Pride and Prejudice Chapter 8

Chapter 8 

At five o’clock the two ladies retired to dress, and at half-past six Elizabeth was summoned to dinner. To the civil enquiries which then poured in, and amongst which she had the pleasure of distinguishing the much superior solicitude of Mr. Bingley’s, she could not make a very favourable answer. Jane was by no means better. The sisters, on hearing this, repeated three or four times how much they were grieved, how shocking it was to have a bad cold, and how excessively they disliked being ill themselves; and then thought no more of the matter: and their indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them restored Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her former dislike. 

五点钟的时候，主人家两姐妹出去更衣;六点半的时候伊丽莎白被请去吃晚饭。大家都客客气气，纷纷向她问话，其中彬格莱先生问得特别关切，这叫伊丽莎白很高兴，她没能给人家一个满意的回答。简一点儿也没有好转。姐妹俩一听这话，就一再说她们多么伤心，说重感冒多么可怕，又说她们自己多么讨厌生病。她们一走到简面前，便对简满不在乎，于是伊丽莎白又重新想起了她从前那种讨厌简的心情。

Their brother, indeed, was the only one of the party whom she could regard with any complacency. His anxiety for Jane was evident, and his attentions to herself most pleasing, and they prevented her feeling herself so much an intruder as she believed she was considered by the others. She had very little notice from any but him. Miss Bingley was engrossed by Mr. Darcy, her sister scarcely less so; and as for Mr. Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, he was an indolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards; who, when he found her to prefer a plain dish to a ragout, had nothing to say to her. 

说实在的，她们这些人当中，只有她们的兄弟能使她称心满意。伊丽莎白本以为人家会把她看成一个不速之客，可是有了这份殷勤，她就不那么想了。除了他以外，别人很少注意到她。彬格莱小姐的心在达西先生身上，她姐姐差不多也没有什么两样。再说到赫斯脱先生，他就坐在伊丽莎白身旁，他天生一副懒汉模样，活在世上就是为了吃、喝、玩牌;他发现她宁可吃一碟普通的菜，也不喜欢吃烩肉，便和她无话可说了。

When dinner was over, she returned directly to Jane, and Miss Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst thought the same, and added: 

她一吃过晚饭就回到简那儿去;她一走出饭堂，彬格莱小姐就开始骂她。把她的举止说得坏透了，说她既傲慢又无礼貌。她没有谈吐，没有风度，也没有美貌。赫斯脱太太也是同样的看法，她又补充说:

“She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild.” 

“总而言之，她除了跑路的本领以外，没有要样别的长处。我永远也忘不了她今天早晨的样子。她看上去简直像个疯子。”

“She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!” 

“她的确是这样，路易莎。我几乎忍不住笑了。来真是太荒谬了!为什么她姐姐感冒了，她就非得在乡下跑来跑去呢?她的头发，那么乱，那么邋遢!”

“Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office.” 

“是呀，还有她的衬裙。“我希望你看到了她的衬裙，那上面烂泥有六英寸，我敢肯定。她把袍子放低了一些，本来想把它遮住，可是遮盖不住。”

“Your picture may be very exact, Louisa,” said Bingley; “but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.” 

彬格莱说:“你描绘得倒很象，露薏莎;但这一切对我都没有影响。我还以为伊丽莎白·班纳特小姐今天早上走进屋来的时候，那个样子很不错呢。我并没有注意到她的脏裙子。”

“You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure,” said Miss Bingley; “and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition.” 

“你一定看到的，达西先生，”彬格莱小姐说。“我想，你总不愿意看到你自己的妹妹弄成那副狼狈样子吧。”

“Certainly not.” 

当然不

“To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum.” 

“无缘无故赶上那么三英里路、四英里路、五英里路，谁晓得多少英里呢，泥土盖没了踝骨，而且是孤孤单单的一个人!她这是什么意思呢?我看她十足表现了没有家教的野态，完全是乡下人不懂礼貌的轻狂。”

“It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing,” said Bingley. 

