名著精讀《理智與情感》第11章 第1節

Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined when they first came into Devonshire, that so many engagements would arise to occupy their time as shortly presented themselves, or that they should have such frequent invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little leisure for serious employment. Yet such was the case. When Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home and abroad, which Sir John had been previously forming, were put into execution. The private balls at the park then began; and parties on the water were made and accomplished as often as a showery October would allow. In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was included; and the ease and familiarity which naturally attended these parties were exactly calculated to give increasing intimacy to his acquaintance with the Dashwoods, to afford him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of Marianne, of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving, in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance of her affection.

達什伍德母女剛來德文郡的時候，萬萬沒有想到馬上會有這麼多約會，請帖接二連三，客人絡繹不絕，簡直沒有空閒乾點正經事。然而，情況就是如此。等瑪麗安徹底好了，約翰爵士事先制定的室內外娛樂計劃便一個個付諸實施了。這時，莊園裏開始舉行私人舞會了，人們還趁着十月天陣雨的間歇機會，經常舉行水上游藝會。每逢這種聚會，威洛比勢必到場。當然，這些聚會搞得悠閒自如，恰好可以進一步密切他和達什伍德母女的關係，讓他有機會目睹一下瑪麗安的嫵媚多姿，表露一下他對她的傾慕之情，同時也想從她的言談舉止中，得到她也有情於自己的確鑿保證。

Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment. She only wished that it were less openly shewn; and once or twice did venture to suggest the propriety of some self-command to Marianne. But Marianne abhorred all concealment where no real disgrace could attend unreserve; and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not in themselves illaudable, appeared to her not merely an unnecessary effort, but a disgraceful subjection of reason to common-place and mistaken notions. Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at all times, was an illustration of their opinions.

埃麗諾對他們的相戀並不感到意外。她只希望他們不要搞得太露骨，曾有一兩次冒昧地建議瑪麗安還是剋制點爲好。瑪麗安討厭遮遮掩掩的，覺得縱情任性不會真正喪失體面，剋制感情本身就不值得稱道。在她看來，這不僅沒有必要，而且是理智對陳腐錯誤觀念的可恥屈從。威洛比也有同感，他們的行爲始終可以說明他們的觀點。

When he was present she had no eyes for any one else. Every thing he did, was right. Every thing he said, was clever. If their evenings at the park were concluded with cards, he cheated himself and all the rest of the party to get her a good hand. If dancing formed the amusement of the night, they were partners for half the time; and when obliged to separate for a couple of dances, were careful to stand together and scarcely spoke a word to any body else. Such conduct made them of course most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not shame, and seemed hardly to provoke them.
　
只要威洛比在場，瑪麗安便目無他顧。他做的每件事都很正確，說的每句話都很高明。如果莊園裏的晚會最後以打牌結束，那麼他就會竭盡作弊之能事，寧肯犧牲自己和其他人也要給她湊一手好牌。如果當晚的主要活動是跳舞，那麼他們有一半時間是在一起跳。萬不得已給拆散一兩次，也要儘量挨在一起，兩人跟別人連一句話都不說。這種行爲自然會讓衆人嗤笑不已，但是嗤笑並不能使他們感到難爲情，也似乎並不惹得他們惱火。

gement n. 婚約，訂婚，約會，約定，交戰，僱用

I have numerous engagements for next year.
我明年有許多約會。

ement n. 娛樂，消遣

The hotel offers its guests a wide variety of amusements.
這個旅館爲住客提供了各種各樣的娛樂活動。

llency n. 優點，美德

riety n. 適當，正當，得體(複數）proprieties:禮節，禮儀

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

r vt. 憎惡，厭惡，痛恨

He abhors this banker.
他厭惡這個銀行家。

udable adj. 不值得讚美的

onplace adj. 平凡的，陳腐的 n. 常事，老生常談，普通的東西

Many movies deal with commonplace themes.
許多電影的主題很平庸。

Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home and abroad, which Sir John had been previously forming, were put into execution.

【難句解析】這裏的at home and abroad不是“國內外”，而是“室內外”的意思；put into execution“實施”；

【句子翻譯】等瑪麗安徹底好了，約翰爵士事先制定的室內外娛樂計劃便一個個付諸實施了