名著精读《傲慢与偏见》第13章 第3节

"At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peacemaking gentleman," said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. "He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word; and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again."

“那么，四点钟的时候，这位息事宁人的先生就要来啦，”班纳特先生一边把信折好，一边说。“他倒是个很有良心、很有礼貌的青年，一定是的；我相信他一定会成为一个值得器重的朋友，只要咖苔琳夫人能够开开恩，让他以后再上我们这儿来，那更好啦。”

"There is some sense in what he says about the girls however; and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him."

“他讲到我们女儿们的那几句话，倒还说得不错；要是他果真打算设法补偿，我倒不反对。”

"Though it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit."

吉英说：“他说要给我们补偿，我们虽然猜不出他究竟是什么意思，可是他这一片好意也的确难得。”

Elizabeth was chiefly struck with his extraordinary deference for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his parishioners whenever it were required.

伊丽莎白听到他对咖苔琳夫人尊敬得那么出奇，而且他竟那么好心好意，随时替他自己教区里的居民行洗礼，主持婚礼和丧礼，不觉大为吃惊。

"He must be an oddity, I think," said she. "I cannot make him out. -- There is something very pompous in his stile. -- And what can he mean by apologizing for being next in the entail? -- We cannot suppose he would help it, if he could. -- Can he be a sensible man, sir?"

“我看他一定是个古怪人，”她说。“我真弄不懂他。他的文笔似乎有些浮夸。他所谓因为继承了我们的产权而感到万分抱歉，这话是什么意思呢？即使这件事可以取消，我们也不要以为他就肯取消，他是个头脑清楚的人吗，爸爸？”

"No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him."

“不，宝贝，我想他不会是的。我完全认为他是恰恰相反。从他信里那种既谦卑又自大的口气上就可以看得出来。我倒真想见见他。”

"In point of composition," said Mary, "his letter does not seem defective. The idea of the olive branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed."

曼丽说：“就文章而论，他的信倒好象写得没有什么毛病。橄榄枝这种说法虽然并不新颖，可是我觉得用得倒很恰当。”

To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished her husband and daughters.

在咖苔琳和丽迪雅看来，无论是那封信也好，写信的人也好，都没有一点儿意思。反正她们觉得她们的表兄绝不会穿着“红制服”来，而这几个星期以来，穿其他任何颜色的衣服的人，她们都不乐意结交。至于她们的母亲，原来的一般怨气已经被柯林斯先生一封信打消了不少，她倒准备相当平心静气地会见他，这使得她的丈夫和女儿们都觉得非常奇怪。

emaking n. 调解，调停

cientious adj. 勤勉认真的；一丝不苟的

We should be conscientious to our work.
我们应该对工作负责。

lgent adj. 纵容的，任性的，宽纵的

They are indulgent parents.
他们对子女很纵容。

ement n. 赎罪，弥补

Christ's atonement is for the sins of mankind.
耶稣的赎罪是为了人类。

rence n. 顺从，敬重

I changed my plan in deference to your opinion.
我听从你的意见，改变了计划。

stening n. 洗礼仪式 动词christen的现在分词形式

The ceremony was something like a christening.
那个典礼有点像洗礼仪式。

shioner n. 教区居民

A business meeting of parishioners in a parish.
教区会议在教区里的教徒们的商业性聚会

ous adj. 傲慢的，自大的，浮华的

He is a pompous official.
他是个自命不凡的官员。

ility n. 奴性，卑躬屈膝

-importance n. 自尊，自负，自大

osure n. 镇静，沉著

Keep calm; don't lose your composure.
保持镇静，不要惊慌失措。

gh it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit."

【难句解析】make sb. atonement “为某人作出补偿”；to one's credit “值得赞扬”；

【句子翻译】吉英说：“他说要给我们补偿，我们虽然猜不出他究竟是什么意思，可是他这一片好意也的确难得。”

it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour.

【难句解析】society在这里的意思不是“社会”，而是“结交、交往”；

【句子翻译】而这几个星期以来，穿其他任何颜色的衣服的人，她们都不乐意结交。