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理智與情感 Sense and Sensibility

作者：簡·奧斯汀 (Jane Austen) [英國]

一家之主死后把遺產留給了前妻所生的兒子約翰，
而他現在的妻子與三個女兒被迫搬走，沒得到一分錢， 約翰卻愛上了三哥女兒中的一個，但約翰家里勢力眼，看不起窮人家的女兒，
三個女兒的的另一個在一次偶然中認識了一個男人并瘋狂的愛上了他，因而也就看不到她身邊一直有個默默愛著她的男人。最小的女兒聰明純真但卻很理智，明辨是非，對他們的情感看的清清楚楚，
故事就是圍繞三姐妹的情感展開敘述。

第一章

The family of Dashwood had long been
settled in Sussex. Their estate was large, and their residence was at
Norland Park, in the centre of their property, where, for many
generations, they had lived in so respectable a manner as to engage the
general good opinion of their surrounding acquaintance. The late owner
of this estate was a single man, who lived to a very advanced age, and
who for many years of his life, had a constant companion and housekeeper
in his sister. But her death, which happened ten years before his own,
produced a great alteration in his home; for to supply her loss, he
invited and received into his house the family of his nephew Mr. Henry
Dashwood, the legal inheritor of the Norland estate, and the person to
whom he intended to bequeath it. In the society of his nephew and niece,
and their children, the old Gentleman''s days were comfortably spent.
His attachment to them all increased. The constant attention of Mr. and
Mrs. Henry Dashwood to his wishes, which proceeded not merely from
interest, but from goodness of heart, gave him every degree of solid
comfort which his age could receive; and the cheerfulness of the
children added a relish to his existence.

達什伍德家在蘇塞克斯定居，可有些年代了。家里置下一個偌大的田莊，府第就設在田莊中心的諾蘭莊園。祖祖輩輩以來，一家人一直過著體面日子，贏得了四近鄉鄰的交口稱譽。已故莊園主是個單身漢，活到老大年紀。在世時，妹妹長年陪伴他，替他管管家務。不想妹妹早他十年去世，致使府上發生巨變。為了填補妹妹的空缺，他將侄兒亨利。達什伍德一家接到府上。亨利。達什伍德先生是諾蘭田莊的法定繼承人，老達什伍德打算把家業傳給他。這位老紳士有侄兒、侄媳及其子女作伴，日子過得倒也舒心。他越來越喜愛他們。亨利。達什伍德夫婦不僅出自利害關系，而且由于心地善良，對他總是百般照應，使他晚年享盡了天倫之樂。而那些天真爛漫的孩子也給他的生活增添了樂趣。

By
a former marriage, Mr. Henry Dashwood had one son: by his present lady,
three daughters. The son, a steady respectable young man, was amply
provided for by the fortune of his mother, which had been large, and
half of which devolved on him on his coming of age. By his own marriage,
likewise, which happened soon afterwards, he added to his wealth. To
him therefore the succession to the Norland estate was not so really
important as to his sisters; for their fortune, independent of what
might arise to them from their father''s inheriting that property, could
be but small. Their mother had nothing, and their father only seven
thousand pounds in his own disposal; for the remaining moiety of his
first wife''s fortune was also secured to her child, and he had only a
life-interest in it.

亨利。達什伍德先生同前妻生下一個兒子，同現在的太太生了三個女兒。兒子是個踏實體面的青年。當年他母親留下一大筆遺產，到他成年時有一半交給了他，為他奠定了厚實的家底。此后不久，他成了親，又增添了一筆財產。所以，對他說來，父親是不是繼承諾蘭田莊，遠不像對他幾個妹妹那樣至關緊要。這幾個妹妹假若不依賴父親繼承這筆家業可能給她們帶來的進益，她們的財產便將微乎其微。她們的母親一無所有，父親僅僅掌管著七千鎊，而對前妻另一半遺產的所有權只在生前有效，他一去世，這一半財產也歸兒子承襲。

