Pride and Prejudice

《傲慢與偏見》（Pride and Prejudice）是英國女小說家簡·奧斯汀的創(chuàng)作的長篇小說。

小說描寫了小鄉(xiāng)紳班納特五個待字閨中的千金，主角是二女兒伊麗莎白。她在舞會上認識了達西，但是耳聞他為人傲慢，一直對他心生排斥，經(jīng)歷一番周折，伊麗莎白解除了對達西的偏見，達西也放下傲慢，有情人終成眷屬。

這部作品以日常生活為素材，一反當時社會上流行的感傷小說的內(nèi)容和矯揉造作的寫作方法，生動地反映了18世紀末到19世紀初處于保守和閉塞狀態(tài)下的英國鄉(xiāng)鎮(zhèn)生活和世態(tài)人情。并多次被改編成電影和電視劇。

傲慢與偏見（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.

凡是有錢的單身漢，總想娶位太太，這已經(jīng)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了解他的性情如何，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(chǎn)。

"My dear Mr. Bennet，" said his lady to him one day， "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last？"

有一天班納特太太對她的丈夫說：“我的好老爺，尼日斐花園終于租出去了，你聽說過沒有？”

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

班納特先生回答道，他沒有聽說過。

"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?！?/p>

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

班納特先生沒有理睬她。

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

“你難道不想知道是誰租去的嗎？”太太不耐煩地嚷起來了。

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

“既是你要說給我聽，我聽聽也無妨?！?/p>

This was invitation enough.

這句話足夠鼓勵她講下去了。

"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！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(jié)’以前搬進來，打算下個周未先叫幾個傭人來住。”

"What is his name？"

“這個人叫什么名字？”

"Bingley."

“彬格萊?！?/p>

"Is he married or single？"

“有太太的呢，還是單身漢？”

"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！是個單身漢，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！”

"How so？ how can it affect them？"

“這怎么說？關女兒女兒們什么事？”

"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."

“我的好老爺，”太太回答道，“你怎么這樣叫人討厭！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！”

"Is that his design in settling here？"

“他住到這兒來，就是為了這個打算嗎？”

"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，這是哪兒的話！不過，他倒作興看中我們的某一個女兒呢。他一搬來，你就得去拜訪拜訪他?！?/p>

"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。你帶著女兒們?nèi)ゾ偷美?，要不你干脆打發(fā)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？”

"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."

“我的好老爺，你太捧我啦。從前也的確有人贊賞過我的美貌，現(xiàn)在我可有敢說有什么出眾的地方了。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(zhuǎn)什么念頭?！?/p>

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

“這樣看來，一個女人家對自己的美貌也轉(zhuǎn)不了多少念頭嘍?！?/p>

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

“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。”

"It is more than I engage for， I assure you."

“老實跟你說吧，這不是我份內(nèi)的事?！?/p>

"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，夠多么好。威廉爵士夫婦已經(jīng)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，我都心甘情愿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?！?/p>

"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."

“我希望你別這么做。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?！?/p>

"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."

“她們沒有哪一個值得夸獎的，”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?！?/p>

"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."

“我的好老爺，你怎么舍得這樣糟蹋自己的新生親生女兒？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(jīng)衰弱?！?/p>

"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."

“你真錯怪了我，我的好太太。我非常尊重你的神經(jīng)。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?！?/p>

"Ah！ you do not know what I suffer."

“??！你不知道我怎樣受苦呢！”

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

“不過我希望你這毛病會好起來，那么，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?！?/p>

"It will be no use to us if twenty such should come， since you will not visit them."

“你既然不愿意去拜訪他們，即使有二十個搬了來，對我們又有什么好處！”

"Depend upon it， my dear， that when there are twenty I will visit them all."

“放心吧，我的好太太，等到有了二十個，我一定去一個個拜望到?！?/p>

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(jīng)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(jīng)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。

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."

