Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 1
傲慢与偏见 - 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.
凡是有钱的单身汉,总想娶位太太,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 the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
这样的单身汉,每当新搬到一个地方,四邻八舍虽然完全不了解他的性情如何,见解如何,可是,既然这样一条真理已在人们心目中根深蒂固,因此人们总是把他看作自己某一个女儿理所应得的一笔财产。
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"
"亲爱的贝内特先生,"有一天,贝内特太太对他说,"听说内瑟菲尔德花园终于租出去了,是吗?"
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
贝内特先生回答说没有。
"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."
"可是确实租出去了,"贝内特太太回答道,"朗太太刚才来过,她把这事全都告诉了我。"
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
贝内特先生没有理睬。
"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.
"你难道不想知道是谁租去的吗?"妻子不耐烦地喊道。
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
"你想说我就听呗。"
This was invitation enough.
这话说得她乐意极了。
"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, 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."
"哎,亲爱的,你得知道,朗太太说,租下内瑟菲尔德花园的是英格兰北部一个有钱的年轻人;他星期一坐一辆四轮马车来看地方,看得非常满意,当下就和莫里斯先生谈妥了;他打算在米迦勒节以前搬进来,下周末以前就会有几个佣人住进房子。"
"What is his name?"
"他叫什么名字?"
"Bingley."
"宾利。"
"Is he married or single?"
"是结婚的还是单身?"
"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!单身,亲爱的,千真万确!一个有钱的单身汉,每年有四五千英镑的收入。这对我们的女儿们是多么好的事啊!"
"How so? How can it affect them?"
"这怎么说?这对她们有什么影响?"
"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."
"亲爱的贝内特先生,"贝内特太太回答说,"你怎么这么讨厌!你要知道,我想的是他会娶她们中的一个。"
"Is that his design in settling here?"
"这就是他住到这儿来的打算吗?"
"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,你怎么能这么说!但是,很可能他会爱上她们中的一个,所以你一有机会就得去拜访他。