這場戲：臨終承諾一路縮水
第 1 章 · 共 27 章 · 2'54"
父親臨終把約翰叫到床邊，說繼母和妹妹們一年只有五百英鎊，讓他一定要幫她們；約翰連說 I promise（我答應）。可他一轉身和妻子範妮商量，三千英鎊一路縮水，最後有人說 Twenty pounds now and then（時不時給二十英鎊）就夠 discharge my promise（兌現承諾）了。想學怎麼找藉口少掏錢，這段最經典。
「兌現承諾」說 discharge my promise
discharge my promise 兌現承諾、了結諾言all at once 一次性、一下子Let alone 更別提……了
「不與人來往」說 keep no company
on earth 到底、究竟keep no company 不與人來往much more able to 更有能力做……
達什伍德先生臨終把兒子約翰叫到床邊：諾蘭莊園按法律全歸約翰，繼母和妹妹們一年只有五百英鎊，勉強夠 live on（靠它過活），嫁妝一分沒有。他讓約翰一定要幫她們，約翰連著答應 I promise，還說這份禮能 discharge my promise（兌現承諾）。父親去世後，約翰和妻子範妮商量給多少：本打算給三千英鎊，可範妮一步步往下壓，說買年金反而怕被 taken in（吃虧），又說時不時給二十英鎊就夠兌現承諾了。最後範妮振振有詞：四個女人有五百英鎊還不夠嗎？不與人來往、沒有馬車，已經很舒坦。想學「兌現承諾」「割捨」「上當」，這段最見人心。
A1–C2 是歐標等級。點一個等級後，比它高的卡片會變淡，播放到那裡不會自動暫停。
“One had rather on such occasions do too much than too little.”
這種時候，寧可多給，也別給少了。
一句就把人情往來的分寸說成格言，寧可過頭也不虧待，聽著體面又老練。
One had rather ... than ...
在人情、禮數上拿不準分寸時用；談正經合同條款別這麼含糊。
Better to give too much than too little. ／ Err on the side of generosity.
正式
had rather 連讀，too much 與 than 之間輕頓，尾句降調。
On such occasions one had rather give too much than too little. 這種場合，寧可多給，也別給少了。
“What brother on earth would do half so much for his real sisters?”
世上有哪個做兄弟的，會為親姐妹做到一半這麼多？
用一句反問把慷慨捧上道德高地，聽著像夸人，其實是逼人掏錢。
What ... on earth would ...?
用反問替自己抬價或施壓時用；對上級或生人這樣問會顯得咄咄逼人。
Who on earth would do half as much? ／ What man alive would go that far?
中性
on earth 重讀，half so much 連讀，問句尾音上揚。
What friend on earth would do half so much for you? 世上哪個朋友會為你做到一半這麼多？
“People always live forever when there is an annuity to be paid them.”
人只要年年有年金可拿，就總能活成老壽星。
一句冷幽默把年金領取者的小算盤說穿，刻薄得讓人想笑又笑不出。
People always ... when there is ...
調侃要長期出錢、對方卻遲遲不來結賬時用；在喪事場合別說。
They always outlive the money you promise. ／ An annuity keeps everyone remarkably alive.
中性
always 與 live forever 重讀，when there is 輕快帶過。
People always live forever when someone else is paying. 只要別人掏錢，人總能活得特別長。
“What on earth could four women want for more than that?”
四個女人到底還要什麼，難道還不夠嗎？
把四個女人的需求一口否掉，on earth 一句就把輕蔑擺到檯面上。
What on earth could ... want ...?
嫌對方要求過分、當面反問時用；用在談判裡會立刻激怒對方。
What more could anyone want? ／ What on earth do they expect?
口語
on earth 重讀壓低，want 稍拖，收尾語氣下沉。
What on earth could they want for more than that? 他們到底還想要什麼，難道還不夠嗎？
“Their housekeeping will be nothing: no carriage, no horses, hardly any servants, and they'll keep no company.”
她們幾乎沒什麼開銷：沒有馬車，沒有馬，幾乎不僱僕人，也不跟人來往。
把別人的日子壓縮成一串「沒有」，越數越刻薄，一句話就定了她們該過得多寒酸。
no X, no Y, hardly any Z
替自己省錢、把對方開銷說得微不足道時用；這樣數落別人的生活很傷人。
They have no carriage, no horses, hardly any servants. ／ No expenses, no staff, no company.
口語
no 逐項列舉時逐個重讀，will be nothing 收得乾脆。
They have no car, no holidays, hardly any expenses. 他們沒車、沒假期，幾乎沒什麼開銷。
“They will be much more able to give you something.”
她們反倒更有餘力給你點什麼了。
把「幫她們」悄悄翻成「她們該給你」，一句話就暴露了這份精明的底色。
be much more able to ...
暗諷有人把施恩說成佔便宜時用；當面點破容易翻臉。
They'll be in a better position to give you something. ／ They can afford to give you more.
中性
much more able 重讀，give you 連讀，句尾輕降。
Once they settle in, they will be much more able to pay you back. 等她們安頓下來，就更有餘力還你錢了。
《理智與情感》進度
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下一章 · 02not to be borne忍無可忍這場戲：母女被迫搬出諾蘭指「兌現承諾、了結諾言」，比 keep a promise 更正式。戲裡約翰說給錢就能 discharge my promise，就是「兌現我對父親的承諾」。
說 live on。戲裡說繼母和妹妹們一年五百英鎊 barely enough to live on，就是「勉強夠靠它過活」。
指「上當、吃了虧」。戲裡擔心對方活得比年金期限還長，說 we'd be completely taken in，就是「我們就虧大了」。
加在疑問詞後加強語氣，表示「到底、究竟」。戲裡反問四個女人到底還想要什麼，用的就是 what on earth。
指「割捨、拿出（錢）」，part with 一筆錢就是把它交出去。戲裡說總比一下子 parting with 1,500 強。
