傲慢与偏见

精读《傲慢与偏见》23：夏洛特的恋爱建议太现实了

夏洛特劝伊丽莎白：如果女人把爱意藏得太好，连对方也看不见，就可能失去机会。

这一段来自《傲慢与偏见》第六章。这一段不是简单谈恋爱技巧，而是夏洛特第一次把婚恋说成一套风险管理：感情如果没有被看见，就可能等于没有发生。

English Text: Charlotte’s Pragmatic Advice on Courtship

“It may, perhaps, be pleasant,” replied Charlotte, “to be able to impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin freely--a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on.”

“But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton indeed not to discover it too.”

“Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane’s disposition as you do.”

“But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavor to conceal it, he must find it out.”

“Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But though Bingley and Jane meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and as they always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing together. Jane should therefore make the most of every half hour in which she can command his attention. When she is secure of him, there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chooses.”

中文翻译：夏洛特关于恋爱的务实建议

“也许，”夏洛特回答道，“在这种事情上能瞒过公众的眼睛确实令人愉快；但有时候太过于矜持也是一种劣势。如果一个女人在掩饰自己的爱意时，连她爱慕的对象也一并瞒过了，她就可能失去锁住他的机会；到时候，就算想到全世界都被蒙在鼓里，也算不上什么安慰了。几乎所有的感情都包含着几分感激或虚荣，所以听其自然是不安全的。我们都可以自然大方地开始——一点点好感是很正常的；但如果没有鼓励，能在我们中间真正坠入爱河的人寥寥无几。十有八九，女人表现出来的感情最好比她实际感受到的多一些。宾利先生无疑是喜欢你姐姐的；但如果她不推他一把，他可能永远止步于喜欢而已。”

“可她确实在推他一把呀，在她本性允许的范围内。如果连我都能察觉她对他的情意，那他要是发现不了，也真是个傻瓜了。”

“记住，伊莱莎，他并不像你那样了解简的性情。”

“可是如果一个女人偏爱一个男人，并且不刻意掩饰，他肯定能发现的。”

“也许是能发现，只要他见她的次数够多。虽然宾利先生和简见面还算频繁，但从来没有连续相处几个小时的时候；而且既然他们总是在大型的混合聚会上见面，就不可能每时每刻都在交谈。因此，简应该充分利用她能吸引他注意力的每一个半小时。等她把他抓牢了，以后有的是闲情逸致去尽情恋爱。”

阅读提示：夏洛特关心的不是浪漫，而是机会成本

这一段不是简单谈恋爱技巧，而是夏洛特第一次把婚恋说成一套风险管理：感情如果没有被看见，就可能等于没有发生。

奥斯汀的厉害之处，是她常常用社交动作写人物心理。一次拜访、一句玩笑、一个拒绝，表面是礼节，里面却有判断、阶层意识、自尊和误会。

这一段也可以当作阅读训练：先看谁在说话，再看这句话想达成什么效果，最后再回到具体英文词句。

重点词汇

impose on /ɪmˈpəʊz ɒn/ phrasal verb — 欺骗；愚弄 (在此语境下)
原文例句：Do not let them impose on you with their fake stories.

disposition /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃn/ noun — 性情；性格
原文例句：He has a cheerful disposition and is always smiling.

partial /ˈpɑːʃl/ adjective — 偏爱的；钟情的 (be partial to)
原文例句：She is partial to chocolate cake.

secure /sɪˈkjʊə(r)/ verb / adjective — 弄到手，获得 (动词)；有把握的 (形容词)
原文例句：She needs to secure a job before moving to the city.

长难句解析

1. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself.

说明：这是一个包含 'so... that...'（如此...以至于...）结构的因果复句。

结构：There is (谓语) + so much of gratitude or vanity (主语/量词短语) ... that (引导结果状语从句) + it is not safe (形式主语+系表结构) + to leave any to itself (真正的主语).

2. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him.

说明：这是一个包含条件状语从句的复合句。

结构：If (引导条件状语) + a woman (主语) + conceals (谓语) ... + she (主句主语) + may lose (主句谓语) + the opportunity of fixing him (宾语).

今日测验

Q1. According to Charlotte, why should a woman show more affection than she feels?

A. To make other men jealous.
B. Because men are naturally simpletons.
C. To encourage the man to fall in love and secure him.
D. Because it is polite to be overly affectionate.

Q2. What is Charlotte's view on Jane's current strategy with Bingley?

A. It is perfect and she should not change anything.
B. It is too risky because Bingley doesn't know her well enough yet.
C. She is being too forward and aggressive.
D. She spends too much time conversing with him alone.