Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 16
傲慢与偏见 - 第十六章
The next morning, Elizabeth was walking in the garden when she saw Darcy approaching. He was holding a letter, and he seemed determined to speak to her.
第二天早上,伊丽莎白在花园散步时看到达西接近。他拿着信,他似乎决心对她说话。
"Miss Bennet," he said, "I have written this letter to answer your accusations. Please read it."
"贝内特小姐,"他说,"我写了这信回答你的指控。请读它。"
Elizabeth took the letter, curious despite her anger. Darcy waited while she read, then left without another word.
伊丽莎白拿信,尽管愤怒好奇。达西等待她读,然后离开没有另一个字。
The letter explained everything. First, Darcy wrote about Jane and Bingley. He admitted that he had advised Bingley to leave Jane, but he explained his reasons.
信解释一切。首先,达西写关于简和宾利。他承认他建议宾利离开简,但他解释他的理由。
"I believed your sister was indifferent to him," he wrote. "She showed her feelings in a way that could only be perceived as calmness and composure. I did not want my friend to make a marriage that would be unhappy for both."
"我相信你姐妹对他冷漠,"他写,"她以一种只能被看作冷静镇定方式显示她的感情。我不想要我的朋友做对双方都不快乐的婚姻。"
Elizabeth thought back to Jane's behaviour. It was true—Jane was always calm, always composed. Bingley could easily have misunderstood her feelings.
伊丽莎白回想简的行为。确实——简总是冷静,总是镇定。宾利很容易可能误解她的感情。
The second part of the letter was about Wickham. Darcy wrote that Wickham had been left money by Darcy's father, with the intention that he should enter the church. Instead, Wickham had gambled away the money and then tried to elope with Darcy's sister, Georgiana, for her fortune.
信的第二部分关于威克姆。达西写威克姆被达西的父亲留下钱,意图他应该进入教会。相反,威克姆赌掉钱然后试图和达西的姐妹乔治亚娜私奔,为她的财富。
"He told you I refused him the living," Darcy wrote. "But the truth is that he refused to enter the church and demanded more money. When I refused, he spread lies about me."
"他告诉你我拒绝他牧师职位,"他写,"但真相是他拒绝进入教会并要求更多钱。当我拒绝,他散布关于我的谎言。"
Elizabeth was shocked. Could it be true? Could Wickham have deceived her so completely?
伊丽莎白震惊。可能吗?威克姆可能如此完全欺骗了她?
She remembered how charming Wickham had been, how easily he had won her confidence. But she also remembered that Darcy had never spoken ill of anyone else. Perhaps he had been telling the truth all along.
她记得威克姆如何迷人,他如何容易赢得她的信任。但她也记得达西从未说任何人坏话。也许他一直说真话。
By the time she finished the letter, Elizabeth's feelings had changed completely. She was ashamed of her prejudice, ashamed of the way she had judged Darcy so harshly.
当她完成信,伊丽莎白的感情完全改变。她为她的偏见羞愧,为如此严厉评判达西的方式羞愧。
"I have been so foolish," she thought. "I allowed my first impressions to blind me to the truth."
"我如此愚蠢,"她想,"我让我的第一印象对我盲目真相。"
But it was too late. Darcy had left, and she might never see him again.
但太晚了。达西离开了,她可能永远不再见到他。
Elizabeth prepared to leave Hunsford and return home. Her visit was over, but the changes in her heart were only beginning.
伊丽莎白准备离开亨斯福德回家。她的访问结束,但她的心变化只是开始。