彬格莱说:“这说明她的手足情深，真是好极了。”

“I am afraid, Mr. Darcy,” observed Miss Bingley in a half whisper, “that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.” 

彬格莱小姐低声说:“达西先生，我恐怕你这次的冒失行为，会影响你对她那双美丽的眼睛的爱慕吧?”

“Not at all,” he replied; “they were brightened by the exercise.” A short pause followed this speech, and Mrs. Hurst began again: 

“一点也不，”他回答。“锻炼使他们精神焕发。”说完这句话，屋子里沉默了一会儿，然后赫斯脱太太又开口说:

“I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.” 

“我非常关心简·班纳特小姐，她倒的确是位可爱的姑娘我诚心诚意地希望她好好儿攀门亲事。不过，有那样的父母，加上还有那么下流的亲戚，我恐怕没有什么指望了。”

“I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton.” 

“我好象听你说过，他们有个姨爹在麦里屯当律师。”

“Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside.” 

“是的;她们还有个舅舅住在齐普赛附近。”

“That is capital,” added her sister, and they both laughed heartily. 

“那真妙极了，”她的妹妹补充了一句，于是姐妹俩都纵情大笑起来。

“If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside,” cried Bingley, “it would not make them one jot less agreeable.” 

彬格莱嚷道:“就算她们有那么多舅舅，把整个齐普赛都塞满了，也不会使她们不讨人喜欢。”

“But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world,” replied Darcy. 

“可是，她们要想嫁给有地位的男人，机会可就大大减少了，”达西回答道。

To this speech Bingley made no answer; but his sisters gave it their hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of their dear friend’s vulgar relations. 

彬格莱先生没有理睬这句话;可是他的姐妹们却听得十分得意，于是越发放肆地开了老半天的玩笑，拿这位好朋友的庸俗的亲戚开玩笑。

With a renewal of tenderness, however, they returned to her room on leaving the dining-parlour, and sat with her till summoned to coffee. She was still very poorly, and Elizabeth would not quit her at all, till late in the evening, when she had the comfort of seeing her sleep, and when it seemed to her rather right than pleasant that she should go downstairs herself. On entering the drawing-room she found the whole party at loo, and was immediately invited to join them; but suspecting them to be playing high she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below, with a book. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment. 

不过她们一离开了饭厅，就重新表现出温情脉脉的样子，回到简房间里去，一直陪她坐到喝咖啡的时候。她的病还很重，伊丽莎白一直陪着她，一直到晚上很晚，看见简睡着了，才放心地走开，觉得自己应该下楼去，而不是很乐意下楼去。走进客厅，她发现大家正在玩牌，彬格莱小姐立刻就请她也去玩牌;可是她猜想他们赌得太高了，便谢绝了，只推说只要一会儿工夫，她可以到楼下去，她可以拿本书来消遣消遣。赫斯脱先生惊奇地望着她。

“Do you prefer reading to cards?” said he; “that is rather singular.” 

“你喜欢看书，不喜欢玩牌吗?””他说,“这是相当奇特的。”

“Miss Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, “despises cards. She is a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else.” 

彬格莱小姐说:“伊丽莎·班纳特小姐瞧不起玩牌。她是个了不起的读者，对别的事都不感兴趣。”

“I deserve neither such praise nor such censure,” cried Elizabeth; “I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things.” 

伊丽莎白嚷道:“这样的夸奖我不敢当，这样的责备我也不敢当。“我不是一个很好的读者，我对很多事情都很感兴趣。”

“In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure,” said Bingley; “and I hope it will be soon increased by seeing her quite well.” 

彬格莱说:“我相信照顾你自己的姐姐很高兴;“但愿她早日复元，我的心情就会好起来。”

Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards the table where a few books were lying. He immediately offered to fetch her others— all that his library afforded. 

