《傲慢与偏见》 第2章(1)（在线收听）

MR. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid, she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with,

班纳特先生尽管在自己太太面前自始至终都说是不想去拜访彬格莱先生，事实上一直都打算去拜访他，而且还是跟第一批人一起去拜访他的。等到他去拜访过以后，当天晚上太太才知道实情。这消息透露出来的经过是这样的－－他看到第二个女儿在装饰帽子，就突然对她说：

"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy."

“我希望彬格莱先生会喜欢你这顶帽子，丽萃。”

"We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes," said her mother resentfully, "since we are not to visit."

她母亲气愤愤地说：“我们既然不预备去看彬格莱先生，当然就无从知道他喜欢什么。”

"But you forget, mama," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him."

“可是你忘啦，妈妈，”伊丽莎白说，“我们将来可以在跳舞会上碰到他的，郎格太太不是答应过把他介绍给我们吗？”

"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her."

“我不相信郎格太太肯这么做。她自己有两个亲侄女。她是个自私自利、假仁假义的女人，我瞧不起她。”

"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you."

“我也瞧不起她，”班纳特先生说；“你倒不指望她来替你效劳，这叫我听到高兴。”

Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.

班纳特太太没有理睬他，可是忍不住气，便骂起女儿来。

"Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."

“别那么咳个不停，吉蒂，看老天爷份上吧！稍许体谅一下我的神经吧。你简直叫我的神经要胀裂啦。”

"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father; "she times them ill."

“吉蒂真不知趣，”她的父亲说；“咳嗽也不知道拣个时候。”

"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully.

“我又不是故意咳着玩儿。”吉蒂气恼地回答道。

"When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?"

“你们的跳舞会定在那一天开，丽萃？”

"To-morrow fortnight."

“从明天算起，还得再过两个星期。”

"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself."

“唔，原来如此，”她的母亲嚷道，“郎格太太可要挨到开跳舞会的前一天才能赶回来；那么，她可来不及把他介绍给你们啦，她自己也还不认识他呢。”

"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her."

“那么，好太太，你正可以占你朋友的上风，反过来替她介绍这位贵人啦。”

"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teazing?"

“办不到，我的好老爷，办不到，我自己还不认识他呢；你怎么可以这样嘲笑人？”

"I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture, somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance; and therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on myself."

“我真佩服你想得这般周到。两个星期的认识当然谈不上什么。跟一个人相处了两个星期，不可能就此了解他究竟是怎样一个人。不过，要是我们不去尝试尝试，别人可少不了要尝试的。话说到底，郎格太太和她的侄女一定不肯错过这个良机。因此，要是你不愿意办这件事，我自己来办好了，反正她会觉得这是我们对她的一片好意。”