Read Pride and Prejudice in English with Spanish translation — parallel text
Jane Austen published Pride and Prejudice in 1813. It opens on a neighbourhood rule that everyone pretends is obvious: a single man with money must be in want of a wife. Mrs Bennet hears that such a man has rented Netherfield, and the Bennet household begins to plan. The prose is polished and ironic, closer to C1 than to a graded reader. Sentences are long, but the jokes are social and the vocabulary of visits, fortunes and daughters repeats. That makes the first chapter a good stretch for a learner who already reads stories and wants the real voice, not a simplified copy. The English is shown here beside a Spanish translation written for LingoRead.
Original / Translation
| English | Español |
|---|---|
| It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. | Todo el mundo admite que un hombre soltero, dueño de una buena fortuna, ha de estar necesitado de esposa. |
| 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. | Por poco que se sepa de los sentimientos o las intenciones de semejante hombre cuando llega por primera vez a un vecindario, esa convicción está tan asentada en las familias de alrededor que lo consideran propiedad legítima de una u otra de sus hijas. |
| “My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?” | «Mi querido señor Bennet», le dijo su mujer un día, «¿se ha enterado de que por fin han alquilado Netherfield Park?» |
| Mr. Bennet replied that he had not. | El señor Bennet respondió que no. |
| “But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.” | «Pues sí que lo está», replicó ella; «porque la señora Long acaba de estar aquí y me lo ha contado todo.» |
| Mr. Bennet made no answer. | El señor Bennet no contestó. |
| “Do not you want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife, impatiently. | «¿No quiere saber quién lo ha tomado?», exclamó su mujer, impaciente. |
| “You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.” | «Usted quiere contármelo, y no tengo inconveniente en oírlo.» |
| ] | ] |
| This was invitation enough. | Aquello le bastó como invitación. |
| “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.” | «Pues verá, querido, según la señora Long, Netherfield lo ha alquilado un joven de gran fortuna del norte de Inglaterra; el lunes bajó en un carruaje de cuatro caballos a ver la finca, le gustó tanto que cerró el trato con el señor Morris en el acto, tomará posesión antes de San Miguel, y parte de su servidumbre estará en la casa a finales de la semana que viene.» |
| “What is his name?” | «¿Cómo se llama?» |
| “Bingley.” | «Bingley.» |
| “Is he married or single?” | «¿Está casado o soltero?» |
| “Oh, single, my dear, to be sure! | «¡Soltero, querido, por supuesto! |
| A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. | Un soltero de gran fortuna; cuatro o cinco mil libras al año. |
| What a fine thing for our girls!” | ¡Qué buena noticia para nuestras hijas!» |
| “How so? how can it affect them?” | «¿Por qué lo dice? ¿En qué puede afectarles?» |
| “My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome? | «Mi querido señor Bennet», respondió su mujer, «¿cómo puede ser tan pesado? |
| You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.” | Bien sabe que estoy pensando en que se case con una de ellas.» |
| “Is that his design in settling here?” | «¿Es ese su propósito al instalarse aquí?» |
| “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.” | «¿Propósito? ¡Qué disparate! ¿Cómo puede decir eso? Pero es muy probable que se enamore de una de ellas, así que debe usted visitarlo en cuanto llegue.» |
| “I see no occasion for that. | «No veo la necesidad. |
| 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.” | Pueden ir usted y las chicas, o puede mandarlas solas, lo que quizá sea todavía mejor; porque, como usted es tan guapa como cualquiera de ellas, el señor Bingley podría quedarse con usted antes que con el resto del grupo.» |
| “My dear, you flatter me. | «Querido, me halaga. |
| I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. | Desde luego tuve mi parte de belleza, pero ya no pretendo ser nada extraordinario. |
| When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.” | Cuando una mujer tiene cinco hijas mayores, debería dejar de pensar en su propio atractivo.» |
| “In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.” | «En esos casos, a una mujer no suele quedarle mucha belleza en la que pensar.» |
| “But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.” | «Pero, querido, tiene usted que ir a ver al señor Bingley cuando llegue al vecindario.» |
| “It is more than I engage for, I assure you.” | «Eso es más de lo que me comprometo a hacer, se lo aseguro.» |
| “But consider your daughters. | «Pero piense en sus hijas. |
| Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. | Figúrese qué partido sería para una de ellas. |
| Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account; for in general, you know, they visit no new comers. | Sir William y Lady Lucas están decididos a ir, solo por eso; porque, ya lo sabe, en general no visitan a los recién llegados. |
| Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him, if you do not.” | Tiene que ir de verdad, porque a nosotras nos será imposible visitarlo si no va usted.» |
| “You are over scrupulous, surely. | «Peca usted de escrupulosa, sin duda. |