The
old gentleman died: his will was read, and like almost every other
will, gave as much disappointment as pleasure. He was neither so unjust,
nor so ungrateful, as to leave his estate from his nephew; -- but he
left it to him on such terms as destroyed half the value of the bequest.
Mr. Dashwood had wished for it more for the sake of his wife and
daughters than for himself or his son; -- but to his son, and his son''s
son, a child of four years old, it was secured, in such a way, as to
leave to himself no power of providing for those who were most dear to
him, and who most needed a provision by any charge on the estate, or by
any sale of its valuable woods. The whole was tied up for the benefit of
this child, who, in occasional visits with his father and mother at
Norland, had so far gained on the affections of his uncle, by such
attractions as are by no means unusual in children of two or three years
old; an imperfect articulation, an earnest desire of having his own
way, many cunning tricks, and a great deal of noise, as to outweigh all
the value of all the attention which, for years, he had received from
his niece and her daughters. He meant not to be unkind, however, and, as
a mark of his affection for the three girls, he left them a thousand
pounds a-piece.

老紳士死了，開讀遺囑，發現跟其他遺囑一樣，叫人既高興，也失望。他并非那樣偏頗無情，還是把田莊傳給了侄兒。但是，因為附有條件，這份遺產便失去了一半價值。本來，達什伍德先生想要這筆財產，只是顧念妻子和女兒，而不是為自己和兒子著想。但財產卻偏偏要世襲給他兒子和四歲的孫子，這樣一來，他便無權動用田莊的資財，或者變賣田莊的資財，來贍養他那些最親近、最需要贍養的家眷。為了那個孩子，全盤家業都被凍結了。想當初，這孩子只是偶爾隨父母親到諾蘭莊園來過幾趟，跟其他兩三歲娃娃一樣，也沒有什么異常逗人喜愛的地方，大不過正牙牙學語，稟性倔強，好惡作劇，愛大吵大鬧，卻博得了老紳士的歡心。相形之下，侄媳母女多年關照的情分，倒變得無足輕重了。不過，老人也不想太苛刻，為了表示他對三個站娘的一片心意，好歹分給了每人一千鎊。

Mr.
Dashwood''s disappointment was, at first, severe; but his temper was
cheerful and sanguine; and he might reasonably hope to live many years,
and by living economically, lay by a considerable sum from the produce
of an estate already large, and capable of almost immediate improvement.
But the fortune, which had been so tardy in coming, was his only one
twelvemonth. He survived his uncle no longer; and ten thousand pounds,
including the late legacies, was all that remained for his widow and
daughters.

達什伍德先生起初極為失望。他性情開朗，滿以為自己能多活些年歲，憑著這么大的一個田莊，只要馬上改善經營，省吃儉用“歷史”中的“布哈林”。就能從收入中攢下一大筆錢，然而，這筆遲遲到手的財產在他名下只持續了一年工夫，因為叔父死后不久，他也一命歸天，給他的遺囑和女兒們留下的財產，包括叔父的遺產在內，總共不過一萬鎊。

His
son was sent for as soon as his danger was known, and to him Mr.
Dashwood recommended, with all the strength and urgency which illness
could command, the interest of his mother-in-law and sisters.

當時，家人看他病危了，便打發人去叫他兒子。達什伍德先生竭盡最后一點氣力，向兒子做了緊急交代，囑托他照應繼母和三個妹妹。

Mr.
John Dashwood had not the strong feelings of the rest of the family;
but he was affected by a recommendation of such a nature at such a time,
and he promised to do every thing in his power to make them
comfortable. His father was rendered easy by such an assurance, and Mr.
John Dashwood had then leisure to consider how much there might
prudently be in his power to do for them.

約翰。達什伍德先生不像家里其他人那樣多情善感。可是，此時此刻受到這般囑托，他也深為感動，答應盡力讓她們母女生活得舒舒適適的。父親聽到這番許諾，便也放寬心了。一時間，約翰。達什伍德先生有空算計起來：若是精打細算，他到底能為她們盡多大力量。

He
was not an ill-disposed young man, unless to be rather cold hearted and
rather selfish is to be ill-disposed: but he was, in general, well
respected; for he conducted himself with propriety in the discharge of
his ordinary duties. Had he married a more amiable woman, he might have
been made still more respectable than he was: -- he might even have been
made amiable himself; for he was very young when he married, and very
fond of his wife. But Mrs. John Dashwood was a strong caricature of
himself; -- more narrow-minded and selfish.

