THE ROSTOVS’ PECUNIARY POSITION had not improved during the two years they had spent in the country. —
罗斯托夫家的金钱状况在他们在乡间度过的两年里没有改善。 —

Although Nikolay Rostov had kept firmly to his resolution, and was still living in a modest way in an obscure regiment, spending comparatively little, the manner of life at Otradnoe, and still more Mitenka’s management of affairs, were such that debts went on unchecked, growing bigger every year. —
尽管尼古拉·罗斯托夫坚决执行自己的决定，在一个不起眼的团里过着节俭的生活，开销相对较少，但奥特拉多依村的生活方式，尤其是米滕卡对事务的管理，导致债务不受控制，每年都在不断增加。 —

The sole resource that presented itself to the old count as the obvious thing to do was to enter the government service, and he had come to Petersburg to seek a post and at the same time, as he said, to let his poor wenches enjoy themselves for the last time.
对于老伯爵来说，唯一的解决办法是进入政府服务，并且他来圣彼得堡是为了找到一份职位，同时，正如他所说，让他可怜的姑娘们最后一次尽兴。

Soon after the Rostovs’ arrival in Petersburg, Berg made Vera an offer, and his offer was accepted. —
罗斯托夫一家到达圣彼得堡后不久，伯格向维拉求婚，而她接受了他的求婚。 —

Although in Moscow the Rostovs belonged to the best society—themselves unaware of the fact, and never troubling themselves to consider what society they belonged to—yet in Petersburg their position was an uncertain and indefinite one. —
虽然在莫斯科，罗斯托夫家族属于上流社会——他们自己并不知道这个事实，并从未费心去考虑他们属于哪个阶层——然而在圣彼得堡，他们的地位是不确定的，模糊的。 —

In Petersburg they were provincials; and were not visited by the very people who in Moscow had dined at the Rostovs’ expense without their inquiring to what society they belonged.
在圣彼得堡，他们是大老远来的乡下人；那些在莫斯科还曾在罗斯托夫家中免费用膳的人，却从不打听他们属于哪个社会阶层。

The Rostovs kept open house in Petersburg, just as they used to do in Moscow; —
罗斯托夫家在圣彼得堡像在莫斯科一样张开大门； —

and at their suppers people of the most diverse sorts could be seen together—country neighbours, old and not well-to-do country gentlemen with their daughters, and the old maid-of-honour, Madame Peronsky, Pierre Bezuhov, and the son of their district postmaster, who was in an office in Petersburg. —
在他们的晚宴上，可以看到各种各样的人——乡村邻居、老旧的不富裕的乡绅与他们的女儿、老女官员班尼斯基夫人、皮埃尔·别佐夫和他们区邮政局长的儿子，后者在圣彼得堡的某个办公室工作。 —

Of the men who were constantly at the Rostovs’ house in Petersburg, the most intimate friends of the family were very soon Boris, Pierre, who had been met in the street by the old count and dragged home by him, and Berg, who spent whole days with the Rostovs, and paid the elder of the young countesses, Vera, every attention a young man can pay who intends to make a proposal.
在彼得堡罗斯托夫家常驻的男性中，与该家庭最亲密的朋友很快就包括鲍里斯、皮埃尔和伯格。皮埃尔是由老伯爵在街上遇见并带回家的，伯格则与罗斯托夫一家度过整整一天的时间，对年轻的女伯爵维拉尽了所有一个年轻人可能展现的关注，因为他打算向她求婚。

Not in vain had Berg shown everybody his right hand that had been wounded at Austerlitz, and the sword quite unnecessarily held in his left. —
伯格不是白白地向大家展示过自己受伤的奥斯特里茨战役右手，不是不必要地在左手握着剑。 —

He had related this episode to everybody so persistently and with such an air of importance, that every one had come to believe in the utility and merit of the feat, and Berg had received two decorations for Austerlitz.
他坚持地向每个人讲了这个故事，并且态度非常重要，以至于每个人都相信了这个壮举的实用性和优点，伯格因此获得了两个奥斯特里茨勋章。

