MR. COLLINS was not a sensible man, and the deficiencyof nature had been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful acquaintance.
4 j% D$ b0 o7 U 柯林斯先生并不是个通情达理的人,他虽然也受过教育,也踏进了社会,但是先天的缺陷却简直没有得到什么弥补。他大部分日子是在他那守财奴的文盲父亲的教导下度过的。他也算进过大学,实际上不过照例住了几个学期,并没有结交一个有用的朋友。
7 j% @' c- K$ r7 U% B7 B# m) ]5 u5 F The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originallygreat humility of manner, but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity.
8 W3 a/ e& D, k6 @ K' `' ]7 y 他的父亲管束得他十分严厉,因此他的为人本来很是谦卑,不过他本是个蠢材,现在生活又过得很优闲,当然不免自高自大,何况年纪轻轻就发了意外之财,更其自视甚高,哪里还谈得上谦卑。
0 x" b9 k# l9 l2 W9 c8 p A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt for her high rank and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his rights as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility. - F# ^( l& i! v/ C' V; |' N
当时汉斯福教区有个牧师空缺,他鸿运享通,得到了咖苔琳·德·包尔夫人的提拔。他看到他的女施主地位颇高,便悉心崇拜,备加尊敬;另方面又自命不凡,自以为当上了教士,该有怎样怎样的权利,于是他一身兼有了骄傲自大和谦卑顺从的两重性格。 |