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"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."
“这样，今天下午四点钟，我们便可以迎来这位和平的使者了，”班纳特先生一边把信折好一边说，“我敢说，他似乎是一个非常有礼貌、非常有责任感的年轻人。我相信他将来会是我们的一位珍贵的朋友，尤其是凯瑟琳夫人要是开眼，容许他以后再来这里的话。”
"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."
“有关我们女儿的那段话，他说的倒是不错。如果他愿意为她们做些补偿，我这方面是不会打击他的积极性的。”
"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."
“虽然这很困难，”吉英说，“去猜测他会以何种方式给予我们应得的补偿，但他的愿望无疑是值得称赞的。”
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.
伊丽莎白则对科林斯给予凯瑟琳夫人那种五体投地的尊敬，深感诧异，对他竟那么好心好意随时替教民们行洗礼、主持婚丧礼仪，觉得好奇。
"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. — Could he be a sensible man, sir?"
“他一定是个古怪的人，我想，”伊丽莎白说，“我对他还弄不明白。他的文体显得藻饰浮夸。他为将来继承财产的事道歉，究竟是什么意思？即便他有能力在这件事上帮助我们，也不要以为能指靠上他。他是个通情达理的人吗，父亲？”
"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."
“不是，亲爱的，我想他不是。我觉得我将会发现他是个极不通情理的人。他在信里表现出的既谦卑又自大的混合品质，便预示出了这一点。我倒是非常想见见他了。”
"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."
“从写文章的角度看，”玛丽说，“他的信倒是看不出有什么缺点。橄榄枝的这一说法（喻指修和求好）虽然并不新鲜了，但我觉得用在这里还是很恰当的。”
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.
对凯瑟琳和丽迪雅来说，这封信和它的作者都毫无趣味可言。反正她们的表兄是不会穿着“红制服”来的，而这几个星期以来，穿着其他任何颜色衣服的人，她们都是不乐意结交的。
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.
对于她们的母亲来说，科林斯先生的这封信已经消除了她不少的坏情绪，她现在已经准备平心静气地来迎接他了，这让她的丈夫和女儿们都吃惊不小。
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.
科林斯先生很守时地到来了，并受到了全家人很有礼貌的接待。班纳特先生几乎很少说话，他的妻子和女儿们看上去倒是挺能谈的。科林斯先生本人好像并不需要人家的鼓励，也不想恪守沉默。
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;
他今年二十五岁，是位个子很高、身体略显肥胖的年轻人。他做派持重堂皇，行为举止处处要合乎礼仪。他刚刚坐定便夸赞起班纳特太太有福，养了五个多么出色的女儿，对她们的美貌他早有耳闻，不过现在看来，真是百闻不如一见啊；
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,
随后又补充说他毫不怀疑，班纳特太太将看到她们个个到时候都能嫁个好人家。这一番恭维自然并非在场的每个人都爱听，不过班纳特太太从没对赞扬的话挑过刺儿，这时喜滋滋地回答道：
"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."
“我相信你是个善人儿，先生。我衷心希望你所说的这一切都能应验。否则的话，我的女儿们将来便会遭受穷困了。事情这样决定，可真是有些太令人费解了。”
"You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate."
“你也许是指继承家产这件事吧。”
"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."
“噢！是的，先生。这对我可怜的女儿们来说，真是太不幸了，你必须承认。我并不是想和你过不去，我也知道世上的这类事情全靠命运的安排。一个人的财产一旦要限定继承人，那你就不知道它们会落到谁的手里去了。”
"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 —"
“我对我漂亮表妹们的这一苦衷是十分理解和体谅的，夫人——而且就这个话题，我也能说出许多见解，只是我觉得还是慎重勿躁为好。不过，我现在能向年轻小姐们肯定的一点是，我这次来是要向她们表达我的仰慕之情的。眼下我不愿再多说什么，等我们之间进一步地了解之后，也许我会——”
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.
他的话被吃晚饭的召唤声打断了，姑娘们不免相视一笑。其实她们并不是科林斯先生唯一称羡的对象。晚餐厅以及这里的一切家具什物都被他审视、夸赞过了。他对这一切的交口称赞本来可以打动班纳特太太的心的，只是她很感伤地怀疑到，他也许是将其作为他自己未来的财产来看待这一切的。
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.
对桌上的佳肴美馔他也大大称道了一番，他恳请要知道这样可口的饭菜是出自哪一位表妹的手艺。
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.
但他的请求却得到班纳特太太毫不客气的纠正，她对他说他们家还用得起一个好厨子，她的女儿们根本没碰过厨房里的活儿。科林斯为此请求她的原谅。而班纳特太太用缓和了的语气说，她方才一点儿也没有生气。但科林斯还是一个劲儿地道了有一刻钟的歉。
