(单词翻译:单击)
CHAPTER 1
第一章
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
一个有钱的单身汉，必定需要娶一位妻子，这已经成了一条举世公认的真理。
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
这条真理还真够根深蒂固的，每当这样一个单身汉新搬到一个地方，新邻居们尽管对他的性情和见解完全不了解，却总是把他看作了自己某个女儿的理所应得的财产。
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"
有一天班纳特太太对她的丈夫说：“班纳特，我亲爱的，你听说尼日斐花园被租出去的消息了吗？”
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
班纳特先生回答道，他没有听说过。
"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."
“的确租出去了，”她说，“朗格太太刚刚上这儿来过，她把这件事的底细，一五一十地告诉了我。”
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
班纳特先生没有吭声。
"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.
“你难道不想知道是谁租下了这个花园？”班纳特太太有些沉不住气了。
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
“既然你要说给我听，我听听也无妨。”
This was invitation enough.
这句话足够鼓励她讲下去了。
"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place,
“哦！亲爱的，你得知道，郎格太太说，租尼日斐花园的是个阔少爷，他是英格兰北部的人；听说他星期一那天，乘着一辆驷马大轿车来看房子，
and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week."
看得非常中意，当场就和莫理斯先生谈妥了；他要在‘米迦勒节’以前搬进来，他的一些佣人下周末就到。”
"What is his name?"
“这个年轻人叫什么名字？”
"Bingley."
“宾格莱。”
"Is he married or single?"
“是单身还是成家了？”
"Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!"
“噢！是个单身汉，亲爱的，确确实实是个单身汉！一个有钱的单身汉；每年有四五千磅的收入。真是咱们女儿们的福气！”
"How so? how can it affect them?"
“这怎么说？关女儿们什么事？”
"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."
“啊，我的班纳特，”太太回答道，“你怎么这样叫人扫兴！告诉你吧，我正在盘算，他要是挑中我们一个女儿做老婆，可多好！”
"Is that his design in settling here?"
“他住到这儿来，就是为了这个打算吗？”
"Design! nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes."
“打算！胡扯，这是哪儿的话！不过，他倒也许真的会看中咱们的一个女儿呢。所以等他一搬来，你就尽快去拜访拜访他。”
"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better; for, as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party."
“我看没有必要。你带着女儿们去就行了，要不你干脆打发她们自己去，那样或许更好些，因为你和女儿们一样漂亮，你去了，宾格莱先生说不定会挑中你呢。”
"My dear, you flatter me.
“亲爱的，你太捧我啦。
I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be any thing extraordinary now.When a woman has five grown up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty."
从前也的确有人赞赏过我的美貌，现在我可不敢说有什么出众的地方了。一个女人家有了五个成年的女儿，就不该再惦记自己的美貌喽！”
"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."
“确实，这种情况，一个女人也没多少美貌值得惦记啦。”
"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood."
“不管怎么说，亲爱的，宾格莱一搬过来，你一定得去见见他。”
"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."
“老实跟你说吧，这不是我份内的事。”
"But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them.
“可是你总该考虑考虑你的女儿们吧。只请你想一想，她们不论哪一个，要是攀上了这样一个人家，该多么幸福。
Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know they visit no new comers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him, if you do not."
威廉爵士夫妇已经决定去拜望他，他们也无非是这个用意。你知道的，他们通常不会拜望新邻居。你的确应该去一次，你不去，我和女儿们就没有理由拜访人家。”
"You are over scrupulous, surely.
“你实在过分谨慎啦。
I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying which ever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy."
我敢说宾格莱先生一定很高兴看到你的；我可以写几句话给你带上，向他保证无论他选中的是哪一个女儿，我都会十二分地赞成；不过，我在信上得特别替小丽萃美言几句。”
"I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference."
“我希望你别这么做。丽萃没有一点儿地方胜过别的几个女儿；我敢说，论漂亮，她抵不上吉英一半；论性子，也没有丽迪雅一半的活泼。可你总是偏爱她。”
"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; "they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters."
“她们没有哪一个值得夸奖的，”他回答道；“他们跟人家的姑娘一样，又傻，又无知；倒是丽萃要比她的几个姐妹伶俐些。”
"Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves."
“班纳特，你怎么舍得用这种话数落你的孩子？你是在故意气我给自己逗开心吧。你真是一点儿也不体谅我的神经衰弱。”
"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least."
“你真错怪了我，亲爱的。我非常尊重你的神经。它们是我的老朋友了。二十年了，一直听你郑重其事地说它们。”
"Ah! you do not know what I suffer."
“啊！你不知道我受的什么苦呢！”
"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."
“不过我希望你这毛病会好起来，那么，像这种每年有四千镑收入的阔少爷，你就可以眼看着他们一个个搬来做你的邻居了。”
"It will be no use to us if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them."
“你既然不愿意去拜访他们，即使有二十个搬了来，对我们又有什么好处！”
"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty I will visit them all."
“放心吧，亲爱的，等到有了二十个，我一定去一个个拜望到。”
Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character.
班纳特先生真是个古怪人，他一方面喜欢插科打浑，爱挖苦人，同时又不拘言笑，变幻莫测，他的妻子跟他生活了二十年还摸不透他的性格。
Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.
而班纳特太太的思想却不难揣摩。她是一个智商不高的女人，懂得很少，性情又不很稳定。在她一不高兴的时候，便以为是她的神经出了毛病。她活着就是为了把女儿们嫁出去，她生活中的慰藉就是访客拜友，打探消息。