| 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.” | Supongo que el señor Bingley se alegrará mucho de verla; y le mandaré unas líneas con usted para asegurarle mi consentimiento más cordial a que se case con la de las chicas que él elija, aunque debo poner una buena palabra por mi pequeña Lizzy.» |
| “I desire you will do no such thing. | «Le pido que no haga tal cosa. |
| 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. | Lizzy no es ni un ápice mejor que las otras, y estoy segura de que no es ni la mitad de guapa que Jane, ni la mitad de bienhumorada que Lydia. |
| But you are always giving her the preference.” | Pero usted siempre le da la preferencia.» |
| “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.” | «Ninguna tiene mucho que la recomiende», replicó él; «todas son tontas e ignorantes, como las demás chicas; pero Lizzy tiene algo más de viveza que sus hermanas.» |
| “Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? | «Señor Bennet, ¿cómo puede hablar así de sus propias hijas? |
| You take delight in vexing me. | Le encanta mortificarme. |
| You have no compassion on my poor nerves.” | No tiene compasión de mis pobres nervios.» |
| “You mistake me, my dear. | «Me malinterpreta, querida. |
| I have a high respect for your nerves. | Tengo un gran respeto por sus nervios. |
| They are my old friends. | Son viejos amigos míos. |
| I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.” | Llevo al menos veinte años oyéndole hablar de ellos con consideración.» |
| “Ah, you do not know what I suffer.” | «Ah, usted no sabe lo que sufro.» |
| “But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood.” | «Pero espero que se le pase, y que viva para ver llegar al vecindario a muchos jóvenes de cuatro mil libras al año.» |
| “It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them.” | «De nada nos servirá que vengan veinte así, puesto que usted no irá a visitarlos.» |
| “Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all.” | «Tenga por seguro, querida, que, cuando haya veinte, los visitaré a todos.» |
| 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. | El señor Bennet era una mezcla tan singular de ingenio vivo, humor sarcástico, reserva y capricho que veintitrés años de experiencia no habían bastado para que su mujer entendiera su carácter. |
| Her mind was less difficult to develope. | El de ella era más fácil de descifrar. |
| She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. | Era una mujer de entendimiento corto, escasos conocimientos y genio inestable. |
| When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. | Cuando estaba descontenta, se creía nerviosa. |
| The business of her life was to get her daughters married: its solace was visiting and news. | El quehacer de su vida era casar a sus hijas; el consuelo, las visitas y las noticias. |
| ] | ] |
| ] | ] |
| Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. | El señor Bennet fue de los primeros en hacer la visita al señor 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. | Siempre había tenido intención de ir, aunque hasta el último momento aseguró a su mujer que no iría; y ella no supo nada hasta la tarde, una vez hecha la visita. |
| It was then disclosed in the following manner. | Entonces se descubrió de este modo. |
| Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with,-- | Al ver a su segunda hija ocupada en adornar un sombrero, se dirigió a ella de pronto: |
| “I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.” | «Espero que al señor Bingley le guste, Lizzy.» |
| “We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes,” said her mother, resentfully, “since we are not to visit.” | «Mal podemos saber qué le gusta al señor Bingley», dijo su madre, resentida, «puesto que no vamos a visitarlo.» |
| “But you forget, mamma,” said Elizabeth, “that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him.” | «Pero olvidas, mamá», dijo Elizabeth, «que coincidiremos con él en los bailes y que la señora Long ha prometido presentárnoslo.» |
| “I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. | «No creo que la señora Long haga nada de eso. |
| She has two nieces of her own. | Tiene dos sobrinas propias. |
| She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her.” | Es una mujer egoísta e hipócrita, y no la tengo en ninguna estima.» |
| “No more have I,” said Mr. Bennet; “and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you.” | «Yo tampoco», dijo el señor Bennet; «y me alegra ver que no cuenta usted con que le haga ese favor.» |
| Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but, unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters. | La señora Bennet no se dignó responder; pero, incapaz de contenerse, se puso a reñir a una de sus hijas. |
| “Don’t keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven’s sake! | «¡No sigas tosiendo así, Kitty, por el amor de Dios! |
| Have a little compassion on my nerves. | Ten un poco de compasión de mis nervios. |
| You tear them to pieces.” | Me los haces trizas.» |
| “Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,” said her father; “she times them ill.” | «Kitty no tiene discreción al toser», dijo su padre; «escoge mal el momento.» |
| “I do not cough for my own amusement,” replied Kitty, fretfully. | «No toso para divertirme», replicó Kitty, de mal humor. |
| “When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?” | «¿Cuándo es tu próximo baile, Lizzy?» |
| “To-morrow fortnight.” | «Mañana en quince días.» |