這位年輕人心眼并不壞，除非你把冷漠無情和自私自利視為壞心眼。總的說來，他很受人尊敬，因為他平常辦起事來，總是十分得體。他若是娶個和藹一點的女人西斯—培根未完成的主要著作《偉大的復興》的第二部分。，也許會更受人尊重，甚至他自己也會和藹一些。無奈他結婚時太年輕，太偏愛妻子了。不過，約翰。達什伍德夫人倒也活像她丈夫，只是更狹隘，更自私罷了。

When
he gave his promise to his father, he meditated within himself to
increase the fortunes of his sisters by the present of a thousand pounds
a-piece. He then really thought himself equal to it. The prospect of
four thousand a-year, in addition to his present income, besides the
remaining half of his own mother''s fortune, warmed his heart, and made
him feel capable of generosity. -- "Yes, he would give them three
thousand pounds: it would be liberal and handsome! It would be enough to
make them completely easy. Three thousand pounds! he could spare so
considerable a sum with little inconvenience." -- He thought of it all
day long, and for many days successively, and he did not repent.

他向父親許諾的時候，心里就在盤算，想給他妹妹每人再補貼一千鎊的收入。當時，他確實覺得這是他力所能及的。他除了目前的收入和母親另—半遺產以外，還可望每年再添四千鎊。一想到這里，心里不禁熱乎乎的，他認為自己可以慷慨一點。“是的，我可以給她們三千鎊，這多么慷慨大方啊：可以確保她們安安生生地過日子啦。三千鎊呀，我可以毫不費勁地省出這么一筆巨款。”他整天這么想著，接連想了好多天，一點也沒反悔。

No
sooner was his father''s funeral over, than Mrs. John Dashwood, without
sending any notice of her intention to her mother-in-law, arrived with
her child and their attendants. No one could dispute her right to come;
the house was her husband''s from the moment of his father''s decease; but
the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the greater, and to a woman
in Mrs. Dashwood''s situation, with only common feelings, must have been
highly unpleasing; -- but in her mind there was a sense of honor so
keen, a generosity so romantic, that any offence of the kind, by
whomsoever given or received, was to her a source of immoveable disgust.
Mrs. John Dashwood had never been a favourite with any of her husband''s
family; but she had had no opportunity, till the present, of shewing
them with how little attention to the comfort of other people she could
act when occasion required it.

父親的喪事剛辦完，約翰。達什伍德夫人也不打個招呼，就帶著孩子、仆人來到婆婆家里。誰也無法懷疑她有權來這里，因為從她公公死去的時刻起，這房子就屬于她丈夫的了。不過，她的行為實在太不文雅，按照人之常情，任何一個女人處在達什伍德太太當婆母的位置上，都會感到很不愉快。何況，達什伍德太太是個自尊心很強、慷慨大方、落拓不羈的女入，對這種唐突無禮的事情，無論是誰干的或者對誰干的，她都會感到深惡痛絕。約翰。達什伍德夫人在婆家從未受過任何人的喜愛，可是直到今天她才有機會向她們擺明：在必要時，她為人行事可以全然不顧別入的痛癢。

So
acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour, and so
earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it, that, on the
arrival of the latter, she would have quitted the house for ever, had
not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on the
propriety of going, and her own tender love for all her three children
determined her afterwards to stay, and for their sakes avoid a breach
with their brother.

達什伍德太太厭惡這種蠻橫無禮的行徑，并因此而鄙視她的兒媳。一見兒媳進門，她就恨不得永遠離開這個家。怎奈大女兒一再懇求，她開始考慮一走了之是否妥當。后來硬是出自對三個女兒的愛憐，她才決定留下來。看在女兒們的份上“超人”高于凡人猶如凡人高于動物一樣，他有極大的權力欲，，還是不跟那個做哥哥的鬧翻為好。

Elinor,
this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed a
strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified
her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and
enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all, that
eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led to
imprudence. She had an excellent heart; -- her disposition was
affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern
them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn; and which
one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.

