THE ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was returned in due form. Miss Bennet's pleasing manners grew on the good will of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and though the mother was found to be intolerable and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, a wish of being better acquainted with them was expressed towards the two eldest. By Jane this attention was received with the greatest pleasure; but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their treatment of every body, hardly excepting even her sister, and could not like them; though their kindness to Jane, such as it was, had a value, as arising in all probability from the influence of their brother's admiration. It was generally evident whenever they met, that he did admire her; and to her it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a way to be very much in love; but she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane united with great strength of feeling a composure of temper and a uniform cheerfulness of manner, which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent. She mentioned this to her friend Miss Lucas.

浪博恩小姐們不久就去拜訪尼是斐花園的小姐們了。人家了照例來回拜了她們。班納特那種討人喜愛的舉止，使赫斯脫太太和彬格萊小姐對她愈來愈有好感。盡管班家老太太叫人不可容忍，幾個小妹妹也不值得攀談，可是兩位彬格萊小姐卻是愿意跟年紀大的兩位班小姐作進一步深交，吉英極其喜悅地領受了這份盛意；可是伊麗莎白看出她們對待任何人仍然很高傲，甚至對待吉英也幾乎沒有兩樣，因此頗不喜歡她們；不過，她們所以待吉英好，看來多半還是由于她們兄弟愛慕她的緣故。只要你看見他們倆在一起，你就看得出他兄弟確是愛慕她的。伊麗莎白又很清楚地看出吉英一開頭就看中了彬格萊先生，不由自主地向他屈服了，而且也可以說是對他喜愛極了。可是她高興地想道，吉英雖說感情豐富，好在性格很鎮定，外表上仍然保持著正常的和顏悅色，那就不會引起那些鹵莽人的懷疑，因此他倆的心意也就不會給人察覺了。伊麗莎白曾經跟自己的朋友盧卡斯小姐談到過這一點。

"It may perhaps be pleasant," replied Charlotte, "to be able to impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin freely -- a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better shew more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on."

夏綠蒂當時說道：“這種事想瞞過大家，也許是怪有意思的，不過，這樣提心吊膽，有時候反而不妙。要是一個女人在她自己心愛的人面前，也用這種技巧遮遮掩掩，不讓他知道她對他有意思，那她就可能沒有機會博得他的歡心；那么，就是把天下人都蒙在鼓里，也無補于事。男女戀愛大都免不了要借重于雙方的感恩圖報之心和虛榮自負之感，聽其自然是很難成其好事的。戀愛的開頭都是隨隨便便──某人對某人發生點兒好感，本是極其自然的一回事；只可惜沒有對方鼓勵而自己就肯沒頭沒腦去鐘情的人，簡直太少了。女人家十有八九都是心里有一分愛表面上就露出兩分。毫無問題，彬格萊喜歡你姐姐；可是你姐姐如果不幫他一把勁，他也許喜歡喜歡她就算了。”

"But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton indeed not to discover it too."

"Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do."

"But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal it, he must find it out."

“不過她已經盡心竭力在幫他的忙了。要是我都能看出她對他的好感，而他卻看不出，那他未免太蠢了。”

“伊麗莎，你得記住，他可不象你那么懂得吉英的性格。”

“假如一個女人愛上了一個男人，只要女方不故意瞞住男方，男方一定會看得出的。”

"Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But though Bingley and Jane meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and as they always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing together. Jane should therefore make the most of every half hour in which she can command his attention. When she is secure of him, there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chuses."

“要是男方和女方見面的機會很多，或許他總會看得出。雖然彬格萊和吉英見面的次數相當多，卻從來沒有在一起接連待上幾個鐘頭，何況他們見起面來，總是跟一些雜七雜八的人在一起，不可能讓他們倆暢談。因此吉英就得時時刻刻留神，一看到有機會可以逗引他，千萬不要借過。等到能把他抓到手，再從從容容盡量去談戀愛還來得及。”

"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married; and if I were determined to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Jane's feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard, nor of its reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house, and has since dined in company with him four times. This is not quite enough to make her understand his character."

