手机APP下载

您现在的位置: 首页 > 英语听力 > 双语有声读物 > 名著精讲 > 《傲慢与偏见》 > 正文

062 第二十九章:伊丽莎白等人去凯瑟琳夫人家用餐

来源:可可英语 编辑:Helen   可可英语APP下载 |  可可官方微信:ikekenet
  


扫描二维码进行跟读打分训练

Mr. Collins’s triumph, in consequence of this invitation, was complete.

科林斯先生从这一饭局邀请中感受到的得意心情真是溢于言表。

The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of doing it should be given so soon, was such an instance of Lady Catherine’s condescension, as he knew not how to admire enough.

将他的庇护人的雍容华贵显示给他的好奇的客人们看、让客人们目睹老夫人对待他们夫妻俩的那种亲切和关怀,这正是他早已企盼的。这样一个露脸儿的机会竟会这么快就到来,这不能不说是凯瑟琳夫人体恤下情的又一范例,对此他真不知道该如何表达他的景仰才是。

“I confess,” said he, “that I should not have been at all surprised by her ladyship’s asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings.

“我承认,”他说,“要是老夫人请我星期天过去吃点茶点,在那儿消磨一个傍晚,我是不会感到意外的。

I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen.

从她平日待人和蔼的性情看,我倒觉得事情会是这样。

But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there (an invitation, moreover, including the whole party) so immediately after your arrival!”

可是谁能料想到,在你们刚刚到来之际,我们就会接到去那里吃饭的邀请,何况是包括了我们全部的人呢。”

“I am the less surprised at what has happened,” replied Sir William, “from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon.”

“对这件事情,我倒不觉得怎么意外,”威廉爵士接上茬儿说,“因为我的身份和地位使我有机会了解到,大人物们的为人处世往往是如此。在宫廷官宦中间,这样好客倜傥的事儿屡见不鲜。”

Scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or next morning but their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner, might not wholly overpower them.

这一天和第二天的上午,他们谈的几乎都是到罗新斯的拜访。科林斯仔细地向他们讲述他们去到那儿后将会看到什么,免得到时见到那样华贵的屋子,那么多的仆人侍女,那么丰盛的美味佳肴而不知所措。

When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth--

在小姐们正要各自梳妆打扮的时候,他跟伊丽莎白说:

“Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which becomes herself and her daughter.

“我亲爱的表妹,你不必为你的衣着感到不安。凯瑟琳夫人并不要求我们穿衣服要像她自己和她的女儿那样高雅。

I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest--there is no occasion for anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved.”

我想告诉你的只是,你只要拣你现在最好的衣服穿上就行了,别的就用不着什么啦,凯瑟琳夫人不会因你装束朴素而认为你不好,她喜欢让人的地位等级得以保留。”

While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner.

在女士们穿衣整装的时候,科林斯又到各个人的房门口去了两三次,敦促他们快一点儿,因为凯瑟琳夫人请人吃饭时最反对的就是客人迟到。

Such formidable accounts of her ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas who had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her introduction at Rosings with as much apprehension as her father had done to his presentation at St. James’s.

这些关于老夫人本人和她的生活方式的非同一般的讲述,可吓坏了玛丽亚·卢卡斯,她平时就很少应酬交际,这一次对被引见到罗新斯的主人那边,更是感到忐忑和不安了,正如她父亲当年进宫觐见一样。

As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park.

因为天气很好,他们径直穿过花园,愉快地走了半里多的路程。

Every park has its beauty and its prospects; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, though she could not be in such raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh.

每一个花园都自有它的美妙和独特的景观,虽然她并没有像科林斯所预料的那样,为眼前的景物变得如醉如痴,伊丽莎白在这里还是看到了许多赏心悦目的景色。到后来,科林斯开始数起宅邸正面的窗户,讲起这些窗户上的玻璃当初一共花了刘易斯·德·包尔爵士多大的一笔钱,可伊丽莎白对这些好像却并没有什么兴趣。

When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria’s alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm.

当他们踏上台阶走向大厅的时候,玛丽亚的恐慌每一分钟都在增加,甚至连威廉爵士都显得不是那么从容了。

Elizabeth’s courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue, and the mere stateliness of money or rank she thought she could witness without trepidation.

伊丽莎白却没失去她的勇气。她没听人们说起过凯瑟琳夫人禀有什么非凡的才能,或是什么惊人的美德,足以让她敬畏,单单是钱财和高贵的地位,她认为她还是能毫无畏惧地去面对的。

From the entrance-hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous air, the fine proportion and the finished ornaments, they followed the servants through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting.

大家跟着仆人走过穿堂,科林斯眉飞色舞地夸示着它合理的结构和美丽的装潢,接着到了前厅,来到了凯瑟琳夫人、她的女儿以及姜金生太太正歇息的房间里。

Her ladyship, with great condescension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had settled it with her husband that the office of introduction should be hers, it was performed in a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary.

贵夫人放下架子亲自起来迎接。由于科林斯太太事先和她丈夫商量好了这一相互介绍的事宜由她来进行,所以这一引见的礼仪做得很是得体,免去了一切科林斯原本认为必不可少的道歉和感激之类的客套话。

In spite of having been at St. James’s, Sir William was so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look.

