【经典名著阅读】《傲慢与偏见》第四十六章 （下）
Darcy was fixed in astonishment. "When I consider," she added, in a yet more agitated voice, "that I might have prevented it! -- I who knew what he was. Had I but explained some part of it only -- some part of what I learnt -- to my own family! Had his character been known, this could not have happened. But it is all, all too late now."达西给吓呆了。伊丽莎白又用一种更激动的声调接下去说：“我本来是可以阻止这一件事的！我知道他的真面目！我只要把那件事的一部分──我所听到的一部分，早讲给家里人听就好了，要是大家都知道了他的品格，就不会出这一场乱子了，但现在事已太迟。”
"I am grieved, indeed," cried Darcy; "grieved -- shocked. But is it certain, absolutely certain?"达西叫道：“我真痛心，又痛心又惊吓。但是这消息靠得住吗，完全靠得住吗？”
"Oh yes! -- They left Brighton together on Sunday night, and were traced almost to London, but not beyond; they are certainly not gone to Scotland."“当然靠得住！他们是星期日晚上从白利屯出奔的，人家追他们一直追到伦敦，可是无法再追下去。他们一定没有去苏格兰。”
"And what has been done, what has been attempted, to recover her?"“那么，有没有想什么办法去找她呢？”
"My father is gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my uncle's immediate assistance, and we shall be off, I hope, in half an hour. But nothing can be done; I know very well that nothing can be done. How is such a man to be worked on? How are they even to be discovered? I have not the smallest hope. It is every way horrible!"“我父亲到伦敦去了，吉英写信来，要舅父立刻回去帮忙，我希望我们在半个钟头之内就能动身。可是事情毫无办法，我认为一定毫无办法。这样的一个人，有什么办法对付得了？又想得出什么办法去找他们？我实在不敢存一线的希望。想来想去真可怕。”
Darcy shook his head in silent acquiescence.达西摇摇头，表示默认。
"When my eyes were opened to his real character. -- Oh! had I known what I ought, what I dared, to do! But I knew not -- I was afraid of doing too much. Wretched, wretched, mistake!"“我当初本已看穿了他的人品，只怪我一时缺乏果断，没有大着胆子去办事。我只怕做得太过火，这真是千不该万不该！”
Darcy made no answer. He seemed scarcely to hear her, and was walking up and down the room in earnest meditation; his brow contracted, his air gloomy. Elizabeth soon observed and instantly understood it. Her power was sinking; every thing must sink under such a proof of family weakness, such an assurance of the deepest disgrace. She should neither wonder nor condemn, but the belief of his self-conquest brought nothing consolatory to her bosom, afforded no palliation of her distress. It was, on the contrary, exactly calculated to make her understand her own wishes; and never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him, as now, when all love must be vain.达西没有回答。他好象完全没有听到她的话，只是在房间里踱来踱去，煞费苦心地在深思默想。他双眉紧蹙，满脸忧愁。伊丽莎白立刻看到了他这副面容，而且随即明白了他的心思。她对他的魔力一步步在消退了；家庭这样不争气，招来了这样的奇耻大辱，自然处处都会惹得人家一天比一天看不起。她丝毫不觉得诧异，也不怪别人。她即使姑且认为他愿意委曲求全，也未必就会感到安慰，未必就会减轻痛苦。这反而足发使她愈加有自知之明。现在千恩万爱都已落空，她倒第一次感觉到真心真意地爱他。
But self, though it would intrude, could not engross her. Lydia -- the humiliation, the misery, she was bringing on them all -- soon swallowed up every private care; and covering her face with her handkerchief, Elizabeth was soon lost to every thing else; and, after a pause of several minutes, was only recalled to a sense of her situation by the voice of her companion, who, in a manner, which though it spoke compassion, spoke likewise restraint, said, "I am afraid you have been long desiring my absence, nor have I any thing to plead in excuse of my stay, but real, though unavailing, concern. Would to heaven that any thing could be either said or done on my part, that might offer consolation to such distress! -- But I will not torment you with vain wishes, which may seem purposely to ask for your thanks. This unfortunate affair will, I fear, prevent my sister's having the pleasure of seeing you at Pemberley today."她虽然难免想到自己，却并不是完全只想到自己。只要一想到丽迪雅给大家带来的耻辱和痛苦，她立刻就打消了一切的个人顾虑。她用一条手绢掩住了脸，便一切都不闻不问了。过了好一会儿，她听到她朋友的声音，这才神志清醒过来。只听得达西说话的声调里满含着同情，也带着一些拘束；“我恐怕你早就希望我走开了吧，我实在没有理由待在这儿，不过我无限地同情你，虽然这种同情无济于事。天哪，我但愿能够说几句什么话，或是尽我一份力量，来安慰安慰你这样深切的痛苦！可是我不愿意说些空洞的漂亮话，让你受罪，这样做倒好象是我故意要讨你的好。我恐怕这桩不幸的事，会使得你们今天不能到彭伯里去看我妹妹了。”
