Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Yet such was the case. When Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home and abroad, which Sir John had been previously forming, were put into execution. The private balls at the park then began; and parties on the water were made and accomplished as often as a showery October would allow. In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was included; and the ease and familiarity which naturally attended these parties were exactly calculated to give increasing intimacy to his acquaintance with the Dashwoods, to afford him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of Marianne, of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving, in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance of her affection. Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment.

She only wished that it were less openly shewn; and once or twice did venture to suggest the propriety of some self-command to Marianne. But Marianne abhorred all concealment where no real disgrace could attend unreserve; and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not in themselves illaudable, appeared to her not merely an unnecessary effort, but a disgraceful subjection of reason to common-place and mistaken notions. Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at all times, was an illustration of their opinions. When he was present she had no eyes for any one else.

Every thing he did, was right. Every thing he said, was clever. If their evenings at the park were concluded with cards, he cheated himself and all the rest of the party to get her a good hand. If dancing formed the amusement of the night, they were partners for half the time; and when obliged to separate for a couple of dances, were careful to stand together and scarcely spoke a word to any body else. Such conduct made them of course most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not shame, and seemed hardly to provoke them. Mrs.

Dashwood entered into all their feelings with a warmth which left her no inclination for checking this excessive display of them. To her it was but the natural consequence of a strong affection in a young and ardent mind. This was the season of happiness to Marianne.

Her heart was not so much at ease, nor her satisfaction in their amusements so pure. They afforded her no companion that could make amends for what she had left behind, nor that could teach her to think of Norland with less regret than ever. Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings could supply to her the conversation she missed; although the latter was an everlasting talker, and from the first had regarded her with a kindness which ensured her a large share of her discourse. She had already repeated her own history to Elinor three or four times; and had Elinor's memory been equal to her means of improvement, she might have known very early in their acquaintance all the particulars of Mr. Jenning's last illness, and what he said to his wife a few minutes before he died. Lady Middleton was more agreeable than her mother only in being more silent. Elinor needed little observation to perceive that her reserve was a mere calmness of manner with which sense had nothing to do. Towards her husband and mother she was the same as to them; and intimacy was therefore neither to be looked for nor desired. She had nothing to say one day that she had not said the day before. Her insipidity was invariable, for even her spirits were always the same; and though she did not oppose the parties arranged by her husband, provided every thing were conducted in style and her two eldest children attended her, she never appeared to receive more enjoyment from them than she might have experienced in sitting at home;--and so little did her presence add to the pleasure of the others, by any share in their conversation, that they were sometimes only reminded of her being amongst them by her solicitude about her troublesome boys. In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance, did Elinor find a person who could in any degree claim the respect of abilities, excite the interest of friendship, or give pleasure as a companion.

Willoughby was out of the question. Her admiration and regard, even her sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover; his attentions were wholly Marianne's, and a far less agreeable man might have been more generally pleasing. Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for himself, had no such encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in conversing with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the indifference of her sister. Elinor's compassion for him increased, as she had reason to suspect that the misery of disappointed love had already been known to him.

This suspicion was given by some words which accidently dropped from him one evening at the park, when they were sitting down together by mutual consent, while the others were dancing. His eyes were fixed on Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes, he said, with a faint smile, "Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second attachments. "No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic.

"Or rather, as I believe, she considers them impossible to exist.

"I believe she does.

But how she contrives it without reflecting on the character of her own father, who had himself two wives, I know not. A few years however will settle her opinions on the reasonable basis of common sense and observation; and then they may be more easy to define and to justify than they now are, by any body but herself. "This will probably be the case," he replied; "and yet there is something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions.

"I cannot agree with you there," said Elinor.

"There are inconveniences attending such feelings as Marianne's, which all the charms of enthusiasm and ignorance of the world cannot atone for. Her systems have all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at nought; and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look forward to as her greatest possible advantage. After a short pause he resumed the conversation by saying,--

"Does your sister make no distinction in her objections against a second attachment?

or is it equally criminal in every body? Are those who have been disappointed in their first choice, whether from the inconstancy of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances, to be equally indifferent during the rest of their lives? "Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae of her principles.

I only know that I never yet heard her admit any instance of a second attachment's being pardonable. "This," said he, "cannot hold; but a change, a total change of sentiments--No, no, do not desire it; for when the romantic refinements of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently are they succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too dangerous!

