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Mr. Shepherd, a civil, cautious lawyer, who, whatever might be his hold or his views on Sir Walter, would rather have the disagreeable prompted by anybody else, excused himself from offering the slightest hint, and only begged leave to recommend an implicit reference to the excellent judgement of Lady Russell, from whose known good sense he fully expected to have just such resolute measures advised as he meant to see finally adopted.
谢泼德先生是一位彬彬有礼、为人谨慎的律师。不管他对沃尔特爵士有何约束或想法，他都宁愿让别人提出那些令人不快的建议，自己不提出任何微小的暗示，只是请主人允许他大力推崇拉塞尔夫人超人的判断力。他完全相信闻名遐迩的明智的拉塞尔夫人一定会提出一些有力的措施，他希望这些措施能最后被采纳。
Lady Russell was most anxiously zealous on the subject, and gave it much serious consideration. She was a woman rather of sound than of quick abilities, whose difficulties in coming to any decision in this instance were great, from the opposition of two leading principles. She was of strict integrity herself, with a delicate sense of honour; but she was as desirous of saving Sir Walter's feelings, as solicitous for the credit of the family, as aristocratic in her ideas of what was due to them, as anybody of sense and honesty could well be. She was a benevolent, charitable, good woman, and capable of strong attachments, most correct in her conduct, strict in her notions of decorum, and with manners that were held a standard of good—breeding. She had a cultivated mind, and was, generally speaking, rational and consistent; but she had prejudices on the side of ancestry; she had a value for rank and consequence, which blinded her a little to the faults of those who possessed them. Herself the widow of only a knight, she gave the dignity of a baronet all its due; and Sir Walter, independent of his claims as an old acquaintance, an attentive neighbour, an obliging landlord, the husband of her very dear friend, the father of Anne and her sisters, was, as being Sir Walter, in her apprehension, entitled to a great deal of compassion and consideration under his present difficulties.
拉塞尔夫人对这件事表现得十分焦急而热心，并为此认真地考虑了一番。与其说她是思维敏捷的人，倒不如说她是做事沉稳的人，她很难在这个问题上做出抉择，因为她思想上存在着两种互相矛盾的指导原则。她本人十分正直诚实，又很讲求信誉，但她又很想照顾沃尔特爵士的情绪，维护这个家族的声誉。她有着贵族意识，觉得他们应该有一些享受，而这是任何明智而正直的人都可能有的想法。她是一个乐善好施的善良妇女，感情强烈，品行端正，恪守礼仪，其言行举止被视为教养有素的典范。她是个有涵养的人，一般而言，她通情达理，意志坚定。但是她对名门贵族有些偏爱，看重社会地位与财富，因而对名门望族的缺点便有点视而不见。她本人不过是一位骑士的遗孀，对一位准男爵自然就极为推崇；沃尔特爵士不仅是她的老朋友、无微不至的邻居、乐于助人的房东、密友的丈夫、安妮姐妹的父亲，而且拉塞尔夫人觉得，他身为沃尔特爵士，理所当然在目前的困境中应得到深切同情与关注。
They must retrench; that did not admit of a doubt. But she was very anxious to have it done with the least possible pain to him and Elizabeth. She drew up plans of economy, she made exact calculations, and she did what nobody else thought of doing: she consulted Anne, who never seemed considered by the others as having any interest in the question. She consulted, and in a degree was influenced by her in marking out the scheme of retrenchment which was at last submitted to Sir Walter. Every emendation of Anne's had been on the side of honesty against importance. She wanted more vigorous measures, a more complete reformation, a quicker release from debt, a much higher tone of indifference for everything but justice and equity.
