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"Two offenses of a very different nature, and by no means of equal magnitude, you last night laid to my charge. The first mentioned was, that, regardless of the sentiments of either, I had detached Mr. Bingley from your sister, and the other, that I had, in defiance of various claims, in defiance of honor and humanity, ruined the immediate prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham. Wilfully and wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth, the acknowledged favorite of my father, a young man who had scarcely any other dependence than on our patronage, and who had been brought up to expect its exertion, would be adepravity, to which the separation of two young persons, whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks, could bear no comparison. But from the severity of that blame which was last night so liberally bestowed, respecting each circumstance, I shall hope to be in the future secured, when the following account of my actions and their motives has been read. If, in the explanation of them, which is due to myself, I am under the necessity of relating feelings which may be offensive to yours, I can only say that I am sorry. The necessity must be obeyed, and further apology would be absurd.

昨晚你把两件性质完全不同、轻重不等的罪名加到我身上。第一件是，我不顾令姐和宾利之间的情深意切，拆散了他们一段美好的姻缘；第二件是，我不顾体面人情，丧失人性和尊严地破坏了韦翰先生指日可待的富贵，后来又毁了他美好的前途。我无情无义，抛弃了与我一起长大的朋友，那个无依无靠的青年是先父生前看好的才俊，从小时候起就靠着我们赞助，但长大后就开始堕落，这的确是我的一个遗憾。至于那对青年男女，他们只不过刚认识了几个星期，即使是我拆散了他们，也不能同第一件罪过相提并论。现在请允许我讲自己的行为以及他们的动机一一剖白，希望你弄明白了原委之后，将来不至于像昨晚那样对我严加苛责。在解释这件事情的时候，如果我迫不得已需要讲述自己的情绪，如果这个引起你的不快，我只能向你表示歉意。既然不可避免，再说道歉的言语就显得可笑了。

I had not been long in Hertfordshire, before I saw, in common with others, that Bingley preferred your elder sister to any other young woman in the country. But it was not till the evening of the dance at Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious attachment. I had often seen him in love before. At that ball, while I had the honor of dancing with you, I was first made acquainted, by Sir William Lucas's accidental information, that Bingley's attentions to your sister had given rise to a general expectation of their marriage. He spoke of it as a certain event, of which the time alone could be undecided. From that moment I observed my friend's behavior attentively; and I could then perceive that his partiality for Miss Bennet was beyond what I had ever witnessed inhim. Your sister I also watched. Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard, and I remained convinced from the evening's scrutiny, that though she received his attentions with pleasure, she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment. If you have not been mistaken here, I must have been in error. Your superior knowledge of your sister must make the latter probable. If it be so, if I have been misled by such error to inflict pain on her, your resentment has not been unreasonable. But I shall not scruple to assert, that the serenity of your sister's countenance and air was such as might have given the most acute observer a conviction that, however amiable her temper, her heart was not likely to be easily touched. That I was desirous of believing her indifferent is certain—but I will venture to say that my investigation and decisions arenot usually influenced by my hopes or fears. I did not believe her to be indifferent because I wished it; I believed it on impartial conviction, astruly as I wished it in reason.

我刚到哈弗德不久，就看出了宾利先生在当地所有的少女中，对令姐情有独钟。但一直到在尼斯菲德舞会的那个晚上，我才开始了解到他对令姐的用情程度。在这之前，他恋爱方面的事，我也见过不少。在那次舞会上，当我很荣幸与你跳舞时，我才听到威廉卢卡斯先生说宾利对令姐的爱慕程度已经是满城风雨，大家以为他们就要开始谈嫁娶的事情了。听他说起来好像此事已经万事俱备，只是时间问题罢了。从那时起，我就开始注意我朋友的行为，我看出他对班纳特小姐的深情，这是他以往没有过的。我也观察着令姐。她的神色和风度依旧像平常一样落落大方，温婉可亲，但没有钟情于任何人的迹象。据我那一晚仔细观察到的情形来看，我确实认为她乐于接受他的殷勤，可是她并没有用深情蜜意来回应他。要是这件事你没有弄错，那么错一定在我；你既对令姐有很深的了解，那么当然是我错了。倘若事实果是如此，由于我的错误造成了令姐的痛苦，那难怪你气愤。但我可以毫不犹疑地说，令姐当时的风度极其洒脱，即使观察力最敏锐的人也难免认为她尽管性情柔和，可是并不容易被打动。我当初确实希望她无动于衷，可是我敢说，尽管我主观上有我自己的希望，有我的顾虑，可是我的观察和推断不会受主观上的影响。我认为，令姐绝不会因为我希望她无动于衷就真的无动于衷。我的看法客观公正，我的愿望也合情合理。

