原创 By Declan W.
这是一篇花了大量时间用心写完的精读笔记，有点长但是值得一读，为了做到中英文对应，译文尽量采用了直译的方式，希望能对大家阅读《傲慢与偏见》的英文原著有些帮助。
第1章 精读笔记
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
truth：n. 这里并非指客观事实、客观真理，而是指人们相信的事情。
universally/ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəlɪ/：普遍的，广泛地
acknowledged：公认的，承认的，认可的
a truth universally acknowledged：众所周知的事
in possession of：相当于posses，拥有
a good fortune：或者直接说a fortune 指的是a large amount of money很多钱，这里fortune不是幸运或者运气的意思，所以a single man in possession of a good fortune意为非常有钱的单身男人。
want：做名词此处为lack缺少的意思
解读：该句是主语从句形式，it是形式主语，that后面引导的部分是实际主语。如果调整成正常语序可以改写成：That a single man who possesses a lot of money must be lack of a wife is a widely accepted truth. 整句意为：众所周知，一个有钱的单身男人通常少个老婆。
有人将这句话称为英国文学史上的千古名句。整句简洁优雅，It is a truth universally acknowledged, that…句型更是可以被直接拿来套用。该句既交待了整部小说关于婚姻的主题，同时又有一定的讽刺意味，因为从后面的内容来看单身女人才是很难找到好的结婚对象，更想尽早嫁出去的人，而不是那些单身男人。
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, 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.
第一个没有任何生词也看不懂的句子来了️！
先看第一句：However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, 这句的语序倒装了，真正的主语是the feelings or views of such a man, 谓语是may be, 然后才是作为表语的little known。on his first entering a neighborhood是时间状语, neighborhood指的是某个邻里、地方。这句调整成正常语序后就变成：However the feelings or views (of such as a man) may be little known (on his first entering a neighborhood)，意思是：不管（人们）对这样的单身汉第一次到一个地方的感受和想法有多么不清楚。
再看后面的句子：this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families.译文：这一观点(指有钱单身汉缺个老婆这个想法)是那样根深蒂固地存在于附近家庭的脑子里。fix不是修理或者固定，而是牢牢记住, to set firmly in the mind的意思。
最后一句：that he is considered the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters. rightful property合法的财产；someone or other 某个。这句可以译为：以至于他被当成他们某个女儿的合法财产。
解读：这一段讲到“有钱的单身汉缺个老婆”这样的想法在当时十分盛行，简直就是扎根在那些家庭的脑子里，当有这样的人来时，即使人们对他的感受想法一点都不了解，他们也会想当然的把他当成自己某个女儿的“财产”，想着要把女儿嫁给他。可以看出当时有女儿的家庭那种急着把女儿嫁出去的迫切心理。
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"
his lady指的是女主角Elizabeth的母亲Mrs. Bennet, him指的是Elizabeth的父亲Mr. Bennet。Netherfield Park是小说里虚构的地名奈则菲尔德庄园，park这里不是公园而是指包含大片土地的私人庄园，let这里的意思是rent租借。这一段Mrs. Bennet问她丈夫是否知道奈则菲尔德庄园终于被租出去了。
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."
译文：Mr. Bennet回答不知道。“但是它确实被租出去了”，她说；“因为Mrs. Long刚刚在这儿，她告诉了我整件事。”
解读：Mrs. Long是小说里的一个配角。for因为，return意为reply，指Mrs. Bennet答复Mr. Bennet。
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
made no answer 没答话
"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.
Do you not want to... = Don’t you want to...
cry是大喊着说，不是哭。Mrs. Bennet见Mr. Bennet无动于衷的样子有点急了，没有耐心地冲他大喊问他难道不想知道奈则菲尔德庄园被谁租了吗。
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
have no objection to：不反对。
译文：“你想告诉我，那我不介意听一下。”
This was invitation enough.
译文：这已经足够成为（鼓励Mrs. Bennet继续说下去的）邀请了。
"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."
这段第一个Why是个感叹词，用在表达惊讶、不同意、愤怒等句子的前面。这里Mrs. Bennet觉得Mr. Bennet怎么连这点道理也不明白，她关心这个事情是想把自己的女儿给嫁给有钱人，从后面对人物个性的介绍可以看出Mr. Bennet其实很清楚，他是在故意逗Mrs. Bennet。
taken: 占有，根据前文是以租借的方式占有，而不是买下。
a young man of large fortune: 很有钱的年轻人。
came down: 上一句提到这个年轻人从英格兰北部来，这本小说里设定的几个主要故事地点都位于英格兰南部的赫德福德郡（Hertfordshire），因为是由北向南，所以这里用了came down。
chaise /ʃeɪz/: 轻便马车,特别指为两个乘客设计的两轮马车。
chaise and four：四匹马拉的轻便马车。
be delighted with: 因...十分高兴
take possession：取得所有权，这里指住进去
Michaelmas /ˈmɪkəlməs/：米迦勒节(9月29日)，是关于大天使圣·迈克尔的宗教节日，也标志着秋天的开始。
译文：“哎呀，亲爱的，你要知道，Mrs. Long说一个从北英格兰来的阔少爷把奈则菲尔德庄园给租下来了，他礼拜一的时候坐着马车过来看的，看了以后非常喜欢，当场就跟莫瑞斯先生定了（Mr. Morris是这个庄园的实际owner）。他将在9月29日圣米迦勒节前住进去，他的一些仆人在下周末前就会到。”
"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!"