Chapter 11 Capítulo 11

Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined when they first came into Devonshire, that so many engagements would arise to occupy their time as shortly presented themselves, or that they should have such frequent invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little leisure for serious employment. |||||||imaginé||||||||||||||||||||||||||||invitations||||||||||loisir||| Mrs. Dashwood et ses filles avaient peu imaginé, en arrivant pour la première fois dans le Devonshire, que tant d'engagements viendraient occuper leur temps comme ceux qui se sont rapidement présentés, ni qu'elles devraient recevoir si souvent des invitations et des visiteurs si constants qu'il ne leur resterait que peu de temps pour un emploi sérieux.

Yet such was the case. Pourtant, c'était bien le cas. When Marianne was recovered, the schemes of amusement at home and abroad, which Sir John had been previously forming, were put into execution. |||récupérée||projets||||||||||||||||| Lorsque Marianne fut rétablie, les projets de divertissement à domicile et à l'étranger, que Sir John avait précédemment formés, furent mis à exécution. The private balls at the park then began; and parties on the water were made and accomplished as often as a showery October would allow. |||||||||||||||||||||pluvieux||| Les bals privés au parc ont alors commencé ; et des fêtes sur l'eau furent organisées et réalisées aussi souvent que le permettait un octobre pluvieux. In every meeting of the kind Willoughby was included; and the ease and familiarity which naturally attended these parties were exactly calculated to give increasing intimacy to his acquaintance with the Dashwoods, to afford him opportunity of witnessing the excellencies of Marianne, of marking his animated admiration of her, and of receiving, in her behaviour to himself, the most pointed assurance of her affection. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||l'excellence||||marquage||||||||recevoir|||||||||||| À chaque rencontre de ce genre, Willoughby était inclus ; et la facilité et la familiarité qui accompagnaient naturellement ces soirées étaient exactement calculées pour donner une intimité croissante à sa connaissance des Dashwood, pour lui offrir l'occasion d'être témoin des excellences de Marianne, de marquer son admiration animée pour elle, et de recevoir, dans son comportement à son égard, la plus évidente assurance de son affection. Elinor could not be surprised at their attachment. Elinor ne pouvait pas être surprise par leur attachement.

She only wished that it were less openly shewn; and once or twice did venture to suggest the propriety of some self-command to Marianne. |||||||ouvertement|montré|||||||||||||||| Elle souhaitait seulement qu'il ne soit pas aussi ouvertement montré; et une fois ou deux, elle osait suggérer la nécessité d'un certain contrôle de soi à Marianne. But Marianne abhorred all concealment where no real disgrace could attend unreserve; and to aim at the restraint of sentiments which were not in themselves illaudable, appeared to her not merely an unnecessary effort, but a disgraceful subjection of reason to common-place and mistaken notions. ||||dissimulation||||déshonneur||attendre|||||||retenue||||||||blâmable|||||||||||déshonorant|soumission|||||||| Mais Marianne abhorré toute dissimulation là où aucune véritable disgrâce ne pouvait accompagner le désaveu; et viser à restreindre des sentiments qui ne sont pas en eux-mêmes illégitimes lui paraissait non seulement un effort inutile, mais une soumission déshonorante de la raison à des idées banales et erronées. Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at all times, was an illustration of their opinions. ||||||||||||illustration||| Willoughby pensait la même chose; et leur comportement à tout moment illustrait leurs opinions. When he was present she had no eyes for any one else.

Every thing he did, was right. Every thing he said, was clever. Tout ce qu'il a dit était intelligent. If their evenings at the park were concluded with cards, he cheated himself and all the rest of the party to get her a good hand. |||||||||||trichait|||||||||||||| Si leurs soirées au parc se terminaient par des cartes, il se trichait lui-même et tous les autres du groupe pour lui donner une bonne main. If dancing formed the amusement of the night, they were partners for half the time; and when obliged to separate for a couple of dances, were careful to stand together and scarcely spoke a word to any body else. Si danser était l'amusement de la nuit, ils étaient partenaires pendant la moitié du temps ; et quand ils étaient obligés de se séparer pour quelques danses, ils prenaient soin de se tenir ensemble et n'adressaient à peine un mot à quelqu'un d'autre. Such conduct made them of course most exceedingly laughed at; but ridicule could not shame, and seemed hardly to provoke them. |||||||||||||||||||provoquer| Une telle conduite les a bien sûr rendus extrêmement la cible des moqueries ; mais le ridicule ne pouvait pas les faire honte, et semblait à peine les provoquer. Mrs. Madame

