名著精讀《傲慢與偏見》第13章 第2節
Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an entail. They had often attempted it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.
吉英和伊麗莎白設法把繼承權的問題跟她解釋了一下。其實她們一直沒法跟她解釋，可是這個問題跟她是講不明白的。她老是破口大罵，說是自己的產業不能由五個親生女兒繼承，卻白白送給一個和她們毫不相干的人，這實在是太不合情理。
"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet, "and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself."
“這的確是一最不公道的事，”班納特先生說，“柯林斯先生要繼承浪博恩的產業，他這樁罪過是洗也洗不清的。不過，要是你聽聽他這封信裏所說的話，那你就會心腸軟一些，因爲他這番表明心跡還算不錯。”
"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it was very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false friends. Why could not he keep on quarrelling with you, as his father did before him?"
“不，我相信我絕對不會心軟下來；我覺得他寫信給你真是既沒有禮貌，又非常虛僞。我恨這種虛僞的朋友。他爲什麼不象他的爸爸那樣跟你吵得不可開交呢？”
"Why, indeed, he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, as you will hear."
“哦，真的，他對這個問題，好象也有些爲了顧全孝道，猶豫不決，且讓我把信讀給你們聽吧：
"Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent,
親愛的長者：
15th October.
DEAR SIR,
THE disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with any one with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance." -- "There, Mrs. Bennet." --
以前你爲先父之間曾有些芥蒂，這一直使我感到不安。自先父不幸棄世以來，我常常想到要彌補這個裂痕；但我一時猶豫，沒有這樣做，怕的是先父生前既然對閣下唯恐仇視不及，而我今天卻來與閣下修好，這未免有辱先人。──“注意聽呀，我的好太太。”──
"My mind however is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England.
不過目前我對此事已經拿定主張，因爲我已在復活節那天受了聖職。多蒙故劉威斯·德·包爾公爵的孀妻咖苔琳·德·包爾夫人寵禮有加，恩惠並施，提拔我擔任該教區的教士，此後可以勉盡厥誠，恭待夫人左右，奉行英國教會所規定的一切儀節，這真是拜三生不幸。
As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends, -- but of this hereafter.
況且以一個教士的身份來說，我覺得我有責任盡我之所及，使家家戶戶得以敦穆親誼，促進友好。因此我自信這番好意一定會受到你的重視，而有關我繼承浪博恩產權一事，你也可不必介意。並請接受我獻上的這一枝橄欖枝。我這樣侵犯了諸位令媛的利益，真是深感不安，萬分抱歉，但請你放心，我極願給她們一切可能的補償，此事容待以後詳談。
If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'nnight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,
WILLIAM COLLINS."
如果你不反對我踵門拜候，我建議於十一月十八是，星期一，四點鐘前來拜謁，甚或在府上叨擾至下星期六爲止。這對於我毫無不便之處，因爲咖苔琳夫人決不會反對我星期日偶而離開教堂一下，只消有另一個教士主持這一天的事懷就行了。敬向尊夫人及諸位令媛致候。
你的祝福者和朋友威廉·柯林斯
il[in'teil] vt. 使必需，使蒙受;限定繼承 n. 限定繼承權
The house and estate are entailed on the eldest daughter.
這所房子和地產限定由長女繼承。
uitous adj. 不正的，不法的，邪惡的
Have you seen this bill? It's iniquitous!
你看見這份帳單了嗎? 簡直是漫天要價！
rtinent adj. 魯莽的，無禮的，粗魯的
His remarks were impertinent.
他說話語言粗魯。
al adj. 子女的，子女應做的，孝順的
She had done her filial respect to her mother.
她已經對母親盡了孝心。
ple['skru:pl] n. 顧忌，遲疑 n. 微量 vi. 顧慮
He has absolutely no scruples; he'll do anything to get what he wants.
他沒有一點點顧忌，爲了得到自己想要的東西，他什麼事都做得出來。
ch n. 裂口，破壞，違背，（浪的）衝擊，決裂 vt. 違反，在 ... 上打開缺口，突破 vi. 躍出水面
Your action is a breach of our agreement.
你的行動違反了我們的協議。
variance 有分歧，不一致，不合
The question of woman suffrage sets them at variance.
婦女參政的問題使他們發生爭執。
nation n. 任命，神職授任
The sacrament or rite of ordination.
神職儀式神職的任命或神職任命儀式
onage n. 贊助，光顧，任免權
We thank you for your patronage.
我們謝謝您的惠顧。
sh n. 教區，教區的全體居民，地方行政區，(路易西安那州的)郡
They go to the parish church every week.
他們每週都去教區的教堂。
ture n. 提議，提案，主動表示，序曲 v. 提議，建議
The audience must be in their seats before the overture.
觀衆必須於序曲演奏前入座。
e branch n. 橄欖枝
The olive branch is the emblem of peace.
橄欖枝是和平的象徵。
iness['redinis] n. 準備就緒，預備，敏捷
She shows great readiness to learn.
她表現出強烈的學習願望。
after n. 將來，來世 adv. 此後，將來，來世
Do you believe in the hereafter?
你相信來世嗎？
pass n. 非法侵入，罪過，[法]侵害訴訟 v. 非法侵入，侵害，冒犯
Are you familiar with the laws relating to trespass?
你熟悉關於侵入私人領地的法律嗎？
gyman n. 牧師，教士，神職人員
This clergyman is respected by all the villagers.
這位教士受到所有村民的尊敬。
had often attempted it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.
【難句解析】beyond the reach of“在夠得着的範圍之外”；in favour of“有利於”；
【句子翻譯】其實她們一直沒法跟她解釋，可是這個問題跟她是講不明白的。她老是破口大罵，說是自己的產業不能由五個親生女兒繼承，卻白白送給一個和她們毫不相干的人，這實在是太不合情理。
disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with any one with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.
【難句解析】late“已故的”；heal意思是“使和解”，heal the breach意思是“和解不合”；keep back“保留，阻止”；be on good terms with“與...有交情”；
【句子翻譯】以前你爲先父之間曾有些芥蒂，這一直使我感到不安。自先父不幸棄世以來，我常常想到要彌補這個裂痕；但我一時猶豫，沒有這樣做，怕的是先父生前既然對閣下唯恐仇視不及，而我今天卻來與閣下修好，這未免有辱先人。
1.按照中世紀教會傳統，教產捐贈人對其教區的教職有提名推薦權。當時獲取有聖俸教職的教士，不僅有資格得到一份穩定的聖職躬耕田與什一稅收入，而且除非年老退職或犯罪，終生可任教職。