My objections to the marriage were not merely those which I last night acknowledged to have the utmost required force of passion to put aside, in my own case; the want of connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me. But there were other causes of repugnance; causes which, though still existing, and existing to an equal degree in both instances, I had myself endeavored to forget, because they were not immediately before me. These causes must be stated, though briefly. The situation of your mother's family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison to that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father. Pardon me. It pains me to offend you. But amidst your concern for the defects of your nearest relations, and your displeasure at this representation of them, let it give you consolation to consider that, to have conducted yourselves so as to avoid any share of the like censure, is praise no less generally bestowed on you and your eldersister, than it is honorable to the sense and disposition of both. I will only say farther that from what passed that evening, my opinion of all parties was confirmed, and every inducement heightened which could have led me before, to preserve my friend from what I esteemed a most unhappy connection. He left Netherfield for London, on the day following, as you, I am certain, remember, with the design of soon returning.

我昨晚说遇到这样门户不相对的婚姻，轮到我自己身上的时候，我必须用极大的感情力量来压制自己的心意。至于说到他们俩的这一段婚姻，我之所以要反对，还不仅仅是因为这样的理由，因为我的朋友并不像我这么重视门户的高低。除此之外还有一个让人嫌忌的事情——这些事情到现在仍然存在，而且在我们和他们的两段感情中都存在着，但我早已尽力把它们忘了，因为它们并不会时时刻刻出现在我面前。我必须要把这些事情说一说，哪怕简单地说两句。你母亲的娘家人虽然叫人不太满意，但比起你家里那种完全不成体统的情形来，简直无足轻重。你三个妹妹总是在做一些有损门面的事情，有时候甚至你的父亲也难免。请原谅我如此直言不讳，其实冒犯了你，我心里又何尝不难受。你的骨肉至亲有这些缺点，当然会使你感到难受，我这样一说，当然会让你更加不开心。但你仔细想一想，你和你姐姐举止优雅，别人非但没有对你们有所责难，反而对你们褒扬备至，还赞赏你们的学识和个性，这些对于你终究能算是一个安慰吧。我还想跟你说一说，那天晚上我看到了那样的情形，越发确定了我对每个人的看法，加深了我的偏见，我一定要阻止我的朋友，让他远离这门不幸的婚姻。他第二天就离开尼斯菲德庄园了，我想你肯定还记得，他本打算很快就回来的。

The part which Iacted is now to be explained. His sisters' uneasiness had been equally excited with my own; our coincidence of feeling was soon discovered, and, alike sensible that no time was to be lost in detaching their brother, we shortly resolved on joining him directly in London. We accordingly went—and there Ireadily engaged in the office of pointing out to my friend the certain evils of such a choice. I described, and enforced them earnestly. But, however, this remonstrance might have staggered or delayed his determination, I do not suppose that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage, had it not been seconded by the assurance that I hesitated not in giving, of your sister's indifference. He had before believed her to return his affection with sincere, if not with equal regard. But Bingley has great natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my judgment than on his own. To convince him, therefore, that he had deceived himself, was no very difficult point. To persuade him against returning into Hertfordshire, when that conviction had been given, was scarcely the work of a moment. I cannot blame myself for having done thus much. There is but one part of my conduct in the whole affair on which I do not reflect with satisfaction; it is that I condescended to adopt the measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister's being in town. I knew it myself, as it was known to Miss Bingley; but her brother is even yet ignorant of it. That they might have met without ill consequence is perhaps probable; but his regard did not appear to me enough extinguished for him to see her without some danger. Perhaps this concealment, this disguise was beneath me; it is done, however, and it was done for the best. On this subject I have nothing more to say, no other apology to offer. If I have wounded your sister's feelings, it was unknowingly done and though the motives which governed me may to you very naturally appear insufficient, I have not yet learnt to condemn them.

