MR. Collins's triumph in consequence of this invitation was complete. The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of doing it should be given so soon was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension as he knew not how to admire enough.
羅新斯這一次請客，真使得柯林斯先生感到百分之百地得意。他本來一心要讓這些好奇的賓客們去風光一下他那女施主的堂皇氣派，看看老夫人對待他們夫婦倆多么禮貌周全。他竟會這么快就得到了如愿以償的機會，這件事大足以說明咖苔琳夫人的禮賢下士，使得他不知如何景仰是好。

"I confess," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprised by her Ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there (an invitation moreover including the whole party) so immediately after your arrival!"
“說老實話，”他說，“她老人家邀請我們星期日去吃茶點，在羅新斯消磨一個下午，我一點兒也不覺得意外。她一貫為人殷勤，我倒以為她真要這樣招待一番的，可是誰料想到會象這次這樣情意隆重?誰會想到你們剛剛到這里在，就被請到那邊去吃飯(而且全體都請到了)?”

"I am the less surprised at what has happened," replied Sir William, "from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the Court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon."
威廉爵士說：“剛才的事我倒不怎么覺得稀奇，大人物的為人處世實在都是如此，象我這樣有身份的人，就見識得很多。在顯宦貴族們當中，這類風雅好客的事不足為奇。”

Scarcely any thing was talked of the whole day, or next morning, but their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner might not wholly overpower them.
這一整天和第二天上午，簡直只談到去羅新斯的事。柯林斯先生預先仔仔細細地一樣樣告訴他們，到那邊去將要看到什么東西，免得他們看到了那樣宏偉的屋子，那樣眾多的仆從，那樣豐盛的菜肴，會造成臨時慌亂，手足失措。

When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth,
當娘兒們正要各自去打扮的時候，他又對伊麗莎白說：

"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for any thing more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved."
“不要為衣裝擔心思，親愛的表妹。咖苔琳夫人才不會要我們穿得華麗呢，這只有她自己和她的女兒才配。我勸你只要在你自己的衣服里面，揀一件出色的穿上就行，不必過于講究。珈苔琳夫人決不會因為你衣裝樸素就瞧你不起。她喜歡各人守著自己的本份，分得出一個高低。”

While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. -- Such formidable accounts of her ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas, who had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her introduction at Rosings with as much apprehension, as her father had done to his presentation at St. James's.
娘兒們整裝的時候，他又到各個人的房門口去了兩三次，勸她們快一點，因為咖苔琳夫人請人吃飯最恨客人遲到。瑪麗亞·盧卡斯聽說她老人家的為人處事這樣可怕，不由得嚇了一跳，因為她一向不大會應酬。她一想起要到羅新斯去拜望，就誠惶誠恐，正如她父親當年進宮覲見一樣。

As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park. -- Every park has its beauty and its prospects; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, though she could not be in such raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis De Bourgh.
天朗氣清，他們穿過花園，作了一次差不多半英里的愉快的散步。一家家的花園都各有美妙，伊麗莎白縱目觀賞，心曠神怡，可是并不如柯林斯先生所預期的那樣，會被眼前的景色陶醉得樂而忘形。盡管他數著屋前一扇扇窗戶說，光是這些玻璃，當初曾一共花了劉威斯·德·包爾爵士多大一筆錢，她可并不為這些話動心。

When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. -- Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue, and the mere stateliness of money and rank she thought she could witness without trepidation.
他們踏上臺階走進穿堂的時候，瑪麗亞一分鐘比一分鐘來得惶恐，連威廉爵士也不能完全保持鎮定。倒是伊麗莎白不畏縮。無論是論才論德，她都沒有聽到咖苔琳夫人有什么了不起的地方足以引起她敬畏，光憑著有錢有勢，還不會叫她見到了就膽戰心驚。

From the entrance hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous air, the fine proportion and finished ornaments, they followed the servants through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. -- Her ladyship, with great condescension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had settled it with her husband that the office of introduction should be her's, it was performed in a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary.
進了穿堂，柯林斯先生就帶著一副喜極欲狂的神氣，指出這屋子的堂皇富麗，然后由傭人們帶著客人走過前廳，來到咖苔琳夫人母女和姜金生太太的起坐間。夫人極其謙和地站起身來迎接他們。根據柯林斯太太事先跟她丈夫商量好的辦法，當場由太太出面替賓主介紹，因此介紹得很得體，凡是柯林斯先生認為必不可少的那些道歉和感激的話，都一概免了。