Dashwood entered into all their feelings with a warmth which left her no inclination for checking this excessive display of them. |||||||||||||||||excessif||| Mrs. Dashwood s'est laissée emporter par tous leurs sentiments avec une chaleur qui ne lui laissait aucune inclination à réfréner cet excès d'expression. To her it was but the natural consequence of a strong affection in a young and ardent mind. ||||||||||||||||ardent| Pour elle, ce n'était que la conséquence naturelle d'une forte affection dans un esprit jeune et ardent. This was the season of happiness to Marianne. C'était la saison du bonheur pour Marianne.

Her heart was devoted to Willoughby, and the fond attachment to Norland, which she brought with her from Sussex, was more likely to be softened than she had thought it possible before, by the charms which his society bestowed on her present home. |||dévoué|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||accordé|||| Son cœur était dévoué à Willoughby, et l'affection tendre pour Norland, qu'elle avait apportée de Sussex, était plus susceptible d'être adoucie qu'elle ne l'avait pensé auparavant, par les charmes que sa société conférait à son foyer actuel. Elinor’s happiness was not so great.

Her heart was not so much at ease, nor her satisfaction in their amusements so pure. |||||||||||||divertissements|| They afforded her no companion that could make amends for what she had left behind, nor that could teach her to think of Norland with less regret than ever. Ils ne lui ont offert aucun compagnon qui puisse compenser ce qu'elle avait laissé derrière elle, ni qui puisse lui apprendre à penser à Norland avec moins de regret qu'auparavant. Neither Lady Middleton nor Mrs. Jennings could supply to her the conversation she missed; although the latter was an everlasting talker, and from the first had regarded her with a kindness which ensured her a large share of her discourse. ||||||||||||||||||||parlante||||||||||||assurait||||||| Ni Lady Middleton ni Mme Jennings ne pouvaient lui fournir la conversation qui lui manquait ; bien que cette dernière fût une bavarde éternelle, et depuis le début l'ait regardée avec une gentillesse qui lui assurait une grande part de son discours. She had already repeated her own history to Elinor three or four times; and had Elinor’s memory been equal to her means of improvement, she might have known very early in their acquaintance all the particulars of Mr. Jenning’s last illness, and what he said to his wife a few minutes before he died. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||de Jenning||||||||||||||| Elle avait déjà répété sa propre histoire à Elinor trois ou quatre fois ; et si la mémoire d'Elinor avait été égale à ses moyens d'amélioration, elle aurait pu connaître très tôt dans leur connaissance tous les détails de la dernière maladie de M. Jennings, et ce qu'il avait dit à sa femme quelques minutes avant de mourir. Lady Middleton was more agreeable than her mother only in being more silent. Lady Middleton était plus agréable que sa mère seulement par le fait qu'elle était plus silencieuse. Elinor needed little observation to perceive that her reserve was a mere calmness of manner with which sense had nothing to do. Elinor avait besoin de peu d'observation pour percevoir que sa réserve n'était qu'un calme de manière dont le bon sens n'avait rien à voir. Towards her husband and mother she was the same as to them; and intimacy was therefore neither to be looked for nor desired. Envers son mari et sa mère, elle était la même qu'eux ; et l'intimité n'était donc ni à attendre ni à souhaiter. She had nothing to say one day that she had not said the day before. Un jour, elle n'avait rien à dire qu'elle n'avait pas dit la veille. Her insipidity was invariable, for even her spirits were always the same; and though she did not oppose the parties arranged by her husband, provided every thing were conducted in style and her two eldest children attended her, she never appeared to receive more enjoyment from them than she might have experienced in sitting at home;--and so little did her presence add to the pleasure of the others, by any share in their conversation, that they were sometimes only reminded of her being amongst them by her solicitude about her troublesome boys. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||enfants ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||турбота|||| Son insipidité était invariable, car même son humeur était toujours la même ; et bien qu'elle n'opposât pas les fêtes organisées par son mari, à condition que tout soit fait avec style et que ses deux aînés l'accompagnent, elle ne semblait jamais tirer plus de plaisir de leur présence que si elle était restée chez elle ; -- et si peu sa présence ajoutait-elle au plaisir des autres, par une participation à leur conversation, qu'ils étaient parfois seulement rappelés à son existence parmi eux par sa sollicitude pour ses garçons encombrants. In Colonel Brandon alone, of all her new acquaintance, did Elinor find a person who could in any degree claim the respect of abilities, excite the interest of friendship, or give pleasure as a companion. ||||||||||||||||||||||||exciter|||||||||| Dans le Colonel Brandon, seul, parmi toutes ses nouvelles connaissances, Elinor trouva une personne qui pouvait, d'une manière ou d'une autre, revendiquer le respect de ses capacités, éveiller l'intérêt de l'amitié ou donner du plaisir en tant que compagnon.