| “Ay, so it is,” cried her mother, “and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so, it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself.” | «Sí, es verdad», exclamó su madre, «y la señora Long no vuelve hasta la víspera; así que le será imposible presentárnoslo, porque ni ella misma lo conocerá.» |
| “Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her.” | «Entonces, querida, puede adelantarse a su amiga y presentarle usted al señor Bingley.» |
| “Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teasing?” | «Imposible, señor Bennet, imposible, si yo misma no lo conozco; ¿cómo puede burlarse de ese modo?» |
| “I honour your circumspection. | «Honro su prudencia. |
| A fortnight’s acquaintance is certainly very little. | Quince días de trato son, desde luego, muy pocos. |
| One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. | No se puede saber cómo es de verdad un hombre al cabo de una quincena. |
| But if we do not venture, somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her nieces 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.” | Pero, si nosotros no nos arriesgamos, lo hará otra persona; y, a fin de cuentas, la señora Long y sus sobrinas tienen que correr su suerte; así que, como ella lo tomará por una gentileza, si usted rehúsa el encargo, lo asumiré yo.» |
| The girls stared at their father. | Las chicas se quedaron mirando a su padre. |
| Mrs. Bennet said only, “Nonsense, nonsense!” | La señora Bennet solo dijo: «¡Tonterías, tonterías!» |
| “What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?” cried he. | «¿Qué puede significar esa exclamación tan enfática?», exclamó él. |
| “Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? | «¿Considera usted un disparate las formalidades de las presentaciones y la importancia que se les da? |
| I cannot quite agree with you there. | En eso no puedo estar del todo de acuerdo. |
| What say you, Mary? | ¿Qué dice usted, Mary? |
| For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read great books, and make extracts.” | Porque es usted una señorita de reflexión profunda, lo sé, que lee libros sesudos y hace extractos.» |
| Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how. | Mary hubiera querido decir algo muy sensato, pero no supo cómo. |
| “While Mary is adjusting her ideas,” he continued, “let us return to Mr. Bingley.” | «Mientras Mary ordena sus ideas», prosiguió, «volvamos al señor Bingley.» |
| “I am sick of Mr. Bingley,” cried his wife. | «Estoy harta del señor Bingley», exclamó su mujer. |
| “I am sorry to hear that; but why did you not tell me so before? | «Siento oírlo; pero ¿por qué no me lo dijo antes? |
| If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. | Si lo hubiera sabido esta mañana, desde luego no habría ido a verlo. |
| It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now.” | Es una pena; pero, como la visita ya está hecha, ahora no podemos eludir el trato.» |
| The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished--that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though when the first tumult of joy was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while. | El asombro de las señoras fue justo el que él deseaba; el de la señora Bennet quizá superó al de las demás, aunque, pasado el primer arrebato de alegría, empezó a declarar que era lo que había esperado desde el principio. |
| “How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! | «¡Qué bueno ha sido usted, mi querido señor Bennet! |
| But I knew I should persuade you at last. | Pero yo sabía que acabaría convenciéndolo. |
| I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance. | Estaba segura de que quería demasiado a sus hijas para desatender un trato así. |
| Well, how pleased I am! | ¡Ay, qué contenta estoy! |
| And it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning, and never said a word about it till now.” | Y además tiene mucha gracia que haya ido esta mañana y no haya dicho ni una palabra hasta ahora.» |
| “Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose,” said Mr. Bennet; and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife. | «Ahora, Kitty, puedes toser todo lo que quieras», dijo el señor Bennet; y, al decirlo, salió de la habitación, cansado de los arrebatos de su mujer. |
Top words in this book
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| elizabeth | Elizabeth |
| said | dijo |
| darcy | Darcy |
| much | mucho |
| miss | señorita |
| must | debe |
| bennet | Bennet |
| one | uno |
| jane | Jane |
| bingley | Bingley |
| know | saber |
| though | aunque |
| never | nunca |
| well | bien |
| think | pensar |
| soon | pronto |
| now | ahora |
| good | bueno |
| may | puede que |
| might | podría |
| time | tiempo |
| little | pequeño |
| lady | dama |
| nothing | nada |
| every | cada |
| sister | hermana |
| make | hacer |
| wickham | Wickham |
| collins | Collins |
| dear | querido |
| shall | futuro formal |
| first | primero |
| say | decir |
| family | familia |
| room | habitación |
| man | hombre |
| great | gran |
| two | dos |
| day | día |
| ever | alguna vez |
| however | sin embargo |
| lydia | Lydia |
| young | joven |
| made | hecho |
| give | dar |
| always | siempre |
| hope | esperanza |
| away | lejos |
| many | muchos |
| last | último |
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Text from Project Gutenberg #1342. The original is public domain. The translation on this page was written for LingoRead.