美国学生人类历史第47期:古希腊城邦(4)

 　　They performed these miracles in little villages that covered less ground than four or five modern city blocks.

　　令人惊叹的是，他们创造了奇迹的场所，尽管是些相当于现代城市四、五个街区大小的小村庄。

　　And look, what finally happened!

　　看看最后发生了什么吧！

　　In the fourth century before our era, Alexander of Macedonia conquered the world. As soon as he had done with fighting, Alexander decided¹ that he must bestow² the benefits of the true Greek genius upon all mankind. He took it away from the little cities and the little villages and tried to make it blossom and bear fruit amidst the vast royal residences of his newly acquired Empire. But the Greeks, removed from the familiar sight of their own temples, removed from the well-known sounds and smells of their own crooked³ streets, at once lost the cheerful joy and the marvellous sense of moderation which had inspired the work of their hands and brains while they laboured for the glory of their old city-states. They became cheap artisans, content with second-rate work. The day the little city-states of old Hellas lost their independence and were forced to become part of a big nation, the old Greek spirit died. And it has been dead ever since.

　　公元前4世纪，马其顿的亚历山大大帝征服了全世界。一俟战事完毕，亚历山大就决意将真正的希腊精神传播给全人类。他将希腊精神从那些小村庄、小城市里带出来，努力让它们在自己新建立的辽阔帝国里开花结果。可一旦远离朝夕相处的熟悉庙宇，闻不到故乡弯曲的小巷里的亲切声响与味道，希腊人似乎一夜 之间便丧失了激发他们创造出伟大作品的生气勃勃的欢乐与良好的均衡感。他们的手和脑子失去了灵气，沦为廉价的艺匠，仅仅满足于二流的拙劣品。从古希腊的小城邦丧失独立；被迫成为一个伟大帝国的属地那天开始，古老的希腊精神即随之死去了。它永远地死去，再未曾复活过来。

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 bestow   

v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费

参考例句：

• He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.他希望将那些伟大的荣誉授予这位英雄。
• What great inspiration wiII you bestow on me?你有什么伟大的灵感能馈赠给我？

3 crooked   

adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指，示意我们到他那儿去。
• You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。