Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 2

Reading with Contextual Arabic Glosses

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on (زار) Mr. Bingley. He had always intended (نوى) to visit him, though to the last always assuring (مؤكداً) his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid (بعد أن تمّت الزيارة) she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed (كُشف عنه) in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in (مشغولة بـ) trimming (تزيين) a hat, he suddenly addressed her with (خاطبها فجأة قائلاً),-

“I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.”

“We are not in a way to know (لا نعلم) what Mr. Bingley likes,” said her mother, resentfully (بامتعاض), “since we are not to visit.”

“But you forget, mamma,” said Elizabeth, “that we shall meet him at the assemblies (حفلات الرقص), and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him (تُعرِّفنا به).”

“I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish (أنانية), hypocritical (منافقة) woman, and I have no opinion of her (لا رأي حسن لديّ فيها).”

“No more have I,” said Mr. Bennet; “and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you (لا تعتمدين عليها).”

Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply (لم تتكرّم بالرد); but, unable to contain herself (عاجزةً عن كبح نفسها), began scolding (تعنّف) one of her daughters.

“Don’t keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven’s sake (لحق السماء)! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces (تُمزِّقينها).”

“Kitty has no discretion (لا تُحسن التوقيت) in her coughs,” said her father; “she times them ill (في أوقات غير مناسبة).”

“I do not cough for my own amusement (للتسلية),” replied Kitty, fretfully (بضيق). “When is your next ball (حفلة رقص) to be, Lizzy?”

“To-morrow fortnight (بعد أسبوعين من الغد).”

“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.”

“Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend (تسبقي صديقتك), and introduce Mr. Bingley to her.”

“Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him (لست على معرفة به) myself; how can you be so teasing (مستفزاً)?”

“I honour your circumspection (أُجلّ حذرك). A fortnight’s acquaintance (معرفة أسبوعين) is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture (نُجازف), somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance (تأخذن حظّهن); and, therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness (عملاً من أعمال اللطف), if you decline the office (رفضتِ المهمة), I will take it on myself (سأتولّاها بنفسي).”

The girls stared at (حدّقن في) their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, “Nonsense, nonsense!”

“What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation (تلك الصيحة المؤكدة)?” cried he. “Do you consider the forms of introduction (آداب التعريف), and the stress that is laid on them (الأهمية المُولاة لها), as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you, Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection (عميقة التفكير), I know, and read great books, and make extracts (تنتقين مقتطفات).”

Mary wished to say something very sensible (معقولاً), but knew not how.

“While Mary is adjusting her ideas (تُرتّب أفكارها),” he continued, “let us return to Mr. Bingley.”

“I am sick of (سئمتُ من) Mr. Bingley,” cried his wife.

“I am sorry to hear that; but why did you not tell me so before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him (زرته). It is very unlucky (سيئ الحظ); but as I have actually paid the visit (أدّيتُ الزيارة فعلاً), we cannot escape the acquaintance now (لا مفرّ لنا من معرفته الآن).”

The astonishment (ذهول) of the ladies was just what he wished-that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest (يفوق الجميع); though when the first tumult of joy (موجة الفرح الأولى) was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while (طوال الوقت).

“How good it was in you (ما أطيبك), my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should persuade you at last (في النهاية). I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect (تُهمل) such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! And it is such a good joke (نكتة رائعة), too, that you should have gone this morning, and never said a word about it till now.”

“Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose (ما شئتِ),” said Mr. Bennet; and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with (منهكاً من) the raptures (نشوة) of his wife.

“What an excellent father you have, girls,” said she, when the door was shut. “I do not know how you will ever make him amends (تُكافئنه) for his kindness; or me either, for that matter (في هذا الشأن). At our time of life (في عُمرنا هذا), it is not so pleasant, I can tell you, to be making new acquaintances every day; but for your sakes (من أجلكن) we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball.”

“Oh,” said Lydia, stoutly (بجرأة), “I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I’m the tallest.”

The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing (التخمين) how soon he would return Mr. Bennet’s visit (يردّ الزيارة), and determining (يُقرِّرن) when they should ask him to dinner.

Key Expressions

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