MRS. Gardiner's caution to Elizabeth was punctually and kindly given on the first favourable opportunity of speaking to her alone; after honestly telling her what she thought, she thus went on:
嘉丁纳太太一碰到有适当的机会和伊丽莎白单独谈话,总是善意地对外甥女进行忠告,把心里的话老老实实讲了出来,然后又接下去说:
"You are too sensible a girl, Lizzy, to fall in love merely because you are warned against it; and, therefore, I am not afraid of speaking openly. Seriously, I would have you be on your guard. Do not involve yourself, or endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want of fortune would make so very imprudent. I have nothing to say against him; he is a most interesting young man; and if he had the fortune he ought to have, I should think you could not do better. But as it is -- you must not let your fancy run away with you. You have sense, and we all expect you to use it. Your father would depend on your resolution and good conduct, I am sure. You must not disappoint your father."
“你是个非常懂事的孩子,丽萃,你不至于因为人家劝你谈恋爱要当心,你就偏偏要谈;因此我才敢向你说个明白。说正经话,你千万要小心。跟这种没有财产作为基础的人谈恋爱,实在非常莽撞,你千万别让自己堕上情网,也不要费尽心机使他堕入情网。我并不是说他的坏话──他倒是个再有趣不过的青年;要是他得到了他应当得到的那份财产,那我就会觉得你这门亲事再好也没有了。事实既是如此,你大可不必再对他想入非非。你很聪明,我们都希望你不要辜负了自己的聪明。我知道你父亲信任你品行好,又有决断,你切不可叫他失望。”
"My dear aunt, this is being serious indeed."
“亲爱的舅母,你真是郑重其事。”
"Yes, and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise."
“是呀,我希望你也能够郑重其事。”
"Well, then, you need not be under any alarm. I will take care of myself, and of Mr. Wickham too. He shall not be in love with me, if I can prevent it."
“唔,你用不着急。我自己会当心,也会当心韦翰先生。只要我避免得了,我决不会叫他跟我恋爱。”
"Elizabeth, you are not serious now."
“伊丽莎白,你这话可就不郑重其事啦。”
"I beg your pardon. I will try again. At present I am not in love with Mr. Wickham; no, I certainly am not. But he is, beyond all comparison, the most agreeable man I ever saw -- and if he becomes really attached to me -- I believe it will be better that he should not. I see the imprudence of it.
“请原谅。让我重新讲讲看。目前我可并没有爱上韦翰先生;我的确没有。不过在我所看见的人当中,他的确是最可爱的一个,任谁也比不上他;如果他真会爱上我──我相信他还是不要爱上我的好。我看出了这件事很莽撞。