英文名著精选阅读:《傲慢与偏见》第四章 第3节
His sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own; but though he was now established only as atenant, Miss Bingley was by no means unwilling topresideat his table, nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years, when he was tempted by anaccidentalrecommendation to look at Netherfield House. He did look at it and into it for half an hour, was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.
他的姐妹们倒反而替他着急,希望早些购置产业;不过尽管他现在仅仅是以一个租户的身分在这儿住了下来,彬格莱小姐还是非常愿意替他掌管家务,至于赫斯脱太太--她嫁了个虽身属名流却不名几文的男人--只要房子让她满意,她也不是不情愿把弟弟的住宅当成自己的家。当时彬格莱先生成年还不满两个年头,只因为偶然听到人家推荐尼日斐花园的房子,他便来到这儿看看。他里里外外看了半个钟头,地段和几间主要的房间都很中他的意,加上房东又把那幢房子大大赞美了一番,那番话对他也是正中下怀,于是他就当场租了下来。
Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character. -- Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness,ductilityof his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard Bingley had the firmestreliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same timehaughty, reserved, andfastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence.
他和达西虽然性格大不相同,彼此之间友谊却始终如一。达西所以喜欢彬格莱,是因为彬格莱为人温柔敦厚、坦白直爽,尽管个性方面和他自己极端相反,而他自己也从来不曾觉得自己的个性有什么不完美的地方。达西很器重彬格莱,因此彬格莱对他极其信赖,对他的见解也推崇备至。在智力方面讲,达西比他强──这并不是说彬格莱笨,而是说达西聪明些。达西为人兼有傲慢、含蓄和爱挑剔的性子,他虽说受过良好的教养,可是他的风度总不受人欢迎。从这一方面讲,他的朋友可比他高明了。彬格莱无论走到哪儿,一定都会讨人喜欢,达西却始终得罪人。
The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life; every body had been most kind and attentive to him, there had been no formality, nostiffness; he had soon felt acquainted with all the room; and as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much.
从他俩谈起麦里屯舞会的态度来看,就足见两人性格的不同。彬格莱说,他生平从来没有遇到过什么人比这儿的人更和蔼,也没有遇到过什么姑娘比这儿的姑娘更漂亮;在他看来,这儿每个人都极其和善,极其殷勤,不拘礼,不局促,他一下子就觉得和全场的人都相处得很熟;讲起班纳特小姐,他想象不出人间会有一个比她更美丽的天使。至于达西,他总觉得他所看到的这些人既不美,又谈不上风度,没有一个人使他感兴趣,也没有一个人对他献殷勤,博取他的欢心。他承认班纳特小姐是漂亮的,可惜她笑得太多。
Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so -- but still they admired her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one whom they should not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorised by such commendation to think of her as he chose.
赫斯脱太太姐妹同意他这种看法──可是她们仍然羡慕她,喜欢她,说她是个甜姐儿,她们并不反对跟她这样的一位小姐做个深交。班纳特小姐就这样成为一个甜姐儿了,她们的兄弟听到了这番赞美,便觉得今后可以爱怎么样想她就怎么样想她了。
1.tenant n. 房客, 佃户 vt. 居住
Are you an owner-occupier or a tenant?
你住自己的房子还是租房住?
2.preside [pri'zaid] v. 任主席, 统辖, 当主人
The hostess presided at table with tact and urbanity.
女主人招待客人进餐时风雅而又得体。
3.accidental adj. 意外的, 偶然的, 附属的
Our meeting was quite accidental.
我们的相遇是很偶然的。
4.ductility n. 可延展性(延伸度, 可锻性, 韧性)
This property is known as ductility.
这个性能叫做延展性。
5.reliance n. 信赖, 所信赖的人或物
I have reliance in the testimony of the witness.
我相信证人的证词。
6.haughty adj. 傲慢的
The nobles treated the common people with haughty contempt.
王公贵族以不屑一顾的傲慢态度对待平民百姓。
7.fastidious adj. 难取悦的, 挑剔的, 苛求的
She is so fastidious about her food that I never invite her for dinner.
她对食物过於挑剔, 因此我从不请她吃饭。
8.stiffness ['stifnis] n. 僵硬, 硬度
As I got about, the stiffness in my left leg gradually worked off.
我走动走动, 左腿渐渐地不再僵直了。
1.Miss Bingley was by no means unwilling to preside at his table, nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her.
【难句解析】by no means意思是“决不;preside at one's table意思是“为某人主持家务;
【句子翻译】彬格莱小姐还是非常愿意替他掌管家务,至于赫斯脱太太--她嫁了个虽身属名流却不名几文的男人--只要房子让她满意,她也不是不情愿把弟弟的住宅当成自己的家。
2.He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence.
【难句解析】well bred意思是“教养良好;inviting意思是“吸引人的;give offence意思是“冒犯人;
【句子翻译】达西为人兼有傲慢、含蓄和爱挑剔的性子,他虽说受过良好的教养,可是他的风度总不受人欢迎。从这一方面讲,他的朋友可比他高明了。彬格莱无论走到哪儿,一定都会讨人喜欢,达西却始终得罪人。
(编辑:薛琳)
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