In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly. -- Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he had represented.
威廉爵士雖說當年也曾進宮覲見過皇上，可是看到四周圍這般的富貴氣派，也不禁完全給嚇住了，只得彎腰一躬，一聲不響，坐了下來;再說他的女兒，簡直嚇得喪魂失魄一般，兀自坐在椅子邊上，眼睛也不知道往哪里看才好。伊麗莎白倒是完全安然自若，而且從容不迫地細細瞧著那三位女主人。咖苔琳夫人是位高大的婦人，五官清楚，也許年輕時很好看。她的樣子并不十分客氣，接待賓客的態度也不能使賓客忘卻自己身份的低微。她嚇人的地方倒不是默不作聲，而是她出言吐語時聲調總是那么高高在上，自命不凡，這叫伊麗莎白立刻想起了韋翰先生的話。經過這一整天的察言觀色之后，她覺得咖苔琳夫人的為人，果然和韋翰所形容的完全一樣。

When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on the daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's astonishment at her being so thin, and so small. There was neither in figure nor face any likeness between the ladies. Miss De Bourgh was pale and sickly; her features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little, except in a low voice to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance there was nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes.
她仔細打量了她一眼，立刻就發覺她的容貌有些象達西先生，然后她就把目光轉到她的女兒身上，見她女兒長得那么單薄，那么瘦小，這使她幾乎和瑪麗亞一樣感到驚奇。母女二人無論體態面貌，都沒有相似之處。德·包爾小姐臉色蒼白、滿面病容，五官雖然長得不算難看，可是并不起眼;她不大說話，除非是低聲跟姜金生太太嘀咕幾句。姜金生太太的相貌沒有一點特出的地方，她只是全神貫注地聽著小姐說話，并且擋在她面前，不讓人家把她看得太清楚。

After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties, and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth looking at in the summer.
坐了幾分鐘以后，客人們都被打發到窗口去欣賞外面的風景。柯林斯先生陪著他們，一處處指給他們看，咖苔琳夫人和善地告訴他們說，到了夏天還要好看。

The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants, and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish nothing greater. -- He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity; and every dish was commended, first by him, and then by Sir William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son in law said, in a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and Miss De Bourgh -- the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss De Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she were indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire.
酒席果然特別體面，待候的仆從以及盛酒菜的器皿，也跟柯林斯先生所形容過的一模一樣，而且正如他事先所料到的那樣，夫人果然吩咐他坐在末席，看他那副神氣，好象人生沒有比這更得意的事了。他邊切邊吃，又興致淋漓地贊不絕口;每一道菜都由他先來夸獎，然后由威廉爵士加以吹噓，原來威廉爵士現在已經完全消除了驚恐，可以做他女婿的應聲蟲了。伊麗莎白看到那種樣子，不禁擔心咖苔琳夫人怎么受得了。可是咖苔琳夫人對這些過分的贊揚好象倒非常滿意，總是顯露出仁慈的微笑，尤其是端上一道客人們沒見過的菜到桌上來的時候，她便格外得意。賓主們都沒有什么可談的，伊麗莎白卻只要別人開個頭，總還有話可說，可惜她坐的地方不對頭，一邊是夏綠蒂，她正在用心聽咖苔琳夫人談話;另一邊是德·包爾小姐，整個吃飯時間不跟她說一句話。姜金生太太主要在注意德·包爾小姐，她看到小姐東西吃得太少，便逼著她吃了這樣再吃那樣，又怕她不受用。瑪麗亞根本不想講話，男客們只顧一邊吃一邊贊美。

