名著精讀《理智與情感》第九章 第5節

Sir John called on them as soon as the next interval of fair weather that morning allowed him to get out of doors; and Marianne's accident being related to him, he was eagerly asked whether he knew any gentleman of the name of Willoughby at Allenham.

這天上午，天一放晴，約翰爵士便上門拜訪來了。她們一邊給他講述瑪麗安的意外遭遇，一邊迫不及待地詢問他是否認識艾倫漢一個姓威洛比的先生。

"Willoughby!" cried Sir John; "what, is HE in the country? That is good news however; I will ride over tomorrow, and ask him to dinner on Thursday. "
　　
“威洛比，”約翰爵士大聲叫道，“怎麼，他在鄉下？不過，這是個好消息。我明天就坐車去找他，請他星期四來吃晚飯。”

"You know him then, " said Mrs. Dashwood.

“這麼說，你認識他？”達什伍德太太問道。

"Know him! to be sure I do. Why, he is down here every year. "
　　
“認識他！當然認識。噢，他每年都到這裏來。”

"And what sort of a young man is he?"

“他是個什麼樣的青年？”

"As good a kind of fellow as ever lived, I assure you. A very decent shot, and there is not a bolder rider in England. "

“他的確是個好小夥子，要多好有多好。一個百發百中的神槍手，英格蘭沒有比他更勇敢的騎手。”

"And is that all you can say for him?" cried Marianne, indignantly. "But what are his manners on more intimate acquaintance? What his pursuits, his talents, and genius?"

“你對他就能說這些？”瑪麗安忿忿地嚷道。“他與人相熟以後態度怎麼樣？有什麼愛好、特長和才能？”

Sir John was rather puzzled.

約翰爵士愣住了。

"Upon my soul, " said he, "I do not know much about him as to all THAT. But he is a pleasant, good humoured fellow, and has got the nicest little black bitch of a pointer I ever saw. Was she out with him today?"
　　
“說實話，”他說，“我對他這些方面不太瞭解。不過，他是個可愛、快活的小夥子，養了一隻黑色的小獵犬，我從未見過那麼可愛的小獵犬。他今天把它帶出來了嗎？”

But Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the colour of Mr. Willoughby's pointer, than he could describe to her the shades of his mind.

就像約翰爵士說不清威洛比的智能狀況一樣，瑪麗安也不能令人滿意地告訴他那隻獵犬的顏色。

"But who is he?" said Elinor. "Where does he come from? Has he a house at Allenham?"
　　
“可他是個什麼人？”埃麗諾問道。“他是哪裏人？在艾倫漢有房子嗎？”

rval n. 間隔，休息時間，(數學)區間，(音樂)音程

There is an hour's interval to the next train.
下一火班車還要過一小時纔開。

nt['di:snt] adj. 體面的，正派的，有分寸的，得體的，相當好的

His first novel was a flash in the pan, and he hasn't written anything decent since.
他的第一部小說如曇花一現，此後他再沒寫出像樣的東西。

gnantly adv. 憤慨地，義憤地

Marianne could no more satisfy him as to the colour of Mr. Willoughby's pointer, than he could describe to her the shades of his mind.

【難句解析】no “和...一樣不”；

【句子翻譯】就像約翰爵士說不清威洛比的智能狀況一樣，瑪麗安也不能令人滿意地告訴他那隻獵犬的顏色。