他们必须节省开支，这是毋庸置疑的。但是她很想将事情办好，尽量不给沃尔特爵士与伊丽莎白带来痛苦。她制订了种种节约计划，并做了精确的计算，还做出了别人想不到的事情：她征求了安妮的意见，而在别人看来，安妮对这件事情漠不关心，因此可以不必考虑。她征求了安妮的意见，而且在制定节约方案的过程中，在一定程度上还受到了安妮的影响，这份方案最终被交到了沃尔特爵士的手上。安妮的每一次修改意见都实事求是而不考虑排场。她想要采取更强有力的措施，进行一次更加彻底的改革，更快地从债务中解脱出来，听口气，是要更加公平公正，别的事情概不考虑。
"If we can persuade your father to all this, " said Lady Russell, looking over her paper, "much may be done. If he will adopt these regulations, in seven years he will be clear; and I hope we may be able to convince him and Elizabeth, that Kellynch Hall has a respectability in itself which cannot be affected by these reductions; and that the true dignity of Sir Walter Elliot will be very far from lessened in the eyes of sensible people, by acting like a man of principle. What will he be doing, in fact, but what very many of our first families have done, or ought to do? There will be nothing singular in his case; and it is singularity which often makes the worst part of our suffering, as it always does of our conduct. I have great hope of prevailing. We must be serious and decided; for after all, the person who has contracted debts must pay them; and though a great deal is due to the feelings of the gentleman, and the head of a house, like your father, there is still more due to the character of an honest man. "
“如果我们能够说服你的父亲接受这些建议，” 拉塞尔夫人看着她的方案说道， “大问题就解决了。如果他愿意采纳这些措施，七年以后他便能够还清债务；我希望我们能够说服他和伊丽莎白，使他们认识到凯利奇府本身是有名望的，这种名望不会因为节省开支而受到影响；埃利奥特爵士的真正尊严不会因为他按原则办事而在明智人的心中受到伤害。事实上，他所要做的事情不就是很多名门望族已经做过或者应该去做的事情吗？他的情况也没有什么特殊的地方，而最常使我们遭受痛苦的，正是这种特殊。我对说服他大有信心。我们必须认真果断，因为毕竟欠债的人必须要还债。尽管我们需要顾及像你父亲这样的一位绅士与一家之长的情绪，但是我们更要顾及一位诚实人的信用。”
This was the principle on which Anne wanted her father to be proceeding, his friends to be urging him. She considered it as an act of indispensable duty to clear away the claims of creditors with all the expedition which the most comprehensive retrenchments could secure, and saw no dignity in anything short of it. She wanted it to be prescribed, and felt as a duty. She rated Lady Russell's influence highly; and as to the severe degree of self—denial which her own conscience prompted, she believed there might be little more difficulty in persuading them to a complete, than to half a reformation. Her knowledge of her father and Elizabeth inclined her to think that the sacrifice of one pair of horses would be hardly less painful than of both, and so on, through the whole list of Lady Russell's too gentle reductions.
这就是安妮希望父亲遵循的原则，也希望他的朋友们能督促他执行这一原则。她认为采取全面的节省措施、以最快的速度还清一切债务，这是必须承担的义务，不这样做，就没有尊严可谈。她想要把这一点立成规矩，并要求大家将它视为一种职责。她高度评价拉塞尔夫人的作用；至于她之所以凭着良心提出如此严格的自我约束，那是因为她相信，要说服大家进行彻底变革，不见得比说服大家进行局部变革困难多少。纵观拉塞尔夫人那个过于温和的节俭措施，她根据对父亲和伊丽莎白的了解，觉得牺牲一对马带来的痛苦，不见得比两对马全部丧失带来的痛苦少。
How Anne's more rigid requisitions might have been taken is of little consequence. Lady Russell's had no success at all: could not be put up with, were not to be borne. "What! every comfort of life knocked off! Journeys, London, servants, horses, table—contractions and restrictions every where! To live no longer with the decencies even of a private gentleman! No, he would sooner quit Kellynch Hall at once, than remain in it on such disgraceful terms.
安妮那些更为严格的节省措施会引起什么反应，这已经无关紧要了。拉塞尔夫人的建议根本就没有成功：他们无法接受，也无法承受。 “什么！把生活中所有的舒适都取消了！旅行、伦敦、仆人、马匹和饭菜——到处都要节俭，都要限制！以后连一个乡居绅士的体面生活都过不上了！不，他宁愿马上离开凯林奇府，也不愿意以这样耻辱的条件继续留在这里。”
"Quit Kellynch Hall. " The hint was immediately taken up by Mr. Shepherd, whose interest was involved in the reality of Sir Walter's retrenching, and who was perfectly persuaded that nothing would be done without a change of abode. "Since the idea had been started in the very quarter which ought to dictate, he had no scruple, " he said, "in confessing his judgement to be entirely on that side. It did not appear to him that Sir Walter could materially alter his style of living in a house which had such a character of hospitality and ancient dignity to support. In any other place Sir Walter might judge for himself; and would be looked up to, as regulating the modes of life in whatever way he might choose to model his household. "
“离开凯林奇府。” 谢泼德先生听出了话音，马上接过话头，他的兴趣在沃尔特爵士真正地节省开支上，他又完全地确信如果不换个住所，什么事都办不成。 “既然应该发布命令的人首先提出了这个想法，” 他说， “那我也毫无顾虑地承认，我完全赞成这种想法。在我看来，在这一幢需要保持传统体面的好客声誉的府第中，沃尔特爵士难以大刀阔斧地改变生活方式。搬到别的任何地方，沃尔特爵士或许就可以自行安排，不论选择哪种方法安排自己的家务事，改变生活方式，人们都会尊敬他。”
Sir Walter would quit Kellynch Hall; and after a very few days more of doubt and indecision, the great question of whither he should go was settled, and the first outline of this important change made out.
