名著精讀《理智與情感》第五章 第2節

Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and again how exceedingly sorry he was that she had taken a house at such a distance from Norland as to prevent his being of any service to her in removing her furniture. He really felt conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for the very exertion to which he had limited the performance of his promise to his father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable. -- The furniture was all sent around by water. It chiefly consisted of household linen, plate, china, and books, with a handsome pianoforte of Marianne's. Mrs. John Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could not help feeling it hard that as Mrs. Dashwood's income would be so trifling in comparison with their own, she should have any handsome article of furniture.

約翰．達什伍德先生三番五次地對繼母說：她在距離諾蘭莊園這麼遠的地方找了座房子，叫他不能爲她搬運傢俱效力，真是不勝遺憾。此時，他良心上的確感到不安，他已經把履行對父親的諾言侷限在幫幫忙這一點上，想不到這樣一來，連這點忙也幫不上了。傢俱全部由水路運走。主要的東西有家用亞麻檯布、金銀器皿、瓷器、書籍，以及瑪麗安的漂亮鋼琴。約翰．達什伍德夫人眼看着東西一包包地運走了，不覺嘆了口氣。達什伍德太太的收入與他們的相比，是微乎其微的，可她竟然能有這麼漂亮的傢俱，怎麼能叫她不覺得難受呢？

Mrs. Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was ready furnished, and she might have immediate possession. No difficulty arose on either side in the agreement; and she waited only for the disposal of her effects at Norland, and to determine her future household, before she set off for the west; and this, as she was exceedingly rapid in the performance of everything that interested her, was soon done. --The horses which were left her by her husband had been sold soon after his death, and an opportunity now offering of disposing of her carriage, she agreed to sell that likewise at the earnest advice of her eldest daughter. For the comfort of her children, had she consulted only her own wishes, she would have kept it; but the discretion of Elinor prevailed. HER wisdom too limited the number of their servants to three; two maids and a man, with whom they were speedily provided from amongst those who had formed their establishment at Norland.
　　
這座房子，達什伍德太太租用一年，裏面陳設齊全，她馬上就可以住進去。雙方在協議中沒有遇到任何困難。達什伍德太太只等着處理掉她諾蘭莊園的財物，確定好將來家裏用幾個僕人，然後再啓程西遷。因爲她對自己關心的事處理起來極其迅速，所以很快就辦妥了。她丈夫留下的馬匹，在他死後不久就賣掉了。現在又出現一個處理馬車的機會，經大女兒懇切相勸，她也同意賣掉。若是依照她自己的願望，爲了使孩子們過得舒適，她還是要留下這輛馬車，怎奈埃麗諾考慮周到，只好依了她。也是依照埃麗諾的明智想法，她們還把僕人的數量限制到三個——兩個女僕，一個男僕，都是從她們在諾蘭莊園已有的僕人中很快挑選出來的。

[veks] vt. 惱怒，使惱火

He was vexed at his failure.
他因失敗而糟心。

er vt. 使成爲, 提供, 報答, 着色; 執行, 實施 vi. 給予補償

You've rendered me a service.
你幫了我的忙。

acticable adj. 不切實際的，不可行的

The plan is impracticable.
這個計劃是不可行的。

oforte n. 鋼琴

About this time Jane Fairfax received the handsome gift of a pianoforte, anonymously given.
大約就在這個時候, 簡收到了一份厚禮, 這是一架鋼琴, 送禮者不知何人。

ling adj. 微不足道的, 不足取的，輕浮的

Don't let this trifling matter affect our harmonious relations.
別爲小事傷了和氣。

vemonth n. 十二個月, 一年

I have been looking forward to his visit for a twelvemonth.
我期待他的來訪已有一年了。

retion n. 謹慎,判斷力,個人選擇,選擇的自由

I trust his discretion absolutely.
我完全相信他的判斷。

ail [pri'veil] vi. 獲勝, 盛行, 主導

Sadness prevailed in our mind.
我們的心中充滿悲痛,

really felt conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for the very exertion to which he had limited the performance of his promise to his father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable.

【難句解析】第二句的主幹是for the exertion was impracticable；

【句子翻譯】此時，他良心上的確感到不安，他已經把履行對父親的諾言侷限在幫幫忙這一點上，想不到這樣一來，連這點忙也幫不上了。