Pride and Prejudice
第一章
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 therightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
这是著名的《傲慢与偏见》的开篇。众所周知，一个拥有财富的单身男士当然要娶一位太太。不过少为人知的是他们的感受，当他们搬入新的环境中就已经被周围邻居想当然地当做了他们女儿的囊中之物。
第一章开篇以Bennet夫妇俩的对话引出了故事的一位主人公，同时突出了夫妻二人截然不同的性格和志趣。
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day," have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"
Let~let a house 出租
she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty."
Give over ~ transfer, give up, quit
Give over teasing that cat
Give oneself over to
夫妇俩的谈话也顺带介绍了他们的五个女儿。
"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."
先生认为大女儿比其他几个傻傻的要伶俐些。
"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."
Vex somebody 让人恼火
Have compassion on
怜恤
E.g.For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.
"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."
Bennet先生很有幽默感。说太太的神经质是他的老朋友了，看来太太以前没少拿这个要挟他。
第一章通过贝内特夫妇密集的对话介绍人事物三要素，铺垫得简明而生动。
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.
第一章结尾时总结了夫妇二人的性格:
a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice,
Caprice 反复无常，任性善变
Sudden caprices and moods
贝内特先生看起来是个古怪组合，快人快语插诨打科又有爱挖苦人的幽默，有点一本正经，有点反复无常。
Little information 孤陋寡闻，见识短
Mean understanding 不善解人意
而太太则是比较浅薄，理解力差，孤陋寡闻，性情不定。
第二章
网友评论