Jane Austen

《傲慢与偏见》（Pride and Prejudice）是英国女小说家简·奥斯汀的长篇小说。    小说描写了乡绅班纳特五个待字闺中的千金的生活，主角是二女儿伊丽莎白。她在一次舞会上认识了一位年轻的绅士达西，但是耳闻他为人傲慢，就一直对他心生排斥。经历了一番周折，伊丽莎白终于消除了对达西的偏见，达西也不再傲慢，有情人终成眷属。    这部作品以日常生活为素材，一反当时社会上流行的感伤小说矫揉造作的写作手法，生动地反映了18世纪末到19世纪初处于保守和闭塞状态下的英国乡镇生活和人情世态。它多次被改编成电影和电视剧。

本文节选自《傲慢与偏见》第十九章。

THE next day opened a new scene at Longbourn. Mr. Collins made his declaration in form. Having resolved to do it without loss of time， as his leave of absence extended only to the following Saturday， and having no feelings of diffidence to make it distressing to himself even at the moment， he set about it in a very orderly manner， with all the observances which he supposed a regular part of the business. On finding Mrs. Bennet， Elizabeth， and one of the younger girls together soon after breakfast， he addressed the mother in these words， "May I hope， Madam， for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth， when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the course of this morning？"

第二天，浪博恩發生了一件新的事情。柯林斯先生正式提出求婚了。他的假期到下星期六就要满期，于是决定不再耽搁时间，况且当时他丝毫也不觉得有什么不好意思，便有条不紊地着手进行起来，凡是他认为必不可少的正常步骤，他都照办了。刚一吃过早饭，看到班纳特太太、伊丽莎白和一个小妹妹在一起，他便对那位做母亲的这样说：“太太今天早上我想要请令嫒伊丽莎白赏光，跟我作一次私人谈话，你赞成吗？”

Before Elizabeth had time for any thing but a blush of surprise， Mrs. Bennet instantly answered， "Oh dear！ -- Yes -- certainly. -- I am sure Lizzy will be very happy -- I am sure she can have no objection. -- Come， Kitty， I want you up stairs." And gathering her work together， she was hastening away， when Elizabeth called out， "Dear Ma'am， do not go. -- I beg you will not go. -- Mr. Collins must excuse me. -- He can have nothing to say to me that any body need not hear. I am going away myself."

“噢，好极了，当然可以。我相信丽萃也很乐意的，我相信她还会反对。──来，吉蒂;跟我上楼去。”她把针线收拾了一下，便匆匆忙忙走开了，这时伊丽莎白叫起来了：“亲爱的妈，别走。我求求你别走。柯林斯先生一定会原谅我。他要跟我说和话，别人都可以听的。我也要走了。”

"No， no， nonsense， Lizzy. -- I desire you will stay where you are." -- And upon Elizabeth's seeming really， with vexed and embarrassed looks， about to escape， she added， "Lizzy， I insist upon your staying and hearing Mr. Collins."

“不，不;你别胡扯，丽萃。……