名著精讀《理智與情感》第三章 第3節

Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention; for she was, at that time, in such affliction as rendered her careless of surrounding objects. She saw only that he was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it. He did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by ill-timed conversation. She was first called to observe and approve him farther, by a reflection which Elinor chanced one day to make on the difference between him and his sister. It was a contrast which recommended him most forcibly to her mother.

愛德華在姐姐家盤桓了幾個星期，才引起達什伍德太太的注意；因爲她當初太悲痛，對周圍的事情也就不注意了。她只是看他不聲不響，小心翼翼，爲此對他發生了好感。他從來不用不合時宜的談話，去擾亂她痛苦的心靈。她對他的進一步觀察和讚許，最早是由埃麗諾偶然說出的一句話引起來的。那天，埃麗諾說他和他姐姐大不一樣。這個對比很有說服力，幫他博得了她母親的歡心。

"It is enough, " said she; "to say that he is unlike Fanny is enough. It implies everything amiable. I love him already. "
　　
“只要說他不像範妮，這就足夠了，”她說，“這就是說他爲人厚道，處處可親。我已經喜愛上他了。”

"I think you will like him, " said Elinor, "when you know more of him. "
　　
“我想，”埃麗諾說，“你要是對他了解多了，準會喜歡他的。”

"Like him!" replied her mother with a smile. "I feel no sentiment of approbation inferior to love. "

“喜歡他!”母親笑吟吟地答道。“我心裏一滿意，少不了要喜愛他。”

"You may esteem him. "

“你會器重他的。”

"I have never yet known what it was to separate esteem and love. "

“我還不知道怎麼好把器重和喜愛分離開呢。”

Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him. Her manners were attaching, and soon banished his reserve. She speedily comprehended all his merits; the persuasion of his regard for Elinor perhaps assisted her penetration; but she really felt assured of his worth: and even that quietness of manner, which militated against all her established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be, was no longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be warm and his temper affectionate.
　　
隨後，達什伍德太太便想方設法去接近愛德華。她態度和藹，立即使他不再拘謹，很快便摸清了他的全部優點。她深信愛德華有意於埃麗諾，也許正是因此，她纔有這麼敏銳的眼力。不過，她確信他品德高尚。就連他那文靜的舉止，本是同她對青年人的既定的看法相牴觸的，可是一旦瞭解到他待人熱誠，性情溫柔，也不再覺得令人厭煩了。

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

The artist had rendered her gentle smile perfectly.
該藝術家把她那溫柔的笑容表現得惟妙惟肖。

trusive adj. 不多嘴的, 客氣的, 謙虛的

He's a quiet unobtrusive student, but always does well in the examination.
他是個沉默寡言, 不引人注目的學生, 但他的考試成績總是很優異。

chedness n. 可憐, 悲慘

Her wretchedness made him feel miserable.
她的不幸讓他感到十分難受。

-timed adj. 不合時的, 失去機會的

Our visit was ill-timed my mother had guests already.
我們探望母親很不是時候--她家裏已經來了客人.

ibly adv. 強行地, 強烈地

The proposals were put to us very briefly and forcibly.
這些建議已向我們作了傳達, 既簡明扼要, 又很有說服力。

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。

7.esteem [is'ti:m] n. 尊敬 vt. 認爲, 尊敬

We esteem him to be worthy of trust.
我們認爲他值得信任。

tration n. 滲透, 侵入, 突破

He writes with penetration.
他寫的文章尖銳深刻。

tate ['militeit] v. 發生作用, 影響

Many factors militated against the success of our plan.
有很多因素妨礙了我們實現計畫.

rd had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention;

【難句解析】engage attention of sb.“引起某人的注意”；

【句子翻譯】愛德華在姐姐家盤桓了幾個星期，才引起達什伍德太太的注意；

. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him.

【難句解析】take pains to do sth.意思是“花大力氣做某事”；

【句子翻譯】現在達什伍德太太想方設法去接近愛德華；