Pride and Prejudice

《傲慢与偏见》（Pride and Prejudice）是英国女小说家简·奥斯汀的创作的长篇小说。

小说描写了小乡绅班纳特五个待字闺中的千金，主角是二女儿伊丽莎白。她在舞会上认识了达西，但是耳闻他为人傲慢，一直对他心生排斥，经历一番周折，伊丽莎白解除了对达西的偏见，达西也放下傲慢，有情人终成眷属。

这部作品以日常生活为素材，一反当时社会上流行的感伤小说的内容和矫揉造作的写作方法，生动地反映了18世纪末到19世纪初处于保守和闭塞状态下的英国乡镇生活和世态人情。并多次被改编成电影和电视剧。

傲慢与偏见（一）

Pride and Prejudice  1

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

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。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."

“的確租出去了，”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。”

"Is he married or single？"

“有太太的呢，还是单身汉？”

"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，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。真是女儿们的福气！”

"How so？ how can it affect them？"

“这怎么说？关女儿女儿们什么事？”

"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."

“我的好老爷，”太太回答道，“你怎么这样叫人讨厌！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，他倒作兴看中我们的某一个女儿呢。他一搬来，你就得去拜访拜访他。”

"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."

“我不用去。你带着女儿们去就得啦，要不你干脆打发她们自己去，那或许倒更好些，因为你跟女儿们比起来，她们哪一个都不能胜过你的美貌，你去了，彬格莱先生倒可能挑中你呢？”

"My dear， you flatter me. 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."

“我的好老爷，你太捧我啦。从前也的确有人赞赏过我的美貌，现在我可有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，就不该对自己的美貌再转什么念头。”

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

“这样看来，一个女人家对自己的美貌也转不了多少念头喽。”

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

“不過，我的好老爷，彬格莱一搬到我们的邻近来，你的确应该去看看他。”

"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. 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."

“看女儿的份上吧。只请你想一想，她们不论哪一个，要是攀上了这样一个人家，够多么好。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，他们通常是不会拜望新搬来的邻居的。你的确应该去一次，要是你不去，叫我们怎么去。”

"You are overscrupulous， surely. 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 chuses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy."

“你实在过分心思啦。彬格莱先生一定高兴看到你的;我可以写封信给你带去，就说随便他挑中我哪一个女儿，我都心甘情愿地答应他把她娶过去;不过，我在信上得特别替小丽萃吹嘘几句。”

"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，好抵不上丽迪雅一半。你可老是偏爱她。”

"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."

“我的好老爷，你怎么舍得这样糟蹋自己的新生亲生女儿？你是在故意叫我气恼，好让你自己得意吧。你半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，我的好太太。我非常尊重你的神经。它们是我的老朋友。至少在最近二十年以来，我一直听道你慎重其事地提到它们。”

"Ah！ you do not know what I suffer."

“啊！你不知道我怎样受苦呢！”

"But I hope you will get over it， and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."

“不過我希望你这毛病会好起来，那么，象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，我的好太太，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. Her mind was less difficult to develope. 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.

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，真使他那位太太积二十三年之经验，还摸不透他的性格。太太的脑子是很容易加以分析的。她是个智力贫乏、不学无术、喜怒无常的女人，只要碰到不称心的事，她就以为神经衰弱。她生平的大事就是嫁女儿;她生平的安慰就是访友拜客和打听新闻。

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him， though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid， she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat， he suddenly addressed her with， "I hope Mr. Bingley will like it， Lizzy."

班纳特先生尽管在自己太太面前自始至终都说是不想去拜访彬格莱先生，事实上一直都打算去拜访他，而且还是跟第一批人一起去拜访他的。等到他去拜访过以后，当天晚上太太才知道实情。这消息透露出来的经过是这样的--他看到第二个女儿在装饰帽子，就突然对她说： “我希望彬格莱先生会喜欢你这顶帽子，丽萃。”

"We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes，" said her mother resentfully， "since we are not to visit."

她母亲气愤愤地说：“我们既然不预备去看彬格莱先生，当然就无从知道他喜欢什么。”

"But you forget， mama，" said Elizabeth， "that we shall meet him at the assemblies， and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him."

“可是你忘啦，妈妈，”伊丽莎白说，“我们将来可以在跳舞会上碰到他的，郎格太太不是答应过把他介绍给我们吗？”

"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish， hypocritical woman， and I have no opinion of her."

“我不相信郎格太太肯这么做。她自己有两个亲侄女。她是个自私自利、假仁假义的女人，我睢不起她。”

"No more have I，" said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you."

“我也瞧不起她，”班纳特先生说;“你倒不指望她来替你效劳，这叫我听到高兴。”

Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but unable to contain herself， began scolding one of her daughters.

班纳特太太没有理睬他，可是忍不住气，便骂起女儿来。

"Don't keep coughing so， Kitty， for heaven's sake！ Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."

“别那么咳个不停，吉蒂，看老天爷份上吧！稍许体谅一下我的神经吧。你简直叫我的神经要胀裂啦。”

"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs，" said her father; "she times them ill."

“吉蒂真不知趣，”她的父亲说;“咳嗽也不知道拣个时候。”

"I do not cough for my own amusement，" replied Kitty fretfully.

