名著精讀《理智與情感》第四章 第1節

"What a pity it is, Elinor, " said Marianne, "that Edward should have no taste for drawing. "

“真可惜呀，埃麗諾，”瑪麗安說，“愛德華竟然不愛好繪畫。”

"No taste for drawing!" replied Elinor, "why should you think so? He does not draw himself, indeed, but he has great pleasure in seeing the performances of other people, and I assure you he is by no means deficient in natural taste, though he has not had opportunities of improving it. Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he would have drawn very well. He distrusts his own judgment in such matters so much, that he is always unwilling to give his opinion on any picture; but he has an innate propriety and simplicity of taste, which in general direct him perfectly right. "

“不愛好繪畫？”埃麗諾答道。“你怎麼能這樣看？的確，他自己不畫，可是他很喜歡看別人畫。我敢向你擔保，他決不缺乏天資，只不過是沒有機會深造罷了。他要是一步步地學下來，我想會畫得很出色的。他不大相信自己這方面的鑑賞力，總是不願意對任何畫兒發表意見。不過，他先天就有一種恰當而純樸的鑑賞力，使他一般都很明斷。”

Marianne was afraid of offending, and said no more on the subject; but the kind of approbation which Elinor described as excited in him by the drawings of other people, was very far from that rapturous delight, which, in her opinion, could alone be called taste. Yet, though smiling within herself at the mistake, she honoured her sister for that blind partiality to Edward which produced it.

瑪麗安唯恐惹姐姐生氣，便不再往下說了。不過，埃麗諾說他讚賞別人的繪畫，可是這種讚賞遠遠沒有達到如醉如癡的程度，在她看來，只有達到如醉如癡的程度才能稱得上真正具有鑑賞力。姐姐的錯誤使她暗自發笑。然而，她又佩服姐姐對愛德華的盲目偏愛，正是這種盲目偏愛才導致了那個錯誤。

"I hope, Marianne, " continued Elinor, "you do not consider him as deficient in general taste. Indeed, I think I may say that you cannot, for your behaviour to him is perfectly cordial, and if THAT were your opinion, I am sure you could never be civil to him. "

“瑪麗安，”埃麗諾繼續說道，“我希望你不要認爲他缺乏一般的鑑賞力。其實，我也許應該說你不會有那種看法，因爲你待他十分熱誠。如果你真有那種看法的話，你肯定不會對他那麼彬彬有禮。”

Marianne hardly knew what to say. She would not wound the feelings of her sister on any account, and yet to say what she did not believe was impossible. At length she replied:

瑪麗安簡直不知說什麼好。她無論如何也不想傷害姐姐的感情，然而又不能說些言不由衷的話。最後她回答說：

"Do not be offended, Elinor, if my praise of him is not in every thing equal to your sense of his merits. I have not had so many opportunities of estimating the minuter propensities of his mind, his inclinations and tastes, as you have; but I have the highest opinion in the world of his goodness and sense. I think him every thing that is worthy and amiable. "

“埃麗諾，要是我對他的稱讚與你對他優點的認識不盡一致，請你不要生氣。我不像你那樣，有那麼多機會去揣摩他在意向、愛好和情趣方面的細微的傾向；但是，我極其佩服他的德行和理智。我覺得他可敬可親極了。”

cient adj. 不足的, 不充份的, 有缺陷的

We are deficient in hands.
我們人手不夠。

riety n. 適當, 正當, 得體

We should observe the proprieties.
我們應該遵守禮節。

obation n. 認可, 嘉許

The goods are not allowed to be exported without approbation of the customs.
沒有海關的許可, 這些貨物是不允許出口的。

urous adj. 着迷的, 狂喜的 n.着迷, 狂喜

Her new novel was greeted by reviewers with rapturous applause.
她的新小說備受書評家推崇.

ensity n. 傾向, 習性

Most boys have a propensity for playing with machinery.
一般的男孩子都有玩機械的習性。

ination n. 傾向, 意願, 傾斜度

I have little inclination to listen to you all evening.
我可不願意一晚上都聽你說話.

1. Had he ever been in the way of learning, I think he would have drawn very well. He distrusts his own judgment in such matters so much, that he is always unwilling to give his opinion on any picture; but he has an innate propriety and simplicity of taste, which in general direct him perfectly right. "

【難句解析】had he...是虛擬倒裝句，表示與事實相反；第二句的主幹是...；

【句子翻譯】他要是一步步地學下來，我想會畫得很出色的。他不大相信自己這方面的鑑賞力，總是不願意對任何畫兒發表意見。不過，他先天就有一種恰當而純樸的鑑賞力，使他一般都很明斷。

anne was afraid of offending, and said no more on the subject; but the kind of approbation which Elinor described as excited in him by the drawings of other people, was very far from that rapturous delight, which, in her opinion, could alone be called taste.

【難句解析】第三句的主幹是approbation was far from...；

【句子翻譯】瑪麗安唯恐惹姐姐生氣，便不再往下說了。不過，埃麗諾說他讚賞別人的繪畫，可是這種讚賞遠遠沒有達到如醉如癡的程度，在她看來，只有達到如醉如癡的程度才能稱得上真正具有鑑賞力。姐姐的錯誤使她暗自發笑。