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.

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

这样的单身汉，每逢新搬到一个地方，四邻八舍虽然完全不了解他的性情如何，见解如何，可是，既然这样的一条真理早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?"

有一天班纳特太太对她的丈夫说：“我的好老爷，尼日斐花园终于租出去了，你听说过没有？”

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.

班纳特先生没有理睬她。

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

“你难道不想知道是谁租去的吗？”太太不耐烦地嚷起来了。

"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."

“既是你要说给我听，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, 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."

“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，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，打算下个周未先叫几个佣人来住。”


"What is his name?"

“这个人叫什么名字？”

"Bingley."

“彬格莱。”

注释:

Chaise:一种轻便马车。上层阶级人士多乘此类马车。

Michaelmas:米迦勒节，九月二十九日。英国四结账日之一，雇佣人、履行租约多在此日。