伊夫莱娜 (Fanny Burney): 第二封信
第二封信 —— 维拉尔先生致霍华德夫人
发信地： 多塞特郡，贝里山 (Berry Hill, Dorsetshire)
YOUR Ladyship did but too well foresee the perplexity and uneasiness of which Madame Duval’s letter has been productive. However, I ought rather to be thankful that I have so many years remained unmolested, than repine at my present embarrassment; since it proves, at least, that this wretched woman is at length awakened to remorse.
夫人，您确已非常准确地预见到了杜瓦尔夫人的来信所引起的困扰与不安。只是，我倒更应庆幸自己这些年来一直未受骚扰，而不该为眼下的窘境怨叹；因为这至少证明，那可怜的女人终于醒悟并生出了悔意。
In regard to my answer, I must humbly request your Ladyship to write to this effect: “That I would not, upon any account, intentionally offend Madame Duval; but that I have weighty, nay unanswerable reasons for detaining her grand-daughter at present in England; the principal of which is, that it was the earnest desire of one to whose will she owes implicit duty. Madame Duval may be assured, that she meets with the utmost attention and tenderness; that her education, however short of my wishes, almost exceeds my abilities; and I flatter myself, when the time arrives that she shall pay her duty to her grand-mother, Madame Duval will find no reason to be dissatisfied with what has been done for her.”
关于我的答复，我恳请阁下务必代我写明如下意思：“我绝不会以任何借口，故意冒犯杜瓦尔夫人；但我此刻确有充分、甚至无可辩驳的理由，将她的外孙女暂留英国；其中最主要的一点是，这正是她必须绝对顺从其意愿之人的恳切愿望。杜瓦尔夫人可以放心，她将受到最周到的关照与体贴；她所受的教育，纵使未尽如我愿，也几乎超出了我的能力范围；而且我深信，当她将来去向外祖母尽孝之时，杜瓦尔夫人不会对为她所做的一切感到不满。”
Your Ladyship will not, I am sure, be surprised at this answer. Madame Duval is by no means a proper companion or guardian for a young woman: she is at once uneducated and unprincipled; ungentle in temper, and unamiable in her manners. I have long known that she has persuaded herself to harbour an aversion for me-Unhappy woman! I can only regard her as an object of pity!
我相信，阁下对这个答复不会感到意外。杜瓦尔夫人绝不是年轻女子合适的陪伴或监护人：她既没有教养，又没有原则；性情粗暴，举止也不讨人喜欢。我早已知道，她已说服自己对我怀有厌恶——这位不幸的女人！我只能把她视作一个值得怜悯的对象！
I dare not hesitate at a request from Mrs. Mirvan; yet, in complying with it, I shall, for her own sake, be as concise as I possibly can; since the cruel transactions which preceded the birth of my ward can afford no entertainment to a mind so humane as her’s.
我不敢对米尔万夫人的请求有丝毫迟疑；然而，出于遵从之意，我将尽可能简洁，因为在我受监护人的出生之前所发生的那些残酷经历，对她那样仁慈的心灵而言，实在无从带来任何乐趣。
Your Ladyship may probably have heard, that I had the honour to accompany Mr. Evelyn, the grandfather of my young charge, when upon his travels, in the capacity of a tutor. His unhappy marriage, immediately upon his return to England, with Madame Duval, then a waiting-girl at a tavern, contrary to the advice and entreaties of all his friends, among whom I was myself the most urgent, induced him to abandon his native land, and fix his abode in France. Thither he was followed by shame and repentance; feelings which his heart was not framed to support; for, notwithstanding he had been too weak to resist the allurements of beauty, which nature, though a niggard to her of every other boon, had with a lavish hand bestowed on his wife; yet he was a young man of excellent character, and, till thus unaccountably infatuated, of unblemished conduct. He survived this ill-judged marriage but two years. Upon his death-bed, with an unsteady hand, he wrote me the following note:
