世界小史 第152期:罗马公民

 　　A Roman citizen living abroad always retained his separate status, for he lived according to Roman law.

　　但是一个罗马公民始终跟一个当地人有很大的区别。他按罗马法行事，

　　Wherever he happened to be in that vast empire, he could turn to a Roman official and say: "I am a citizen of Rome!' These words had the effect of a magic formula.

　　不管他在大罗马帝国的什么地方，他都能求助于罗马官员。“我是罗马公民！”——这在当时是一句有神奇魔力的惯用语。

　　If until then no one had paid him much attention, everyone would instantly become polite and obliging.

　　如果说一个人先前几乎不被人理睬的话，那么，假如这个人如今能说这句话了，所有的人就会立刻对他彬彬有礼、殷勤周到。

　　In those days, however, the true rulers of the world were the Roman soldiers.

　　但是当时世界的真正的主人其实却是罗马士兵。

　　It was they who held the gigantic empire together, suppressing revolts where necessary and ferociously¹ punishing all who dared oppose them.

　　他们使这个强大的帝国凝固在一起，他们镇压不愿服从的当地人并严厉惩罚所有进行反抗的人。

　　Courageous², experienced and ambitious, they conquered a new land – to the north, to the south or to the east – almost every decade.

　　他们生性勇敢，能征善战并爱好虚荣，他们每隔十年便占领北方、南方和东方的一个新国家。

　　People who saw the tight columns of well-drilled soldiers, marching slowly in their metal-plated tunics³, with their shields and javelins⁴,

　　如果人们看到士兵迈着整齐的步伐走来、身穿镀金属的皮盔甲，手握盾牌和标枪，

　　their slings⁵ and swords and their catapults for hurling⁶ rocks and arrows, knew that it was useless to resist.

　　带着射箭和投石机器，雄赳赳气昂昂，那么就会望风披靡。

1 ferociously   

野蛮地，残忍地

参考例句：

• The buck shook his antlers ferociously. 那雄鹿猛烈地摇动他的鹿角。
• At intervals, he gritted his teeth ferociously. 他不时狠狠的轧平。

2 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

3 tunics   

n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍

参考例句：

• After work colourful clothes replace the blue tunics. 下班后，蓝制服都换成了色彩鲜艳的衣服。 来自辞典例句
• The ancient Greeks fastened their tunics with Buttons and loops. 古希腊人在肩部用钮扣与环圈将束腰外衣扣紧。 来自互联网

4 javelins   

n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The heavy infantry blocks moved forward, throwing javelins just before the clash. 在正面交火之前，庞大的兵团会整体向前移动并投掷标枪。 来自互联网
• Elite mercenaries, originally from Aragon, armed with javelins and light armour. 加泰罗尼亚标枪兵为精锐雇佣部队，最初来自阿拉贡，装备标枪和轻甲。 来自互联网

5 slings   

抛( sling的第三人称单数 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往

参考例句：

• "Don't you fear the threat of slings, Perched on top of Branches so high?" 矫矫珍木巅，得无金丸惧？ 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
• Used for a variety of things including slings and emergency tie-offs. 用于绳套，设置保护点，或者紧急情况下打结。

6 hurling   

n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• The boat rocked wildly, hurling him into the water. 这艘船剧烈地晃动，把他甩到水中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Fancy hurling away a good chance like that, the silly girl! 想想她竟然把这样一个好机会白白丢掉了，真是个傻姑娘！ 来自《简明英汉词典》