伊麗莎白回答道：“倘使只求嫁一個有錢的男人，你這個辦法妙極了，我如果決心找個闊丈夫，或者干脆只要隨便找個丈夫就算數，我或許會照你的辦法去做。可惜吉英不是這樣想法的；她為人處世，就是不愿意使心眼兒。而且，她自己也還拿不準她究竟對她鐘情到什么地步，鐘情得是否得體。她認識他才不過兩個星期。她在麥里屯跟他跳了四次舞；有天上午她在他家里跟他見過一次面，此后又跟他吃過四次晚飯，可是總有別人在一起。就這么點兒來往，叫她怎么能了解他的性格呢。”

"Not as you represent it. Had she merely dined with him, she might only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must remember that four evenings have been also spent together -- and four evenings may do a great deal."

"Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both like Vingt-un better than Commerce; but with respect to any other leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded."

“事情并不是你所說的那樣。要是她只跟他吃吃晚飯，那她或許只看得出他的飯量好不好；可是你得記住，他們既在一起吃過四頓飯也就是在一起盤恒了四個晚上呀──四個晚上的作用可大著呢。”

“是的；這四個晚上叫他們彼此摸透了一樣性格，那就是他們倆都喜歡玩二十一點，不喜歡玩‘康梅司’；講到別的重要的特點，我看他們彼此之間還了解很少。”

"Well," said Charlotte, "I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar before-hand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."

“唔，”夏綠蒂說，“我一心一意祝吉英成功。我以為即使她明天就跟他結婚，她必能獲得的幸福，比起她花上一年的時間，研究了他的性格、再去跟他結婚所能獲得的幸福，并不見得會少到哪里去。婚姻生活是否幸福，完全是個機會問題。一對愛人婚前脾氣摸得非常透，或者脾氣非常相同，這并不能保證他們倆就會幸福。他們總是弄到后來距離越來越遠，彼此煩惱。你既然得和這個人過一輩子，你最好盡量少了解他的缺點。”

"You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself."

“你這番話妙透了，夏綠蒂。不過這種說法未必可靠。你也明知道未必可靠，你自己就不肯那么做。”

Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister, Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness. Of this she was perfectly unaware; -- to her he was only the man who made himself agreeable no where, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance with.

伊麗莎白一心只知道談論彬格萊先生對她姐姐的殷勤，卻一點兒沒想到她自己已經成了彬格萊那位朋友的意中人。說到達西先生，他開頭并不認為她怎么漂亮；他在跳舞會上望著她的時候，并沒有帶著絲毫的愛慕之意，第二次見面的時候，他也不過用吹毛求疵的眼光去看待她。不過，他盡管在朋友們面前，在自己心里，都說她的面貌一無可取，可是眨下眼的工夫，他就發覺她那雙烏黑的眼睛美麗非凡，使她的整個臉蛋兒顯得極其聰慧。緊接著這個發現之后，他又在她身上發現了幾個同樣叫人慪氣的地方。他帶著挑剔的眼光，發覺她的身段這兒也不勻稱，那兒也不勻稱，可是他到底不得不承認她體態輕盈，惹人喜愛；雖然他嘴上一口咬定她缺少上流社會的翩翩風采，可是她落落大方愛打趣的作風，又把他迷住了。伊麗莎白完全不明了這些情形，她只覺得達西是個到處不討人喜歡的男人，何況他曾經認為她不夠漂亮不配跟她跳舞。

He began to wish to know more of her, and as a step towards conversing with her himself, attended to her conversation with others. His doing so drew her notice. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party were assembled.

"What does Mr. Darcy mean," said she to Charlotte, "by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?"

"That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer."

達西開始希望跟她深交。他為了想要慢慢地跟她攀談攀談，因此她跟別人談話的時候，他問題留神去聽。于是，有一次威廉·盧卡斯爵士大請客，他這樣的做法當場引起了她的注意。

且說當時伊麗莎白對夏綠蒂說：“你瞧，達西先生是什么意思呢，我跟弗斯脫上校談話，干嗎要他在那兒聽？”

“這個問題只有達西先生自己能夠回答。”

"But if he does it any more, I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him."

On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such a subject to him, which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said,

"Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teazing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?"

“要是他再這樣，我一定要叫他明白我并不是個糊涂蛋。他挖苦人的本領特別高明，要是我不先給他點顏色看看，我馬上就會見他怕啦。”

不到一會兒工夫，達西又走到她身邊來了，他表面上雖然并不想跟她們攀談，盧卡斯小姐卻不時慫恿伊麗莎白向他把這個問題正面提出來。伊麗莎白給她這樣一激，便立刻轉過臉來跟他說：

“達西先生，我剛剛跟弗斯脫上校講笑話，要他給我們在麥里屯開一次跳舞會，你看我的話是不是說得非常得體？”

"With great energy; -- but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic."

