It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
be in want of 用法大善
开篇第一句即为经典名句，值得记忆。
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.
the rightful property尽显幽默
on sb’s doing sth. 这是英语中常见用法
this truth is so well fixed in the minds of …. that ….其中的this truth是指开篇第一句话，这种观念在xxx的脑海中根深蒂固；看似复杂的句子，实际框架还是 so that结构，读原著有难易乎？
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”
his lady 让人不禁莞尔
is let 这里let是出租，被动用法
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.”
return = reply
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
made no answer 小词不可小觑。
“Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.
take 和 let 相对
impatient对应上文的made no answer
“YOU want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”
This was invitation enough.
invitation enough 注意名词后跟enough的用法，并不常见，但绝对地道
初见切勿模仿。
更新：评论里有人提出应该是enough作为副词修饰be动词，应该是对的。但词典中enough修饰动词的例句很少，下句可做类比，帮助理解这句话：
- You don’t chew your food enough – that’s why you get indigestion.
因此，这句话可以理解为：This was quite an invitation.
“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.”
says 后面跟了三个that从句，用分号隔开
chaise and four 四匹马拉的马车，尽显奢华
was so much delighted with him that … 又见so that 结构
“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!“
What a fine thing for our girls! 机会难得，值得感叹。
“How so? How can it affect them?”
典型的witticism（A witticism is a witty remark or joke. 俏皮话; 妙语），对上文感叹的绝佳回应。
“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.”
of one’s doing sth. 这种用法中学都学过，大家还记得否？大家都会用否？
“Is that his design in settling here?”
design = intention/purpose，暗含嘲讽
settle 安家定居
“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.”
occasion = necessity/reason 熟悉的词，陌生的含义；阅读总是折磨人，不是么
like you the best of the party 这里表述有点奇怪，没太看懂，需要仔细研究一番。阅读总有存疑之处
更新：此处应该是of the party, Mr. Bingley may like you the best. 这里是变相奉承自己的妻子仍然很有魅力。
“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.”
我也曾美貌如花
give over = stop（口语）
儿女成群之时……你们懂的
“In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”
又是一个 witty remark
“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.”
engage for = be responsible for 这事超出了我的职责范围，这事本来不该我管
establishment 可靠的生计
“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.”
over-scrupulous 夫人，您过虑了
hearty consent 此处hearty用的极好
throw in 穿插，偶然插入话语
“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.”
desire 表示请求
“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.”
quickness 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.”
take delight in vexing me
have no compassion for my poor nerves
初读平淡无奇，再读回味无穷
“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.”
with consideration 小心翼翼地
把nerves比作old friends，暗指妻子曾多次唠叨，他对此已经非常熟稔了
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.
so odd a ….这种用法中学也讲过，相当于such an odd ….君可曾记否？有了so/such，后面是一定有that引导的从句的，大家可以往后找找看，能否找到？
quick parts 这里的part是指才华，常用复数。quick parts就是思维敏捷，即古人说的“素有急智”。
reserve 克制
caprice 任性
insufficient 夫妻一起二十三年，妻子仍无法了解丈夫。原因为何？请看后面几句话。
mean 平均的，一般的
uncertain temper 脾气不定
The business of her life was to get her daughters married 她人生的全部意义，就是把女儿嫁出去
its solace 其中its是指her life’s，她生活中的慰藉只有visiting and news：邻里来往，还有各种八卦。
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