In the war in Finland, too, he had succeeded in distinguishing himself. —
在芬兰战争中，他也成功地表现出色。 —

He had picked up a fragment of a grenade, by which an adjutant had been killed close to the commander-in-chief, and had carried this fragment to his commander. —
他捡起了一个手榴弹的碎片，这个手榴弹曾在离总司令不远处杀死了一名副官，并把这个碎片交给了他的指挥官。 —

Again, as after Austerlitz, he talked to every one at such length and with such persistency about this incident that people ended by believing that this, too, was something that ought to have been done, and Berg received two decorations for the Finnish war too. —
再次，就像在奥斯特利茨之后一样，他与每个人都长时间地谈论这一事件，以至于人们最终相信这也是应该做的事情，并且伯格也因芬兰战争而获得了两个勋章。 —

In 1809 he was a captain in the guards with decorations on his breast, and was filling some particularly profitable posts in Petersburg.
1809年，他是卫队的一名上尉，胸前佩戴着勋章，并且在圣彼得堡担任一些特别有利可图的职位。

Though there were some sceptics who smiled when Berg’s merits were mentioned before them, it could not be denied that Berg was a gallant officer, punctual in the discharge of his duties, in excellent repute with the authorities, and a conscientious young man with a brilliant career before him and a secure position, indeed, in society.
尽管有些怀疑者在人们提到伯格的优点时会微笑，但不可否认的是，伯格是一位英勇的军官，履行职责非常准时，与当局声誉卓著，是一位有良心的年轻人，在社会中有着光明的前景和安全的地位。

Four years before, on meeting a German comrade in the parterre of a Moscow theatre, Berg had pointed out to him Vera Rostov, and said to him in German, “That girl will be my wife. —
四年前，在莫斯科一家剧院的休息区遇到一位德国同志时，伯格向他指出了维拉·罗斯托夫，并用德语对他说：“那个女孩将成为我的妻子。” —

” From that moment he had made up his mind to marry her. —
从那一刻起，他下定决心要娶她。 —

Now in Petersburg, after duly considering the Rostovs’ position and his own, he decided that the time had come and made his offer.
现在在彼得堡，经过充分考虑了罗斯托夫家族的处境和他自己的处境，他决定该是时候了，于是他提出了自己的提议。

Berg’s proposal was received at first with a hesitation by no means flattering for him. —
伯格的提议一开始受到了犹豫不决的反应，这对他来说绝不是个令人满意的情况。 —

It seemed a strange idea at first that the son of an obscure Livonian gentleman should propose for the hand of a Countess Rostov. —
起初，一个默默无闻的利沃尼亚绅士的儿子竟然对罗斯托夫女伯爵的手进行求婚，这个想法看起来很奇怪。 —

But Berg’s leading characteristic was an egoism so na? —
但伯格的主要特点是一种简单和善良的自我中心主义，以至于罗斯托夫家族下意识地开始认为这一定是件好事，因为他本人坚信这将是件好事，而且确实是一件非常好的事情。 —

ve and good-natured that the Rostovs unconsciously began to think that it must be a good thing since he was himself so firmly convinced that it would be a good thing, and indeed a very good thing. —
此外，罗斯托夫家族在财务上遇到了严重的困扰，这一事实求婚者不容忽视； —

The Rostovs were, moreover, seriously embarrassed in their pecuniary affairs, a fact of which the suitor could not but be aware; —
最重要的是，薇拉现在已经二十四岁了，到处都被介绍过。 —

and what was the chief consideration, Vera was now four-and-twenty, and had been brought out everywhere; —
因此他们家迫切需要一个好的婚姻，一个有助于改善他们财务状况的婚姻，伯格正好填补了这个缺口。 —

and, in spite of the fact that she was undeniably good-looking and sensible, no one had hitherto made her an offer. —
尽管她无可否认地很漂亮，也很明智，但迄今为止没有人向她求婚。 —

