美国学生人类历史第62期:抗击波斯人侵的战争(2)

 　　Of course, the Greeks enjoyed a certain degree of safety because their country lay hidden beyond the deep waters of the Aegean. But here their old enemies, the Phoenicians, stepped forward with offers of help and advice to the Persians. If the Persian King would provide the soldiers, the Phoenicians would guarantee to deliver the necessary ships to carry them to Europe.It was the year 492 before the birth of Christ, and Asia made ready to destroy the rising power of Europe.

　　当然，隔着爱琴海的汹涌波涛，希腊人拥有一定程度的安全感。但在这里，他们的老敌人，腓尼基人，上前帮助和建议提供了波斯人。如果波斯国王会提供士兵，腓尼基人将保证提供必要的船只带他们到欧洲。这是基督诞生前的492年，而亚洲则准备摧毁欧洲的崛起的力量。

　　As a final warning the King of Persia sent messengers to the Greeks asking for "earth and water" as a token of their submission¹. The Greeks promptly² threw the messengers into the nearest well where they would find both "earth and water" in large abundance and thereafter of course peace was impossible.

　　作为最后的警告，波斯国王派使者到希腊要求他们"土地和水"作为他们屈服的象征。希腊人把使者们扔到最近的井里，在那里他们会发现大量的"地球和水"，当然，和平是不可能的。

　　But the Gods of High Olympus watched over their children and when the Phoenician fleet carrying the Persian troops was near Mount Athos, the Storm-God blew his cheeks until he almost burst the veins³ of his brow, and the fleet was destroyed by a terrible hurricane and the Persians were all drowned.

　　但在高大的奥林匹斯山上的众神看着他们的孩子，当腓尼基舰队携带的波斯军队靠近阿索斯山时，风暴神吹他的脸直到他几乎爆裂的额头上的静脉。舰队被一个可怕的飓风所摧毁。波斯人都淹死了。

　　Two years later more Persians came. This time they sailed straight across the Aegean Sea and landed near the village of Marathon. As soon as the Athenians heard this they sent their army of ten thousand men to guard the hills that surrounded the Marathonian plain. At the same time they despatched a fast runner to Sparta to ask for help. But Sparta was envious⁴ of the fame of Athens and refused to come to her assistance.

　　两年后他们又回来了。这一次他们径直穿过了爱琴海，在马拉松村的附近着陆。当雅典人一听到风声，他们就派出一万人的军队守卫住包围的马拉松平原的山脉。同时他们派遣一个跑得快的人到斯巴达寻求帮助。但斯巴达很羡慕雅典的名气而拒绝来帮助她。

1 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。

2 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

3 veins   

n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理

参考例句：

• The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的，感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 envious   

adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的

参考例句：

• I don't think I'm envious of your success.我想我并不嫉妒你的成功。
• She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。