EL BURGOS DE MIO CID

Chapter 57	CAPITULO LVII
The discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw Elizabeth into, could not be easily overcome; nor could she, for many hours, learn to think of it less than incessantly. Lady Catherine, it appeared, had actually taken the trouble of this journey from Rosings, for the sole purpose of breaking off her supposed engagement with Mr. Darcy. It was a rational scheme, to be sure! but from what the report of their engagement could originate, Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine; till she recollected that his being the intimate friend of Bingley, and her being the sister of Jane, was enough, at a time when the expectation of one wedding made everybody eager for another, to supply the idea. She had not herself forgotten to feel that the marriage of her sister must bring them more frequently together. And her neighbours at Lucas Lodge, therefore (for through their communication with the Collinses, the report, she concluded, had reached lady Catherine), had only set that down as almost certain and immediate, which she had looked forward to as possible at some future time.	No sin dificultad logró vencer Elizabeth la agitación que le causó aquella extraordinaria visita. Estuvo muchas horas sin poder pensar en otra cosa. Al parecer, lady Catherine se había tomado la molestia de hacer el viaje desde Rosings a Hertfordshire con el único fin de romper su supuesto compromiso con Darcy. Aunque lady Catherine era muy capaz de semejante proyecto, Elizabeth no alcanzaba a imaginar de dónde había sacado la noticia de dicho compromiso, hasta que recordó que el ser él tan amigo de Bingley y ella hermana de Jane, podía haber dado origen a la idea, ya que la boda de los unos predisponía a suponer la de los otros. Elizabeth había pensado, efectivamente, que el matrimonio de su hermana les acercaría a ella y a Darcy. Por eso mismo debió de ser por lo que los Lucas –– por cuya correspondencia con los Collins presumía Elizabeth que la conjetura había llegado a oídos de lady Catherine dieron por inmediato lo que ella también había creído posible para más adelante.
In revolving Lady Catherine′s expressions, however, she could not help feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting in this interference. From what she had said of her resolution to prevent their marriage, it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate an application to her nephew; and how he might take a similar representation of the evils attached to a connection with her, she dared not pronounce. She knew not the exact degree of his affection for his aunt, or his dependence on her judgment, but it was natural to suppose that he thought much higher of her ladyship than she could do; and it was certain that, in enumerating the miseries of a marriage with one ; whose immediate connections were so unequal to his own, his aunt would address him on his weakest side. With his notions of dignity, he would probably feel that the arguments, which to Elizabeth had appeared weak and ridiculous, contained much good sense and solid reasoning.	Pero al meditar sobre las palabras de lady Catherine, no pudo evitar cierta intranquilidad por las consecuencias que podía tener su intromisión. De lo que dijo acerca de su resolución de impedir el casamiento, dedujo Elizabeth que tenía el propósito de interpelar a su sobrino, y no sabía cómo tomaría Darcy la relación de los peligros que entrañaba su unión con ella. Ignoraba hasta dónde llegaba el afecto de Darcy por su tía y el caso que hacía de su parecer; pero era lógico suponer que tuviese más consideración a Su Señoría de la que tenía ella, y estaba segura de que su tía le tocaría el punto flaco al enumerar las desdichas de un matrimonio con una persona de familia tan desigual a la suya. Dadas las ideas de Darcy sobre ese particular, Elizabeth creía probable que los argumentos que a ella le habían parecido tan débiles y ridículos se le antojasen a él llenos de buen sentido y sólido razonamiento.
If he had been wavering before as to what he should do, which had often seemed likely, the advice and entreaty of so near a relation might settle every doubt, and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity unblemished could make him. In that case he would return no more. Lady Catherine might see him in her way through town; and his engagement to Bingley of coming again to Netherfield must give way.	De modo que si Darcy había vacilado antes sobre lo que tenía que hacer, cosa que a menudo había aparentado, las advertencias e instancias de un deudo tan allegado disiparían quizá todas sus dudas y le inclinarían de una vez para siempre a ser todo lo feliz que le permitiese una dignidad inmaculada. En ese caso, Darcy no volvería a Hertfordshire. Lady Catherine le vería a su paso por Londres, y el joven rescindiría su compromiso con Bingley de volver a Netherfield.