The offer was accepted.
这个提议被接受了。

“You see,” Berg said to a comrade, whom he called his friend—only because he knew all people do have friends—“you see, I have taken everything into consideration, and I should not have got married if I had not thought it well over, or if it had been unsuitable in any way. —
“你看，”伯格对一个他称之为朋友的同志说道，他之所以这样称呼是因为他知道每个人都有朋友，“你看，我考虑了一切，如果我没好好考虑过或者有任何不合适的地方，我是不会结婚的。 —

But at present my papa and mamma are well provided for, I have secured them the lease of that place in the Ostsee district, and I can live in Petersburg with my pay and her fortune and my careful habits. —
但现在，我的爸爸和妈妈都过得好，我已经为他们在奥斯特海区租下了那个地方，而且我可以靠我的薪水、她的财产和我的节俭在圣彼得堡生活下去。 —

We can get along nicely. I’m not marrying for money, I consider that ungentlemanly, but the wife ought to bring her share and the husband his. —
我们可以过得很好。我不是为了钱而结婚，我认为那是不绅士的，但妻子应该贡献自己的一份，丈夫也应该贡献自己的一份。 —

I have my position in the service; she has connections and some small means. —
我在职位上有所成就；她有关系和一些小财产。 —

That’s worth something nowadays, isn’t it? —
这在今天是值钱的，不是吗？ —

And what’s the chief consideration, she’s handsome, estimable girl, and she loves me.…”
而且最重要的是，她很漂亮，是一个令人尊敬的女孩，她爱我…

Berg blushed and smiled.
伯格脸红了，微笑着。

“And I love her because she has a character that is reasonable and very nice. —
“我爱她是因为她有一个合理而非常好的品质。 —

Her sister now—though they are of the same family—is utterly different, and her character is disagreeable, and she has none of that intelligence, but something you know … I don’t like. —
她的姐姐现在——虽然他们是同一个家庭的——完全不同，她的性格很不讨人喜欢，她没有那种智慧，但你知道的…我不喜欢。 —

… But my betrothed … You must come and see us; come to …” Berg, went on; —
… 但是我的未婚妻…你一定要来看我们；来吃…”伯格继续说； —

he was going to say “to dinner,” but on second thoughts he said “to tea,” and putting out his tongue he blew a little ring of tobacco smoke that embodied for him all his dreams of happiness.
他本来要说“来吃晚饭”，但经过一番考虑，他说“来喝茶”；他伸出舌头，吹了个小烟圈，这对他来说寄托着他所有的幸福梦想。

The first feeling of hesitation aroused in the parents by Berg’s proposal had been followed by the festivity and rejoicing in the family usual on such occasions, but the rejoicing was apparent and not genuine.
伯格提出的提议在父母中引起了犹豫的感觉，随之而来的是家庭上通常会有的庆祝和欢乐，但这种欢乐是表面的、不真实的。

A certain embarrassment and shamefacedness could be detected in the feelings of the relations in regard to this marriage. —
在关于这次婚姻的亲戚们的感情中，可以察觉到一种尴尬和羞愧。 —

It was as though their conscience smote them for not having been very fond of Vera and of being so ready now to get her off their hands. —
就好像他们的良心因为之前对维拉并不十分喜欢，并且现在急着想把她嫁出去而感到内疚。 —

The old count was more disconcerted over it than any one. —
老伯爵对此感到的困惑比其他人更多。 —

He would most likely have been unable to say what made him feel so, but his financial difficulties were at the root of the matter. —
他很可能说不清楚为什么会有这种感觉，但他的财务困境是问题的根源。 —

He absolutely did not know what he had, how much his debts amounted to, and what he would be in a position to give for Vera’s dowry. —
他根本不知道自己拥有什么，自己的债务总额是多少，以及他能为维拉的嫁妆提供多少。 —

