美国学生人类历史第63期:抗击波斯人侵的战争(3)

 　　The other Greek cities followed her example with the exception of tiny Plataea which sent a thousand men. On the twelfth of September of the year 490, Miltiades, the Athenian commander, threw this little army against the hordes¹ of the Persians. The Greeks broke through the Persian barrage² of arrows and their spears caused terrible havoc³ among the disorganised Asiatic troops who had never been called upon to resist such an enemy.That night the people of Athens watched the sky grow red with the flames of burning ships. Anxiously they waited for news. At last a little cloud of dust appeared upon the road that led to the North. It was Pheidippides, the runner. He stumbled and gasped⁴ for his end was near. Only a few days before had he returned from his errand to Sparta. He had hastened to join Miltiades. That morning he had taken part in the attack and later he had volunteered to carry the news of victory to his beloved city. The people saw him fall and they rushed forward to support him. "We have won," he whispered and then he died, a glorious death which made him envied of all men.As for the Persians, they tried, after this defeat, to land near Athens but they found the coast guarded and disappeared, and once more the land of Hellas was at peace.

　　除了小城市普拉提亚之外希腊其他的小城市也效仿她都派出了一千人。在公元490那年的的九月十二日，雅典的指挥官米太亚德指挥这个小小的军队攻打波斯人的部落。希腊人冲破亚洲军队发射的密集的箭和矛给亚洲军队造成了很大的破坏。由于亚洲军队从来没有遇到过这样的劲敌，亚洲军队出现了组织混乱。那天晚上，雅典人民看着那片被燃烧的船只的火焰照着通红的天空，焦急地等待着消息。最后，一小团尘埃出现在通向北方的道路上。这是那个跑得快的人，费迪皮迪兹。他绊了一下，喘着气，他的末日近了。就在前几天，他完成去他斯巴达的使命之后。他赶紧加入米太亚德率领的部队。那天早上，他参加了袭击，后来他自愿把胜利的消息传给了他心爱的城市。人们看见他摔倒了，他们冲上前去支持他。"我们赢了，"他低声说，然后他死了。这是一次让所以人都嫉妒的一次光荣的牺牲。至于波斯人，他们在这次失败后，可在雅典附近登陆，直捣希腊人的心脏。可此时，雅典的海岸线上已有重兵把守，波斯人只好撤回亚洲。马拉松平原的胜利为希腊赢得了短暂的和平。

1 hordes   

n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落

参考例句：

• There are always hordes of tourists here in the summer. 夏天这里总有成群结队的游客。
• Hordes of journalists jostled for position outside the conference hall. 大群记者在会堂外争抢位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 barrage   

n.火力网，弹幕

参考例句：

• The attack jumped off under cover of a barrage.进攻在炮火的掩护下开始了。
• The fierce artillery barrage destroyed the most part of the city in a few minutes.猛烈的炮火几分钟内便毁灭了这座城市的大部分地区。

3 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。

4 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》