《傲慢与偏见》第 8 期

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room: he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her daughters.

宾利先生很快便结识了大厅里所有重要人物：他活泼而坦率，每一支舞都参加，还因舞会结束得太早而感到恼火，并谈起要在尼日斐花园举办一场舞会。如此亲切可人的品质，自会说明一切。他和他的朋友相比，真是天壤之别！达西先生只和赫斯特太太跳了一支舞，又和宾利小姐跳了一支舞，拒绝接受介绍给其他任何女士，剩下的整个晚上都在房间里踱来踱去，偶尔和自己那一帮人中的某个人说上几句话。他的为人就此定了性。他是全世界最骄傲、最令人讨厌的人，人人都希望他再也不要到这里来。在最激烈反对他的人当中，有班纳特太太；她本来就不喜欢他的种种举止，而他怠慢了她的一个女儿，更使这种厌恶变成了特别的怨恨。

Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to overhear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes to press his friend to join it.

由于男士人数稀少，伊丽莎白·班纳特不得不坐下错过两支舞；在那段时间里，达西先生一直站在离她很近的地方，因此她听见了他和宾利先生之间的一段谈话。宾利先生离开舞池片刻，来催促他的朋友参加舞会。

“Come, Darcy,” said he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.”

“来吧，达西，”他说，“你一定得跳舞。我讨厌看见你这样傻站在一边。你还是跳舞的好。”

“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”

“我当然不会。你知道，除非我和舞伴特别熟悉，否则我一向厌恶跳舞。在这样的聚会上，那简直令人无法忍受。你的姐妹们都有舞伴，屋里再没有哪个女人是我和她共舞而不会觉得受罚的。”