"If, therefore, an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his friend within a few days," she added, "I shall know how to understand it. I shall then give over every expectation, every wish of his constancy. If he is satisfied with only regretting me, when he might have obtained my affections and hand, I shall soon cease to regret him at all."	«Por lo tanto –– se dijo Elizabeth –– , si dentro de pocos días Bingley recibe una excusa de Darcy para no venir, sabré a qué atenerme. Y entonces tendré que alejar de mí toda esperanza y toda ilusión sobre su constancia. Si se conforma con lamentar mi pérdida cuando podía haber obtenido mi amor y mi mano, yo también dejaré pronto de lamentar el perderle a él.»
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The surprise of the rest of the family, on hearing who their visitor had been, was very great; but they obligingly satisfied it, with the same kind of supposition which had appeased Mrs. Bennet′s curiosity; and Elizabeth was spared from much teasing on the subject.	La sorpresa del resto de la familia al saber quién había sido la visita fue enorme; pero se lo explicaron todo del mismo modo que la señora Bennet, y Elizabeth se ahorró tener que mencionar su indignación.
The next morning, as she was going downstairs, she was met by her father, who came out of his library with a letter in his hand.	A la mañana siguiente, al bajar de su cuarto, se encontró con su padre que salía de la biblioteca con una carta en la mano.
"Lizzy," said he, "I was going to look for you; come into my room."	–– Elizabeth –– le dijo –– , iba a buscarte. Ven conmigo.
She followed him thither; and her curiosity to know what he had to tell her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner connected with the letter he held. It suddenly struck her that it might be from Lady Catherine; and she anticipated with dismay all the consequent explanations.	Elizabeth le siguió y su curiosidad por saber lo que tendría que comunicarle aumentó pensando que a lo mejor estaba relacionado con lo del día anterior. Repentinamente se le ocurrió que la carta podía ser de lady Catherine, y previó con desaliento de lo que se trataba.
She followed her father to the fire place, and they both sat down. He then said,	Fue con su padre hasta la chimenea y ambos se sentaron. Entonces el señor Bennet dijo:
"I have received a letter this morning that has astonished me exceedingly. As it principally concerns yourself, you ought to know its contents. I did not know before, that I had two daughters on the brink of matrimony. Let me congratulate you on a very important conquest."	–– He recibido una carta esta mañana que me ha dejado patidifuso. Como se refiere a ti principalmente, debes conocer su contenido. No he sabido hasta ahora que tenía dos hijas a punto de casarse. Permíteme que te felicite por una conquista así.
The colour now rushed into Elizabeth′s cheeks in the instantaneous conviction of its being a letter from the nephew, instead of the aunt; and she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained himself at all, or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to herself; when her father continued:	Elizabeth se quedó demudada creyendo que la carta en vez de ser de la tía era del sobrino; y titubeaba entre alegrarse de que Darcy se explicase por fin, y ofenderse de que no le hubiese dirigido a ella la carta, cuando su padre continuó:
"You look conscious. Young ladies have great penetration in such matters as these; but I think I may defy even your sagacity, to discover the name of your admirer. This letter is from Mr. Collins."	–– Parece que lo adivinas. Las muchachas tenéis una gran intuición para estos asuntos. Pero creo poder desafiar tu sagacidad retándote a que descubras el nombre de tu admirador. La carta es de Collins.
"From Mr. Collins! and what can he have to say?"	–– ¡De Collins! ¿Y qué tiene él que decir?