班納特先生盡管在自己太太面前自始至終都說是不想去拜訪彬格萊先生，事實上一直都打算去拜訪他，而且還是跟第一批人一起去拜訪他的。等到他去拜訪過以后，當天晚上太太才知道實情。這消息透露出來的經(jīng)過是這樣的--他看到第二個女兒在裝飾帽子，就突然對她說： “我希望彬格萊先生會喜歡你這頂帽子，麗萃?！?/p>

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

她母親氣憤憤地說：“我們既然不預備去看彬格萊先生，當然就無從知道他喜歡什么?！?/p>

"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，媽媽，”伊麗莎白說，“我們將來可以在跳舞會上碰到他的，郎格太太不是答應過把他介紹給我們嗎？”

"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這么做。她自己有兩個親侄女。她是個自私自利、假仁假義的女人，我睢不起她?！?/p>

"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，”班納特先生說;“你倒不指望她來替你效勞，這叫我聽到高興?！?/p>

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

班納特太太沒有理睬他，可是忍不住氣，便罵起女兒來。

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

“別那么咳個不停，吉蒂，看老天爺份上吧！稍許體諒一下我的神經(jīng)吧。你簡直叫我的神經(jīng)要脹裂啦?！?/p>

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

“吉蒂真不知趣，”她的父親說;“咳嗽也不知道揀個時候?！?/p>

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

“我又不是故意咳著玩兒?！奔贇鈵赖鼗卮鸬?。

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

“你們的跳舞會定在那一天開，麗萃？”

"Tomorrow fortnight."

“從明天算起，還得再過兩個星期。”

"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，原來如此，”她的母親嚷道，“郎格太太可要挨到開跳舞會的前一天才能趕回來;那么，她可來不及把他介紹給你們啦，她自己也還不認識他呢?！?/p>

"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風，反過來替她介紹這位貴人啦。”

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

“辦不到，我的好老爺，辦不到，我自己還不認識他呢;你怎么可以這樣嘲笑人？”

"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."

“我真佩服你想得這般周到。兩個星期的認識當然談不上什么。跟一個人相處了兩個星期，不可能就此了解他究竟是怎樣一個人。不過，要是我們不去嘗試嘗試，別人可少不了要嘗試的。話說到底，郎格太太和她的侄女一定不肯錯過這個良機。因此，要是你不愿意辦這件事，我自己來辦好了，反正她會覺得這是我們對她的一片好意?！?/p>

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

女兒們都對父親瞪著眼。班納特太太只隨口說了聲：“毫無意思！”

"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."

“你怎么這樣大驚小怪！”他嚷道。“你以為替人家效點兒勞介紹是毫無意思的事嗎？你這樣的說法我可不大同意。你說呢，曼麗？我知道你是個有獨到見解的少女，讀的書都是皇皇巨著，而且還要做札記?！?/p>

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

曼麗想說幾句有見識的話可又不知道怎么說才好。

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

于是班納特先生接下去說：“讓曼麗仔細想一想再發(fā)表意見吧，我們還是重新來談談彬格萊先生。”

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

“我就討厭談彬格萊先生，”他的太太嚷起來了。

"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."

“遺憾得很，你竟會跟我說這種話;你怎么不早說呢？要是今天上午聽到你這樣說，那我當然不會去拜訪他啦。這真叫不湊巧?，F(xiàn)在既然拜訪也拜訪過了，我們今后就少不了要結交這個朋友?！?/p>

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，娘兒們一聽此說，一個個都大這驚異，尤其是班納特太太，比誰都驚異得厲害;不過，這樣歡天喜地地喧嚷了一陣以后，她便當眾宣布，說這件事她早就料到的。

"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."

“你真是個好心腸的人，我的好老爺！我早就知道你終究會給我說服的。你既然疼愛自己的女兒，當然就不會把這樣一個朋友不放在心上。我真太高興了！你這個玩笑開得真太有意思，誰想到你竟會今天上午去拜訪他，而且到現(xiàn)在一字不提?！?/p>

"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，現(xiàn)在你可以放心大膽地咳嗽啦，”班納特先生一面說，一面走出房間，原來他看到太太那樣得意忘形，不免覺得有些厭惡。

"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."

門一關上，班納特太太便對她的幾個女兒說“孩子們，你們的爸爸真太好了，我不知道你們怎樣才能報答他的恩典;再說，你們還應該好好報答我一番呢。老實跟你們說吧，我們老夫妻活到這么一把年紀了，哪兒有興致天天去交朋結友;可是為了你們，我們隨便什么事都樂意去做。麗迪雅，乖寶貝，雖然你年紀最小，開起跳舞會來，彬格萊先生或許就偏偏要跟你跳呢?！?/p>

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

“噢！”麗迪雅滿不在乎地說?！拔也挪划斔换厥?。年紀雖然是我最小，個兒算我頂高?！?/p>

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.

于是她們一方面猜測那位貴人什么時候會來回拜班納特先生，一方面盤算著什么時候請他來吃飯，就這樣把一個晚上的工夫在閑談中度過去了。