Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 1
Pride and Prejudice - Bab 1
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
Adalah kebenaran yang diakui secara universal, bahwa seorang pria lajang yang memiliki kekayaan besar, pasti membutuhkan seorang istri.
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.
Inilah awal dari kisah keluarga Bennet. Tuan dan Nyonya Bennet memiliki lima anak perempuan: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, dan Lydia. Nyonya Bennet terobsesi untuk menikahkan putri-putrinya dengan pria kaya, karena ketika Tuan Bennet meninggal, harta keluarga akan jatuh ke tangan kerabat jauh, Tuan Collins.
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"
Datang kabar bahwa seorang pemuda kaya, Tuan Bingley, telah menyewa perkebunan Netherfield Park di dekatnya. Nyonya Bennet sangat senang dan bersikeras agar suaminya segera mengunjunginya.
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
This was invitation enough.
"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, 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."
"What is his name?"
"Bingley."
"Is he married or single?"
"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!"
"How so? How can it affect them?"
"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."
"Is that his design in settling here?"
"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.