沃尔特爵士愿意离开凯林奇府。他犹豫不决了几天，便决定了搬家的去向这一重大问题，确定了这一重大变迁的初步方案。
There had been three alternatives, London, Bath, or another house in the country. All Anne's wishes had been for the latter. A small house in their own neighbourhood, where they might still have Lady Russell's society, still be near Mary, and still have the pleasure of sometimes seeing the lawns and groves of Kellynch, was the object of her ambition. But the usual fate of Anne attended her, in having something very opposite from her inclination fixed on. She disliked Bath, and did not think it agreed with her; and Bath was to be her home.
当时有三个可供选择的地方，伦敦、巴斯以及乡下的另一所房子。安妮满怀希望能选中后者。她所向往的，就是在附近找一所小房子，这样他们仍可以与拉塞尔夫人继续来往，仍与玛丽离得很近，有时还可以看到凯林奇的草坪与树丛。但是关照安妮的是她通常的命运，即事情的结果往往同她的心愿背道而驰。她不喜欢巴斯，觉得那里不适合她，但是巴斯将成为她家新的住地。
Sir Walter had at first thought more of London; but Mr. Shepherd felt that he could not be trusted in London, and had been skilful enough to dissuade him from it, and make Bath preferred. It was a much safer place for a gentleman in his predicament: he might there be important at comparatively little expense. Two material advantages of Bath over London had of course been given all their weight: its more convenient distance from Kellynch, only fifty miles, and Lady Russell's spending some part of every winter there; and to the very great satisfaction of Lady Russell, whose first views on the projected change had been for Bath, Sir Walter and Elizabeth were induced to believe that they should lose neither consequence nor enjoyment by settling there.
沃尔特爵士原本比较倾向于伦敦，但是谢泼德先生觉得他在伦敦让人不放心，便巧妙地劝说他放弃伦敦，选择巴斯。对于一个家道没落的绅士来说，这是一个更保险的地方：在那里他可以相对地少花钱，而又显得很阔绰。两个巴斯较之伦敦重要的优势都发挥了作用：离凯林奇只有十五英里，来往更加方便；拉塞尔夫人每年冬天都会去巴斯住上一段时间。本来拉塞尔夫人在当初考虑迁居的去向问题时，最先考虑的就是巴斯，她对此非常满意。沃尔特爵士和伊丽莎白经过劝说也认为他们搬到那里既不会丢失体面又不会失去生活享受。
Lady Russell felt obliged to oppose her dear Anne's known wishes. It would be too much to expect Sir Walter to descend into a small house in his own neighbourhood. Anne herself would have found the mortifications of it more than she foresaw, and to Sir Walter's feelings they must have been dreadful. And with regard to Anne's dislike of Bath, she considered it as a prejudice and mistake arising, first, from the circumstance of her having been three years at school there, after her mother's death; and secondly, from her happening to be not in perfectly good spirits the only winter which she had afterwards spent there with herself.
拉塞尔夫人感到，她不得不违背宝贝安妮表明过的愿望。让沃尔特爵士屈尊搬到临近的小房子是不可能的。安妮自己以后也会发现这种抉择造成的耻辱会超过她的想象，而沃尔特爵士也会觉得这种屈辱必定非常可怕。至于说安妮不喜欢巴斯，拉塞尔夫人认为那是一种偏见与误解。首先，是因为安妮在母亲去世之后，曾在巴斯的学校里上了三年学；其次，由于她后来唯一的一次同拉塞尔夫人去那里过冬时正赶上当时情绪不佳。
Lady Russell was fond of Bath, in short, and disposed to think it must suit them all; and as to her young friend's health, by passing all the warm months with her at Kellynch Lodge, every danger would be avoided; and it was in fact, a change which must do both health and spirits good. Anne had been too little from home, too little seen. Her spirits were not high. A larger society would improve them. She wanted her to be more known.
总之，拉塞尔夫人很喜欢巴斯，并认为这个地方一定会适合大家。说到她年轻朋友的健康，只要和她在凯林奇度过炎热的几个月，所有的危险都可以避免。实际上，换换环境对安妮的健康和精神都会有好处。安妮很少离家外出，别人也很少见到她。她的情绪不高。增加一些社会交往，也许会使她情绪有所好转。她希望有更多的人了解安妮。
The undesirableness of any other house in the same neighbourhood for Sir Walter was certainly much strengthened by one part, and a very material part of the scheme, which had been happily engrafted on the beginning. He was not only to quit his home, but to see it in the hands of others; a trial of fortitude, which stronger heads than Sir Walter's have found too much. Kellynch Hall was to be let. This, however, was a profound secret, not to be breathed beyond their own circle.
