名著精讀《理智與情感》第六章 第4節

They were, of course, very anxious to see a person on whom so much of their comfort at Barton must depend; and the elegance of her appearance was favourable to their wishes. Lady Middleton was not more than six or seven and twenty; her face was handsome, her figure tall and striking, and her address graceful. Her manners had all the elegance which her husband's wanted. But they would have been improved by some share of his frankness and warmth; and her visit was long enough to detract something from their first admiration, by shewing that, though perfectly well-bred, she was reserved, cold, and had nothing to say for herself beyond the most common-place inquiry or remark.

當然，她們很想見見她，因爲她們以後能否在巴頓過上舒適日子，在很大程度上有賴於她，她的光臨正合她們的心願。米德爾頓夫人不過二十六七歲，臉蛋俊俏，身材苗條，儀態嫵媚動人。她丈夫缺少的優雅舉止，她倒一應俱全。不過，她若是多少具備幾分她丈夫的坦率和熱情，舉止還會顯得更加優雅。但她呆的時間一長，達什伍德母女就不像開頭那樣對她讚羨不已了。因爲她雖然受過良好的教養，但卻不苟言笑，冷冷淡淡，除了極其簡單地寒響幾句之外，別無他話可說。

Conversation however was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her their eldest child, a fine little boy about six years old, by which means there was one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case of extremity, for they had to enquire his name and age, admire his beauty, and ask him questions which his mother answered for him, while he hung about her and held down his head, to the great surprise of her ladyship, who wondered at his being so shy before company, as he could make noise enough at home. On every formal visit a child ought to be of the party, by way of provision for discourse. In the present case it took up ten minutes to determine whether the boy were most like his father or mother, and in what particular he resembled either, for of course every body differed, and every body was astonished at the opinion of the others.

不管怎樣，話兒還是沒有少說，因爲約翰爵士喜好閒聊，而且米德爾頓夫人也有先見之明，帶來了她的大孩於。他是個六歲上下的小男孩，這就是說，一旦談話陷入僵局，他可以成爲太太小姐們反覆提及的話題。因爲大夥兒少不得總要問問他叫什麼名字，今年幾歲啦，稱讚稱讚他的美貌，然後再提些別的問題，不過統統都得由母親代爲回答。出乎米德爾頓夫人意料之外，這孩子緊緊偎依在她身旁，一直低着頭。她不由的納悶：他在家裏還大吵大鬧的，到了客人面前怎麼這樣羞羞答答。每逢正式探親訪友，爲了提供談話的資料，人們該帶上孩子一同前往。現在，大夥兒足足用了十分鐘，談論這孩子究竟像父親還是像母親，以及具體地在哪些地方像哪個人。當然，大家的看法很不一致，各人都對別人的看法表示驚訝。

An opportunity was soon to be given to the Dashwoods of debating on the rest of the children, as Sir John would not leave the house without securing their promise of dining at the park the next day.
　　
過不多久，達什伍德母女就會有機會對客人的另外幾個孩子展開一場爭論，因爲約翰爵士得不到她們同意第二天去巴頓莊園用餐的許諾，說什麼也不肯離去。

-bred['wel'bred] adj. 有教養的, (馬等)良種的

She was too well-bred to show her disappointment.
她很有涵養, 遇到失望的事亦不形於色.

rved adj. 保留的,預訂的,冷淡的,緘默的

She is not usually so reserved.
她通常不如此緘默。

ty adj. 愛閒聊的, 親切的, (談話等)非正式的

He's a friendly chatty sort of person.
他這個人挺和善, 很愛講話。

aution n. 預防(措施)

The report is scathing about the lack of safety precaution.
該報道對缺乏安全預防措施一事嚴加指責。

ship n. 夫人的身份, 夫人, 小姐

ourse n. 談話,演講

The judges had solemn discourse together.
法官們在一起嚴肅地交談。

1. Her manners had all the elegance which her husband's wanted.

【難句解析】wanted這裏的意思是“缺乏的”；

【句子翻譯】她丈夫缺少的優雅舉止，她倒一應俱全。

ersation however was not wanted, for Sir John was very chatty, and Lady Middleton had taken the wise precaution of bringing with her their eldest child, a fine little boy about six years old, by which means there was one subject always to be recurred to by the ladies in case of extremity...

【難句解析】in case of extremity意思是“實在無話可說時”；

【句子翻譯】不管怎樣，話兒還是沒有少說，因爲約翰爵士喜好閒聊，而且米德爾頓夫人也有先見之明，帶來了她的大孩於。他是個六歲上下的小男孩，這就是說，一旦談話陷入僵局，他可以成爲太太小姐們反覆提及的話題。