现在我要向你阐明当初我在这件事中参与的经过。宾利的姐妹们当时同我一样，对这件事深感不安。我们发觉彼此看法一致，认为有必要立即赶到伦敦去将他隔离起来。我们就这样走了。到了那里，便由我负责向我的朋友指出如果他缔结了这门亲事，将来会有多少的麻烦。我仔细分析，再三劝说，终于动摇了他的心意，他有些迟疑不决。可是，当时要不是我那么肯定地说，令姐对他并没有那么倾心，这番规劝恐怕也不会有这么大的效力，这段婚姻也许就成了。在我跟他劝说之前，他总认为令姐即使没有报以同样的深情，至少也是在精诚期待着他。但宾利先生个性温和，遇到任何事情，只要我一出主意，他总是相信我胜过相信他自己。我没有费太多的事就说服了他，是他相信这件事是他自己一时糊涂。他既然相信了这点，我们再劝说他不要回哈弗德郡就没有那么困难了。我并没有觉得自己这样做有什么不对。今天回想起来，唯一让自己心有不安的事就是令姐来到城里的时候，我竟不择手段将这个消息瞒住了他。这件事不但我知道，宾利小姐也知道，只有她哥哥到现在还一直蒙在鼓里。要是让他们俩见了面，可能也不会有多坏的结果，可是当时我认为他还没有完全死心，见到她未必能克制自己的情感而免于危险。我这样欺瞒，也许失掉了自己的身份。然而事情已经做了，而且完全是出于一片好意。关于这件事，我没什么可说的了，也无用再道歉，如果我伤了令姐的心，也是出于无意；你自然会以为我当初这样做理由不够充足，但我到现在仍然觉得自己没有什么不对。

With respect to that other, more weighty accusation, of having injured Mr. Wickham, I can only refute it by laying before you the whole of his connection with my family. Of what he has particularly accused me I am ignorant; but of the truth of what Ishall relate, I can summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity.

现在来谈另一件更重的罪名：损毁了魏格涵先生的前途。关于这件事，我唯一的驳斥方法就是把他和我的家庭关系全部都说给你听，你来评判这其中的是非曲直。我不知道他特别指责我的是哪一点，我在这里所要陈述的事情的真相，可以找出好几个信誉卓著的人来做证。

Mr. Wickham is the son of a very respectable man, who had for many years the management of all the Pemberley estates, and whose good conduct in the discharge of his trustnaturally inclined my father to be of service to him; and on George Wickham, who was his godson, his kindness was therefore liberally bestowed. My father supported him at school, and afterwards at Cambridge—most important assistance, as his own father, always poor from the extravagance of his wife, would have been unable to give him a gentleman's education. My father was not only fond of this young man's society, whose manners were always engaging; he had also the highest opinion of him, and hoping the church would be his profession, intended to provide for him in it. As for myself, it is many, many years since I first began to think of him in a very different manner. The vicious propensities—the want of principle, which he was careful to guard from the knowledge of his bestfriend, could not escape the observation of a young man of nearly the same age with himself, and who had opportunities of seeing him in unguarded moments, which Mr. Darcy could not have. Here again I shall give you pain—to what degree you only can tell. But whatever may be the sentiments which Mr. Wickham has created, a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from unfolding his real character—it adds even another motive.

魏格涵先生的父亲十分令人尊敬，他在彭伯里管理了好几年的产业，恪尽职守。这自然使得先父很愿意帮他的忙，先父对这个教子宠爱有加，供给他上学，后来供他到剑桥大学读书——这是对他一项最重要的帮助，因为他父亲被他母亲吃光用穷，无力供他接受高等教育。先父因为这个年轻人风采翩翩才华出众而喜欢和他来往，十分地器重他，希望他能从事教会行业，并一心想要替他安排一个位置。至于说到我对他印象转坏，那是很多年前的事了。他实际上为人放荡不羁，恶习重重，虽然他已经很小心地将这些掩藏了起来，不让他最好的朋友察觉，可是终究逃不过一个和他年龄相仿的年轻人的眼睛。他一个没提防，就给我瞧出了破绽，其实这种机会多的是——但是先父绝不会有这种机会瞧见的。到这里我不免又要引起你的痛苦了，至于有多痛，只有你自己知道。不论魏格涵先生已经引起了你怎样的感情，我却要怀疑这些感情的本质，因而我也不得不对你说他真正的品格。这里面甚至难免还有些别有用心。