沃尔特爵士之所以不愿意搬进当地的另一所住宅，在很大程度上是考虑了搬迁计划的一项内容，而且是一项重要内容，幸亏从一开始就提出了这一内容。他不仅要离开自己的家，还要看着它落入别人的手中。这是对坚强意志的一种考验，比沃尔特爵士坚强得多的人也会因此感到十分难受。凯林奇府要出租。然而，这是一个极大的秘密，不能泄露给他们圈子以外的人。
Sir Walter could not have borne the degradation of being known to design letting his house. Mr. Shepherd had once mentioned the word "advertise, " but never dared approach it again. Sir Walter spurned the idea of its being offered in any manner; forbad the slightest hint being dropped of his having such an intention; and it was only on the supposition of his being spontaneously solicited by some most unexceptionable applicant, on his own terms, and as a great favour, that he would let it at all.
沃尔特爵士不要人家知道他想出租住宅，他受不了这种屈辱。谢泼德先生曾经提到过 “刊登广告 "，但是他再也不敢提这件事了。这种想法不管以什么方式提出，都会遭到沃尔特爵士的痛斥，他丝毫不准向别人透露他有这种想法。只有假定有某一位无懈可击的申请者自己主动恳求，他才会按照自己的条件出租凯林奇府，将它作为一个巨大的恩惠。”
How quick come the reasons for approving what we like! Lady Russell had another excellent one at hand, for being extremely glad that Sir Walter and his family were to remove from the country. Elizabeth had been lately forming an intimacy, which she wished to see interrupted. It was with the daughter of Mr. Shepherd, who had returned, after an unprosperous marriage, to her father's house, with the additional burden of two children. She was a clever young woman, who understood the art of pleasing—the art of pleasing, at least, at Kellynch Hall; and who had made herself so acceptable to Miss Elliot, as to have been already staying there more than once, in spite of all that Lady Russell, who thought it a friendship quite out of place, could hint of caution and reserve.
为了使自己所喜欢的得到认可，人找起理由来还真快！拉塞尔夫人之所以对沃尔特爵士和他的家人搬出乡下感到非常高兴，是因为她手头还有另外一个非常好的理由。伊丽莎白最近结识了一位密友，而拉塞尔夫人希望她中断这种关系。那位是谢泼德先生的女儿，她因婚后生活不美满回到了娘家，还带着两个累赘孩子。她是一个非常聪明的少妇，懂得讨人欢喜的技巧——至少懂得在凯利奇府讨人欢喜的技巧。她自己深得埃利奥特小姐的欢心，尽管拉塞尔夫人认为这段友谊相当不合适，暗示小姐要谨慎和有分寸一些，可是这位朋友已经在府里留宿过不止一次了。
Lady Russell, indeed, had scarcely any influence with Elizabeth, and seemed to love her, rather because she would love her, than because Elizabeth deserved it. She had never received from her more than outward attention, nothing beyond the observances of complaisance; had never succeeded in any point which she wanted to carry, against previous inclination. She had been repeatedly very earnest in trying to get Anne included in the visit to London, sensibly open to all the injustice and all the discredit of the selfish arrangements which shut her out, and on many lesser occasions had endeavoured to give Elizabeth the advantage of her own better judgement and experience; but always in vain: Elizabeth would go her own way; and never had she pursued it in more decided opposition to Lady Russell than in this selection of Mrs. Clay; turning from the society of so deserving a sister, to bestow her affection and confidence on one who ought to have been nothing to her but the object of distant civility.
拉塞尔夫人的话对伊丽莎白确实起不了多大作用，不过她看起来还是钟爱伊丽莎白，倒不是因为伊丽莎白值得她爱，而是因为她愿意这样做。拉塞尔夫人从伊丽莎白那里得到的报答，仅仅是表面上的殷勤和顺从罢了。她从来没有说服伊丽莎白克服自己以往的偏见，接受她想要贯彻的主张。她曾经几次三番地争取让安妮跟着他们一起去伦敦旅游，因为把安妮排斥在外的那种自私行为是不公正的、丢人的。在很多比较次要的问题上，她也尽量用自己更好的见解与经验开导伊丽莎白，但总是徒劳无益：伊丽莎白偏要一意孤行。在选择克莱夫人的问题上，她比以往任何时候都更固执地反对拉塞尔夫人。非但不愿亲近品性如此高尚的妹妹，反而将自己的爱与信任给了一位与她没有任何关系，而应以礼相待的人。
From situation, Mrs. Clay was, in Lady Russell's estimate, a very unequal, and in her character she believed a very dangerous companion; and a removal that would leave Mrs. Clay behind, and bring a choice of more suitable intimates within Miss Elliot's reach, was therefore an object of first—rate importance.
以拉塞尔夫人来看，从地位上讲，克莱太太与伊丽莎白很不相称。从人品看来，拉塞尔夫人认为她是一个很危险的伙伴。搬家能够把克莱太太甩掉，让埃利奥特小姐在可以接触到的人中选择更为合适的密友。因此搬家便成了头等大事。