尽管是觐见过国王的人,此刻的威廉爵士还是被这满眼的辉煌给完全怔住了,他所剩下的一点儿勇气刚刚够他深深地鞠上一躬,然后一声没吭地坐了下来。他的女儿,慌乱得几乎魂不守舍了,踮着脚儿坐在椅子边上,眼睛也不知道该往哪一边看好。

Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly.

只有伊丽莎白觉得自己倒能从容应对,能镇静地瞧着她面前的这三个女人。

Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome.

凯瑟琳夫人是一位身材高挑的女人,脸上五官长得很有特征,年轻时也许还颇有风韵。

Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank.

她的神情做派不是随和平易的那一种,她接待他们的态度也是如此,令她的客人们不能忘记他们身份的卑微。

She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone, as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth’s mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he represented.

她令人敬畏的地方并不是她的沉默不语,而是她说话时的一种高高在上的权威口吻,一副自视甚高的样子,这使她突然想起威科汉姆的话来。经过了这一天的观察,她相信凯瑟琳夫人正和威科汉姆所描述的完全一样。

When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on the daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria’s astonishment at her being so thin and so small.

伊丽莎白仔细地打量着凯瑟琳夫人,发现在她的容貌举止上有与达西先生相似的地方,之后她把目光转向了夫人的女儿,只见她长得那么娇小,那么单薄,这使伊丽莎白几乎跟玛丽亚一样地感到吃惊了。

There was neither in figure nor face any likeness between the ladies.

在这母女俩的身材和容貌上,可以说没有任何相似之处。

Miss de Bourgh was pale and sickly; her features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little, except in a low voice, to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance there was nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes.

德·包尔小姐面色苍白,病怏怏的样子。她五官虽然长得不俗,可没有什么特征可言。除了跟姜金生太太有时低低地说上几句之外,很少讲话。姜金生太太相貌平平,只是一味地全神贯注地听小姐说话,而且用手常常遮在眼前,脸也只朝着小姐这边。

After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties, and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth looking at in the summer.

在这样坐了几分钟后,客人们便都被打发到一个窗户跟前,去观赏外面的景色,科林斯先生陪着他们,把美丽的景观一一地指给他们看,凯瑟琳夫人好心地告诉他们,这里夏天的风景才更值得一看呢。

The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her ladyship’s desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish nothing greater.

宴席上的饭菜果然丰盛,仆人众多,盛佳肴的器具也正像科林斯描述的那么排场。而且正如他事先所料的那样,照着夫人的意思他与她对席坐下了,看他那副神气得意的样子,好像人生再也没有比这更快乐的事情。

He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity; and every dish was commended, first by him and then by Sir William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law said, in a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear.

他一边动着刀叉吃着,一边兴致勃勃地赞不绝口;每一道菜端上来都是经他先夸赞一番,然后是威廉爵士献上赞词,此刻的爵士已经恢复了些许的镇静,能够应和女婿的话了,伊丽莎白心里纳闷,凯瑟琳夫人怎能忍受得了他这应声虫似的滑稽举止。

But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them. The party did not supply much conversation.

凯瑟琳夫人看上去倒是对他们不住口的赞扬非常满意,脸上常常露出高贵的笑容,尤其是在一道客人们说他们没见过的菜肴端上来时。饭桌上并没能引发较多的谈话。

Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and Miss de Bourgh--the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner-time.

伊丽莎白很愿意接起别人的话茬说点什么,无奈她坐在了夏洛特和德·包尔小姐的中间——前者是在专心致志地听凯瑟琳夫人讲话,后者则是自始至终没发一言。

Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss de Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she was indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire.

姜金生太太这阵子主要是在关照德·包尔小姐,说她吃得太少,敦促她试着吃点什么别的菜。玛丽亚则认为让现在的她说点什么简直不可能,而男客们只是一边吃一边发着赞美之词。

重点单词   查看全部解释    
proportion [prə'pɔ:ʃən]

想一想再看

n. 比例,均衡,部份,(复)体积,规模
vt

联想记忆
countenance ['kauntinəns]

想一想再看

n. 面容,面部表情,支持

联想记忆
affability [,æfə'biləti]

想一想再看

n. 亲切;和蔼;殷勤

 
acquire [ə'kwaiə]

想一想再看

vt. 获得,取得,学到

联想记忆
preserved [pri'zə:vd]

想一想再看

adj. 保藏的;腌制的;[美俚]喝醉的

 
authoritative [ə'θɔ:ri.teitiv]

想一想再看

adj. 权威性的,命令式的

联想记忆
prospects

想一想再看

n. 预期;前景;潜在顾客;远景展望

 
witness ['witnis]

想一想再看

n. 目击者,证人
vt. 目击,见证,出席,

联想记忆
consequence ['kɔnsikwəns]

想一想再看

n. 结果,后果

联想记忆
confess [kən'fes]

想一想再看

v. 承认,告白,忏悔

联想记忆

发布评论我来说2句

    最新文章

    可可英语官方微信(微信号:ikekenet)

    每天向大家推送短小精悍的英语学习资料.

    添加方式1.扫描上方可可官方微信二维码。
    添加方式2.搜索微信号ikekenet添加即可。