大女兒埃麗諾的勸解奏效了。埃麗諾思想敏銳，頭腦冷靜，雖然年僅十九歲，卻能為母親出謀劃策。達什伍德太太性情急躁，做事總是冒冒失失。埃麗諾為大家著想，經常出來勸阻勸阻。她心地善良，性格溫柔，感情強烈，然而她會克制自己，—一對于這—手，她母親還有待學習，不過她有個妹妹決計一輩子也不要學。

Marianne''s
abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor''s. She was
sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys,
could have no moderation. She was generous, amiable, interesting: she
was everything but prudent. The resemblance between her and her mother
was strikingly great.

瑪麗安各方面的才干都堪與埃麗諾相媲美。她聰慧善感，只是做什么事情都心急火燎的。她傷心也罷，高興也罷，都沒有個節制。她為人慷慨，和藹可親，也很有趣，可就是一點也不謹慎，與她母親一模一樣。

Elinor
saw, with concern, the excess of her sister''s sensibility; but by Mrs.
Dashwood it was valued and cherished. They encouraged each other now in
the violence of their affliction. The agony of grief which overpowered
them at first, was voluntarily renewed, was sought for, was created
again and again. They gave themselves up wholly to their sorrow, seeking
increase of wretchedness in every reflection that could afford it, and
resolved against ever admitting consolation in future. Elinor, too, was
deeply afflicted; but still she could struggle, she could exert herself.
She could consult with her brother, could receive her sister-in-law on
her arrival, and treat her with proper attention; and could strive to
rouse her mother to similar exertion, and encourage her to similar
forbearance.

埃麗諾見妹妹過于感情用事，不免有些擔心，可達什伍德太太卻覺得這很難能可貴。現在，她們兩人極度悲痛的情緒，互相感染體驗的直覺才能把握實在。法國哲學家柏格森是持這種觀點，互相助長。最初的那種悲痛欲絕的情狀，一觸即發，說來就來，反反復復地沒完沒了。她們完全沉湎于悲慟之中，真是哪里傷心往哪里想，越想越痛不欲生，認定這輩子就這么了結啦，誰來解勸也無濟于事。埃麗諾也很悲痛，不過她尚能頂得住，盡量克制自己。她遇事能同哥哥商量著辦，嫂子來了能以禮相待。她還能勸說母親也這樣做，請她多加忍讓。

Margaret,
the other sister, was a good-humored, well-disposed girl; but as she
had already imbibed a good deal of Marianne''s romance, without having
much of her sense, she did not, at thirteen, bid fair to equal her
sisters at a more advanced period of life.

三妹瑪格麗特是個快活厚道的小姑娘，不過由于她已經染上了不少瑪麗安的浪漫氣質，而又不像她那么聰明，處在十三歲的年紀，還不可能趕上涉世較深的姐姐。

第二章

Mrs.
John Dashwood now installed herself mistress of Norland; and her mother
and sisters-in-law were degraded to the condition of visitors. As such,
however, they were treated by her with quiet civility; and by her
husband with as much kindness as he could feel towards anybody beyond
himself, his wife, and their child. He really pressed them, with some
earnestness, to consider Norland as their home; and, as no plan appeared
so eligible to Mrs. Dashwood as remaining there till she could
accommodate herself with a house in the neighbourhood, his invitation
was accepted.

約翰。達什伍德夫人如今當上了諾蘭莊園的女主人，她的婆母和小姑們反而落到寄人籬下的境地。不過，這么一來，她待她們反倒文靜客氣起來。她丈夫對她們也和和氣氣的，他除了對自己和自己的老婆孩子之外，對別人充其量也只能如此。他頗為懇切地請求她們把諾蘭莊園當作自己的家。達什伍德太太覺得一時在左近找不到合適的房子，不如暫且呆在這里，于是便接受了他的請求，

A
continuance in a place where everything reminded her of former delight,
was exactly what suited her mind. In seasons of cheerfulness, no temper
could be more cheerful than hers, or possess, in a greater degree, that
sanguine expectation of happiness which is happiness itself. But in
sorrow she must be equally carried away by her fancy, and as far beyond
consolation as in pleasure she was beyond alloy.