Willoughby was out of the question. Her admiration and regard, even her sisterly regard, was all his own; but he was a lover; his attentions were wholly Marianne’s, and a far less agreeable man might have been more generally pleasing. ||||||sœur||||||||||||attentions||||||||||||||| Son admiration et son estime, même son estime de sœur, lui appartenaient entièrement ; mais il était un amant ; ses attentions étaient entièrement celles de Marianne, et un homme bien moins agréable aurait pu être plus généralement plaisant. Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for himself, had no such encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in conversing with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the indifference of her sister. ||||||||||||||||converser||||||||||||| Le colonel Brandon, malheureusement pour lui, n'avait aucun encouragement à penser uniquement à Marianne, et en conversant avec Elinor, il trouva la plus grande consolation pour l'indifférence de sa sœur. Elinor’s compassion for him increased, as she had reason to suspect that the misery of disappointed love had already been known to him. ||||||||||suspecter|||||||||||| La compassion d'Elinor pour lui augmenta, car elle avait des raisons de soupçonner que la misère d'un amour déçu lui avait déjà été connue.

This suspicion was given by some words which accidently dropped from him one evening at the park, when they were sitting down together by mutual consent, while the others were dancing. ||||||||accidentellement|||||||||||||||||||||| Cette suspicion a été donnée par quelques mots qui lui échappèrent accidentellement un soir au parc, alors qu'ils étaient assis ensemble par consentement mutuel, tandis que les autres dansaient. His eyes were fixed on Marianne, and, after a silence of some minutes, he said, with a faint smile, "Your sister, I understand, does not approve of second attachments. Ses yeux étaient fixés sur Marianne, et après un silence de quelques minutes, il a dit, avec un faible sourire, "Votre soeur, je comprends, n'approuve pas les attaches secondaires. "No," replied Elinor, "her opinions are all romantic. "Non," répondit Elinor, "ses opinions sont toutes romantiques.

"Or rather, as I believe, she considers them impossible to exist. ||||||les considère|||| "Ou plutôt, comme je le crois, elle les considère impossibles à exister.

"I believe she does. "Je crois qu'elle le fait.

But how she contrives it without reflecting on the character of her own father, who had himself two wives, I know not. |||fait|||réfléchir||||||||||||||| Mais comment elle y parvient sans réfléchir au caractère de son propre père, qui avait lui-même deux femmes, je ne sais pas. A few years however will settle her opinions on the reasonable basis of common sense and observation; and then they may be more easy to define and to justify than they now are, by any body but herself. |||||||||||||||||||||||||définir|||justifier||||||||| Cependant, quelques années établiront ses opinions sur la base raisonnable du bon sens et de l'observation ; et alors, elles pourront être plus faciles à définir et à justifier qu'elles ne le sont maintenant, par quiconque sauf elle-même. "This will probably be the case," he replied; "and yet there is something so amiable in the prejudices of a young mind, that one is sorry to see them give way to the reception of more general opinions. "Cela sera probablement le cas," répondit-il ; "et pourtant, il y a quelque chose d'aussi aimable dans les préjugés d'un jeune esprit, qu'on est désolé de les voir céder à l'acceptation d'opinions plus générales.

"I cannot agree with you there," said Elinor. "Je ne peux pas être d'accord avec vous là-dessus," dit Elinor.

