高級英語教材第三課

先讀課文﹕
IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man *in possession
of* a good fortune must be *in want of* a wife. 可背誦
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.
"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 not you 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 was invitation enough.)
"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."
"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.
)"
"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."
"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."
"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*."
"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."
"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.)"
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.
1) 生詞自己查。
2) 無語言難點﹐無註解。
3) 說明﹕[1] 有些世界名著常以一個特殊句子結構﹐或表達哲理性的意思開頭。如
本文開頭﹐句子本身裡面就有個平行結構。再如﹕It was the best of times, it
was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
 it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the
season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope,
it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing
before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct
the other way. 狄更斯“雙城記”的開頭。又如﹕The day broke gray and dull.
這是英國20世紀初的著名作家毛姆的Of Human Bondage裡的開頭句。簡潔漂亮。這
都是可以學習的亮點。[2] 句子裡有好些可借鑒的用語﹐用*號在前後表出。[3] 有
些幽默的說法﹐用括弧表出。都可學習使用。
4) 凡有志于提高英文寫作水平者﹐可自寫短篇小說或短故事一篇﹐跟貼于後。本人
將抽空評閱修改。

所有跟帖： 

• 高級英語教材第二課: Give Me Liberty 来源: 海外逸士 -美语世界- ♀ (122 bytes) () 10/15/2011 postreply 07:17:05

• 谢谢逸老！周末愉快！ -beautifulwind- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/15/2011 postreply 08:40:11

• 请教海先生：如何有效地背诵英语名篇？ -婉蕠- ♀ (1590 bytes) () 10/15/2011 postreply 10:31:50

• 你把句子已經分得很好了。 -海外逸士- ♂ (224 bytes) () 10/15/2011 postreply 11:43:46

• 谢谢回复，周日快乐。 -婉蕠- ♀ (3294 bytes) () 10/16/2011 postreply 12:08:08

• shanks for sharing -海外逸士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/17/2011 postreply 07:34:39

• 谢谢！学习了 -冲浪潜水员- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/16/2011 postreply 07:04:54

• 谢谢海先生！！！ 很有趣的小说。 -NewVoice- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/16/2011 postreply 08:21:34

• 多谢推荐和讲解！ -EnLearner- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/16/2011 postreply 08:34:32