對于達什伍德太太來說，呆在個老地方，隨時隨地都能回想起昔日的歡樂，倒也再稱心不過了。碰到高興的時候，誰也沒有她那樣開心，那樣樂觀地期待著幸福的到來，仿佛期待本身就是一種幸福似的。可是一遇到傷心事，她也同樣胡思亂想，失去常態，同她高興時不能自己一樣，她傷心起來也是無法解脫的。

Mrs.
John Dashwood did not at all approve of what her husband intended to do
for his sisters. To take three thousand pounds from the fortune of
their dear little boy would be impoverishing him to the most dreadful
degree. She begged him to think again on the subject. How could he
answer it to himself to rob his child, and his only child too, of so
large a sum? And what possible claim could the Miss Dashwoods, who were
related to him only by half blood, which she considered as no
relationship at all, have on his generosity to so large an amount. It
was very well known that no affection was ever supposed to exist between
the children of any man by different marriages; and why was he to ruin
himself, and their poor little Harry, by giving away all his money to
his half sisters?

約翰。達什伍德夫人根本不贊成丈夫資助他幾個妹妹，從他們小寶貝的財產中挖掉三千鎊，豈不是把他刮成窮光蛋了嗎？她請丈夫重新考慮這件事。自己的孩子，而且是獨生子，他怎么忍心剝奪他這么一大筆錢呀？幾位達什伍德小姐與他只是同父異母兄妹，她認為這根本算不上什么親屬關系，她們有什么權利領受他這樣慷慨的資助？人所周知，同父異母子女之間歷來不存在什么感情，可他為什么偏要把自己的錢財送給同父異母妹妹，毀自已，也毀他們可憐的小哈里？

"It was my father''s last request to me," replied her husband, "that I should assist his widow and daughters."

“我父親臨終有囑咐，”丈夫回答說，“要我幫助寡母和妹妹們。”

"He
did not know what he was talking of, I dare say; ten to one but he was
light-headed at the time. Had he been in his right senses, he could not
have thought of such a thing as begging you to give away half your
fortune from your own child."

“他準是在說胡話。那陣子，他十有八九是神志不清了，要不然他就不會異想天開地要你把自己孩子的財產白白送掉一半。”

"He
did not stipulate for any particular sum, my dear Fanny; he only
requested me, in general terms, to assist them, and make their situation
more comfortable than it was in his power to do. Perhaps it would have
been as well if he had left it wholly to myself. He could hardly suppose
I should neglect them. But as he required the promise, I could not do
less than give it; at least I thought so at the time. The promise,
therefore, was given, and must be performed. Something must be done for
them whenever they leave Norland and settle in a new home."

“親愛的范妮，他倒沒有規定具體數目，只是籠統地要求我幫助她們，使她們的境況好一些，他是無能為力啦。也許他不如索性把事情全部交給我。他總不會認為我會怠慢她們吧。可他讓我許諾時，我又不能不應承；起碼在當時，我是這么想的。于是，我許諾了，而且還必須兌現。她們早晚要離開諾蘭莊園，到別處安家，總得幫她們一把吧。”

"Well,
then, let something be done for them; but that something need not be
three thousand pounds. Consider," she added, "that when the money is
once parted with, it never can return. Your sisters will marry, and it
will be gone for ever. If, indeed, it could be restored to our poor
little boy --"

“那好，就幫她們一把吧，可是幫—把何必要三干鎊，你想想看，”她接下去說道，“那錢一旦拋出去，可就再也收不目來了。你那些妹妹一出嫁，那錢不就無影無蹤啦。真是的，這錢要是能回到我們可憐的小兒子手里……”

"Why,
to be sure," said her husband, very gravely, "that would make great
difference. The time may come when Harry will regret that so large a sum
was parted with. If he should have a numerous family, for instance, it
would be a very convenient addition."