“我又不是故意咳着玩儿。”吉蒂气恼地回答道。

"When is your next ball to be， Lizzy？"

“你们的跳舞会定在那一天开，丽萃？”

"Tomorrow fortnight."

“从明天算起，还得再过两个星期。”

"Aye， so it is，" cried her mother， "and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him， for she will not know him herself."

“唔，原来如此，”她的母亲嚷道，“郎格太太可要挨到开跳舞会的前一天才能赶回来;那么，她可来不及把他介绍给你们啦，她自己也还不认识他呢。”

"Then， my dear， you may have the advantage of your friend， and introduce Mr. Bingley to her."

“那么，好太太，你正可以占你朋友的上风，反过来替她介绍这位贵人啦。”

"Impossible， Mr. Bennet， impossible， when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teasing？"

“办不到，我的好老爷，办不到，我自己还不认识他呢;你怎么可以這样嘲笑人？”

"I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture， somebody else will; and after all， Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance; and therefore， as she will think it an act of kindness， if you decline the office， I will take it on myself."

“我真佩服你想得这般周到。两个星期的认识当然谈不上什么。跟一个人相处了两个星期，不可能就此了解他究竟是怎样一个人。不过，要是我们不去尝试尝试，别人可少不了要尝试的。话说到底，郎格太太和她的侄女一定不肯错过这个良机。因此，要是你不愿意办这件事，我自己来办好了，反正她会觉得这是我们对她的一片好意。”

The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only， "Nonsense， nonsense！"

女儿们都对父亲瞪着眼。班纳特太太只随口说了声：“毫无意思！”

"What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation？" cried he. "Do you consider the forms of introduction， and the stress that is laid on them， as nonsense？ I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you， Mary？ for you are a young lady of deep reflection I know， and read great books， and make extracts."

“你怎么这样大惊小怪！”他嚷道。“你以为替人家效点儿劳介绍是毫无意思的事吗？你这样的说法我可不大同意。你说呢，曼丽？我知道你是个有独到见解的少女，读的书都是皇皇巨著，而且还要做札记。”

Mary wished to say something very sensible， but knew not how.

曼丽想说几句有见识的话可又不知道怎么说才好。

"While Mary is adjusting her ideas，" he continued， "let us return to Mr. Bingley."

于是班纳特先生接下去说：“让曼丽仔细想一想再发表意见吧，我们还是重新来谈谈彬格莱先生。”

"I am sick of Mr. Bingley，" cried his wife.

“我就讨厌谈彬格莱先生，”他的太太嚷起来了。

"I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me so before？ If I had known as much this morning， I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit， we cannot escape the acquaintance now."

“遗憾得很，你竟会跟我说这种话;你怎么不早说呢？要是今天上午听到你这样说，那我当然不会去拜访他啦。这真叫不凑巧。现在既然拜访也拜访过了，我们今后就少不了要结交这个朋友。”

The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though when the first tumult of joy was over， she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while.

果然不出他所料，娘儿们一听此说，一个个都大这惊异，尤其是班纳特太太，比谁都惊异得厉害;不过，这样欢天喜地地喧嚷了一阵以后，她便当众宣布，说这件事她早就料到的。

"How good it was in you， my dear Mr. Bennet！ But I knew I should persuade you at last. I was sure you loved our girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well， how pleased I am！ and it is such a good joke， too， that you should have gone this morning， and never said a word about it till now."

“你真是个好心肠的人，我的好老爷！我早就知道你终究会给我说服的。你既然疼爱自己的女儿，当然就不会把这样一个朋友不放在心上。我真太高兴了！你这个玩笑开得真太有意思，谁想到你竟会今天上午去拜访他，而且到现在一字不提。”

"Now， Kitty， you may cough as much as you chuse，" said Mr. Bennet; and， as he spoke， he left the room， fatigued with the raptures of his wife.

“吉蒂，现在你可以放心大胆地咳嗽啦，”班纳特先生一面说，一面走出房间，原来他看到太太那樣得意忘形，不免觉得有些厌恶。

"What an excellent father you have， girls，" said she， when the door was shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; or me either， for that matter. At our time of life， it is not so pleasant I can tell you， to be making new acquaintance every day; but for your sakes， we would do any thing. Lydia， my love， though you are the youngest， I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball."

门一关上，班纳特太太便对她的几个女儿说“孩子们，你们的爸爸真太好了，我不知道你们怎样才能报答他的恩典;再说，你们还应该好好报答我一番呢。老实跟你们说吧，我们老夫妻活到这么一把年纪了，哪儿有兴致天天去交朋结友;可是为了你们，我们随便什么事都乐意去做。丽迪雅，乖宝贝，虽然你年纪最小，开起跳舞会来，彬格莱先生或许就偏偏要跟你跳呢。”

"Oh！" said Lydia stoutly， "I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest， I'm the tallest."

“噢！”丽迪雅满不在乎地说。“我才不当它一回事。年纪虽然是我最小，个儿算我顶高。”

The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would return Mr. Bennet's visit， and determining when they should ask him to dinner.

于是她们一方面猜测那位贵人什么时候会来回拜班纳特先生，一方面盘算着什么时候请他来吃饭，就这样把一个晚上的工夫在闲谈中度过去了。