世界小史 第155期:体育活动

 　　But these were not at all like those of the Greeks, where leading citizens took part in sporting contests and sang hymns¹ in honor of the Father of the Gods.

　　这当然不是希腊人那样的由贵族公民自己为纪念主神而进行的体育活动和唱歌，

　　These would have seemed ridiculous to any Roman.

　　这让罗马人觉得滑稽可笑。

　　What serious, self-respecting man would sing in public, or take off his formal, many-pleated toga to throw javelins² before an audience?

　　哪个认真、严肃、威严的人会唱歌或脱下他庄重的、多褶裥的衣裳，脱下宽外袍并当着别人的面投掷标枪呢？

　　Such things were best left to captives.

　　人们让俘虏干这样的事情。

　　It was they who had to wrestle³ and fight, confront wild beasts and stage whole battles in the arena⁴ under the eyes of thousands – sometimes tens of thousands – of spectators.

　　他们必须在大剧场在成千上万人的眼前角斗和格斗，与野兽搏斗并表演整个战斗场面。

　　It all got very serious and bloody⁵, but that was just what made it so exciting for the Romans.

　　这种搏斗进行得十分认真和残忍。还恰好可刺激罗马人，

　　Especially when, instead of trained professionals, men who had been condemned⁶ to death were thrown into the arena to grapple with lions, bears, tigers and even elephants.

　　人们不仅让训练有素的运动员去搏斗，而且人们也可判处死刑的人扔进大剧场，扔给野兽，扔给狮子和熊，也扔给老虎和大象。

　　Anyone who put on shows like these, with generous handouts⁷ of grain, was loved by the crowd and could do what he pleased.

　　谁能给人民看很多这样的精彩竞赛并分发给他们许多粮食，谁就在城里受到欢迎，就可以为所欲为。

1 hymns   

n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At first, they played the hymns and marches familiar to them. 起初他们只吹奏自己熟悉的赞美诗和进行曲。 来自英汉非文学 - 百科语料821
• I like singing hymns. 我喜欢唱圣歌。 来自辞典例句

2 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

3 wrestle   

vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付

参考例句：

• He taught his little brother how to wrestle.他教他小弟弟如何摔跤。
• We have to wrestle with difficulties.我们必须同困难作斗争。

4 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

5 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 handouts   

救济品( handout的名词复数 )； 施舍物； 印刷品； 讲义

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts. 士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Even after losing his job, he was too proud to accept handouts. 甚至在失去工作后，他仍然很骄傲，不愿接受施舍。