When the ladies returned to the drawing room, there was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted. She enquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, and gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of them all; told her how every thing ought to be regulated in so small a family as her's, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry. Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose connections she knew the least, and who, she observed to Mrs. Collins, was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl. She asked her at different times, how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether any of them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, where they had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been her mother's maiden name? -- Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions, but answered them very composedly. -- Lady Catherine then observed,
女客們回到會客室以后，只是聽咖苔琳夫人談話。夫人滔滔不絕地一直談到咖啡端上來為止，隨便談到哪一樁事，她總是那么斬釘截鐵、不許別人反對的樣子。她毫不客氣地仔細問著夏綠蒂的家常，又給她提供了一大堆關于料理家務的意見。她告訴夏綠蒂說，象她這樣的一個小家庭，一切事情都應該精密安排，又指教她如何照料母牛和家禽。伊麗莎白發覺這位貴婦人只要有機會支配別人，隨便怎么小的事情也決不肯輕易放過。夫人同柯林斯太太談話的時候，也間或向瑪麗亞和伊麗莎白問幾句話，特別向伊麗莎白問得多。她不大清楚伊麗莎白和她們是什么關系，不過她對柯林斯太太說，她是個很斯文、很標致的姑娘。她好幾次問伊麗莎白有幾個姐妹，她們比她大還是比她小，她們中間有沒有哪一個已經結婚，她們長得好看不好看，在哪里讀書，她們的父親有什么樣的馬車，她母親的娘家姓什么。伊麗莎白覺得她這些話問得唐突，不過還是心平氣和地回答了她。于是咖苔琳夫人說：

"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. -- It was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. -- Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?"
“你父親的財產得由柯林斯先生繼承吧，我想?”──說到這里，她又掉過頭來對夏綠蒂說：“為你著想，我倒覺得高興;否則我實在看不出有什么理由不讓自己的女兒們來繼承財產，卻要給別人。劉威斯·德·包爾家里就覺得沒有這樣做的必要。──你會彈琴唱歌嗎，班納特小姐?”

"A little."
“略知一二。”

"Oh! then -- some time or other we shall be happy to hear you. Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to -- You shall try it some day. -- Do your sisters play and sing?"
“噢，幾時我們倒想要聽一聽。我們的琴非常好，說不定比──你哪一天來試一試看吧。你的姐妹們會彈琴唱歌嗎?”

"One of them does."
“有一個會。”

"Why did not you all learn? -- You ought all to have learned. The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as your's. -- Do you draw?"
“為什么不大家都學呢?你們應該個個都學。魏伯家的小姐們就個個都會，她們父親的收入還比不上你們父親呢。你們會畫嗎?”

"No, not at all."
“不，一點兒不會。”

"What, none of you?"
“怎么說，一個也不會嗎?”

"Not one."
“沒有一個會。”

"That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters."
“這倒很稀奇。我猜想你們是沒有機會學吧。你們的母親應該每年春天帶你們上城里來投投名師才對。”

"My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London."
“我媽是不會反對的，可是我父親厭惡倫敦。”

"Has your governess left you?"
“你們的女家庭教師走了嗎?”

"We never had any governess."
“我們從來就沒有請過女家庭教師。”

"No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! -- I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education."
“沒有女家庭教師!那怎么行?家里教養著五個姑娘，卻不請個女家庭教師!我從來沒聽到過這樣的事!你媽簡直是做奴隸似的教育你們啦。”

Elizabeth could hardly help smiling, as she assured her that had not been the case.
伊麗莎白禁不住笑起來了，一面告訴她說，事實并不是那樣。

　　　　　　　　　　　　"Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess you must have been neglected."
“那么誰教導你們呢?誰服待你們呢?沒有一個女家庭老師，你們不就是沒人照管了嗎?”

"Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wished to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle, certainly might."
“同別的一些人家比較起來，我們家里待我們算是比較懈怠;可是姐妹們中間，凡是好學的，決不會沒有辦法。家里經常鼓勵我們好好讀書，必要的教師我們都有。誰要是存心偷懶，當然也可以。”

"Aye, no doubt; but that is what a governess will prevent, and if I had known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to engage one. I always say that nothing is to be done in education without steady and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can give it. It is wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying in that way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed out. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means; and it was but the other day that I recommended another young person, who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalfe's calling yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss pope a treasure. "Lady Catherine," said she, "you have given me a treasure." Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?"
“那是毫無疑問的;不過，女家庭教師的任務也就是為了防止這種事情;要是我認識你們的母親，我一定要竭力勸她請一位。我總以為缺少了按部就班的指導，教育就不會有任何成績，而按部就班的指導就只有女家庭教師辦得到。說起來也怪有意思，多少人家都是由我介紹女家庭教師的。我一貫喜歡讓一個年輕人得到很好的安插。姜金生太太的四個侄女兒都由我給她們介紹了稱心如意的位置;就在前幾天，我又推薦了一個姑娘，她不過是人家偶然在我面前提起的，那家人家對她非常滿意。──柯林斯太太，我有沒有告訴過你，麥特卡爾夫人昨天來謝我?她覺得蒲白小姐真是件珍寶呢。她跟我說：‘咖苔琳夫人，你給了我一件珍寶。’──你的妹妹們有沒有哪一個已經出來交際了，班納特小姐?”