My excellent father died about five years ago; and his attachment to Mr. Wickham was to the last so steady, that in his will he particularly recommended it to me, to promote his advancement in the best manner that his profession might allow—and if he took orders, desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant. There was also a legacy of one thousand pounds. His ownfather did not long survive mine, and within half a year from these events, Mr.Wickham wrote to inform me that, having finally resolved against taking orders, he hoped I should not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more immediate pecuniary advantage, in lieu of the preferment, by which he could not be benefited. He had some intention, he added, of studying the law, and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would be a very insufficient support therein. I rather wished, than believed him to be sincere; but, at any rate, was perfectly ready to accede to his proposal. I knew that Mr. Wickhamought not to be a clergyman; the business was therefore soon settled—here signed all claim to assistance in the church, were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to receive it, and accepted in return three thousand pounds. All connection between us seemed now dissolved. I thought too ill of him to invite him to Pemberley, or admit his society in town. In town I believehe chiefly lived, but his studying the law was a mere pretence, and being now free from all restraint, his life was a life of idleness and dissipation. For about three years I heard little of him; but on the decease of the incumbent of the living which had been designed for him, he applied to me again by letter for the presentation. His circumstances, he assured me, and I had no difficulty in believing it, were exceedingly bad. He had found the law a most unprofitable study, and was now absolutely resolved on being ordained, if I would present him to the living in question—of which he trusted there could be little doubt, as he was well assured that I had no other person to provide for, and I could not have forgotten my revered father's intentions. You will hardly blame me for refusing to comply with this entreaty, or for resisting every repetition to it. His resentment was in proportion to the distress of his circumstances—and he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me to others as in his reproaches to myself. After this period every appearance of acquaintance was dropped.

德高望重的先父于五年前去世，他宠爱魏格涵先生始终如一，连遗嘱上也特别向我提到，要我斟酌他的职业情况，极力提拔他。要是他受了圣职，俸禄优厚的位置一有空缺，就让他替补上去。另外还给了他一千磅遗产。他自己的父亲不久也去世了，这几件大事发生以后，不出半年功夫，魏格涵先生就写信跟我说，他已下定了决心，不愿去受圣职。他既然不能获得那个职位的俸禄，就希望我给他一些直接的经济利益，他认为这样很合理。他又说，自己有意要去学法律，他叫我明白，要他靠一千磅的利息去学法律当然是不够的。与其说我相信他这些话，不如说我但愿他说的都是可靠的。我也知道他不适合当牧师，于是我们很快就谈好条件，此事也获得了解决。我给了他三千磅，他不再要求我帮他获得神职，算是自动放弃权利吧，即使以后他有资格来担任圣职，也不会再提要求。从此我和他就一刀两断了，我非常看不起他，不再邀请他到彭伯里游玩，在城里也不和他来往。我相信他大半都住在城里，他所谓的学法律也不过是个借口。现在他既然摆脱了羁绊，便整天过着浪荡挥霍的生活。我大约连续三年没有听到他的消息，可是后来有一位牧师去世了，这份职位和俸禄本来是可以由他接替的。于是他又写信给我，要我举荐他，说他的境况已经不能再窘迫了，这一点我当然不难相信。他又说研究法律毫无出息，现在已下定决心要当牧师，只要我肯举荐他去接替这个位置就行了。他自以为我一定会答应他的请求，因为他看准我没有别人可以替补，况且我也不能疏忽先父生前应承他的一片好意。我没有答应，即使他再三请求，这你总不见得会责备我吧。他的境遇越窘迫，怨愤就越深，毫无问题，他在背后骂我和当面骂我都是一样狠毒。从那个时期以后，我们连一点点面子上的交情也没有了。

How he lived I know not. But last summer he was again most painfully obtruded on my notice. I must now mention acircumstance which I would wish to forget myself, and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold to any human being. Having said thus much, I feel no doubt of your secrecy. My sister, who is more than ten years my junior, was left to the guardianship of my mother's nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and myself. About a year ago, she was taken from school, and an establishment formed for her in London; and last summer she went with the lady who presided over it, to Ramsgate; and thither also went Mr. Wickham, undoubtedly by design; for there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and by her connivance and aid, he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen, which must be her excuse; and after stating her imprudence, I am happy to add, that I owed the knowledge of it to herself. I joined them unexpectedly a day or two before the intended elopement, and then Georgiana, unable to support the idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father, acknowledged the whole to me. You may imagine what I felt and how I acted. Regard for my sister's credit and feelings prevented any public exposure; but I wrote to Mr. Wickham, who left the place immediately, and Mrs. Younge was of course removed from her charge. Mr. Wickham's chief objectwas unquestionably my sister's fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds; but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong inducement. His revenge would have been complete indeed.

