Гордость и предубеждение

УДК 
372.8
ББК 
81.2 Англ-93
 
О 76

ISBN 978-5-9925-0304-3

Остин Дж.
О 76 Гордость и предубеждение: Книга для чтения 
на английском языке. — СПб.: КАРО, 2011. — 
480 с. — (Серия «Classical Literature»).

ISBN 978-5-9925-0304-3

Предлагаем вниманию читателей знаменитый роман 
замечательной английской писательницы Джейн Остин 
«Гордость и предубеждение». Роман многократно издавался, переведен на многие языки мира и является обязательным для изучения во всех английских колледжах и университетах, по нему снято несколько художественных фильмов 
и телесериалов.
Неадаптированный текст на языке оригинала снабжен 
постраничным комментарием и словарем. Книга адресована 
студентам языковых вузов и всем любителям английской 
литературы.

УДК 372.8
ББК 81.2Англ-93

© КАРО, 2009

Об авторе

З

амечательная английская писательница Джейн 
Остин (1775–1817), основоположница «дамского романа» в лучшем его смысле, родилась в семье 
провинциального священника, который, впрочем, сильно отличался от многих своих коллег — имел ученую степень в Оксфордском университете и в течение некоторого времени был членом ученой корпорации одного из 
его колледжей. Это был умный, эрудированный человек 
с широким кругозором. Джордж Остин и его жена Анна, 
урожденная Ли, принадлежали к старинным дворянским 
фамилиям. Несмотря на то, что они никогда не кичились 
своим происхождением, принадлежность семьи к родовитому дворянству обусловила круг знакомств и связей, 
открывая перед Остинами двери так называемых «лучших» домов графства.
Пробовать перо Джейн начала в возрасте пятнадцати 
лет. Сначала писала остроумные пародии на современный плохой роман, которые ее близкие называли «проказами Джейн», но тем не менее все они с интересом эти 
«проказы» читали.
Свой первый роман Джейн написала в 1796–1797 годах. Это были «Первые впечатления», увидевшие свет 
лишь спустя шестнадцать лет под названием «Гордость и 
предубеждение». Потом были «Разум и чувства», «Эмма», 
«Мэнсфилд-парк» , «Доводы рассудка», «Нортенгерское 
аббатство».

ОБ АВТОРЕ

Англия начала XIX века… Герои романов Джейн 
Остин живут именно в это время. А что мы знаем о нем, 
кроме смутного представления об утонченных леди и 
безукоризненно вежливых джентльменах, балах, охоте 
на лис и идущей где-то в Европе войне с Наполеоном?
Роман «Гордость и предубеждение» можно назвать 
энциклопедией жизни деревенской Англии. Распорядок 
дня дворянской семьи, расположение комнат в особняках, зарплата горничной и сельскохозяйственного рабочего, закон о майорате — наследовании по мужской линии, судебная иерархия в Англии — обо всем этом писательница если не рассказывает в деталях, то упоминает, 
и все эти подробности интересны отнюдь не меньше, чем 
перипетии любовных отношений героев.
Личная жизнь писательницы не сложилась, замуж 
она, в отличие от своих героинь, так и не вышла, хотя получила по крайней мере одно предложение руки и сердца. Умерла она от неизвестной болезни, в муках и молитвах о том, чтобы Бог послал ей и ее близким терпения.
Надо сказать, что современники Остин были не слишком высокого мнения о ее талантах и очень удивились бы, 
узнав, что произведения писательницы читают и два века 
спустя. Диккенс не подозревал о суще ствовании Джейн 
Остин, высказывания о ней Шарлотты Бронте были 
весьма негативны. Но романы «несравненной Джейн», 
как назвал ее Вальтер Скотт, пользуются популярностью 
и в XXI веке, по ним снимаются фильмы и телесериалы с 
участием знаменитых актеров, и новые поколения читательниц живо интересуются судьбами прелестных барышень и блестящих кавалеров.

CHAPTER 1

Chapter 1

I

t 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 
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 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 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 four1 to see the place, and 

1 in a chaise and four — в карете, запряженной четверкой 
лошадей

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with 
Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas1, 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 may 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.”

1 Michaelmas — Михайлов день, день архангела Михаила, 
29 сентября, один из квартальных дней — т. е. дней, начинающих квартал года

CHAPTER 1

“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.”
“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.”1
“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.”
“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.”
“Ah, you do not know what I suffer.”

1  “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.” — 
«Ни одна из моих дочек ничем особенно не примечательна, — 
ответил он. — Они столь же глупы и невежественны, как все 
другие девчонки в этом возрасте. Просто в Лиззи немножко 
больше толку, чем в ее сестрах».

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

“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 parts1, 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 quick parts — живость ума

CHAPTER 2

Chapter 2

M

r. Bennet was among the earliest of those who 
waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended 
to visit him, though to the last always assuring 
his wife that he should not go; and till the evening 
after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. It was 
then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his 
second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he sud denly 
addressed her with:
“I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.”
“We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes,” 
said her mother resentfully, “since we are not to visit.”
“But you forget, mamma,” said Elizabeth, “that we 
shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long 
promised to introduce him.”
“I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She 
has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical 
woman, and I have no opinion of her.”
“No more have I,” said Mr. Bennet; “and I am glad to 
find that you do not depend on her serving you.”
Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply, but, unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.
“Don’t keep coughing so, Kitty, for Heaven’s sake! 
Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to 
pieces.”

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

“Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,” said her father; “she times them ill.”
“I do not cough for my own amusement,” replied Kitty 
fretfully. “When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?”
“To-morrow fortnight.”
“Aye, so it is,” cried her mother, “and Mrs. Long does 
not come back till the day before; so it will be impos sible for 
her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself.”
“Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your 
friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her.”
“Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not 
acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teasing?”
“I honour your circumspection. A fortnight’s acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man 
really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her 
daughters must stand their chance; and, therefore, as she 
will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I 
will take it on myself.”
The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, 
“Nonsense, nonsense!”
“What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?” cried he. “Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? 
I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you, Mary? 
For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and 
read great books and make extracts.”
Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew 
not how.
“While Mary is adjusting her ideas,” he continued, “let 
us return to Mr. Bingley.”
“I am sick of Mr. Bingley,” cried his wife.