“哦，當然，”丈夫一本正經地說道，“那可就了不得啦。有朝一日，哈里會怨恨我們給他送掉這么一大筆錢。他一旦人丁興旺起來，這筆款子可就派大用場了。”

"To be sure it would."

“誰說不是呢。”

"Perhaps,
then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were diminished
one half. -- Five hundred pounds would be a prodigious increase to their
fortunes!"

“這么說，不如把錢減掉一半，這或許對大家都有好處。繪她們一人五百鎊，她們也夠發大財的了。”

"Oh!
beyond anything great! What brother on earth would do half so much for
his sisters, even if really his sisters! And as it is-only half blood!
-- But you have such a generous spirit!"

“哦，當然是發大財了！世上哪個做哥哥的能這樣照應妹妹，即使是對待親妹妹，連你的一半也做不到！何況你們只是同父異母關系！可你卻這樣慷慨解囊。”

"I
would not wish to do any thing mean," he replied. "One had rather, on
such occasions, do too much than too little. No one, at least, can think
I have not done enough for them: even themselves, they can hardly
expect more."

“我做事不喜歡小家子氣，”做丈夫的回答說，“逢到這當口，人寧可大手大腳，而別小里小氣。至少不會有人覺得我虧待了她們，就連她們自己也不會有更高的期望了。”

"There
is no knowing what they may expect," said the lady, "but we are not to
think of their expectations: the question is, what you can afford to
do."

“誰知道她們有什么期望，”夫人說道，“不過，我們也犯不著去考慮她們的期望。問題在于：你能拿得出多少。”

"Certainly-and
I think I may afford to give them five hundred pounds a-piece. As it
is, without any addition of mine, they will each have about three
thousand pounds on their mother''s death-a very comfortable fortune for
any young woman."

“那當然，我想我可以給她們每人五百鎊，其實，即便沒有我這份補貼，她們的母親一死，她們每人都能得到三干多鎊，對于一個年輕女子來說，這是一筆相當不錯的財產啦。”

"To
be sure it is; and, indeed, it strikes me that they can want no
addition at all. They will have ten thousand pounds divided amongst
them. If they marry, they will be sure of doing well, and if they do
not, they may all live very comfortably together on the interest of ten
thousand pounds."

“誰說不是呢！說實在的，我看她們根本不需要額外補貼了。她們有一萬鎊可分。要是出了嫁，日子肯定富得很。即使不出嫁，就靠那一萬鎊得來的利息，也能在一起生活得舒舒服服的。”

"That
is very true, and, therefore, I do not know whether, upon the whole, it
would not be more advisable to do something for their mother while she
lives, rather than for them-something of the annuity kind I mean. -- My
sisters would feel the good effects of it as well as herself. A hundred a
year would make them all perfectly comfortable."

“的確如此。所以我在琢磨，整個來看，趁她們母親活著的時候，給她點補貼，這是不是比給她們更可取呢？我的意思是給她點年金什么的。這個辦法產生的良好效果，我妹妹和她們的母親都能感覺得到。一年出一百鎊，管叫她們全都心滿意足。”

His wife hesitated a little, however, in giving her consent to this plan.

然而，他妻子沒有馬上同意這個計劃，她猶豫了一會兒。

"To
be sure," said she, "it is better than parting with fifteen hundred
pounds at once. But, then, if Mrs. Dashwood should live fifteen years we
shall be completely taken in."

“當然，”她說，“這比一下子送掉一千五百鎊要好。不過，要是達什伍德太太活上十五年，我們豈不上了大當。”

"Fifteen years! my dear Fanny; her life cannot be worth half that purchase."