"There are inconveniences attending such feelings as Marianne’s, which all the charms of enthusiasm and ignorance of the world cannot atone for. ||inconvénients|||||||||||||l'ignorance|||||réparer| "Il y a des inconvénients à de tels sentiments que ceux de Marianne, que tous les charmes de l'enthousiasme et de l'ignorance du monde ne peuvent compenser. Her systems have all the unfortunate tendency of setting propriety at nought; and a better acquaintance with the world is what I look forward to as her greatest possible advantage. |||||||||||zéro|||||||||||||||||| Ses systèmes ont tous la malheureuse tendance à mépriser la bienséance ; et une meilleure connaissance du monde est ce à quoi j'aspire comme son plus grand avantage possible. After a short pause he resumed the conversation by saying,-- |||||reprit|||| Après une courte pause, il reprit la conversation en disant,--

"Does your sister make no distinction in her objections against a second attachment? ||||||||objections|||| "Votre sœur ne fait-elle aucune distinction dans ses objections contre un second attachement ? "Ваша сестра не робить різниці у своїх запереченнях проти другого арешту?

or is it equally criminal in every body? Ou est-ce également criminel chez tout le monde ? Are those who have been disappointed in their first choice, whether from the inconstancy of its object, or the perverseness of circumstances, to be equally indifferent during the rest of their lives? |||||||||||||||||||perversité|||||||||||| Celle ou celui qui a été déçu dans son premier choix, que ce soit à cause de l'inconstance de son objet ou de la perversité des circonstances, doit-il rester également indifférent durant le reste de sa vie ? "Upon my word, I am not acquainted with the minutiae of her principles. |||||||||minuties||| "Je vous le dis, je ne suis pas au courant des minuties de ses principes.

I only know that I never yet heard her admit any instance of a second attachment’s being pardonable. |||||||||||||||||pardonnable Je sais seulement que je ne l'ai jamais entendue admettre quel qu'éventuel cas d'un second attachement comme étant pardonnable. "This," said he, "cannot hold; but a change, a total change of sentiments--No, no, do not desire it; for when the romantic refinements of a young mind are obliged to give way, how frequently are they succeeded by such opinions as are but too common, and too dangerous! |||||||||||||||||||||||raffinements||||||||||||||||||||||||| "Cela," dit-il, "ne peut pas tenir ; mais un changement, un changement total de sentiments--Non, non, ne le désirez pas ; car lorsque les raffinements romantiques d'un jeune esprit sont contraints de céder, à quelle fréquence sont-ils remplacés par des opinions qui sont trop communes et trop dangereuses !

I speak from experience. I once knew a lady who in temper and mind greatly resembled your sister, who thought and judged like her, but who from an inforced change--from a series of unfortunate circumstances"--Here he stopt suddenly; appeared to think that he had said too much, and by his countenance gave rise to conjectures, which might not otherwise have entered Elinor’s head. ||||||||||||||||||||||||imposé||||||||||s'arrêta||||||||||||||||||conjectures|||||||| Une fois, j'ai connu une dame qui, par son tempérament et son esprit, ressemblait beaucoup à votre sœur, qui pensait et jugeait comme elle, mais qui, suite à un changement forcé -- à une série de circonstances malheureuses -- ici, il s'arrêta soudainement; il semblait penser qu'il avait dit trop de choses, et par son expression faciale suscita des conjectures qui, autrement, n'auraient peut-être pas traversé l'esprit d'Elinor. The lady would probably have passed without suspicion, had he not convinced Miss Dashwood that what concerned her ought not to escape his lips. |||||||||||||||||||||||lèvres La dame aurait probablement passé sans soupçons, s'il n'avait pas convaincu Mademoiselle Dashwood que ce qui la concernait ne devait pas échapper à ses lèvres. As it was, it required but a slight effort of fancy to connect his emotion with the tender recollection of past regard. ||||||||||||relier||||||||| Quoi qu'il en soit, il ne fallait qu'un léger effort d'imagination pour relier son émotion au tendre souvenir de l'affection passée. Elinor attempted no more. Elinor n'a pas essayé davantage. But Marianne, in her place, would not have done so little. Mais Marianne, à sa place, n'aurait pas fait si peu. The whole story would have been speedily formed under her active imagination; and every thing established in the most melancholy order of disastrous love. ||||||||||||||||||||||désastreux| Toute l'histoire aurait été rapidement forgée sous son imagination active ; et tout aurait été établi dans le plus mélancolique ordre d'un amour désastreux.