也许她会成为像杨继盛太太那样的女人，杨继盛是立夫母亲的祖先，杨继盛监禁在狱中时，他太太曾经上表请求替丈夫一死。
Or she might have been likethewife of Yang Chisheng, an ancestor of Lifu's mother, who begged to die in her husband's place when he was in prison.
如果当时已有少男少女自己择偶的婚姻制度，木兰便可能嫁给立夫，而莫愁则嫁孙亚。
Ifthere had beenthen a system of marriage by theboy's and girl's own choice, Mulan might have married Lifu, and Mochow might have married Sunya.
倘若当年有由男女自行选择的婚姻制度，木兰大概会嫁给立夫，莫愁会嫁给荪亚。
Ifthere had beenthen a system of marriage by theboy's and girl's own choice, Mulan might have married Lifu, and Mochow might have married Sunya.
木兰会明说她陷入情网了，那种难以言传、难以控制的神秘状态是超越一切，凌驾一切的，要是现在，准要同曾家解除婚约了。
Mulan would have announced that she was in love, that is, in a condition inexplicable, mysterious, and out of her control, which should supersede and override every other consideration, and as happens nowadays, would have brokentheengagement with theTseng family.
木兰会公开告诉人说她正在和某青年男子热恋。
Mulan would have announced that she was in love, that is, in a condition inexplicable, mysterious, and out of her control, which should supersede and override every other consideration, and as happens nowadays, would have brokentheengagement with theTseng family.
那就是她的感受是神秘微妙，不可以言喻，是心猿意马，自己无法控制，这种情况和其他人间万事比较起来，则凌驾一切而上之。
Mulan would have announced that she was in love, that is, in a condition inexplicable, mysterious, and out of her control, which should supersede and override every other consideration, and as happens nowadays, would have brokentheengagement with theTseng family.
倘若木兰的热恋发生于今日，她会和曾家解除婚约，还我自由的。
Mulan would have announced that she was in love, that is, in a condition inexplicable, mysterious, and out of her control, which should supersede and override every other consideration, and as happens nowadays, would have brokentheengagement with theTseng family.
无奈旧礼教还原封未动，木兰爱立夫的那种罪孽之感她对自己都不肯承认，她从不怀疑会喜欢孙亚的， 但当时古老的制度，还依然屹立不摇，她的一片芳心，虽然私属于立夫，自己还不敢把这种违背名教的感觉坦然承认，同时她对荪亚的喜爱，她也向来没有怀疑过。
Buttheold system was still intact, and Mulan did not so much as confess even to herselftheguilty feeling of love for Lifu, and she never doubted she would like Sunya.
事实上，莫愁起的作用是把立夫往回拉，限制他，而木兰对孙亚则是推动他，驱策他前进。
As it was, Mochow didthework of pulling Lifu back and restraining him, while Mulan didthepushing of Sunya and spurring him forward.
实际上，莫愁是把立夫往回拉，勒住他，限制他；木兰是推动荪亚，把他刺激向前。
As it was, Mochow didthework of pulling Lifu back and restraining him, while Mulan didthepushing of Sunya and spurring him forward.
但在女子，拉住丈夫似乎要比推动丈夫自然些，故而两人之中或以莫愁幸福些， 因为一般的女人是把丈夫往回拉，而很少把他向前推动，这自然是一般人所习见，也许莫愁是个较为幸福的女人。
But since it is more natural for a woman to pull her husband than to push him, perhaps Mochow wasthehappier woman.
要让木兰去推动才高气盛的立夫必定招致祸患临头。
For Mulan to pushtheimpetuous Lifu might have been disastrous after all.
若使木兰去推动气盛才高的立夫，则大可能招致灾难，后果不堪。
For Mulan to pushtheimpetuous Lifu might have been disastrous after all.
宣统元年的夏天，为婚礼择吉一事由曾家正式送来龙凤帖提出来了， 曾家正式向姚家送上龙凤帖，请求选择好日子，举行婚礼。
In thesum-mer of 1909,theceremony of "requestingthedate" of thewedding was formally gone through by theTseng family sendingthe"dragon-and-phoenix card,"thedragon representingthemale andthephoenixthefemale.
