Sense and Sensibility《理智与情感》--Jane Austen简.奥斯丁

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Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention; for she was, at that time, in such affliction as rendered her careless of surrounding objects. She saw only that he was quiet and unobtrusive, and she liked him for it. He did not disturb the wretchedness of her mind by ill-timed conversation. She was first called to observe and approve him farther, by a reflection which Elinor chanced one day to make on the difference between him and his sister. It was a contrast which recommended him most forcibly to her mother.

爱德华在姐姐家盘桓了几个星期，才引起达什伍德太太的注意；因为她当初太悲痛，对周围的事情也就不注意了。她只是看他不声不响，小心翼翼，为此对他发生了好感。他从来不用不合时宜的谈话，去扰乱她痛苦的心灵。她对他的进一步观察和赞许，最早是由埃丽诺偶然说出的一句话引起来的。那天，埃丽诺说他和他姐姐大不一样。这个对比很有说服力，帮他博得了她母亲的欢心。

"It is enough, " said she; "to say that he is unlike Fanny is enough. It implies everything amiable. I love him already. "
　　
“只要说他不像范妮，这就足够了，”她说，“这就是说他为人厚道，处处可亲。我已经喜爱上他了。”

"I think you will like him, " said Elinor, "when you know more of him. "
　　
“我想，”埃丽诺说，“你要是对他了解多了，准会喜欢他的。”

"Like him!" replied her mother with a smile. "I feel no sentiment of approbation inferior to love. "

“喜欢他!”母亲笑吟吟地答道。“我心里一满意，少不了要喜爱他。”

"You may esteem him. "

“你会器重他的。”

"I have never yet known what it was to separate esteem and love. "

“我还不知道怎么好把器重和喜爱分离开呢。”

Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him. Her manners were attaching, and soon banished his reserve. She speedily comprehended all his merits; the persuasion of his regard for Elinor perhaps assisted her penetration; but she really felt assured of his worth: and even that quietness of manner, which militated against all her established ideas of what a young man's address ought to be, was no longer uninteresting when she knew his heart to be warm and his temper affectionate.
　　
随后，达什伍德太太便想方设法去接近爱德华。她态度和蔼，立即使他不再拘谨，很快便摸清了他的全部优点。她深信爱德华有意于埃丽诺，也许正是因此，她才有这么敏锐的眼力。不过，她确信他品德高尚。就连他那文静的举止，本是同她对青年人的既定的看法相抵触的，可是一旦了解到他待人热诚，性情温柔，也不再觉得令人厌烦了。

词汇释义

1.render vt. 使成为, 提供, 报答, 着色; 执行, 实施 vi. 给予补偿

The artist had rendered her gentle smile perfectly.
该艺术家把她那温柔的笑容表现得惟妙惟肖。

2.unobtrusive adj. 不多嘴的, 客气的, 谦虚的

He's a quiet unobtrusive student, but always does well in the examination.
他是个沉默寡言, 不引人注目的学生, 但他的考试成绩总是很优异。

3.wretchedness n. 可怜, 悲惨

Her wretchedness made him feel miserable.
她的不幸让他感到十分难受。

4.ill-timed adj. 不合时的, 失去机会的

Our visit was ill-timed my mother had guests already.
我们探望母亲很不是时候--她家里已经来了客人.

5.forcibly adv. 强行地, 强烈地

The proposals were put to us very briefly and forcibly.
这些建议已向我们作了传达, 既简明扼要, 又很有说服力。

6.approbation n. 认可, 嘉许

The goods are not allowed to be exported without approbation of the customs.
没有海关的许可, 这些货物是不允许出口的。

7.esteem [is'ti:m] n. 尊敬 vt. 认为, 尊敬

We esteem him to be worthy of trust.
我们认为他值得信任。

8.penetration n. 渗透, 侵入, 突破

He writes with penetration.
他写的文章尖锐深刻。

9.militate ['militeit] v. 发生作用, 影响

Many factors militated against the success of our plan.
有很多因素妨碍了我们实现计画.

难句解析

1.Edward had been staying several weeks in the house before he engaged much of Mrs. Dashwood's attention;

【难句解析】engage attention of sb.“引起某人的注意”；

【句子翻译】爱德华在姐姐家盘桓了几个星期，才引起达什伍德太太的注意；

2.Mrs. Dashwood now took pains to get acquainted with him.

【难句解析】take pains to do sth.意思是“花大力气做某事”；

【句子翻译】现在达什伍德太太想方设法去接近爱德华；