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.
达西先生非常有礼貌地要求她赏光,跟他跳一场,可是他白白要求了。伊丽莎白下定了决心就不动摇,任凭威廉爵士怎么劝说也没有用。
"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."
"伊丽莎小姐,你跳舞跳得那么高明,可是却不肯让我享享眼福,看你跳一场,这未免太说不过去了吧。再说,这位先生虽说平常并不喜欢这种娱乐,可是要他赏我们半个钟头的脸,我相信他也不会不肯的。"
"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling.
伊丽莎笑着说:"达西先生未免太客气了。"
"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?"
"他真的太客气了──可是,亲爱的伊丽莎小姐,看他这样求你,你总还会怪他多礼吧。谁不想要象你这样的一个舞伴?"
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."
伊丽莎白笑盈盈地瞟了一眼就转身走开了。她的拒绝并没有使达西觉得难过。达西正在相当高兴地想念着她,恰巧彬格莱小姐走过来招呼他:"我猜中你现在在幻想些什么。"
"I should imagine not."
"谅你也猜不中。"
"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!"
"你心里正在想,许多个晚上都是跟这些人在一起无聊度过的,这实在叫人受不了,我跟你颇有同感。我从来不曾这样烦闷过!既枯燥乏味,又吵闹不堪,无聊到了极点。这批人又一个个都自以为了不起!我就想听听你指责他们几句。"
"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."
"老实对你说吧,你完全猜错了。我心里想的东西要妙得多呢。我正在玩味着:一个漂亮女人的美丽的眼睛竟会给人这么大的快乐。"
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."
彬格莱小姐立刻把眼睛盯在他的脸上,要他告诉她,究竟是哪位小姐有这种妙处使他这样想入非非。达西先生鼓起极大的勇气回答道:"伊丽莎白·班纳特小姐。"
"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?"
"伊丽莎白·班纳特小姐!"彬格莱小姐重复了一遍。"我真感到惊奇。你看中她多久啦?──请你告诉我,我几时可以向你道喜啊?"
"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."
"我料到你会问出这样的话来的。女人的想象力真敏捷;从敬慕一跳就跳到爱情,一眨眼的工夫又从爱情跳到结婚。我知道你要预备来向我道喜了。"
"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."
"唔,要是你这么一本正经,我就认为这件事百分之百地决定啦。你一定会得到一位有趣的岳母大人,而且当然罗,她会永远在彭伯里跟你待在一起。"
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.
她说得那么得意,他却完全似听非听,她看到他那般镇定自若,便放了心,于是那张利嘴越发滔滔不绝了。