阁下或许听说过，我曾有幸在旅行期间以家庭教师的身份陪同埃弗林先生——我这位年轻教养对象的外祖父。就在他回到英国后，他不顾所有朋友的劝阻与恳求，尤其是我再三苦谏，竟娶了当时在酒馆当侍女的杜瓦尔夫人；这桩不幸的婚姻迫使他抛弃祖国，定居法国。羞愧与悔恨一路追随着他来到那里，而他的心灵本不堪承受这般情绪；因为尽管他当时过于软弱，没能抗拒美貌的诱惑——这份美貌，尽管自然对她吝啬了其他一切恩赐，却以极为慷慨的手笔赐予了他的妻子——然而他原本是一位品行极佳的年轻人，在这般莫名其妙地沉迷之前，始终操守无瑕。那场判断失当的婚姻只让他又活了两年。临终之际，他颤抖着手给我写下了如下便笺：
- 【注】跨阶级婚姻与社会排斥： 18世纪贵族与底层体力劳动者或服务人员（如酒馆侍女）之间有着不可逾越的鸿沟。跨阶级婚姻不仅不被祝福，还会遭到整个社交圈的排斥和抵制。埃弗林先生娶了侍女，意味着他主动放弃了自己的阶级身份，他在英国体面社会再也无法立足，所以只能抛弃祖国，定居法国。
“My friend, forget your resentment, in favour of your humanity;-a father, trembling for the welfare of his child, bequeaths her to your care. O Villars! hear! pity! And relieve me!”
“我的朋友，请忘却你的愤怒，以你的人道精神为念；一位为自己孩子的福祉而战栗的父亲，将她托付给你的照料。哦，维拉斯！听我说！怜悯我！救救我！”
Had my circumstances permitted me, I should have answered these words by an immediate journey to Paris; but I was obliged to act by the agency of a friend, who was upon the spot, and present at the opening of the will.
若我的处境允许，我本应立即启程前往巴黎，以回应这些话；但我不得不借助一位当时在场、并参加了遗嘱启封的朋友来代我办理此事。
Mr. Evelyn left to me a legacy of a thousand pounds, and the sole guardianship of his daughter’s person till her eighteenth year; conjuring me, in the most affecting terms, to take the charge of her education till she was able to act with propriety for herself; but, in regard to fortune, he left her wholly dependent on her mother, to whose tenderness he earnestly recommended her.
伊夫林先生留给我一千镑的遗赠，以及在其女儿十八岁之前对她本人享有唯一的监护权；并以最动人的措辞恳切嘱托我，在她能够举止得体、自行行事之前，负责她的教育；但在财产方面，他却让她完全依赖其母亲，并郑重将她托付给母亲的慈爱照料。
Thus, though he would not, to a woman low-bred and illiberal as Mrs. Evelyn, trust the conduct and morals of his daughter, he nevertheless thought proper to secure to her the respect and duty to which, from her own child, were certainly her due; but unhappily, it never occurred to him that the mother, on her part, could fail in affection or justice.
因此，尽管他不愿将女儿的品行与操守托付给像伊夫林太太那样出身卑微、胸襟狭隘的女人，他仍认为有必要确保她得到本应属于她、也确属其亲生女儿应得的尊重与孝顺；但不幸的是，他从未想到，母亲一方也可能会在情感或公正上有所亏缺。
Miss Evelyn, Madam, from the second to the eighteenth year of her life, was brought up under my care, and, except when at school under my roof. I need not speak to your Ladyship of the virtues of that excellent young creature. She loved me as her father; nor was Mrs. Villars less valued by her; while to me she became so dear, that her loss was little less afflicting than that which I have since sustained of Mrs. Villars herself.
伊芙琳小姐，夫人，从她二岁到十八岁期间，都由我照料抚养；除了在我家中上学的时候。那位优秀的年轻女子的品德，我无需向您的阁下多言。她像爱父亲一样爱我；维拉斯夫人也同样深受她敬重。对我而言，她变得如此亲爱，以至于她的离去带给我的痛苦，几乎不亚于后来我失去维拉斯夫人本人时所承受的悲恸。
At that period of her life we parted; her mother, then married to Monsieur Duval, sent for her to Paris. How often have I since regretted that I did not accompany her thither! Protected and supported by me, the misery and disgrace which awaited her might perhaps have been avoided. But, to be brief-Madame Duval, at the instigation of her husband, earnestly, or rather tyrannically, endeavoured to effect a union between Miss Evelyn and one of his nephews. And, when she found her power inadequate to her attempt, enraged at her non-compliance, she treated her with the grossest unkindness, and threatened her with poverty and ruin.
