傲慢与偏见

精读《傲慢与偏见》53：达西为什么偏偏不肯附和

拜访在莉迪亚追问舞会里收场；宾利守约得体，可第九章真正的落点，是达西始终不肯附和众人对伊丽莎白的贬损。

这一段来自《傲慢与偏见》第九章，也是第九章的收尾。这段拜访虽在莉迪亚讨要舞会里散场，但真正的落点在最后一句——任凭宾利小姐拿"迷人的眼睛"百般奚落，达西却始终不肯加入众人对伊丽莎白的贬损。奥斯汀用这份"拒绝附和"，悄悄把达西的心意摆上台面，也收束了整个第九章。

English Text: A Postponed Ball and Darcy's Telling Silence

“I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and, when your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill?”

Lydia declared herself satisfied. “Oh yes--it would be much better to wait till Jane was well; and by that time, most likely, Captain Carter would be at Meryton again. And when you have given your ball,” she added, “I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not.”

Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations’ behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy; the latter of whom, however, could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her, in spite of all Miss Bingley’s witticisms on fine eyes.

中文翻译：推迟的舞会，与达西不肯附和的沉默

“我向你保证，我完全愿意履行自己的承诺；等你姐姐康复了，只要你乐意，就由你来定舞会的具体日子。可你总不会想在她还病着的时候跳舞吧？”

莉迪亚表示很满意。“噢，那当然——等简好了再办确实好得多；而且到那时候，卡特上尉多半也回到梅里屯了。等你办完这场舞会，”她又补上一句，“我一定要让他们也办一场。我要去告诉福斯特上校，他要是不办，那才叫丢人呢。”

于是贝内特太太带着女儿们告辞了，伊丽莎白立刻回到简身边，把自己和亲戚们的举止，留给那两位女士和达西先生去评说；然而，尽管宾利小姐拿“迷人的眼睛”极尽奚落之能事，达西先生却怎么也不肯加入她们对伊丽莎白的贬损。

阅读提示：一句"不肯附和"，如何替第九章收尾

这一段的重心，不在舞会到底哪天办，而在最后那句"不肯附和"。

先看奥斯汀的排场安排。她让贝内特太太一家"退场"，把舞台清给留下来的三个人——宾利小姐、赫斯特太太和达西。前脚客人刚走，后脚那两位女士就开始 remarks（品头论足）、censure（贬损）刚离开的伊丽莎白一家。这是奥斯汀常用的手法：客人一转身，主人家的真面目才露出来。

真正的锋芒落在句末。宾利小姐特意翻出上一篇达西亲口说过的"迷人的眼睛"（fine eyes），一句句 witticism（讥讽的俏皮话）都冲着这句话去，就是要逗达西一起贬低伊丽莎白。可奥斯汀没有让达西反驳、辩护，甚至没让他开口——她只写了一个否定的被动：he could not be prevailed on to join（怎么劝都劝不动他加入）。达西什么也没做。这一步还不是公开维护，却已经看得出他的判断在移动——从前他嫌她"不够漂亮"，现在讥讽递到手上，他不肯接。

读这一段可以带一个问题：奥斯汀为什么把达西的心意，藏在一个"他没有做什么"的句子里，而不是让他站出来护她？一个"拒绝附和"，就替整个第九章画上了句点。

重点词汇

engagement /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/ noun — （此处）诺言，约定
原文例句：I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement.
别一看到就译成"订婚"。这里的 engagement 是"要守的约定"——宾利把当初口头答应的舞会当成一份诺言，keep my engagement 就是"说话算数"。

censure /ˈsenʃə(r)/ noun — 贬损，苛评，严厉指责
原文例句：The latter of whom could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her.
这是全段的题眼。两位女士对伊丽莎白的 censure，是背后的挑剔与贬低；而达西"不肯加入这份 censure"，正是他心意的关键证据。

witticism /ˈwɪtɪsɪzəm/ noun — （讽刺的）俏皮话，妙语
原文例句：In spite of all Miss Bingley’s witticisms on fine eyes.
表面是"机智话"，但奥斯汀这里带着醋意：宾利小姐拿达西说过的"fine eyes"反复做文章，一句句俏皮话都藏着酸味和挑拨。

prevail on /prɪˈveɪl ɒn/ phrasal verb — 说服，劝动（某人做某事）
原文例句：The latter... could not be prevailed on to join in their censure.
could not be prevailed on 是"被动＋否定"：无论怎么劝、怎么逗，都劝不动他。奥斯汀不写"达西拒绝"，偏写"劝不动他"，把那份不动声色的坚持写得更含蓄。

长难句解析

1. The latter of whom, however, could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her, in spite of all Miss Bingley’s witticisms on fine eyes.

说明：这是一个非限制性定语从句。the latter of whom 指代前面"那两位女士和达西先生"里的"后者"（达西）。谓语用了被动＋否定 could not be prevailed on（怎么劝都劝不动），后接不定式 to join in their censure（加入她们的贬损）；in spite of 引出让步状语，说明连宾利小姐一句句俏皮话都没能撼动他。

结构：主语(The latter of whom) + 谓语(could not be prevailed on) + 不定式补语(to join in their censure of her) + 让步状语(in spite of all Miss Bingley’s witticisms on fine eyes)

2. When your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the ball.

说明：主句是 you shall name the very day of the ball（就由你来定舞会的日子）。when 引导时间状语从句，用一般现在时 is recovered 表将来（"等……康复了"）；if you please 是插进主句里的礼貌用语。宾利把"定日子"的主动权交到对方手里，既守住承诺，又显得体贴得体。

结构：时间状语从句(When your sister is recovered) + 主语(you) + 情态动词(shall) + 插入语(if you please) + 谓语(name) + 宾语(the very day of the ball)

今日测验

Q1. How did Mr. Darcy react to the criticism of Elizabeth by the other ladies?

A. He enthusiastically agreed with them.
B. He remained silent and left the room.
C. He refused to participate in their criticism.
D. He defended Elizabeth's family loudly.