"Yes, Ma'am, all."
“有，太太，全都出來交際了。”

"All! -- What, all five out at once? Very odd! -- And you only the second. -- The younger ones out before the elder are married! -- Your younger sisters must be very young?"
“全都出來交際了!什么，五個姐妹同時出來交際?真奇怪!你不過是第二個!姐姐還沒有嫁人，妹妹就出來交際了!你的妹妹們一定還很小吧?”

"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. perhaps she is full young to be much in company. But really, Ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. -- The last born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth, as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! -- I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind."
“是的;最小的一個才十六歲。或許她還太小，不適宜多交朋友。不過，太太，要是因為姐姐們無法早嫁，或是不想早嫁，做妹妹的就不能有社交和娛樂，那實在太苦了她們。最小的和最大的同樣有消受青春的權利。怎么能為了這樣的原由，就叫她們死守在家里!我以為那樣做就不可能促進姐妹之間的情感，也不可能養成溫柔的性格。”

"Upon my word," said her ladyship, "you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. -- pray, what is your age?"
“真想不到，”夫人說，“你這么小的一個人，倒這樣有主見。請問你幾歲啦?”

"With three younger sisters grown up," replied Elizabeth smiling, "your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it."
“我已經有了三個成人的妹妹，”伊麗莎白笑著說。“你老人家總不會再要我招出年紀來了吧。”

Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence!
咖苔琳夫人沒有得到直截了當的回答，顯得很驚奇;伊麗莎白覺得敢于和這種沒有禮貌的富貴太太開玩笑，恐怕要推她自己為第一個人。

"You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, -- therefore you need not conceal your age."
“你不會超過二十歲，所以你也不必瞞年紀。”

"I am not one and twenty."
“我不到二十一歲。”

When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card tables were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat down to quadrille; and as Miss De Bourgh chose to play at cassino, the two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her party. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed her fears of Miss De Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or having too much or too little light. A great deal more passed at the other table, Lady Catherine was generally speaking -- stating the mistakes of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to every thing her Ladyship said, thanking her for every fish he won, and apologising if he thought he won too many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes and noble names.
等到喝過茶，男客們都到她們這邊來了，便擺起牌桌來。咖苔琳夫人、威廉爵士和柯林斯夫婦坐下來打“夸錐”;德·包爾小姐要玩“卡西諾”，因此兩位姑娘就很榮幸地幫著姜金生太太給她湊足了人數。她們這一桌真是枯燥無味，除了姜金生太太問問德·包爾小姐是否覺得太冷或太熱，是否感到燈光太強或太弱以外，就沒有一句話不是說到打牌方面的。另外一桌可就有聲有色得多了。咖苔琳夫人差不多一直都在講話，不是指出另外三個人的錯處，就是講些自己的趣聞軼事。她老人家說一句，柯林斯先生就附和一句，他贏一次要謝她一次，如果贏得太多，還得向她道歉。威廉爵士不大說話，只顧把一樁樁軼事和一個個高貴的名字裝進腦子里去。

When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, the tables were broke up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, gratefully accepted, and immediately ordered. The party then gathered round the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were to have on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by the arrival of the coach, and with many speeches of thankfulness on Mr. Collins's side, and as many bows on Sir William's, they departed. As soon as they had driven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings, which, for Charlotte's sake, she made more favourable than it really was. But her commendation, though costing her some trouble, could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to take her ladyship's praise into his own hands.
等到咖苔琳夫人母女倆玩得不想再玩的時候，兩桌牌桌就散場了，打發馬車送柯林斯太太回去，柯林斯太太很感激地接受了，于是馬上叫人去套車。大家又圍著火爐，聽咖苔琳夫人斷定明天的天氣怎么樣。等到馬車來了，叫他們上車，他們方始停止受訓。柯林斯先生說了多少感激的話，威廉爵士鞠了多少躬，大家方才告別。馬車一走出門口，柯林斯就要求伊麗莎白發表她對于羅新斯的感想，她看在夏綠蒂面上，便勉強敷衍了他幾句。她雖然勉為其難地說出了一大篇好話，卻完全不能叫柯林斯先生滿意，柯林斯沒有辦法，只得立刻親自開口，把老夫人大大重新贊揚了一番。

（來源：愛詞霸 編輯：丁一）