傲慢与偏见信的中英对照
亲爱的姐夫:
我终于能够告诉你一些有关外甥女的消息了,希望这个消息大体上能叫你满意。总算侥幸,你星期六走了以后,我立刻打听出他们俩在伦敦的住址。详细情况等到见面时再告诉你。你只要知道我已经找到了他们就够啦。我已经看到了他们痢.我已经看到他们俩。他们并没有结婚,我也看不出他们有什么结婚的打算;可是我大胆地向你提出条件来,要是你愿意照办的话,他们不久就可以结婚了。我要求你的只有一点。你本来已经为你女儿们安排好五千磅遗产,准备在你和姐姐归天以后给她们,那么请你立刻就把这位外甥女应得的一份给她吧。你还得和她订一个契约,在你生前每年再津贴她一百镑。这些条件我已经再三考虑,自以为有权利可以代你作主,因此便毫不迟疑地答应了。我特派专人前来送给你这封信,以便可以马上得到你的回音。你了解了这些详情以后,就会明白韦翰先生并不如一般人所料想的那么生计维艰,一筹莫展。一般人都把这件事弄错了。甥女除了自己名下的钱以外,等韦翰把债务偿清以后,还可以多些钱并给她,这使我很高兴。你如果愿意根据我所说的情况,让我全权代表你处理这件事,那么,我立刻就吩咐哈斯东去办理财产过户的手续。你不必再进城,大可以安心安意地待在浪搏恩。请你放心,我办起事来既勤快又小心。请赶快给我回信,还得费你的神,写得清楚明白些。我们以为最好就让外甥女从这所屋子里出嫁,想你也会同意。她今天要上我们这儿来。倘有其他情形,容当随时奉告。余不多及。
爱德华·嘉丁纳八月二日
星期一,写于天恩寺街
All that is required of you is, to assure to your daughter, by settlement, her equal share of the five thousand pounds, secured among your children after the decease of yourself and my sister; and, moreover, to enter into an engagement of allowing her, during your life, one hundred pounds per annum. These are conditions which, considering every thing, I had no hesitation in complying with, as far as I thought myself privileged, for you. I shall send this by express, that no time may be lost in bringing me your answer. You will easily comprehend, from these particulars, that Mr. Wickham's circumstances are not so hopeless as they are generally believed to be. The world has been deceived in that respect; and, I am happy to say, there will be some little money, even when all his debts are discharged, to settle on my niece, in addition to her own fortune. If, as I conclude will be the case, you send me full powers to act in your name throughout the whole of this business, I will immediately give directions to Haggerston for preparing a proper settlement. There will not be the smallest occasion for your coming to town again; therefore, stay quietly at Longbourn, and depend on my diligence and care. Send back your answer as soon as you can, and be careful to write explicitly. We have judged it best that my niece should be married from this house, of which I hope you will approve. She comes to us to-day. I shall write again as soon as any thing more is determined on. Your's, &c.
EDW. GARDINER."