伊丽莎白衷心地感谢他，然后走到放着几本书的桌子跟前。他立即提出要给她再拿几本——他的图书室里所能提供的全部。

“And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit; but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever looked into.” 

“要是我的藏书多一些就好了，无论是为你的益处着想，为我自己的面子着想;不过我是个懒鬼，书不多，读过的就更少了。”

Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room. 

伊丽莎白对他说，房间里那几本书她看得再合适不过了。

“I am astonished,” said Miss Bingley, “that my father should have left so small a collection of books. What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!” 

彬格莱小姐说:“我很奇怪，爸爸怎么只留下了这么几本书。达西先生，你在彭伯里的那个藏书室真是好极了!”

“It ought to be good,” he replied, “it has been the work of many generations.” 

“这应该是好的，”他回答说，“这是许多代人的结晶。”

“And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are always buying books.” 

“而且你自己又添置了那么多书，你老是买书。”

“I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.” 

“我现在有了这样的日子，自然不好意思疏忽家里的藏书室。”

“Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that noble place. Charles, when you build your house, I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley.” 

“忽视!我相信凡是能为你那个高贵的地方啬色的东西，你一件也没疏忽过。查尔斯，以后你自己建筑住宅的时候，我只希望有彭伯里一半那么美丽就好了。”

“I wish it may.” 

“但愿如此。”

“But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that neighbourhood, and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a finer county in England than Derbyshire.” 

“可是我还要竭力奉劝你就在那儿附近购置房产，而且要拿彭伯里做个榜样。全英国没有比德比郡更好的郡了。”

“With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it.” 

“我很高兴;我真想干脆就把彭伯里买下来，只要达西肯卖。”

“I am talking of possibilities, Charles.” 

“我说的是可能性，查尔斯。”

“Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get Pemberley by purchase than by imitation.” 

“卡罗琳，我敢说，买下彭伯里比仿照彭伯里的式样造房子，可能性更大些。”

Elizabeth was so much caught with what passed, as to leave her very little attention for her book; and soon laying it wholly aside, she drew near the card-table, and stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and his eldest sister, to observe the game. 

伊丽莎白听了这些话听得听得入神，以致没有心思去看书了。她立刻把手里的牌完全搁在一边，走到牌桌跟前，站在彬格莱先生和他的姐姐之间，看他们打牌。

“Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?” said Miss Bingley; “will she be as tall as I am?” 

“从春天到现在，达西小姐长高了不少吧?”彬格莱小姐说。“她会长到我这么高吗?”

“I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s height, or rather taller.” 

“我想她会的。她现在大约有伊丽莎白·班纳特小姐那么高了，也许还要高一点。”

“How I long to see her again! I never met with anybody who delighted me so much. Such a countenance, such manners! And so extremely accomplished for her age! Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite.” 

“我多么希望再见到她啊!”我从来没有遇到过像他这样使我高兴的人。这样的模样，这样的礼貌!以她的年龄，她是如此的多才多艺!她的钢琴演奏非常优美。”

“It is amazing to me,” said Bingley, “how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished as they all are.” 

彬格莱先生说:“这真叫我惊奇，年轻的姑娘们怎么一个个都有那么大的能耐，把自己打扮得多才多艺。”

“All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you mean?” 

“都是多才多艺的年轻小姐!”亲爱的查尔斯，你这话是什么意思?”

“Yes, all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses. I scarcely know anyone who cannot do all this, and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished.” 

“是的，我想他们都是。他们都画桌子，罩屏风，编织钱包。我简直就没有见过哪一位不是样样都会，而且每逢听人谈起一个年轻姑娘，没有哪一次不听说她是多才多艺的。”

“Your list of the common extent of accomplishments,” said Darcy, “has too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse or covering a screen. But I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot boast of knowing more than half-a-dozen, in the whole range of my acquaintance, that are really accomplished.” 