"Oh, yes. Be so kind as to apologize for us to Miss Darcy. Say that urgent business calls us home immediately. Conceal the unhappy truth as long as it is possible. -- I know it cannot be long."“哦！是呀，请你替我们向达西小姐道个歉吧。就说我们有紧要的事，非立刻回家不可。请你把这一桩不幸的事尽可能多隐瞒一些时候。不过我也知道隐瞒不了多久。”
He readily assured her of his secrecy -- again expressed his sorrow for her distress, wished it a happier conclusion than there was at present reason to hope, and, leaving his compliments for her relations, with only one serious, parting, look, went away.他立刻答应替她保守秘密，又重新说他非常同情她的苦痛，希望这一件事会得到比较圆满的结局，不至于象现在所想象的这样糟糕，又请她代为问候她家里人，然后郑重地望了她一眼便告辞了。
As he quitted the room, Elizabeth felt how improbable it was that they should ever see each other again on such terms of cordiality as had marked their several meetings in Derbyshire; and as she threw a retrospective glance over the whole of their acquaintance, so full of contradictions and varieties, sighed at the perverseness of those feelings which would now have promoted its continuance, and would formerly have rejoiced in its termination.他一走出房门，伊丽莎白就不禁想到；这一次居然能和他在德比郡见面，而且好几次见面都蒙他竭诚相待，这简直是出人意料。她又回想了一下他们整个一段交情，真是矛盾百出，千变万化，她以前曾经巴不得断绝这一段交情，如今却又希望能继续下去，想到这种颠三倒四的地方，不由得叹了口气。
If gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection, Elizabeth's change of sentiment will be neither improbable nor faulty. But if otherwise, if the regard springing from such sources is unreasonable or unnatural, in comparison of what is so often described as arising on a first interview with its object, and even before two words have been exchanged, nothing can be said in her defence, except that she had given somewhat of a trial to the latter method in her partiality for Wickham, and that its ill-success might perhaps authorise her to seek the other less interesting mode of attachment. Be that as it may, she saw him go with regret; and in this early example of what Lydia's infamy must produce, found additional anguish as she reflected on that wretched business. Never, since reading Jane's second letter, had she entertained a hope of Wickham's meaning to marry her. No one but Jane, she thought, could flatter herself with such an expectation. Surprise was the least of her feelings on this developement. While the contents of the first letter remained on her mind, she was all surprise -- all astonishment that Wickham should marry a girl whom it was impossible he could marry for money; and how Lydia could ever have attached him had appeared incomprehensible. But now it was all too natural. For such an attachment as this, she might have sufficient charms; and though she did not suppose Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement, without the intention of marriage, she had no difficulty in believing that neither her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey.如果说，大凡一个人爱上一个人，都是因为先有了感激之心，器重之意，那么，伊丽莎白这次感情的变化当然既合情理，又叫人无可非议。反而言之，世人有所谓一见倾心的场面，也有双方未曾交谈三言两语就相互倾心的场面，如果说，由感激和器重产生的爱情，比起一见倾心的爱情来，就显得不近人情事理，那我们当然就不能够再袒护伊丽莎白，不过还有一点可以替她交待清楚一下；当初韦翰使他动心的时候，她也许多少就采用了另一种比较乏味的恋爱方式。这且不提，却说她看见达西走了，真是十分惆怅；丽迪雅这次的丑行，一开头就造成了这样不良的后果，再想起这件糟糕的事，她心里更加痛苦。自从她读了吉英的第二封信以后，她再也不指望韦翰会存心和丽迪雅结婚了。她想，只有吉英会存这种希望，此外谁都不会。关于这件事的发展趋势，她丝毫不觉得奇怪。当她只读到第一封信的时候，她的确觉得太奇怪，太惊讶──韦翰怎么会跟这样一个无利可图的姑娘结婚？丽迪雅又怎么会爱上他？实在叫人不可理解。可是现在看来，真是再自然也没有了。象这一类的苟合，丽迪雅的风流妩媚可能也就足够了。
She had never perceived, while the regiment was in Hertfordshire, that Lydia had any partiality for him, but she was convinced that Lydia had wanted only encouragement to attach herself to any body. Sometimes one officer, sometimes another had been her favourite, as their attentions raised them in her opinion. Her affections had been continually fluctuating, but never without an object. The mischief of neglect and mistaken indulgence towards such a girl. -- Oh! how acutely did she now feel it.她虽然并不以为丽迪雅会存心跟人家私奔页不打算结婚，可是丽迪雅无论在品德方面或见识方面，的确都很欠缺，当然经不起人家勾引，这也是她意料中事。民兵团驻扎在哈福德郡的时候，她完全没有看出丽迪雅对韦翰有什么倾心的地方，可是她深深认识到丽迪雅只要随便哪个人勾引一下就会上钩。她今天喜欢这个军官，明天又喜欢那个军官，只要你对她献殷勤，她就看得中你。她平常的情感极不专一，可是从来没有缺少过谈情说爱的对象。这只怪一向没有家教，对她任意纵容，结果使这样的一个姑娘落得这般下场。天哪！她现在实在体会得太深刻啦！
