傲慢与偏见

精读《傲慢与偏见》28：伊丽莎白为什么立刻拒绝达西？

威廉爵士试图把伊丽莎白介绍给达西做舞伴；达西并非不愿，伊丽莎白却立刻抽回手拒绝。

这一段来自《傲慢与偏见》第六章。这一段的张力在于体面误读：威廉爵士以为自己在帮忙，伊丽莎白却听出了“她在求舞伴”的尴尬暗示。

English Text: An Awkward Introduction and a Sharp Refusal

Sir William only smiled. “Your friend performs delightfully,” he continued, after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; “and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy.”

“You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir.”

“Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do you often dance at St. James’s?”

“Never, sir.”

“Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?”

“It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it.”

“You have a house in town, I conclude?”

Mr. Darcy bowed.

“I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself, for I am fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas.”

He paused in hopes of an answer: but his companion was not disposed to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her,--

“My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you.” And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William,--

“Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.”

中文翻译：尴尬的介绍与断然拒绝

威廉爵士只是笑了笑。“你的朋友表现得令人愉快，”看到宾利加入人群，他在停顿片刻后继续说道，“而且我毫不怀疑，达西先生，你自己也是这门舞艺的行家。”

“我相信你在梅里屯见过我跳舞，爵士。”

“是的，确实如此，而且那番景象令我感到相当愉悦。你常在圣詹姆斯宫（宫廷）跳舞吗？”

“从不，爵士。”

“难道你不认为那是对那个地方恰当的致意吗？”

“如果能避免，我绝不会向任何地方致以这种敬意。”

“我推断，你在伦敦城里有房子？”

达西先生鞠了一躬。

“我自己也曾想过在城里定居，因为我喜欢上流社会的社交；但我不太确定伦敦的空气是否适合卢卡斯夫人。”

他停顿下来，希望能得到回应：但他的同伴并不打算作答；就在这时，伊丽莎白朝他们走来，他突然想做一个非常殷勤的举动，便大声叫住她——

“我亲爱的伊莱莎小姐，你怎么不跳舞呢？达西先生，请允许我向您介绍这位年轻女士，她是一位非常理想的舞伴。面对如此美貌，我相信您一定无法拒绝共舞。”说着，他拉起她的手，正要把手交给达西先生——达西先生虽然极其惊讶，但并非不愿接受——这时她立刻缩回了手，有些慌乱地对威廉爵士说——

“真的，爵士，我一点儿也没打算跳舞。求您千万别以为我走到这边来是为了以此乞求一位舞伴。”

阅读提示：她拒绝的不是舞，而是被安排成“求舞伴”的姿态

这一段的张力在于体面误读：威廉爵士以为自己在帮忙，伊丽莎白却听出了“她在求舞伴”的尴尬暗示。

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

adept /əˈdept/ noun / adj — 行家，熟手；擅长的
原文例句：He is an adept in the science of dancing.

inconsiderable /ˌɪnkənˈsɪdərəbl/ adj — 微不足道的（文中用双重否定 no inconsiderable 表示“相当大的”）
原文例句：He received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight.

disposed /dɪˈspəʊzd/ adj — 愿意的，倾向于...的
原文例句：His companion was not disposed to make any answer.

gallant /ˈɡælənt/ adj — （对女子）殷勤的，骑士风度的
原文例句：He was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant thing.

discomposure /ˌdɪskəmˈpəʊʒə(r)/ noun — 心乱，不安，慌张
原文例句：She said with some discomposure to Sir William that she would not dance.

长难句解析

1. And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back.

说明：这是一个包含插入语、定语从句和时间状语从句的复杂句。

结构：主句(he would have given it...) + 伴随状语(taking her hand) + 非限制性定语从句(who... was not unwilling to receive it) + 插入语(though extremely surprised) + 时间状语从句(when she instantly drew back)

2. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.

说明：这句话展示了正式的请求句型以及目的状语。

结构：主语(I) + 谓语(entreat) + 宾语(you) + 宾补(not to suppose...) + 宾语从句(that I moved this way...) + 目的状语(in order to beg for a partner)

今日测验

Q1. Why does Elizabeth draw back her hand and refuse to dance?

A. She dislikes dancing at St. James's.
B. She is offended by the implication that she approached them to find a partner.
C. She thinks Mr. Darcy is unwilling to dance with her.
D. She is feeling unwell and wants to sit down.

Q2. How does Mr. Darcy react to the idea of dancing with Elizabeth?

A. He is disgusted and turns away.
B. He is surprised but willing.
C. He explicitly asks Sir William to stop.
D. He laughs at Sir William's suggestion.