在她生命的那个时期，我们分开了；她的母亲当时已嫁给杜瓦尔先生，派人将她接到巴黎。自那以后，我多少次懊悔当初没有陪她同去！若有我保护和扶持，她即将遭遇的苦难与耻辱，也许本可以避免。但长话短说——杜瓦尔夫人在丈夫的唆使下，极力，或者说近乎专横地，试图促成伊芙琳小姐与他的一位侄子结合。可当她发现自己的权势不足以达成目的时，便因她的不顺从而恼羞成怒，以极其粗暴的态度对待她，并威胁要让她陷入贫困与毁灭。
- 【注】女性财权与监护漏洞： 埃弗林先生知道妻子品行不端，所以把女儿的“道德教育”托付给牧师；但他又受制于当时的传统观念，认为母亲有权掌控女儿的财产。在当时的社会，没有财产的年轻女性是没有任何话语权的。这个遗嘱的致命漏洞，直接导致了女主母亲（贝尔蒙特夫人）后来的悲剧，杜瓦尔夫人利用财权，试图强迫女儿嫁给自己的侄子（肥水不流外人田）。
Miss Evelyn, to whom wrath and violence had hitherto been strangers, soon grew weary of such usage; and rashly, and without a witness, consented to a private marriage with Sir John Belmont, a very profligate young man, who had but too successfully found means to insinuate himself into her favour. He promised to conduct her to England-he did.-O, Madam, you know the rest!-Disappointed of the fortune he expected, by the inexorable rancour of the Duvals, he infamously burnt the certificate of their marriage, and denied that they had ever been united.
Evelyn 小姐向来未曾经历过愤怒与暴力，不久便厌倦了这种折磨；她一时冲动，在没有见证人的情况下，同约翰·贝尔蒙特爵士秘密成婚。此人是个极其放荡的年轻人，却颇为成功地设法博得了她的欢心。他答应带她去英格兰——他做到了。唉，夫人，后面的事你都知道了！由于杜瓦尔一家不可动摇的怨恨，他没能得到自己指望中的财产，便无耻地烧毁了他们婚姻的证明，并否认他们曾经结合过。
- 【注】《1753年婚姻法》与私密婚姻： 在1753年之前，英国的婚姻相对随意，私奔或没有见证人的“秘密婚姻”也可能被法律承认。但为了防止贵族子弟被骗婚，1753年出台了严格的《婚姻法》，规定婚姻必须在教堂公开举行，必须有结婚登记或公开宣读结婚预告，未成年人必须有监护人同意。女主母亲私下结婚，且没有证人。渣男贝尔蒙特爵士发现她拿不到嫁妆后，直接烧毁了唯一的证书。在法律上，这场婚姻瞬间无效。
She flew to me for protection. With what mixed transports of joy and anguish did I again see her! By my advice, she endeavoured to procure proofs of her marriage-but in vain; her credulity had been no match for his art.
她飞奔到我这里寻求保护。当我再次见到她时，喜悦与悲痛交织，我的心情何等复杂！在我的劝告下，她设法去搜集自己婚姻的证据——却徒劳无功；她的轻信根本敌不过他的狡诈。
Every body believed her innocent, from the guiltless tenor of her unspotted youth, and from the known libertinism of her barbarous betrayer. Yet her sufferings were too acute for her slender frame; and the same moment that gave birth to her infant, put an end at once to the sorrows and the life of its mother.