"You are severe on us."

"It will be her turn soon to be teazed," said Miss Lucas. "I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows."

“的確說得起勁極了，不過這件事本來就是叫小姐們非常起勁的。”

“你這樣說我們，未免太尖刻了些吧。”

“你這一下反而被別人嘲笑了，”盧卡斯小姐說。“我去打開琴，伊麗莎，下文如何，你自個兒明白。”

"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend! -- always wanting me to play and sing before any body and every body! -- If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable, but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers." On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added, "Very well; if it must be so, it must." And gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, "There is a fine old saying, which every body here is of course familiar with -- "Keep your breath to cool your porridge," -- and I shall keep mine to swell my song."

“你這種朋友真是世上少有──不管當著什么人的面，總是要我彈琴唱歌──要是我存心在音樂會上出風頭，我真要對你感激不盡。可是賓客們都是聽慣了第一流演奏家的，我實在不好意思在他們面前坐下來獻憾丑。”話雖如此，怎奈盧卡斯小姐再三要求，她便說道：“好吧，既是非獻丑不可，只得獻獻丑吧。”她又板著臉對達西瞥了一眼，說道：“有名老古話說得好，在場的人當然也曉得這句話：‘留口氣吹涼稀飯’；我也就留口氣唱歌吧。”

Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.

她得表演雖然說不上奇妙絕倫，也還娓娓動聽。唱了一兩支歌以后，大家要求她再唱幾支。她還沒來得及回答，她的妹妹曼麗早就急切地接替她坐到鋼琴跟前去了。原來在她們幾個姐妹之間，就只有曼麗長得不好看，因此她發憤鉆研學問，講究才藝，老是急著要賣弄賣弄自己的本領。

Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who, with some of the Lucases and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the room.

曼麗既沒有天才，格調也不高，雖說虛榮心促使她刻苦用功，但是同樣也造成了她一臉的女才子氣派和自高自大的態度。有了這種氣派和態度，即使她的修養再好些也無補于事，何況她不過如此而已。再說伊麗莎白，雖說彈琴彈得并不如她，可是落落大方，沒有矯揉造作的氣習，因此大家聽起來就高興得多了。曼麗的幾位妹妹，本在房間那頭和盧家小姐們在一起，正在跟兩三個軍官跳舞跳得起勁，曼麗奏完了一支很長的協奏曲之后，她們便要求她再奏幾支蘇格蘭和愛爾蘭小調，她也高高興興地照辦了，為的是要博得別人的夸獎和感激。

Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too much engrossed by his own thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was his neighbour, till Sir William thus began.

"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! -- There is nothing like dancing after all. -- I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies."

"Certainly, Sir; -- and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. -- Every savage can dance."

Sir William only smiled. "Your friend performs delightfully;" he continued after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; -- "and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy."

達西先生就站在她們附近。他看到她們就這樣度過一個晚上，也不跟別人攀談攀談，心里很是生氣。他心思很重，威廉·盧卡斯爵士站在他身邊他也不知道，最后他才聽到爵士這樣跟他說：

“達西先生，跳舞對于年輕人是多么可愛的一種娛樂！說來說去，什么都比不上跳舞，我認為這是上流社會里最出色的才藝。”

“當然羅，先生──而且好就好在跳舞在低等社會里也很風行。哪個野蠻人不會跳舞。”

威廉先生笑了笑沒作聲。接下來他看見彬格萊也來參加跳舞，便對達西這么說：“你的朋友跳得很不錯，我相信你對此道也是駕輕就熟吧，達西先生。”

"You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, Sir."

"Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do you often dance at St. James's?"

"Never, sir."

"Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?"

"It is a compliment which I never pay to any place, if I can avoid it."

“你大概在麥里屯看見過我跳舞的吧，先生。”

“見過，不錯，而且看得非常高興。你常到宮里去跳舞嗎？”

“從來沒去過，先生。”

“你連在宮里都不肯賞臉嗎？”

“無論在什么地方，我也不愿意賞這種臉，能避免總是避免。”

"You have a house in town, I conclude?"

