WHEN Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how very much she admired him.
吉英本来并不轻易赞扬彬格莱先生,可是当她和伊丽莎白两个人在一起的时候,她就向她的妹妹倾诉衷曲,说她自己多么爱慕他。
"He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, good humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners! -- so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!"
“他真是一个典型的好青年,”她说,“有见识,有趣味,人又活泼;我从来没有见过他那种讨人喜欢的举止!那么大方,又有十全十美的教养!”
"He is also handsome," replied Elizabeth, "which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete."
“他也长得很漂亮,”伊丽莎白回答道,“一个年轻的男人也得弄得漂亮些,除非办不到,那又当别论。他真够得上一个完美无瑕的人。”
"I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment."
“他第二次又来请我跳舞,我真高兴死了。我真想不到他会这样抬举我。”
"Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other women in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person."
“你真的没想到吗?我倒替你想到了。不过,这正是我和你大不相同的地方。你遇到人家抬举你,总是受宠若惊,我就不是这样。他第二次再来请你跳舞,这不是再自然不过的事吗?你比起舞场里任何一位小姐都要漂亮得不知多少倍,他长了眼睛自然会看得出。他向你献殷勤你又何必感激。说起来,他的确很可爱,我也不反对你喜欢他。不过你以前可也喜欢过很多蠢货啊。”
"Dear Lizzy!"
“我的亲丽萃!”
"Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in any body. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life."
“唔!我知道,你总是太容易发生好感。你从来看不出人家的短处。在你眼睛里看来,天下都是好人,你都看得顺眼。我生平从来没听见你说人家的坏话。”
"I would wish not to be hasty in censuring any one; but I always speak what I think."
“我倒希望不要轻易责难一个人,可是我一向都是想到什么就说什么。”
"I know you do; and it is that which makes the wonder. With your good sense, to be honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others! Affectation of candour is common enough; -- one meets it every where. But to be candid without ostentation or design -- to take the good of every body's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad -- belongs to you alone. And so, you like this man's sisters too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his."
“我知道你是这样的,我对你感到奇怪的也就是这种地方。凭你这样一个聪明人。为什么竟会忠厚到看不出别人的愚蠢和无聊!你走遍天下,到处都可以遇到伪装坦白的人。可是,这可只有你做得到。
那么,你也喜欢那位先生的姐妹们吗?她们的风度可比不上他呀。”
"Certainly not; at first. But they are very pleasing women when you converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother and keep his house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neighbour in her."
“初看上去的确比不上。不过跟她们攀谈起来,就觉得她们也都是些讨人喜欢的女人。听说彬格莱小姐将要跟她兄弟住在一起,替他料埋家务;她要不是个好邻居,那才怪呢。”