Pride and Prejudice

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

众所周知，一个拥有丰厚财富的单身男子，必然渴望娶妻。

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 the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

然而，尽管这样的人在初次进入一个社区时，他的感受或看法可能鲜为人知，但周围家庭却对此深信不疑，认为他是他们某个女儿的合法财产。

“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”

“我亲爱的班纳特先生，”有一天，他的夫人对他说，“你听说内瑟菲尔德庄园终于出租了吗？”

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

班纳特先生回答说他没有。

“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.”

“但事实的确如此，”她回答说，“因为朗太太刚刚来过这里，她把事情的来龙去脉都告诉我了。”

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

贝内特先生没有回答。

“Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.

“你不想知道是谁拿走了它吗？”他妻子不耐烦地喊道。

“YOU want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”

“你想告诉我，我也不反对听。”

This was invitation enough.

这已经是足够好的邀请了。

“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs.

“为什么，亲爱的，你必须知道，夫人。”

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, 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.”

朗说，内瑟菲尔德庄园被一位来自英格兰北部、家境殷实的年轻男子买下了；他星期一乘坐四辆马车前来参观，对庄园非常满意，立即与莫里斯先生达成了协议；他将在米迦勒节前入住，他的一些仆人将在下周末前搬进庄园。

“What is his name?”

他叫什么名字？

“Bingley.”

“宾利。”

“Is he married or single?”

他已婚还是单身？

“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!”

“哦！亲爱的，他肯定是单身！而且是个很有钱的单身汉，年收入四五千英镑。这对我们的姑娘们来说真是太好了！”

“How so? How can it affect them?”

“怎么说？这会对他们产生什么影响？”

“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.”

“我亲爱的班纳特先生，”他的妻子回答说，“你怎么这么烦人！你一定知道我正在考虑让他娶她们中的一个。”

“Is that his design in settling here?”

“这就是他选择定居于此的初衷吗？”

“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.”

“设计！胡说八道，你怎么能这么说！但他很有可能会爱上她们中的一个，所以他一来你就一定要去看他。”

“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 may like you the best of the party.”

“我认为没有必要那样做。你可以和姑娘们一起去，或者你可以让她们自己去，也许那样更好，因为你和她们一样英俊，宾利先生可能会最喜欢你。”

“My dear, you flatter me. I certainly HAVE had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.”

“亲爱的，你过奖了。我的确曾经美貌动人，但现在我并不自诩多么出众。一个女人有了五个成年女儿之后，就应该不再执着于自己的容貌了。”

“In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”

“在这种情况下，女人往往没什么美貌可言。”

“But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.”

“但是，亲爱的，当宾利先生来到附近时，你一定要去看看他。”

“It is more than I engage for, I assure you.”

“我向你保证，这远远超出了我的预期。”

“But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no newcomers.

“但是想想你的女儿们吧。想想这对她们中的一个来说会是多么好的一个住处啊。威廉爵士和卢卡斯夫人就因为这个原因决定要去，因为你知道，他们一般是不拜访新来者的。”

Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for US to visit him if you do not.”

你必须去，否则我们无法去看望他。

“You are over-scrupulous, surely.

“你真是过于谨慎了。”

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 whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.”

我敢说宾利先生见到你一定会非常高兴；我会托你捎几句话，向他保证我衷心同意他娶任何一位姑娘；不过我一定要替我的小莉齐说几句好话。”

“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.”

“我希望你不要这样做。莉齐并不比其他人好多少；而且我敢肯定，她远不如简漂亮，也不如莉迪亚那么和善。但你总是偏袒她。”

“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.”

“她们都没什么值得称道的，”他回答说；“她们都像其他女孩一样愚蠢无知；但莉齐比她的姐妹们更机敏一些。”

“Mr. Bennet, how CAN you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves.”

“班纳特先生，您怎么能这样虐待自己的孩子？您就是喜欢惹我生气。您一点也不体谅我脆弱的神经。”

“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 last twenty years at least.”

“亲爱的，你误会我了。我非常尊重你的神经。它们就像我的老朋友一样。至少在过去的二十年里，我一直听你提起它们，语气中带着敬意。”

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. HER mind was less difficult to develop.

班纳特先生性格古怪，既有敏捷的一面，又有讽刺的幽默，既内敛又任性，即便与他相伴二十三年，他的妻子也未能完全了解他的性格。而她的心智则更容易被理解。

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.

她心思浅薄，见识浅薄，性情反复无常。一旦心生不满，她便自以为神经兮兮。她毕生的追求就是为女儿们筹备婚事；探望亲友、打听消息便是她最大的慰藉。