译文：“噢！单身，亲爱的，我敢肯定！一个一年能赚四、五千英镑的阔少爷，这对我们的女儿们是多么好的事情啊！(简直就是女儿们的福气！)”
解读：在当时，一年赚四、五千英镑已经是非常富有的人，普通中产一年也就赚几百英镑。
"How so? How can it affect them?"
译文：“怎么说？对她们能有啥影响？”
解读：Mr. Bennet其实是明知故问。
"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."
tiresome /ˈtaɪəsəm/: boring, irritating;令人讨厌的，令人恼怒的
"Is that his design in settling here?"
design: 这里意为purpose, intention, aim
Mr. Bennet继续逗他老婆。“这就是他住到这儿的目的吗？（为了娶我们女儿？）”
"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."
译文：“目的？胡说，你怎么能这么说呢！但他很有可能爱上她们当中的一个，所以你必须在他来的时候立刻就去拜访他。”
"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 may like you the best of the party."
no occasion: 没有理由，没有必要
handsome 形容女人的时候指的是貌美有气质，通常身材高挑或者适中，而不是那种小巧纤弱的美，更不是指长得像男人的那种帅气或者中性美。
party 指的是一起参与某事的一群人，不是舞会或者聚会的意思，这里指Mrs. Bennet和她的女儿们。
译文：“我看没那个必要。你和闺女们可以去，或者你可以让她们自己去，那样可能会更好，因为你跟她们中任何一个都一样漂亮，Mr. Bingley可能最喜欢你呢。”
解读：可以看出Mr. Bennet继续挖苦讽刺他老婆。
"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."
have had my share of beauty: 我也曾有一份美貌，意即我也漂亮过。share表示漂亮的女人很多，我也是一个的意思。
extraordinary: outstanding, remarkable; 特别的，非凡的
give over: to stop 停止做...
译文：“亲爱的，你又恭维我了。我当然也漂亮过，但是现在我不会装作自己很出众。当一个女人有五个已经长大的女儿，她应该停止去想自己的美。”
解读：Mrs. Bennet是个智力和见识都很一般的女人，Mr. Bennet明明是挖苦他，她也没听出来，还自我感觉良好。最后一句也说明了她认为把女儿们嫁出去是最紧迫的事情。第一章结尾作者对Mr.和Mrs. Bennet的个性进行了总结。
"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."
译文：这种情况下，一个女人通常也没有太多美可以去想了。（如果一个女人都没多少美貌剩下了，也就没啥值得想的了）
"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood."
译文：“但是亲爱的，Mr. Bingley来的时候你必须去见他。”
"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."
more than I engage for 意为more than I want to do.
译文：“我可不想那样做（去拜访Mr. Bingley），我向你保证。”
"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."
establishment 常见含义是建立、确立，这里引申为归宿。
on that account意思是for that reason, 由于（刚才提到的）那个缘故。
译文：“但是为你的女儿们考虑一下吧，只要想一下嫁给Mr. Bingley对她们中的某个来说将是多么好的归宿！威廉爵士和卢卡斯夫人已经决定去了，仅仅是出于同样的目的，因为你知道通常他们不拜访任何新来的人。真的，你必须去，因为你要是不去的话我和女儿们就没办法去。”
解读：Sir William指的是William Lucas, 由于被封为Knight（骑士、爵士），所以称呼他时要用Sir加上first name，即Sir William，威廉爵士。按照传统，爵士的老婆要被敬称为Lady+last name，所以威廉爵士的老婆就被称为Lady Lucas。另外，从最后一句可以看出，当时（18世纪末19世纪初）英国女性社会地位很低，按照当时的社会礼仪，拜访新邻居必需先由作为一家之主的男主人去拜访引见。
"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 throwin a good word for my little Lizzy."
scrupulous /'skruːpjələs/ adj.小心谨慎的。特别指做事时小心谨慎地只做诚实、公正、适当的或者道德上正确的事情，这里指严格遵照社交规范。over-scrupulous 过于小心谨慎的。
a few lines: 指letter, note, 简短的信
by: through, via 经由。
hearty: 衷心的。
consent /kən'sent/: permission, approval, 同意。
Lizzy：Mr. Bennet对Elizabeth的昵称
译文：（Mr. Bennet说）“你无疑太过于谨言慎行了。我敢说Mr. Bingley会非常乐意见到你；并且我会写封信让你带给他，以向他保证我真心准许他可以挑选任何一个女儿结婚；虽然我一定会为我的小Lizzy美言几句。”
"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."
not a bit: 一点也不
good-humoured: 脾气好的，令人愉悦的
preference: 偏爱
译文：（Mrs. Bennet说）“我希望你别做这样的事，Lizzy一点也不比其他人更好，而且我肯定她连Jane的一半漂亮都没有，也没有Lydia一半的好脾气。但是你总是偏爱她。”
解读：这里Mrs. Bennet提到了他们其他两个女儿，Jane和Lydia。Elizabeth一共有五个姐妹，从大到小依次是Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine (昵称Kitty), Lydia。这里明显可以看出，Bennet老爷子最喜欢伊丽莎白。
"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."
