Доводы рассудка
Chapter 20
Thepartywasdividedanddisposedofontwocontiguousbenches:Annewasamongthoseontheforemost,andMrElliothadmanoeuvredsowell,withtheassistanceofhisfriendColonelWallis,astohaveaseatbyher.MissElliot,surroundedbyhercousins,andtheprincipalobjectofColonelWallis’sgallantry,wasquitecontented.
Anne’smindwasinamostfavourablestatefortheentertainmentoftheevening;itwasjustoccupationenough:shehadfeelingsforthetender,spiritsforthegay,attentionforthescientific,andpatienceforthewearisome;andhadneverlikedaconcertbetter,atleastduringthefirstact.Towardsthecloseofit,intheintervalsucceedinganItaliansong,sheexplainedthewordsofthesongtoMrElliot.Theyhadaconcertbillbetweenthem.
“This,”saidshe,“isnearlythesense,orratherthemeaningofthewords,forcertainlythesenseofanItalianlove-songmustnotbetalkedof,butitisasnearlythemeaningasIcangive;forIdonotpretendtounderstandthelanguage.IamaverypoorItalianscholar.”
“Yes,yes,Iseeyouare.Iseeyouknownothingofthematter.Youhaveonlyknowledgeenoughofthelanguagetotranslateatsighttheseinverted,transposed,curtailedItalianlines,intoclear,comprehensible,elegantEnglish.Youneednotsayanythingmoreofyourignorance.Hereiscompleteproof.”
“Iwillnotopposesuchkindpoliteness;butIshouldbesorrytobeexaminedbyarealproficient.
