第 1 章
凡是有錢的單身漢，總想娶位太太，這已經成了一條舉世公認的真理。這樣的單身漢，每逢新搬到一個地方，四鄰八舍雖然完全不瞭解他的性情如何，見解如何，可是，既然這樣的一條真理早已在人們心目中根深蒂固，因此人們總是把他看作自己某一個女兒理所應得的一筆財產。
有一天班納特太太對她的丈夫說：”我的好老爺，尼日斐花園終於租出去了，你聽說過沒有？”
班納特先生回答道，他沒有聽說過。
”的確租出去了，”她說，”朗格太太剛剛上這兒來過，她把這件事的底細，一五一十地告訴了我。”
班納特先生沒有理睬她。
”你難道不想知道是誰租去的嗎？”太太不耐煩地嚷起來了。
”既是你要說給我聽，我聽聽也無妨。”
這句話足夠鼓勵她講下去了。
”哦！親愛的，你得知道，郎格太太說，租尼日斐花園的是個闊少爺，他是英格蘭北部的人；聽說他星期一那天，乘著一輛駟馬大轎車來看房子，看得非常中意，當場就和莫理斯先生談妥了；他要在’米迦勒節’以前搬進來，打算下個週末先叫幾個傭人來住。”
”這個人叫什麼名字？”
”彬格萊。”
”有太太的呢，還是單身漢？”
”噢！是個單身漢，親愛的，確確實實是個單身漢！一個有錢的單身漢；每年有四五千磅的收入。真是女兒們的福氣！”
”這怎麼說？關女兒們什麼事？”
”我的好老爺，”太太回答道，”你怎麼這樣叫人討厭！告訴你吧，我正在盤算，他要是挑中我們一個女兒做老婆，可多好！”
”他住到這兒來，就是為了這個打算嗎？”
”打算！胡扯，這是哪兒的話！不過，他倒要是看中我們的某一個女兒呢。他一搬來，你就得去拜訪拜訪他。”
”我不用去。你帶著女兒們去就得啦，要不你乾脆打發她們自己去，那或許倒更好些，因為你跟女兒們比起來，她們哪一個都不能勝過你的美貌,你去了，彬格萊先生倒可能挑中你呢？”
”我的好老爺，你太捧我啦。從前也的確有人讚賞過我的美貌，現在我可有敢說有什麼出眾的地方了。一個女人家有了五個成年的女兒，就不該對自己的美貌再轉什麼念頭。”
”這樣看來，一個女人家對自己的美貌也轉不了多少念頭嘍。”
”不過，我的好老爺，彬格萊一搬到我們的鄰近來，你的確應該去看看他。”
”老實跟你說吧，這不是我份內的事。”
”看女兒的份上吧。只請你想一想，她們不論哪一個，要是攀上了這樣一個人家，夠多麼好。威廉爵士夫婦已經決定去拜望他，他們也無非是這個用意。你知道，他們通常是不會拜望新搬來的鄰居的。你的確應該去一次，要是你不去，叫我們怎麼去。”
”你實在過分心思啦。彬格萊先生一定高興看到你的；我可以寫封信給你帶去，就說隨便他挑中我哪一個女兒，我都心甘情願地答應他把她娶過去；不過，我在信上得特別替小麗萃吹噓幾句。”
”我希望你別這麼做。麗萃沒有一點兒地方勝過別的幾個女兒；我敢說，論漂亮，她抵不上吉英一半；論性子，好抵不上麗迪雅一半。你可老是偏愛她。”
“她們沒有哪一個值得誇獎的，”他回答道；”他們跟人家的姑娘一樣，又傻，又無知；倒是麗萃要比她的幾個姐妹伶俐些。”
”我的好老爺，你怎麼捨得這樣糟蹋自己的親生女兒？你是在故意叫我氣惱，好讓你自己得意吧。你半點兒也不體諒我的神經衰弱。”
”你真錯怪了我，我的好太太。我非常尊重你的神經。它們是我的老朋友。至少在最近二十年以來，我一直聽道你慎重其事地提到它們。”
”啊！你不知道我怎樣受苦呢！”
”不過我希望你這毛病會好起來，那麼，象這種每年有四千鎊收入的闊少爺，你就可以眼看著他們一個個搬來做你的鄰居了。”
”你既然不願意去拜訪他們，即使有二十個搬了來，對我們又有什麼好處！”
”放心吧，我的好太太，等到有了二十個，我一定去一個個拜望到。”
班納特先生真是個古怪人，他一方面喜歡插科打渾，愛挖苦人，同時又不拘言笑，變幻莫測，真使他那位太太積二十三年之經驗，還摸不透他的性格。太太的腦子是很容易加以分析的。她是個智力貧乏、不學無術、喜怒無常的女人，只要碰到不稱心的事，她就以為神經衰弱。她生平的大事就是嫁女兒；她生平的安慰就是訪友拜客和打聽新聞。
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
Chapter 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 the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”
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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”
“But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.”
“It is more than I engage for, I assure you.”
“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. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for US to visit him if you do not.”
“You are over-scrupulous, 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 whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
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.
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.
(http://www.dajiyuan.com)