"Something very much to the purpose of course. He begins with congratulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest daughter, of which, it seems, he has been told by some of the good-natured, gossiping Lucases. I shall not sport with your impatience, by reading what he says on that point. What relates to yourself, is as follows: ′Having thus offered you the sincere congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself on this happy event, let me now add a short hint on the subject of another; of which we have been advertised by the same authority. Your daughter Elizabeth, it is presumed, will not long bear the name of Bennet, after her elder sister has resigned it, and the chosen partner of her fate may be reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious personages in this land.′	–– Como era de esperar, algo muy oportuno. Comienza con la enhorabuena por la próxima boda de mi hija mayor, de la cual parece haber sido informado por alguno de los bondadosos y parlanchines Lucas. No te aburriré leyéndote lo que dice sobre ese punto. Lo referente a ti es lo siguiente: «Después de haberle felicitado a usted de parte de la señora Collins y mía por tan fausto acontecimiento, permítame añadir una breve advertencia acerca de otro asunto, del cual hemos tenido noticia por el mismo conducto. Se supone que su hija Elizabeth no llevará mucho tiempo el nombre de Bennet en cuanto lo haya dejado su hermana mayor, y que la pareja que le ha tocado en suerte puede razonablemente ser considerada como una de nuestras más ilustres personalidades.»
"Can you possibly guess, Lizzy, who is meant by this?" ′This young gentleman is blessed, in a peculiar way, with every thing the heart of mortal can most desire,--splendid property, noble kindred, and extensive patronage. Yet in spite of all these temptations, let me warn my cousin Elizabeth, and yourself, of what evils you may incur by a precipitate closure with this gentleman′s proposals, which, of course, you will be inclined to take immediate advantage of.′	–– ¿Puedes sospechar, Lizzy, lo que esto significa? «Ese joven posee todo lo que se puede ambicionar en este mundo: soberbias propiedades, ilustre familia y un extenso patronato. Pero a pesar de todas esas tentaciones, permítame advertir a mi prima Elizabeth y a usted mismo los peligros a que pueden exponerse con una precipitada aceptación de las proposiciones de semejante caballero, que, como es natural, se inclinarán ustedes considerar como ventajosas.»
"Have you any idea, Lizzy, who this gentleman is? But now it comes out:	–– ¿No tienes idea de quién es el caballero, Elizabeth? Ahora viene.
"′My motive for cautioning you is as follows. We have reason to imagine that his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, does not look on the match with a friendly eye.′	«Los motivos que tengo para avisarle son los siguientes: su tía, lady Catherine de Bourgh, no mira ese matrimonio con buenos ojos.»
" Mr. Darcy ; you see, is the man! Now, Lizzy, I think I have surprised you. Could he, or the Lucases, have pitched on any man within the circle of our acquaintance, whose name would have given the lie more effectually to what they related? Mr. Darcy, who never looks at any woman but to see a blemish, and who probably never looked at you in his life! It is admirable!"	–– Como ves, el caballero en cuestión es el señor Darcy. Creo, Elizabeth, que te habrás quedado de una pieza. Ni Collins ni los Lucas podían haber escogido entre el círculo de nuestras amistades un nombre que descubriese mejor que lo que propagan es un infundio. ¡El señor Darcy, que no mira a una mujer más que para criticarla, y que probablemente no te ha mirado a ti en su vida! ¡Es fenomenal!
Elizabeth tried to join in her father′s pleasantry, but could only force one most reluctant smile. Never had his wit been directed in a manner so little agreeable to her.	Elizabeth trató de bromear con su padre, pero su esfuerzo no llegó más que a una sonrisa muy tímida. El humor de su padre no había tomado nunca un derrotero más desagradable para ella.
"Are you not diverted?"	–– ¿No te ha divertido?
"Oh! yes. Pray read on."	–– ¡Claro! Sigue leyendo.