“十五年！我親愛的范妮，就她那命呀，連這一半時間也活不到。”

"Certainly
not; but if you observe, people always live for ever when there is an
annuity to be paid them; and she is very stout and healthy, and hardly
forty. An annuity is a very serious business; it comes over and over
every year, and there is no getting rid of it. You are not aware of what
you are doing. I have known a great deal of the trouble of annuities;
for my mother was clogged with the payment of three to old superannuated
servants by my father''s will, and it is amazing how disagreeable she
found it. Twice every year these annuities were to be paid; and then
there was the trouble of getting it to them; and then one of them was
said to have died, and afterwards it turned out to be no such thing. My
mother was quite sick of it. Her income was not her own, she said, with
such perpetual claims on it; and it was the more unkind in my father,
because, otherwise, the money would have been entirely at my mother''s
disposal, without any restriction whatever. It has given me such an
abhorrence of annuities, that I am sure I would not pin myself down to
the payment of one for all the world."

“當然活不到。不過，你留心觀察一下，人要是能領到一點年金的話，總是活個沒完沒了。她身強力壯的，還不到四十歲。年金可不是鬧著玩的，一年一年地給下去，到時想甩都甩不掉。你不懂這種事，我可體驗到給年金的不少苦楚，因為我母親遵照我父親的遺囑，年年要向三個老仆人支付退休金，她發現這事討厭極了。這些退休金每年支付兩次，要送到仆人手里可麻煩了。此后聽說有一個仆人死了，可后來發現并沒有這回事。我母親傷透了腦筋。她說，她的財產被這樣長久刮下去，她哪里還做得了主？這都怪我父親太狠心，不然這錢還不都是我母親的，愛怎么用就怎么用。加今，我對年金憎惡透了，要是叫我給哪個人付年金，我說什么也不干。”

"It
is certainly an unpleasant thing," replied Mr. Dashwood, "to have those
kind of yearly drains on one''s income. One''s fortune, as your mother
justly says, is not one''s own. To be tied down to the regular payment of
such a sum, on every rent day, is by no means desirable: it takes away
one''s independence."

“一個人的收入年年這樣消耗下去，”達什伍德先生說，“這當然是件不偷快的事情。你母親說得對，這財產就不由自己做主了。一到年金支付日，都要照例支出一筆錢，這著實有些討厭：它剝奪了一個人的自主權。”

"Undoubtedly;
and after all you have no thanks for it. They think themselves secure,
you do no more than what is expected, and it raises no gratitude at all.
If I were you, whatever I did should be done at my own discretion
entirely. I would not bind myself to allow them any thing yearly. It may
be very inconvenient some years to spare a hundred, or even fifty
pounds from our own expenses."

“那還用說。盡管如此，你還不討好。她們覺得自己到期領取，萬無一失，而你又不會再多給，所以對你壓根兒不領情。我要是你呀，不管做什么事，一定自作裁奪。我決不會作繭自縛，去給她們什么年金。逢到某些年頭，你要從自己的花銷中抽聲一百鎊，甚至五十鎊，可不那么容易。”

"I
believe you are right, my love; it will be better that there should be
no annuity in the case; whatever I may give them occasionally will be of
far greater assistance than a yearly allowance, because they would only
enlarge their style of living if they felt sure of a larger income, and
would not be sixpence the richer for it at the end of the year. It will
certainly be much the best way. A present of fifty pounds, now and
then, will prevent their ever being distressed for money, and will, I
think, be amply discharging my promise to my father."

“親愛的，我看你說得對，這事還是不搞年金為好。偶爾給她們幾個錢，比給年金有益得多，因為錢給多了，她們只會變得大手大腳，到了年底。一個小錢也多不出來。這是個最好不過的辦法。不定時地送她們五十鎊，這樣她們什么時候也不會缺錢用，我還能充分履行我對父親的諾言。”

"To
be sure it will. Indeed, to say the truth, I am convinced within myself
that your father had no idea of your giving them any money at all. The
assistance he thought of, I dare say, was only such as might be
reasonably expected of you; for instance, such as looking out for a
comfortable small house for them, helping them to move their things, and
sending them presents of fish and game, and so forth, whenever they are
in season. I''ll lay my life that he meant nothing farther; indeed, it
would be very strange and unreasonable if he did. Do but consider, my
dear Mr. Dashwood, how excessively comfortable your mother-in-law and
her daughters may live on the interest of seven thousand pounds, besides
the thousand pounds belonging to each of the girls, which brings them
in fifty pounds a year a-piece, and, of course, they will pay their
mother for their board out of it. Altogether, they will have five
hundred a-year amongst them, and what on earth can four women want for
more than that? -- They will live so cheap! Their housekeeping will be
nothing at all. They will have no carriage, no horses, and hardly any
servants; they will keep no company, and can have no expenses of any
kind! Only conceive how comfortable they will be! Five hundred a year! I
am sure I cannot imagine how they will spend half of it; and as to your
giving them more, it is quite absurd to think of it. They will be much
more able to give you something."

