ELIZABETH related to Jane the next day, what had passed between Mr. Wickham and herself. Jane listened with astonishment and concern; she knew not how to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr. Bingley's regard; and yet, it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham. The possibility of his having really endured such unkindness, was enough to interest all her tender feelings; and nothing therefore remained to be done, but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of each, and throw into the account of accident or mistake, whatever could not be otherwise explained.
第二天,伊丽莎白把韦翰先生跟她自己说的那些话全告诉了吉英。吉英听得又是惊奇又是关心。她简直不能相信,达西先生会这样地不值得彬格莱先生器重,可是,象韦翰这样一个青年美男子,她实在无从怀疑他说话不诚实。一想到韦翰可能真的受到这些亏待,她就不禁起了怜惜之心;因此她只得认为他们两位先生都是好人,替他们双方辨白,把一切无法解释的事都解释做意外和误会。
They have both, said she, been deceived, I dare say, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side.
吉英说:“我认为他们双方都受了人家的蒙蔽,至于是怎样受到蒙蔽的,我们当然无从猜测,也许是哪一个有关的人从中挑拨是非。简单地说,除非是我们有确确实实的根据可以责怪任何一方面,我们就无从凭空猜想出他们是为了什么事才不和睦的。”
Very true, indeed; and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say in behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the business? Do clear them too, or we shall be obliged to think ill of somebody.
“你这话说得不错。那么,亲爱的吉英,你将替这种有关的人说些什么话呢?你也得替这种人辨白一下呀,否则我们又不得不怪到某一个人身上去了。”
Laugh as much as you chuse, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion. My dearest Lizzy, do but consider in what a disgraceful light it places Mr. Darcy, to be treating his father's favourite in such a manner, one, whom his father had promised to provide for. It is impossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had any value for his character, could be capable of it. Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived in him? oh! no.
“你受怎么取笑就怎么取笑吧,反正你总不能把我的意见笑掉。亲爱的丽萃,你且想一想,达西先生的父亲生前那样地疼爱这个人,而且答应要瞻养他,如今达西先生本人却这般亏待他,那他简直太不象话了。这是不可能的。一个人只要还有点起码的人道之心,只要多少还尊重自己的人格,就不会做出这种事来。难道他自己的最知已的朋友,竟会被他蒙蔽到这种地步吗?噢!不会的。”