"′After mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship last night, she immediately, with her usual condescension, expressed what she felt on the occasion; when it became apparent, that on the score of some family objections on the part of my cousin, she would never give her consent to what she termed so disgraceful a match. I thought it my duty to give the speediest intelligence of this to my cousin, that she and her noble admirer may be aware of what they are about, and not run hastily into a marriage which has not been properly sanctioned.′ Mr. Collins moreover adds, ′I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia′s sad business has been so well hushed up, and am only concerned that their living together before the marriage took place should be so generally known. I must not, however, neglect the duties of my station, or refrain from declaring my amazement at hearing that you received the young couple into your house as soon as they were married. It was an encouragement of vice; and had I been the rector of Longbourn, I should very strenuously have opposed it. You ought certainly to forgive them, as a Christian, but never to admit them in your sight, or allow their names to be mentioned in your hearing.′ That is his notion of Christian forgiveness! The rest of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte′s situation, and his expectation of a young olive-branch. But, Lizzy, you look as if you did not enjoy it. You are not going to be missish ; I hope, and pretend to be affronted at an idle report. For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?"	«Cuando anoche mencioné a Su Señoría la posibilidad de ese casamiento, con su habitual condescendencia expresó su parecer sobre el asunto. Si fuera cierto, lady Catherine no daría jamás su consentimiento a lo que considera desatinadísima unión por ciertas objeciones a la familia de mi prima. Yo creí mi deber comunicar esto cuanto antes a mi prima, para que ella y su noble admirador sepan lo que ocurre y no se apresuren a efectuar un matrimonio que no ha sido debidamente autorizado.» Y el señor Collins, además, añadía: «Me alegro sinceramente de que el asunto de su hija Lydia se haya solucionado tan bien, y sólo lamento que se extendiese la noticia de que vivían juntos antes de que el casamiento se hubiera celebrado. No puedo olvidar lo que debo a mi situación absteniéndome de declarar mi asombro al saber que recibió usted a la joven pareja cuando estuvieron casados. Eso fue alentar el vicio; y si yo hubiese sido el rector de Longbourn, me habría opuesto resueltamente. Verdad es que debe usted perdonarlos como cristiano, pero no admitirlos en su presencia ni permitir que sus nombres sean pronunciados delante de usted.» –– ¡Éste es su concepto del perdón cristiano! El resto de la carta se refiere únicamente al estado de su querida Charlotte, y a su esperanza de tener un retoño. Pero, Elizabeth, parece que no te ha divertido. Supongo que no irías a enojarte y a darte por ofendida por esta imbecilidad. ¿Para qué vivimos si no es para entretener a nuestros vecinos y reírnos nosotros de ellos a la vez?
"Oh!" cried Elizabeth, "I am excessively diverted. But it is so strange!"	–– Sí, me he divertido mucho –– exclamó Elizabeth –– . ¡Pero es tan extraño!
"Yes-- ?that is what makes it amusing. Had they fixed on any other man it would have been nothing; but his perfect indifference, and your pointed dislike, make it so delightfully absurd! Much as I abominate writing, I would not give up Mr. Collins′s correspondence for any consideration. Nay, when I read a letter of his, I cannot help giving him the preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy of my son-in-law. And pray, Lizzy, what said Lady Catherine about this report? Did she call to refuse her consent?"	–– Pues eso es lo que lo hace más gracioso. Si hubiesen pensado en otro hombre, no tendría nada de particular; pero la absoluta indiferencia de Darcy y la profunda tirria que tú le tienes, es lo que hace el chiste. Por mucho que me moleste escribir, no puedo prescindir de la correspondencia de Collins. La verdad es que cuando leo una carta suya, me parece superior a Wickham, a pesar de que tengo a mi yerno por el espejo de la desvergÜenza y de la hipocresía. Y dime, Eliza, ¿cómo tomó la cosa lady Catherine? ¿Vino para negarte su consentimiento?
To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh; and as it had been asked without the least suspicion, she was not distressed by his repeating it. Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she would rather have cried. Her father had most cruelly mortified her, by what he said of Mr. Darcy′s indifference, and she could do nothing but wonder at such a want of penetration, or fear that perhaps, instead of his seeing too little, she might have fancied too much.	A esta pregunta Elizabeth contestó con una carcajada, y como su padre se la había dirigido sin la menor sospecha, no le importaba –– que se la repitiera. Elizabeth no se había visto nunca en la situación de fingir que sus sentimientos eran lo que no eran en realidad. Pero ahora tuvo que reír cuando más bien habría querido llorar. Su padre la había herido cruelmente al decirle aquello de la indiferencia de Darcy, y no pudo menos que maravillarse de la falta de intuición de su padre, o temer que en vez de haber visto él demasiado poco, hubiese ella visto demasiado mucho.

CAPITULO LVII