所有人都相信她是无辜的，这既因为她纯洁无瑕的青春始终洁白无染，也因为人们早已知道她那个野蛮的诱骗者是何等放荡不羁。然而，她所受的苦难对她孱弱的身躯来说实在太过剧烈；就在她生下婴儿的那一刻，也同时终结了母亲的悲伤与生命。
The rage of Madame Duval at her elopement, abated not while this injured victim of cruelty yet drew breath. She probably intended, in time, to have pardoned her; but time was not allowed. When she was informed of her death, I have been told, that the agonies of grief and remorse, with which she was seized, occasioned her a severe fit of illness. But, from the time of her recovery to the date of her letter to your Ladyship, I had never heard that she manifested any desire to be made acquainted with the circumstances which attended the death of Lady Belmont, and the birth of her helpless child.
杜瓦尔夫人因她私奔而起的怒火，在这位遭受残酷迫害的受害者尚有一息尚存时也从未平息。她大概原本打算，待时机成熟后原谅她；但她没有等到那一天。据我所闻，当她得知她的死讯时，悲痛与悔恨的煎熬使她病得很重。然而，从她康复到她致函阁下这段时间里，我从未听说她表现出任何愿望，想要了解贝尔蒙特夫人去世时的情形，以及她那无助孩子的出生经过。
That child, Madam, shall never, while life is lent me, know the loss she has sustained. I have cherished, succoured, and supported her, from her earliest infancy to her sixteenth year; and so amply has she repaid my care and affection, that my fondest wish is now circumscribed by the desire of bestowing her on one who may be sensible of her worth, and then sinking to eternal rest in her arms.
夫人，只要我还有一息尚存，那孩子就永远不会知道自己所失去的是什么。我从她襁褓之时直到十六岁，一直悉心抚养、扶持、照料她；她对我的关爱与情意回报得如此丰厚，以致我如今最殷切的愿望，不过是把她托付给一位能够体会她价值的人，然后在她的怀抱中安然长眠，归于永恒的安息。
Thus it has happened, that the education of the father, daughter, and grand-daughter, has devolved on me. What infinite misery have the two first caused me! Should the fate of the dear survivor be equally adverse, how wretched will be the end of my cares-the end of my days!
因此，父亲、女儿和孙女的教育都落到了我肩上。前两者给我带来了多么无穷的痛苦啊！倘若这位可怜的幸存者命运同样不幸，我的这些操劳又将以何等凄惨的结局收场——我余生的终点又将何等悲凉！
Even had Madame Duval merited the charge she claims, I fear my fortitude would have been unequal to such a parting; but being such as she is, not only my affection, but my humanity, recoils, at the barbarous idea of deserting the sacred trust reposed in me. Indeed, I could but ill support her former yearly visits to the respectable mansion at Howard Grove: pardon me, dear Madam, and do not think me insensible of the honour which your Ladyship’s condescension confers upon us both; but so deep is the impression which the misfortunes of her mother have made on my heart, that she does not, even for a moment, quit my sight without exciting apprehensions and terrors which almost overpower me. Such, Madam, is my tenderness, and such my weakness!-But she is the only tie I have upon earth, and I trust to your Ladyship’s goodness not to judge of my feelings with severity.
即便杜瓦尔夫人真如她所声称的那样配得上这项指责，我恐怕也没有足够的坚忍去面对这样的离别；但她既是如今这般模样，不仅我的爱怜，连我的人性也会因抛弃托付于我的神圣责任这一野蛮念头而感到退缩。事实上，她从前每年到霍华德格罗夫那座体面的宅邸拜访时，我都很难承受；请原谅我，亲爱的夫人，也请不要以为我对您阁下屈尊所赐予我们二人的荣誉无动于衷；只是她母亲的不幸在我心中留下了如此深的印象，以至于她哪怕片刻离开我的视线，都会激起几乎让我难以承受的忧虑与恐惧。夫人，这就是我的温情，也是我的软弱！——但她是我在这世上唯一的牵系，我也相信您阁下的仁慈，不会严厉地看待我的这些感受。
I beg leave to present my humble respects to Mrs. and Miss Mirvan; and have the honour to be, Madam, your Ladyship’s most obedient and most humble servant, ARTHUR VILLARS.
我谨冒昧向米尔万夫人和米尔万小姐致以卑微的敬意；并荣幸地谨向您奉上，我是，夫人，您阁下最顺从、最谦卑的仆人，ARTHUR VILLARS。