名著精读《傲慢与偏见》第13章 第2节
Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an entail. They had often attempted it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.
吉英和伊丽莎白设法把继承权的问题跟她解释了一下。其实她们一直没法跟她解释，可是这个问题跟她是讲不明白的。她老是破口大骂，说是自己的产业不能由五个亲生女儿继承，却白白送给一个和她们毫不相干的人，这实在是太不合情理。
"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet, "and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself."
“这的确是一最不公道的事，”班纳特先生说，“柯林斯先生要继承浪博恩的产业，他这桩罪过是洗也洗不清的。不过，要是你听听他这封信里所说的话，那你就会心肠软一些，因为他这番表明心迹还算不错。”
"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it was very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false friends. Why could not he keep on quarrelling with you, as his father did before him?"
“不，我相信我绝对不会心软下来；我觉得他写信给你真是既没有礼貌，又非常虚伪。我恨这种虚伪的朋友。他为什么不象他的爸爸那样跟你吵得不可开交呢？”
"Why, indeed, he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, as you will hear."
“哦，真的，他对这个问题，好象也有些为了顾全孝道，犹豫不决，且让我把信读给你们听吧：
"Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent,
亲爱的长者：
15th October.
DEAR SIR,
THE disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with any one with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance." -- "There, Mrs. Bennet." --
以前你为先父之间曾有些芥蒂，这一直使我感到不安。自先父不幸弃世以来，我常常想到要弥补这个裂痕；但我一时犹豫，没有这样做，怕的是先父生前既然对阁下唯恐仇视不及，而我今天却来与阁下修好，这未免有辱先人。──“注意听呀，我的好太太。”──
"My mind however is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England.
不过目前我对此事已经拿定主张，因为我已在复活节那天受了圣职。多蒙故刘威斯·德·包尔公爵的孀妻咖苔琳·德·包尔夫人宠礼有加，恩惠并施，提拔我担任该教区的教士，此后可以勉尽厥诚，恭待夫人左右，奉行英国教会所规定的一切仪节，这真是拜三生不幸。
As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends, -- but of this hereafter.
况且以一个教士的身份来说，我觉得我有责任尽我之所及，使家家户户得以敦穆亲谊，促进友好。因此我自信这番好意一定会受到你的重视，而有关我继承浪博恩产权一事，你也可不必介意。并请接受我献上的这一枝橄榄枝。我这样侵犯了诸位令媛的利益，真是深感不安，万分抱歉，但请你放心，我极愿给她们一切可能的补偿，此事容待以后详谈。
If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'nnight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,
WILLIAM COLLINS."
如果你不反对我踵门拜候，我建议于十一月十八是，星期一，四点钟前来拜谒，甚或在府上叨扰至下星期六为止。这对于我毫无不便之处，因为咖苔琳夫人决不会反对我星期日偶而离开教堂一下，只消有另一个教士主持这一天的事怀就行了。敬向尊夫人及诸位令媛致候。
你的祝福者和朋友威廉·柯林斯
il[in'teil] vt. 使必需，使蒙受;限定继承 n. 限定继承权
The house and estate are entailed on the eldest daughter.
这所房子和地产限定由长女继承。
uitous adj. 不正的，不法的，邪恶的
Have you seen this bill? It's iniquitous!
你看见这份帐单了吗? 简直是漫天要价！
rtinent adj. 鲁莽的，无礼的，粗鲁的
His remarks were impertinent.
他说话语言粗鲁。
al adj. 子女的，子女应做的，孝顺的
She had done her filial respect to her mother.
她已经对母亲尽了孝心。
ple['skru:pl] n. 顾忌，迟疑 n. 微量 vi. 顾虑
He has absolutely no scruples; he'll do anything to get what he wants.
他没有一点点顾忌，为了得到自己想要的东西，他什么事都做得出来。
ch n. 裂口，破坏，违背，（浪的）冲击，决裂 vt. 违反，在 ... 上打开缺口，突破 vi. 跃出水面
Your action is a breach of our agreement.
你的行动违反了我们的协议。
variance 有分歧，不一致，不合
The question of woman suffrage sets them at variance.
妇女参政的问题使他们发生争执。
nation n. 任命，神职授任
The sacrament or rite of ordination.
神职仪式神职的任命或神职任命仪式
onage n. 赞助，光顾，任免权
We thank you for your patronage.
我们谢谢您的惠顾。
sh n. 教区，教区的全体居民，地方行政区，(路易西安那州的)郡
They go to the parish church every week.
他们每周都去教区的教堂。
ture n. 提议，提案，主动表示，序曲 v. 提议，建议
The audience must be in their seats before the overture.
观众必须于序曲演奏前入座。
e branch n. 橄榄枝
The olive branch is the emblem of peace.
橄榄枝是和平的象征。
iness['redinis] n. 准备就绪，预备，敏捷
She shows great readiness to learn.
她表现出强烈的学习愿望。
after n. 将来，来世 adv. 此后，将来，来世
Do you believe in the hereafter?
你相信来世吗？
pass n. 非法侵入，罪过，[法]侵害诉讼 v. 非法侵入，侵害，冒犯
Are you familiar with the laws relating to trespass?
你熟悉关于侵入私人领地的法律吗？
gyman n. 牧师，教士，神职人员
This clergyman is respected by all the villagers.
这位教士受到所有村民的尊敬。
had often attempted it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.
【难句解析】beyond the reach of“在够得着的范围之外”；in favour of“有利于”；
【句子翻译】其实她们一直没法跟她解释，可是这个问题跟她是讲不明白的。她老是破口大骂，说是自己的产业不能由五个亲生女儿继承，却白白送给一个和她们毫不相干的人，这实在是太不合情理。
disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with any one with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.
【难句解析】late“已故的”；heal意思是“使和解”，heal the breach意思是“和解不合”；keep back“保留，阻止”；be on good terms with“与...有交情”；
【句子翻译】以前你为先父之间曾有些芥蒂，这一直使我感到不安。自先父不幸弃世以来，我常常想到要弥补这个裂痕；但我一时犹豫，没有这样做，怕的是先父生前既然对阁下唯恐仇视不及，而我今天却来与阁下修好，这未免有辱先人。
1.按照中世纪教会传统，教产捐赠人对其教区的教职有提名推荐权。当时获取有圣俸教职的教士，不仅有资格得到一份稳定的圣职躬耕田与什一税收入，而且除非年老退职或犯罪，终生可任教职。