“當然如此。說實在話，我認為你父親根本沒有讓你資助她們的意思。我敢說，他所謂的幫助，不過是讓你合情合理地幫點忙，比方替她們找座舒適的小房子啦，幫她們搬搬東西啦，等季節到了給她們送點鮮魚野味啦，等等。我敢以性命擔保，他沒有別的意思；要不然，豈不成了咄咄怪事。親愛的達什伍德先生，你只要想一想，你繼母和她的女兒們靠著那七千鎊得來的利息，會過上多么舒適的日子啊。況且每個女兒還有一千鎊，每年能給每人帶來五十鎊的收益。當然啦，她們會從中拿來向母親繳納伙食費的。總計起來，她們一年有五百鎊的收入，就那么四個女人家，這些錢還不夠嗎？她們的花銷少得很！管理家務不成問題。她們一無馬車，二無馬匹，也不用雇仆人。她們不跟外人來往，什么開支也沒有！你看她們有多舒服！一年五百鎊啊！我簡直無法想象她們哪能花掉一半。至于說你想再給她們錢，未免太荒誕了吧，論財力，她們給你點倒差不多。”

"Upon
my word," said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right. My
father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than what
you say. I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil my
engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you have
described. When my mother removes into another house my services shall
be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can. Some little present
of furniture too may be acceptable then."

“喲！”達什伍德先生說，“你說得真是一點不假。我父親對我的要求，除了你說的之外，肯定沒有別的意思。我現在搞清楚了，我要嚴格履行我的諾言，照你說的，為她們幫點忙，做點好事。等我母親搬家的時候，我一定盡力幫她安頓好，還可以送她點小件家什。”

"Certainly,"
returned Mrs. John Dashwood. "But, however, one thing must be
considered. When your father and mother moved to Norland, though the
furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and linen was
saved, and is now left to your mother. Her house will therefore be
almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it."

“當然，”約翰。達什伍德夫人說，“但是，有一點你還得考慮。你父母親搬進諾蘭莊園時，斯坦希爾那里的家具雖說都賣了，可那些瓷器、金銀器皿和亞麻臺布都還保存著，統統留給了你母親。因此，她一搬家，屋里準擺得闊闊氣氣的。”

"That
is a material consideration undoubtedly. A valuable legacy indeed! And
yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant addition to our
own stock here."

“你考慮得真周到。那可是些傳家寶啊！有些金銀器皿送給我們可就美啦。”

"Yes;
and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what belongs to
this house. A great deal too handsome, in my opinion, for any place they
can ever afford to live in. But, however, so it is. Your father thought
only of them. And I must say this: that you owe no particular gratitude
to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we very well know that if he
could, he would have left almost everything in the world to them."

“就是嘛。那套瓷器餐具也比我們家的漂亮多了。我看太漂亮了，她們的房里根本不用配擺設。不過，事情就這么不公平。你父親光想著她們。我實對你說吧：你并不欠你父親的情，不用理睬他的遺愿，因為我們心里有數，他若是辦得到的話，準會把所有財產都留給她們的。”

This
argument was irresistible. It gave to his intentions whatever of
decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be
absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the
widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as
his own wife pointed out.

這個論點是無可爭辯的。如果達什伍德先生先前還有點下不了決心的話，這下子可就鐵了心啦。他最后決定，對他父親的遺孀和女兒，按他妻子說的，像鄰居式地幫幫忙也就足夠了；越此雷池一步，不說有失體統，也是絕對多余的。

第三章

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