Mr. Darcy bowed.

"I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself -- for I am fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas."

“你在城里一定有住宅吧？”

達西先生聳了聳身子。

“我一度想在城里安家，因為我喜歡上流社會；不過我可不敢說倫敦的空氣是否適合于盧卡斯太太。”

He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not disposed to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her,

"My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? -- Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. -- You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you." And taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William,

"Indeed, Sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. -- I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."

他停了一會兒，指望對方回答；可是對方根本就懶得回答。不久伊麗莎白朝他們跟前走來，他靈機一動，想乘此獻一下殷勤，便對她叫道：

“親愛的伊麗莎小姐，你干嗎不跳舞呀？──達西先生，讓我把這位年輕的小姐介紹給你，這是位最理想的舞伴。有了這樣一個美人兒做你的舞伴，我想你總不會不跳了吧。”他拉住了伊麗莎白的手，預備往達西面前送，達西雖然極為驚奇，可亦不是不愿意接住那只玉手，卻不料伊麗莎白立刻把手縮了回去，好象還有些神色倉皇地對威廉爵士說：　

“先生，我的確一點兒也不想跳舞。你可千萬別以為我是跑到這邊來找舞伴的。”

Mr. Darcy with grave propriety requested to be allowed the honour of her hand; but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.

"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour."

"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling.

達西先生非常有禮貌地要求她賞光，跟他跳一場，可是他白白要求了。伊麗莎白下定了決心就不動搖，任憑威廉爵士怎么勸說也沒有用。

“伊麗莎小姐，你跳舞跳得那么高明，可是卻不肯讓我享享眼福，看你跳一場，這未免太說不過去了吧。再說，這位先生雖說平常并不喜歡這種娛樂，可是要他賞我們半個鐘頭的臉，我相信他也不會不肯的。”

伊麗莎笑著說：“達西先生未免太客氣了。”

"He is indeed -- but considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?"

Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley.

"I can guess the subject of your reverie."

"I should imagine not."

“他真的太客氣了──可是，親愛的伊麗莎小姐，看他這樣求你，你總還會怪他多禮吧。誰不想要象你這樣的一個舞伴？”

伊麗莎白笑盈盈地瞟了一眼就轉身走開了。她的拒絕并沒有使達西覺得難過。達西正在相當高興地想念著她，恰巧彬格萊小姐走過來招呼他：

“我猜中你現在在幻想些什么。”

“諒你也猜不中。”

"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner -- in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity and yet the noise; the nothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people! -- What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"

"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."

Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity,

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

“你心里正在想，許多個晚上都是跟這些人在一起無聊度過的，這實在叫人受不了，我跟你頗有同感。我從來不曾這樣煩悶過！既枯燥乏味，又吵鬧不堪，無聊到了極點。這批人又一個個都自以為了不起!我就想聽聽你指責他們幾句。”

“老實對你說吧，你完全猜錯了。我心里想的東西要妙得多呢。我正在玩味著：一個漂亮女人的美麗的眼睛竟會給人這么大的快樂。”

彬格萊小姐立刻把眼睛盯在他的臉上，要他告訴她，究竟是哪位小姐有這種妙處使他這樣想入非非。達西先生鼓起極大的勇氣回答道：

“伊麗莎白·班納特小姐。”

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite? -- and pray when am I to wish you joy?"

"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy."

"Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed, and of course she will be always at pemberley with you."

He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to entertain herself in this manner, and as his composure convinced her that all was safe, her wit flowed long.

“伊麗莎白·班納特小姐！”彬格萊小姐重復了一遍。“我真感到驚奇。你看中她多久啦？──請你告訴我，我幾時可以向你道喜啊？”

“我料到你會問出這樣的話來的。女人的想象力真敏捷；從敬慕一跳就跳到愛情，一眨眼的工夫又從愛情跳到結婚。我知道你要預備來向我道喜了。”

“唔，要是你這么一本正經，我就認為這件事百分之百地決定啦。你一定會得到一位有趣的岳母大人，而且當然羅，她會永遠在彭伯里跟你待在一起。”

她說得那么得意，他卻完全似聽非聽，她看到他那般鎮定自若，便放了心，于是那張利嘴越發滔滔不絕了。

（來源：網絡 編輯：丹妮）