达西说:“你这一套所谓平凡的才情，倒是千真万确。这个词被用在许多女人身上，她们只不过会编织钱包或盖屏风，就配得上这个称号。可是我却不能同意你对一般妇女的估价。我不敢说大话;我认识很多女人，而真正多才多艺的实在不过半打。”

“Nor I, I am sure,” said Miss Bingley. 

“我也说不清，”彬格莱小姐说。

“Then,” observed Elizabeth, “you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished woman.” 

伊丽莎白说:“那么，在你的想象中，一个多才多艺的女人应该包括很多条件呢。”

“Yes, I do comprehend a great deal in it.” 

“是的，这里面包含了很多东西。”

“Oh! certainly,” cried his faithful assistant, “no one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved.” 

“哦!“当然罗，”他的忠实助手叫起来了，“要是一个人不能超越常人，就不能算是多才多艺。一个女人必须精通音乐、歌唱、绘画、舞蹈和现代语文，才当得起这个称号;除此之外，她的仪表和步态，她的声调，她的谈吐和表情，都得颇有风度，否则她就不够资格。”

“All this she must possess,” added Darcy, “and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.” 

达西接着说:“她除了具备这些条件外，还应该多读书，长见识。”

“I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.” 

“怪不得你只认识六个才女呢。我现在真不明白你怎么会知道。”

“Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all this?” 

“你怎么对你们女人这般苛求，竟以为她们不可能具备这些条件?”

“I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as you describe united.” 

“我从来没见过这样的女人。我从来没有见过你所说的这样有才干，有情趣，又那么好学，那么仪态优雅。”

Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the injustice of her implied doubt, and were both protesting that they knew many women who answered this description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order, with bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward. As all conversation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room. 

赫斯脱太太和彬格莱小姐都嚷起来，说她这种隐含的怀疑是不公平的，而且又都抗议说，她们自己就知道有许多女人都符合这一条件，可是赫斯脱先生偏偏要她们规规矩矩些，苦说她们对眼前的事毫不留意。谈话就这样谈完了，伊丽莎白不久就走出去了。

“Elizabeth Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, “is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say, it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art.” 

门关上了，彬格莱小姐说:“有些女人们为了自抬身价，往往在男人们面前贬低女人们，伊丽莎白·班纳特就是这样一个人;我敢说，对许多人来说，这种方法是成功的。但是，在我看来，这是一种卑鄙的手段，一种卑鄙的艺术。”

“Undoubtedly,” replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, “there is a meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.” 

达西听出她这几句话是有意说给他自己听的，便连忙答道:“毫无疑问，姑娘们为了勾引男子，有时竟不择手段，使用巧计，这真是卑鄙。任何带有狡猾性质的东西都是可鄙的。”

Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to continue the subject. 

彬格莱小姐不太满意这个回答，因此不便继续谈下去。

Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse, and that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mr. Jones being sent for immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could be of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most eminent physicians. This she would not hear of; but she was not so unwilling to comply with their brother’s proposal; and it was settled that Mr. Jones should be sent for early in the morning, if Miss Bennet were not decidedly better. Bingley was quite uncomfortable; his sisters declared that they were miserable. They solaced their wretchedness, however, by duets after supper, while he could find no better relief to his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister. 

伊丽莎白又到他们那里来了，不过是为了告诉他们，她姐姐的病情加重了，她不能离开她。彬格莱再三主张马上请钟斯先生来;他的姐妹们却都以为乡下郎中无济，建议赶快到城里去请一位最有名的大夫来。这是她不同意的;可是她并不是那么不愿意听从她们兄弟的建议;大家商量好了，要是班纳特小姐一大早依旧毫无起色，就马上去请钟斯大夫来。彬格莱很不自在;他的姐妹们说她们很痛苦。吃过晚饭以后，她们俩总算合奏了几支曲子来消除了一些烦恼，可是彬格莱先生因为想不出更好的办法来减轻痛苦，只好吩咐他那管家的尽心尽意地照顾病人和病人的妹妹。