They have none of them much to recommend them:可以改写为None of them have much to recommend them,他们中没人有什么可以值得推荐。
ignorant: 无知的
more of: to a greater extent or degree 有相当程度的
quickness: 这里是意思是intelligence，聪敏
译文：“他们没啥值得推荐的，”他回答说；“他们都像其他女儿一样愚蠢和无知，但是Lizzy比她的姐妹们多了一份机敏。”
"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."
abuse: 侮辱，讲坏话，贬低
take delight in: 以...为乐
vex /veks/: 使恼怒；使恼火; to annoy, irritate
compassion /kəm'pæʃn/: 同情，怜悯
译文：“Mr. Bennet，你怎么能这样贬低自己孩子呢？你以气我为乐，你对我可怜的神经没有一点儿同情心。”
解读：可以看出，一有点儿什么事儿Mrs. Bennet就认为自己神经不好，有点神经质。
"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."
have a high respect for: 非常尊重。
mention something with consideration: 严肃地，郑重其事地提到。
译文：“你可错怪我了，亲爱的。我很敬重你的神经。他们可是我的老朋友了。在过去至少二十年的时间里，我一直听到你郑重其事地提起它们。”
"Ah, you do not know what I suffer."
译文：“唉，你不明白我遭的什么罪！”
"But I hope you will get over it and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."
get over: 这里的意思是recover from an illness or an unpleasant experience; get over还可以表示overcome a problem/difficulty.
译文：“我希望你的毛病能好起来，活到能亲眼看到很多年入四千英镑的年轻人来这儿。”
"It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them."
译文：“来了二十个这样的也没用，因为你都不去拜访他们。”
"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all."
depend upon: 原意是依赖、依靠，这里是to put trust in 请相信。depend on/upon还有受…影响，由…决定的意思。例如：Whether we go or not depends on the weather.
译文：“相信我，亲爱的，如果有二十个这样的人来，我会拜访他们所有人。”
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.
这段稍微有点长，分成两部分来阅读。
Part 1. 描述了Mr. Bennet的个性：
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.
odd /ɒd/奇怪的，古怪的
mixture: 混合物、结合体
parts: talentsor personal abilities
quick parts:表示intelligence or wisdom聪明、智慧
sarcastic /sɑːˈkæstɪk/ 挖苦的，讽刺的
reserve /rɪˈzɜːv/ 保守
caprice / kəˈpriːs / 反复无常、善变
insufficient /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/ 不足的，不够的
这个长句整体是个so… that… 句式。前半部分说他是个有点古怪的多种性格的结合体，聪明，爱讽刺挖苦人，保守，并且有点反复无常。以至于(that)23年一起生活的经验都不足以让他的老婆理解他的性格。of three-and-twenty years是后置定语，修饰experience。
Part 2. 后面部分开始介绍Mrs. Bennet：
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.
这里的develop不是开发，发展的意思，而是to be unfolded or disclosed，指（想法）被揭露、公开。所以Her mind was less difficult to develop这句的意思就是她的想法不难被理解，很容易就能知道她的想法。
mean这里意思是平庸的、低下的；mean understanding指的就是一个人理解能力有限，智力有限。
little information: 信息少，是说她没知识、没学识，接受的教育少，用现在的话来说就是she did not have much knowledge or education.
uncertain temper: 脾气不确定，有点喜怒无常
discontented/ˌdɪskən'tentɪd/: dissatisfied, unhappy，不满意的，不称心的
fancy: 意为imagine, view, think 幻想，想象
solace /'sɒləs/: 意为something that gives comfort or make you feel less sad. 即：n. 慰藉，安慰
its solace = the solace of her life
为了便于理解，最后两句可以改写为：The main task of her life was to get her daughters married. The main thing that gave her comfort and cheered her up was people’s visiting and gossip.
译文：很容易就能知道她的想法，她是一个智力贫乏、没有学识而且喜怒无常的女人。当她遇到不称心的事情时，就会觉得自己神经衰弱。她生活中最大的事情就是把她的女儿们嫁掉，拜访和打听八卦消息才能让她感觉好受点。
第1章就此完结！更多后续原创文章请关注公众号“英文经典悦读”。
---- 原创文章 未经许可 请勿转载 谢谢 ----