Each of his daughters had at their birth been assigned a portion, consisting of an estate with three hundred serfs on it. —
他每个女儿出生时都分配了一部分财产，其中包括一个有三百个农奴的庄园。 —

But one of those estates had by now been sold, and the other had been mortgaged, and the interest was so much in arrears that it would have to be sold, so that to give this estate was impossible. —
但其中一个庄园已经被卖掉了，另一个被抵押了，利息也拖欠很久了，必须把它卖掉，所以无法提供这个庄园。 —

There was no money either.
也没有钱。

Berg had been betrothed more than a month, and it was only a week before the date fixed for the wedding, but the count was still unable to come to a decision on the subject of the dowry, and had not spoken of it to his wife. —
伯格已经订婚一个多月了，离婚日期只有一个星期了，但是伯爵仍然无法就嫁妆的问题做出决定，并且没有和他的妻子谈论这个问题。 —

At one time the count thought of making over the Ryazan estate to Vera, then he thought of selling his forest, then of borrowing money on a note of hand.
有一段时间伯爵考虑将雷亚松庄园转让给维拉，然后又考虑卖掉他的森林，再考虑借钱。

A few days before the wedding, Berg went early in the morning into the count’s study, and with an agreeable smile, respectfully invited his father-in-law to let him know what fortune would be given with the Countess Vera. The count was so much disconcerted by this long-foreseen inquiry that, without thinking, he said the first thing that came into his head.
婚礼前几天，伯格一大早进入伯爵的书房，面带愉快的微笑，恭敬地邀请岳父告诉他与维拉女伯爵结婚会给予多少财富。伯爵对这个早有预料的问题感到非常困惑，没经过思考就脱口而出了第一个想到的话。

“I like your being businesslike about it, I like it; you will be quite satisfied…”
“我喜欢你对此事的商业化处理，我喜欢，你会很满意的…”

And clapping Berg on the shoulder, he got up, intending to cut short the conversation. —
伯爵拍了拍伯格的肩膀，起身打算结束这个谈话。 —

But Berg, smiling blandly, announced that if he were not to know for certain what would be given with Vera, and to receive at least part of the dowry in advance, he would be obliged to break off the marriage. —
但是贝尔格微笑着说，如果他不确定和维拉结婚会得到什么，并且至少能提前收到一部分嫁妆，他将不得不取消婚约。 —

“Because, you must consider, count, if I were to allow myself to marry now without having a definite security for the maintenance of my wife I should be acting like a scoundrel…”
“因为，你必须考虑，伯爵，如果我在没有确切保障维持妻子生活的情况下自己结婚，我会像个无赖一样行事…”

The conversation ended by the count, in his anxiety to be generous and to avoid further requests, saying that he would give him a note of hand for eighty thousand. —
对于贝尔格的要求，伯爵为了慷慨大方且避免进一步要求，说他会给他一张八万的本票。 —

Berg smiled gently, kissed the count on the shoulder, and said that he was very grateful, but could not make his arrangements in his new life without receiving thirty thousand in ready money. —
贝尔格慈祥地微笑着，亲吻了伯爵的肩膀，说他非常感激，但是在新生活中安排自己的事情时，不能没有拿到三万现金。 —

“Twenty thousand at least, count,” he added, “and then a note of hand simply for sixty thousand.”
“至少二十万，伯爵，”他补充道，”然后简单地写一张六万的本票。”

“Yes, yes, very good,” said the count hurriedly. —
“是的，是的，非常好，”伯爵匆忙地说道。 —

“Only excuse me, my dear boy, I’ll give you twenty thousand and the note of hand for eighty thousand as well. —
“不好意思，亲爱的孩子，我会给你二万现金和一张八万的欠条。” —

That’s all right, kiss me.”
“没问题，亲我。”