Emma — Chapter 51 in French
By Jane Austen
Cette lettre devait toucher le cœur d'Emma. This letter must make its way to Emma's feelings. Elle fut obligée, malgré sa détermination antérieure contraire, de lui rendre toute la justice que Mme Weston avait prédite. She was obliged, in spite of her previous determination to the contrary, to do it all the justice that Mrs. Weston foretold. Dès qu'elle arriva à son propre nom, ce fut irrésistible ; chaque ligne qui la concernait était intéressante, et presque chaque ligne agréable ; et quand ce charme cessa, le sujet pouvait encore se soutenir par le retour naturel de son ancienne estime pour l'auteur, et par l'attraction très puissante que tout tableau d'amour devait exercer sur elle en ce moment. As soon as she came to her own name, it was irresistible; every line relating to herself was interesting, and almost every line agreeable; and when this charm ceased, the subject could still maintain itself, by the natural return of her former regard for the writer, and the very strong attraction which any picture of love must have for her at that moment. Indiscutablement le jeune homme avait eu des torts graves, mais elle était disposée à lui accorder des circonstances atténuantes ; plusieurs raisons plaidaient en sa faveur ; ses souffrances, ses sentiments de contrition, sa reconnaissance à l’égard de Mme Weston, son amour pour Mlle Fairfax ! She never stopt till she had gone through the whole; and though it was impossible not to feel that he had been wrong, yet he had been less wrong than she had supposed—and he had suffered, and was very sorry—and he was so grateful to Mrs. Weston, and so much in love with Miss Fairfax, and she was so happy herself, that there was no being severe; and could he have entered the room, she must have shaken hands with him as heartily as ever.
Cette lettre laissa à Emma une si bonne impression que, dès l’arrivée de M. Knightley, elle le pria d’en prendre connaissance ; en agissant ainsi, elle savait interpréter le vœu de Mme Weston ; celle-ci désirait certainement que ce plaidoyer fût communiqué à M. Knightley qui, sur la foi des apparences, avait porté un jugement sévère sur son beau-fils. She thought so well of the letter, that when Mr. Knightley came again, she desired him to read it. She was sure of Mrs. Weston's wishing it to be communicated; especially to one, who, like Mr. Knightley, had seen so much to blame in his conduct.
— Je serai très content de la lire, mais elle semble longue, dit-il, je l’emporterai chez moi ce soir. "I shall be very glad to look it over," said he, "but it seems long. Je l'emporterai chez moi ce soir. I will take it home with me at night."
Mais cela ne pouvait pas se faire. But that would not do. Mais cela ne pouvait se faire. M. Weston devait venir le soir, et elle devait le lui remettre par son intermédiaire. Mr. Weston was to call in the evening, and she must return it by him.