情況。會知道他現(xiàn)在還有些什么親戚。
Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference for her authority proceeded; but it was not in her power to give any information of so satisfactory a nature as the compliment deserved.
伊麗莎白究竟為什么會受到這樣的推崇,她自己完全知道,只可惜她提供不出什么令人滿意的材料,所以也就受不起這樣的恭維。
She had never heard of his having had any relations, except a father and mother, both of whom had been dead many years. It was possible, however, that some of his companions in the ----shire, might be able to give more information; and, though she was not very sanguine in expecting it, the application was a something to look forward to.
她除了聽到韋翰談起過他自己的父母以外,從來不曾聽到他有什么親友,況且他父母也都去世多年。某某郡民兵團里他的一些朋友們,可能提供得出一些材料,她雖說并不能對此存著過分的奢望,但究竟不妨試一試。
Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety; but the most anxious part of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters was the first grand object of every morning's impatience. Through letters, whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated, and every succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance.
浪搏恩一家人每天都過得非常心焦,最焦急的時間莫過于等待郵差送信來。不管信上報道的是好消息還是壞消息,總是要講給大家聽,還盼望著第二天會有重要的消息傳來。
But before they heard again from Mr. Gardiner, a letter arrived for their father from a different quarter -- from Mr. Collins; which, as Jane had received directions to open all that came for him in his absence, she accordingly read; and Elizabeth, who knew what curiosities his letters always were, looked over her, and read it likewise. It was as follows:
嘉丁納先生雖然還沒有給她們寄來第二封信,可是她們卻收到了別的地方寄來的一封信,原來是柯林斯先生寄來了一封信給她們的父親。吉英事前曾受到父親的囑托,代他拆閱一切信件,于是她便來拜讀這一封信。伊麗莎白也知道柯林斯先生的信總是寫得奇奇怪怪,便也挨在吉英身旁一同拜讀。信是這樣寫的:
"MY DEAR SIR, ---I feel myself called upon by our relationship, and my situation in life, to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now suffering under, of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from Hertfordshire. Be assured, my dear Sir, that Mrs. Collins and myself sincerely sympathise with you, and all your respectable family, in your present distress, which must be of the bitterest kind, because proceeding from a cause which no time can remove. No arguments shall be wanting on my part that can alleviate so severe a misfortune; or that may comfort you, under a circumstance that must be of all others most afflicting to a parent's mind. The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this. And it is the more to be lamented, because there is reason to suppose, as my dear Charlotte informs me, that this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence, though at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think that her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she could not be guilty of such an enormity at so early an age. Howsoever that may be, you are grievously to be pitied, in which opinion I am not only joined by Mrs. Collins, but likewise by Lady Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others; for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family. And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect with augmented satisfaction on a certain event of last November, for had it been otherwise, I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me advise you then, my dear Sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence. ---I am, dear Sir, &c. &c."
長者先生賜鑒:昨接哈福德郡來信,借悉先生目前正什心煩慮亂,不勝苦悲。不佞與拙荊聞之,無論對先生個人或尊府老幼,均深表同情。以不佞之名份職位而言,自當聊申悼惜之意,何況與尊府為葭莩,益覺責無旁貸。夫癸諸情理,此次不幸事件自難免令人痛心疾首,蓋家聲一經(jīng)敗壞,便永無清洗之日,傷天下父母之心,孰有甚于此者?早知如此,但冀其早日夭亡為幸耳。不佞只有曲盡言辭,備加慰問,庶幾可以聊寬尊懷。據(jù)內(nèi)人夏綠蒂言,令媛此次淫奔,實系由于平日過分溺愛所致,此尤其可悲者也。唯不佞以為令媛年方及笄,竟而鑄成大錯,亦足見其本身天性之惡劣;先生固不必過于引咎自責也。日前遇咖苔琳夫人及其千金小姐,曾以此事奉告,夫人等亦與不佞夫婦不所同感。多蒙夫人與愚見不謀而合,認為令媛此次失足,辱沒家聲,遂使后之攀親者望而卻步,殃及其姐氏終生幸福,堪慮堪慮。瓴念言及此,不禁憶及去年十一月間一事,則又深為慶幸,否則木已成舟,勢必自取其辱,受累不淺。敬祈先生善自寬慰,任其妄自菲薄,自食其果,不足憐惜也。(下略)