古来旧俗还有新郎亲自登门迎接新娘的一项，看似女家占尽一切便宜，因为女家送出了小姐好像就是对男家的一大恩惠。
According to theancient classical tradition, which in-cludedtheceremony of thebridegroom's personally going to welcomethebride at her home,theadvantage seemed to be entirely on thebride's side, since her family appeared to be conveying a favor on thegroom's family by givingtheperson of their daughter.
按照古礼，新郎应当亲自到女家去迎亲，这样似乎是一切便宜都叫女方占尽，其实，女方把自己的女儿送与男方，这算是将恩惠施与男方。
According to theancient classical tradition, which in-cludedtheceremony of thebridegroom's personally going to welcomethebride at her home,theadvantage seemed to be entirely on thebride's side, since her family appeared to be conveying a favor on thegroom's family by givingtheperson of their daughter.
两家同意，木兰的婚事要办成北京城里空前盛大的一次，因为一来两家都有的是钱；二来姚思安非常疼爱这个女儿，曾家也以这样的新娘为荣；三则襟亚的婚事非常铺张，对孙亚也不能不公平，而且为了面子，曾家不能降低排场；第四则是木兰的父亲已把财产看得很轻， 男女双方同意，木兰的婚礼要大事铺张，要算北京空前壮观的婚礼。第一，因为双方都有的是钱；第二，姚先生最喜爱这个女儿，曾家娶到这位新娘也最为光彩；第三，因为经亚那次结婚曾经办得有声有色，对这个儿荪亚也要公道，对外也要风光体面，曾家一定还要保持先前的气派；第四，因为木兰的父亲对钱已经看得很开，
By consent of thetwo families, Mulan's wedding was to be one of thegrandest Peking had seen: first, because both sides had plenty of money; second, because Mr. Yao was very fond of his daughter andtheTsengs were very proud of thebride; third, because Chinya's wedding had been celebrated with great pomp, and in fairness to Sunya and for appearance's sake,theTsengs wished to keep upthestandard; and fourth, because Mulan's father had begun to take a very light view of his wealth.
挥霍家财最好的方式莫过于大办心爱的女儿的婚事――亲眼见到有福可享的场面。
There was no better way of squandering his money than for thewedding of his favorite daughter―to see happiness while it lasted.
大把花钱，没有比嫁一位掌上明珠更风光了。
There was no better way of squandering his money than for thewedding of his favorite daughter―to see happiness while it lasted.
这就是人在福中要享福，莫在福后空回想。
There was no better way of squandering his money than for thewedding of his favorite daughter―to see happiness while it lasted.
在他看来，财富好比划过黑夜天空的一道烟火，响声清脆，光彩奇目，最后化为烟雾，灰烬和地面上的焦黑残馀。
Wealth was to him like a fireworks display tracing lines of fire in thedark sky with plenty of splutter and brilliance, and ending in smoke, ashes, andthecharred ends on theground.
财富，在黑暗天空中放出的烟火，看来是霞光万道，光彩耀目，结果只是烟消光散，黑灰飘落，地上留下些乌焦的泥巴烟花座子而已。
Wealth was to him like a fireworks display tracing lines of fire in thedark sky with plenty of splutter and brilliance, and ending in smoke, ashes, andthecharred ends on theground.
姚思安确实在这忙乱的几个月之前就在福建订制了特等烟火，货价加上运输费用和请来放烟火的工匠，总共化了他将近千元。
Mr. Yao indeed went to thetrouble months ahead of ordering special fireworks from Fukien, which, what with transportation charges and bringing a pyrotech-nist also alltheway, cost him nearly a thousand dollars.
姚先生真是事先忙了几个月，向福建定制特别的烟火，一则由于运费高，一则由于特别请了一个制造烟火的师父，远自福建来到北京，这就花了将近一千块钱。
Mr. Yao indeed went to thetrouble months ahead of ordering special fireworks from Fukien, which, what with transportation charges and bringing a pyrotech-nist also alltheway, cost him nearly a thousand dollars.