愛瑪
Emma
簡·奧斯汀
Jane Austen
Emma, by Jane Austen, is a novel about youthful hubris and the perils of misconstrued romance. As in her other novels, Austen explores the concerns and difficulties of genteel women living in Georgian-Regency England; she also creates a lively comedy of manners.
Before she began the novel, Austen wrote, "I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." In the very first sentence she introduces the title character as "Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich." Emma, however, is also spoiled, headstrong, and self-satisfied; she greatly overestimates her own matchmaking abilities; she is blind to the dangers of meddling in other people's lives, and her imagination often leads her astray. (Summary by Wikipedia and Kara)
《愛瑪》是英國作家簡·奧斯汀創作的一部長篇小說。作品中主人公愛瑪是個美麗、聰慧而富有的姑娘，同時也是一位不折不扣的幻想家。她熱心關注身邊的浪漫故事，卻又固執地認為自己永遠不會陷入其中。她自作主張為孤女哈麗埃特導演了一次又一次的戀愛。當哈麗埃特誤以為自己愛上了地方官奈特利先生時，愛瑪才驚覺原來自己也在愛著奈特利先生。這雖與她一開始就宣布的終身不嫁的誓言有悖，但墜入情網的她不得不放棄自己天真的誓言。
愛瑪是海伯裡村首富伍德豪斯先生的小女兒，聰明美麗，從小受到家庭教師泰勒小姐的良好教育。父親的寵愛和無憂無慮的生活環境，使她養成了自命不凡的性格。愛瑪二十歲那年，泰勒小姐嫁給了附近一位紳士韋斯頓，離開了伍德豪斯家，愛瑪在寂寞中認識了當地女子學校的學生哈麗特，與她交上了朋友。哈麗特是個私生女，姿容俏麗，性格溫順，非常可愛。愛瑪想方設法把她和青年紳士埃爾頓撮合在一起，叫她拒絕了佃戶羅伯特·馬丁的求婚。
其實埃爾頓的意中人不是哈麗特，而是愛瑪本人。埃爾頓本人非常勢利，根本就不會看上身世不明的哈麗特。愛瑪沒有撮合成功，又一次要為哈麗特安排一門親事，這次她為哈麗特選中的是韋斯頓前妻生的兒子弗蘭克。然而弗蘭克半年前認識了海伯裡村家道中落的貝茨小姐的外甥女簡·費爾法克斯，並且互相傾心，私定了婚約。但是兩個人並沒有公布婚約。愛瑪對別人的婚姻幹預，引起了她家的老朋友喬治·奈特利的不滿。他告誡愛瑪應該讓戀愛雙方自主地處理婚姻大事，別人幹預只會把事情搞糟。
當弗蘭克與簡·費爾法克斯公布戀情之後，愛瑪難以置信。這也讓愛瑪開始反思自己的行為，並最終與簡·費爾法克斯成為了知心好友。
奈特利很器重羅伯特·馬丁，也經常幫助哈麗特，這樣使哈麗特對奈特利產生了崇敬和愛慕的感情。當愛瑪發現哈麗特崇拜的對象是奈特利的時候，她大吃一驚，原來她自己一直悄悄地愛著奈特利；奈特利常常指出愛瑪的缺點，其實心底裡也有意於她。泰勒小姐生了一個女兒，這使愛瑪開始嚮往家庭生活。經過一番周折，奈特利和愛瑪終於互吐衷情；羅伯特·馬丁在奈特利的幫助下，最後也得到了哈麗特的愛情。
音頻
VOLUME I
CHAPTER I
Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.
She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister's marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.
Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse's family, less as a governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma. Between them it was more the intimacy of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor's judgment, but directed chiefly by her own.
The real evils, indeed, of Emma's situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.
Sorrow came—a gentle sorrow—but not at all in the shape of any disagreeable consciousness.—Miss Taylor married. It was Miss Taylor's loss which first brought grief. It was on the wedding-day of this beloved friend that Emma first sat in mournful thought of any continuance. The wedding over, and the bride-people gone, her father and herself were left to dine together, with no prospect of a third to cheer a long evening. Her father composed himself to sleep after dinner, as usual, and she had then only to sit and think of what she had lost.
The event had every promise of happiness for her friend. Mr. Weston was a man of unexceptionable character, easy fortune, suitable age, and pleasant manners; and there was some satisfaction in considering with what self-denying, generous friendship she had always wished and promoted the match; but it was a black morning's work for her. The want of Miss Taylor would be felt every hour of every day. She recalled her past kindness—the kindness, the affection of sixteen years—how she had taught and how she had played with her from five years old—how she had devoted all her powers to attach and amuse her in health—and how nursed her through the various illnesses of childhood. A large debt of gratitude was owing here; but the intercourse of the last seven years, the equal footing and perfect unreserve which had soon followed Isabella's marriage, on their being left to each other, was yet a dearer, tenderer recollection. She had been a friend and companion such as few possessed: intelligent, well-informed, useful, gentle, knowing all the ways of the family, interested in all its concerns, and peculiarly interested in herself, in every pleasure, every scheme of hers—one to whom she could speak every thought as it arose, and who had such an affection for her as could never find fault.
How was she to bear the change?—It was true that her friend was going only half a mile from them; but Emma was aware that great must be the difference between a Mrs. Weston, only half a mile from them, and a Miss Taylor in the house; and with all her advantages, natural and domestic, she was now in great danger of suffering from intellectual solitude. She dearly loved her father, but he was no companion for her. He could not meet her in conversation, rational or playful.
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