名著阅读

Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton for observing, at this moment, "that it rained very hard, " though she believed the interruption to proceed less from any attention to her, than from her ladyship's great dislike of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as delighted her husband and mother. The idea however started by her, was immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was on every occasion mindful of the feelings of others; and much was said on the subject of rain by both of them.

使埃丽诺感激不尽的是，恰在这时，米德尔顿夫人说了一句话：“雨下得好大呀！”不过她知道，夫人之所以打岔，并非出于对自己的关心，而是因为她对她丈夫和母亲热衷于这种低级趣味，深为厌恶。她提出的这个话头当即被布兰登上校接了过去，因为他在任何场合都很照顾别人的情绪。于是，两人下雨长下雨短地说了一大堆。

Willoughby opened the piano-forte, and asked Marianne to sit down to it; and thus amidst the various endeavours of different people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground. But not so easily did Elinor recover from the alarm into which it had thrown her.

威洛比打开钢琴，要求玛丽安坐下来弹一支曲子。由于大家都想结束这个话题，这样一来，谈话就不了了之。但是埃丽诺受了这场虚惊，却不那么容易恢复镇静。

A party was formed this evening for going on the following day to see a very fine place about twelve miles from Barton, belonging to a brother-in-law of Colonel Brandon, without whose interest it could not be seen, as the proprietor, who was then abroad, had left strict orders on that head. The grounds were declared to be highly beautiful, and Sir John, who was particularly warm in their praise, might be allowed to be a tolerable judge, for he had formed parties to visit them, at least, twice every summer for the last ten years. They contained a noble piece of water; a sail on which was to a form a great part of the morning's amusement; cold provisions were to be taken, open carriages only to be employed, and every thing conducted in the usual style of a complete party of pleasure.

当晚，大家组成一个观光团，准备第二天去参观一个景色十分优美的地方。此地离巴顿约有十二英里，归布兰登上校的姐夫所有，若是上校没有兴致，别人谁也别想去随意游览，因为主人当时出门在外，对此曾有言在先，十分严格，据说，这地方美极了，约翰爵士大为赞赏。近十年来，爵士每年夏天至少要组织两次游览，因而可以说是很有发言权。这里小湖风光旖旎，上午主要用来乘船游览。大家带上冷餐，乘上敞篷马车，一切都按观光团的通常规格行事。

To some few of the company it appeared rather a bold undertaking, considering the time of year, and that it had rained every day for the last fortnight;-- and Mrs. Dashwood, who had already a cold, was persuaded by Elinor to stay at home.
　　
在场的有几个人认为，这似乎是一次冒险的行动，因为时令不对，两周来每天都在下雨。达什伍德太太由于感冒，经埃丽诺劝说，同意留在家里。

可可原创，转载请注明出处。

词汇释义

1.grateful adj. 感激的，感谢的

These refugees are very grateful to the government's succor.
这些难民非常感激政府的救援。

2.interruption n. 打岔，中断

He was impatient of any interruption.
他对任何打扰都感到不耐烦。

3.inelegant adj. 不优美的，不风雅的，粗野的

He dreamed the elegant homes of yore, but give no thought to their inelegant plumbing.
他追忆着往昔雅致的屋舍，而不去回忆他们毫无风致可言的铅工业。

4.raillery n. 善意的嘲弄，逗趣

5.pianoforte n. 钢琴

Alex only took up the pianoforte when he was 14.
亚历克斯到14岁时才开始学钢琴。

6.amidst prep. 在 ... 当中，在 ... 期间，由 ... 伴随

We groped amidst the darkness.
我们在黑暗中摸索。

7.endeavour v. 尽力，努力 n. 奋力，尽力

I shall endeavour to accommodate you whenever possible.
只要有可能，我将尽力帮你。

8.alarm n. 警报，警报器，警告，惊恐 vt. 向 ... 报警，警告，使惊恐

I gave the alarm as soon as I saw the smoke.
我一看见冒烟，就发出了警报。

9.proprietor n. 所有人，业主，经营者

He is now sole proprietor of the business.
他现在一个人拥有这家公司。

10.tolerable adj. 可容忍的 adj. 还不错的

We had a very tolerable lunch.
我们吃了顿很不错的午餐。

11.amusement n. 娱乐，消遣

I find amusement in collecting stamps.
我发现了集邮的乐趣。

12.provision n. 规定，条款; 供应(品); 预备 n. (pl.) 食物 vt. 向 ... 供应食物

We set out with enough provisions.
我们带上足够的食品出发了。

13.undertaking n. 任务，项目，事业；企业

He is too timid to venture upon a new undertaking.
他太胆小，不敢从事新的事业。

难句解析

1. Most grateful did Elinor feel to Lady Middleton for observing, at this moment, "that it rained very hard, " though she believed the interruption to proceed less from any attention to her, than from her ladyship's great dislike of all such inelegant subjects of raillery as delighted her husband and mother. The idea however started by her, was immediately pursued by Colonel Brandon, who was on every occasion mindful of the feelings of others; and much was said on the subject of rain by both of them.

【句子翻译】

使埃丽诺感激不尽的是，恰在这时，米德尔顿夫人说了一句话：“雨下得好大呀！”不过她知道，夫人之所以打岔，并非出于对自己的关心，而是因为她对她丈夫和母亲热衷于这种低级趣味，深为厌恶。她提出的这个话头当即被布兰登上校接了过去，因为他在任何场合都很照顾别人的情绪。于是，两人下雨长下雨短地说了一大堆。

【难句解析】

Feel grateful to...“对...感到感激”；

例句：

I'm so grateful for your great help! 对于你们的大力协助，我很感激！

less...than...

（1）“比…少，不如…多”；

例句：

We drink less coffee than tea. 我们喝咖啡不如喝茶多。I got less money than the others did. 我比别人得到的钱少。

（2）不像、不如

He is less honest than his brother. 他不如他哥哥诚实。

（3）与其…不如…。

例句：

I regard him less as my teacher than as my friend. 与其说我把他当作老师，不如说我是把他当作朋友。

注：表示此义时与可与 more…than结构替换(但要注意词序的变化)。如：He is less a teacher than an expert. / He is more an expert than a teacher. 与其说他是老师，不如说他是专家。

be mindful of 留心，注意

例句：

We had to be mindful of every step we took on slippery sidewalk
在很滑的边道行走时, 我们每行一步都必须小心。

on the subject of adj. 关于(论述，涉及)

例句：

On the subject of marriage, Judith and I are on the same wavelength.
在婚姻问题上， 我和朱迪思意见相同。

2.The grounds were declared to be highly beautiful, and Sir John, who was particularly warm in their praise, might be allowed to be a tolerable judge, for he had formed parties to visit them, at least, twice every summer for the last ten years.

【句子翻译】

据说，这地方美极了，约翰爵士大为赞赏。近十年来，爵士每年夏天至少要组织两次游览，因而可以说是很有发言权。

【难句解析】

declared 被宣布，被声称

It will be declared to the whole world.
它将被昭示中外。