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 someone or other of their daughters.

1. 第一句话，相信很多人说到”pride and prejudice”，潜意识中想到的是这句话。以下是我的理解，”universally acknowledged”修饰”a truth”，后面的应该是同位语，同样用来说明”a truth”;

2. be in want of... 需要，缺乏；

3.however引导让步状语从句"known"在这里是过去分词作形容词，后面是so...that...结果状语从句。

"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 is invitation enough.

1."let"这里解释为出租；

2.objection to... 反对，异议；（to是介词，所以后面跟的是动名词）

3."enough"是形容词，有点后置定语的感觉，修饰前面的名词。

"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. Mirris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his sevants are to be in the house by the end of next week."

1.上述这段基本的框架是三个宾语从句（...that);

2.be delighted with... 因...感到高兴

3.take possession... 住进...

"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 might like you the best of the party."

1.How so? 为何如此？

2.see no occasion for... 认为没有必要...

"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."

1.give over... 停止；交出；

2.engage for... 保证；对...负责

"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."

"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."

1.over-scrupulous(adj.) 过分小心的

2.send sth to sb... 寄某物给某人

3.consent to... 同意，答应；

"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."

1.desire后面宾语从句；

2.not so + adj.+ as... 不像...一样...

3."giving her the preference" 给予她偏爱

"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 way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves."

1."They have none of them much to recommend them." "none of them"是一个整体，解释为“没有一个人”，做状语修饰have,解释为“没有一个人有”；所以整句翻译为“他们没有一个人有很多值得推荐他们的品质。（Mr. Bennet真的很会挖苦人）

2.take delight in... 乐于...

"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."

"Ah! you do not know what I suffer."

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

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

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

1.get over... 克服；恢复；

2.depend upon it... 毫无疑问...

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.

1.so + adj. + 名词 + that... 如此...以至于...

2.be sufficient to... 足以...

  be insufficient to... 不足以...

3.mean understanding... 平庸的理解力...

4.be to do sth... 要做某事...