She was wild to be at home -- to hear, to see, to be upon the spot, to share with Jane in the cares that must now fall wholly upon her, in a family so deranged; a father absent, a mother incapable of exertion and requiring constant attendance; and though almost persuaded that nothing could be done for Lydia, her uncle's interference seemed of the utmost importance, and till he entered the room, the misery of her impatience was severe. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had hurried back in alarm, supposing, by the servant's account, that their niece was taken suddenly ill; -- but satisfying them instantly on that head, she eagerly communicated the cause of their summons, reading the two letters aloud, and dwelling on the postscript of the last with trembling energy. -- Though Lydia had never been a favourite with them, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner could not but be deeply affected. Not Lydia only, but all were concerned in it; and after the first exclamations of surprise and horror, Mr. Gardiner readily promised every assistance in his power. -- Elizabeth, though expecting no less, thanked him with tears of gratitude; and all three being actuated by one spirit, every thing relating to their journey was speedily settled. They were to be off as soon as possible. "But what is to be done about Pemberley?" cried Mrs. Gardiner. "John told us Mr. Darcy was here when you sent for us; -- was it so?"她非回家不可了──要亲自去听听清楚，看看明白，要赶快去给吉英分担一份忧劳。家里给弄得那么糟，父亲不在家，母亲撑不起身，又随时要人侍候，千斤重担都压在吉英一个人身上。关于丽迪雅的事，她虽然认为已经无法可想，可是她又认为舅父的帮助是极其重要的，她等他回来真等得万分焦急。且说嘉丁纳夫妇听了仆人的话还以为是外甥女得了急病，便连忙慌慌张张赶回来。伊丽莎白见到他们，马上说明并非得了急病，他们方才放心，她又连忙讲清楚找他们回来的原因，把那两封信读出来，又气急败坏地念着第二封信后面补写的那一段话。虽然舅父母平常并不喜爱丽迪雅，可是他们却不得不感到深切的忧虑，因为这件事不单是牵涉到丽迪雅，而是对于大家都体面攸关。嘉丁纳先生开头大为骇异，连声慨叹，然后便一口答应竭尽一切力量帮忙到底。伊丽莎白虽然并没有觉得事出意外，可还是感激涕零。于是三个人协力同心，一刹那工夫就样样收拾妥贴，只等上路。他们要走得越快越好。“可是怎样向彭伯里交待呢？”嘉丁纳太太大声地说：“约翰跟我们说，当你在找我们的时候，达西先生正在这儿，这是真的吗？”
"Yes; and I told him we should not be able to keep our engagement. That is all settled."“是真的；我已经告诉过他，我们不能赴约了。这件事算是交待清楚了。”
"That is all settled!" repeated the other, as she ran into her room to prepare. "And are they upon such terms as for her to disclose the real truth! Oh, that I knew how it was!"“这件事算是交待清楚了，”舅母一面重说了一遍，一面跑回房间去准备。“难道他们两人的交情已经好到这步田地，她可以把事实真相都说给他听了吗？哎唷，我真想弄明白这究竟是怎么回事！”
But wishes were vain; or at best could serve only to amuse her in the hurry and confusion of the following hour. Had Elizabeth been at leisure to be idle, she would have remained certain that all employment was impossible to one so wretched as herself; but she had her share of business as well as her aunt, and amongst the rest there were notes to be written to all their friends in Lambton, with false excuses for their sudden departure. An hour, however, saw the whole completed; and Mr. Gardiner meanwhile having settled his account at the inn, nothing remained to be done but to go; and Elizabeth, after all the misery of the morning, found herself, in a shorter space of time than she could have supposed, seated in the carriage, and on the road to Longbourn.可惜她这个愿望落空了，最多不过在这匆匆忙忙、慌慌乱乱的一个钟头里面，宽慰了一下她自己的心。纵使伊丽莎白能够偷闲摸空跟她谈谈，在这种狼狈不堪的情况下，哪里还会有闲情逸致来谈这种事，何况她也和她舅母一样，有多少事情要料理；别的且不说，蓝白屯所有的朋友们就得由她写信去通知，执行捏造一些借口，说明他们为什么要突然离去。她在一小时以后，样样事情都已经料理妥贴，嘉丁纳先生也和旅馆里算清了账，只等动身。伊丽莎白苦闷了整整一个上午，想不到在极短的时间里，居然坐上马车，向浪搏恩出发了。
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