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

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Mr. John Dashwood told his mother again and again how exceedingly sorry he was that she had taken a house at such a distance from Norland as to prevent his being of any service to her in removing her furniture. He really felt conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for the very exertion to which he had limited the performance of his promise to his father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable. -- The furniture was all sent around by water. It chiefly consisted of household linen, plate, china, and books, with a handsome pianoforte of Marianne's. Mrs. John Dashwood saw the packages depart with a sigh: she could not help feeling it hard that as Mrs. Dashwood's income would be so trifling in comparison with their own, she should have any handsome article of furniture.

约翰．达什伍德先生三番五次地对继母说：她在距离诺兰庄园这么远的地方找了座房子，叫他不能为她搬运家具效力，真是不胜遗憾。此时，他良心上的确感到不安，他已经把履行对父亲的诺言局限在帮帮忙这一点上，想不到这样一来，连这点忙也帮不上了。家具全部由水路运走。主要的东西有家用亚麻台布、金银器皿、瓷器、书籍，以及玛丽安的漂亮钢琴。约翰．达什伍德夫人眼看着东西一包包地运走了，不觉叹了口气。达什伍德太太的收入与他们的相比，是微乎其微的，可她竟然能有这么漂亮的家具，怎么能叫她不觉得难受呢？

Mrs. Dashwood took the house for a twelvemonth; it was ready furnished, and she might have immediate possession. No difficulty arose on either side in the agreement; and she waited only for the disposal of her effects at Norland, and to determine her future household, before she set off for the west; and this, as she was exceedingly rapid in the performance of everything that interested her, was soon done. --The horses which were left her by her husband had been sold soon after his death, and an opportunity now offering of disposing of her carriage, she agreed to sell that likewise at the earnest advice of her eldest daughter. For the comfort of her children, had she consulted only her own wishes, she would have kept it; but the discretion of Elinor prevailed. HER wisdom too limited the number of their servants to three; two maids and a man, with whom they were speedily provided from amongst those who had formed their establishment at Norland.
　　
这座房子，达什伍德太太租用一年，里面陈设齐全，她马上就可以住进去。双方在协议中没有遇到任何困难。达什伍德太太只等着处理掉她诺兰庄园的财物，确定好将来家里用几个仆人，然后再启程西迁。因为她对自己关心的事处理起来极其迅速，所以很快就办妥了。她丈夫留下的马匹，在他死后不久就卖掉了。现在又出现一个处理马车的机会，经大女儿恳切相劝，她也同意卖掉。若是依照她自己的愿望，为了使孩子们过得舒适，她还是要留下这辆马车，怎奈埃丽诺考虑周到，只好依了她。也是依照埃丽诺的明智想法，她们还把仆人的数量限制到三个——两个女仆，一个男仆，都是从她们在诺兰庄园已有的仆人中很快挑选出来的。

词汇释义

1.vex [veks] vt. 恼怒，使恼火

He was vexed at his failure.
他因失败而糟心。

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

You've rendered me a service.
你帮了我的忙。

3.impracticable adj. 不切实际的，不可行的

The plan is impracticable.
这个计划是不可行的。

4.pianoforte n. 钢琴

About this time Jane Fairfax received the handsome gift of a pianoforte, anonymously given.
大约就在这个时候, 简收到了一份厚礼, 这是一架钢琴, 送礼者不知何人。

5.trifling adj. 微不足道的, 不足取的，轻浮的

Don't let this trifling matter affect our harmonious relations.
别为小事伤了和气。

6.twelvemonth n. 十二个月, 一年

I have been looking forward to his visit for a twelvemonth.
我期待他的来访已有一年了。

7.discretion n. 谨慎,判断力,个人选择,选择的自由

I trust his discretion absolutely.
我完全相信他的判断。

8.prevail [pri'veil] vi. 获胜, 盛行, 主导

Sadness prevailed in our mind.
我们的心中充满悲痛,

难句解析

1.He really felt conscientiously vexed on the occasion; for the very exertion to which he had limited the performance of his promise to his father was by this arrangement rendered impracticable.

【难句解析】第二句的主干是for the exertion was impracticable；

【句子翻译】此时，他良心上的确感到不安，他已经把履行对父亲的诺言局限在帮帮忙这一点上，想不到这样一来，连这点忙也帮不上了。