我不知道他是怎样生活的，但说起来痛心之极，他去年夏天又引起了我的注意。我得在这里讲一段我自己也不愿意提起的事。这件事我从来不愿意让任何人知道，可是这一次却非得说一说不可，我相信你一定能保守秘密。我妹妹比我小十岁多，由我母亲的内侄菲茨威廉上校和我共同做她的监护人。大约在一年前，我们把她从学校里接回来，安置在伦敦居住。去年夏天，她跟那位管家的杨吉太太到拉姆斯盖特去了。魏格涵先生也跟着赶了过去，显然是别有用意，因为他跟杨吉太太早就认识，我们很不幸看错了人，上了她的当。靠着杨吉太太的纵容和帮忙，他向乔治安娜求爱。可惜乔治安娜心肠太好，还牢牢记着小时候他对她的亲切，竟被他打动了，答应跟他私奔。她当时才十五岁，我们当然只能原谅她年幼无知。她虽然糊涂胆大，可是总算幸亏亲口将这事告诉了我。原来在他们私奔之前，我出乎意料地来到了他们那里。乔治安娜一贯把我这个哥哥当作父亲一般看待，她不忍让我伤心受气，于是将这事和盘托出。你可以想象到我当时是怎样的感触，又采取了怎样的行动。为了顾全妹妹的名誉和情绪，我没有把这件事公开揭露出来。我写信给魏格涵先生，叫他立刻离开那个地方，当然也把杨吉太太打发走了。毫无疑问，魏格涵先生主要是看中了我妹妹的三千磅财产。可是我也不禁会想，他也很想借这个机会狠狠地报复我一下。他差点就成功了。

This, madam, is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have been concerned together; and if you do not absolutely reject it as false, you will, I hope, acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr. Wickham. I know not in what manner, under what form of falsehood he had imposed on you; but his success is not perhaps to be wondered at. Ignorant as you previously were of everything concerning either, detection could not be in your power, and suspicion certainly not in your inclination.

小姐，我已经把所有与我们有关的事，都老老实实地谈过了。如果你并不完全认为我在撒谎，那么我希望从今以后，你再也不要认为我对魏格涵先生冷酷无情。我不知道他用什么样的言辞，什么样的手段来欺骗你的。不过，你以前对这些事一无所知，那么他骗取了你的信任也不足为奇。你既无从探听，又不喜欢怀疑。

You may possibly wonder why all this was not told you last night; but I was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to be revealed. For the truth of everything here related, I can appeal more particularly to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam, who, from our near relationship and constant intimacy, and, still more, as one of the executors of my father's will, has been unavoidably acquainted with every particular of these transactions. If your abhorrence of me should make my assertions valueless, you cannot be prevented by the same cause from confiding in my cousin; and that there may be the possibility of consulting him, I shall endeavor to find some opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the morning. I will only add, God bless you.

也许你不明白为什么我昨晚不当面把这一切告诉你。可是当时，我自己也不知道哪些话可以讲，我也不清楚自己。这封信里所说的一切是真是假，我请你问问菲茨威廉上校，他是我们的近亲和至交，也是我先父遗嘱执行人之一。他对其中的一切详情自然十分清楚。假使说，你因为厌恶我，竟把我的话看得一文不值，你不妨把你的想法说给我表弟听。我所以要想尽办法找机会把这封信一大早就送到你手里，就是为了让你有时间可以去跟他商量一下。我要说的就这些了，上帝保佑你。

FITZWILLIAMDARCY

菲茨威廉达西

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伊丽莎白出身于小地主家庭，有四个姐妹，母亲班纳特太太整天操心着为女儿物色称心如意的丈夫。新来的邻居宾利来先生和他的朋友达西打破了她们一家人单调的乡村生活。宾利来和伊丽莎白的姐姐简互生情愫；达西对善良聪明的伊丽莎白产生了好感，而伊丽莎白却对达西不可一世的傲慢心存偏见，不接受他的感情。然而，世事难料，宾利来和简因为误会，关系危在旦夕；达西的种种作为，展示了性格中和伊丽莎白相同的善良一面，逐渐赢得了伊丽莎白的好感。两对有情人能否终成眷属？班纳特姐妹们能否得到自己想要的生活？简·奥斯汀以女性的特殊视角描绘了她对爱情的观点：寻找真正爱自己的人，追求完美的爱情。

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