美国学生人类历史 第95期:罗马帝国的故事(5)

 　　He began his campaign for world-domination with the murder of all Roman citizens who happened to be in Asia Minor¹, men, women and children. Such an act, of course, meant war. The Senate equipped an army to march against the King of Pontus and punish him for his crime. But who was to be commander-in-chief? "Sulla," said the Senate, "because he is Consul².""Marius," said the mob, "because he has been Consul five times and because he is the champion of our rights."

　　作为其世界远征的开始，米特拉达特斯先是杀光了小亚细亚一带的所有罗马公民，连妇孺都不放过。这样的行为对罗马当然意味着战争。元老院装备了一支军队去征讨这位国王，惩罚他的罪行。但究竟由谁来担任统帅呢？元老院说，'当然由苏拉担任，因为他是执政官。"而民众却说，"我们拥护马略，他应该担任军队总指挥。因为他不仅做过五次执政官，而且他维护我们的利益。"

　　Possession is nine points of the law. Sulla happened to be in actual command of the army. He went west to defeat Mithridates and Marius fled to Africa. There he waited until he heard that Sulla had crossed into Asia. He then returned to Italy, gathered a motley crew of malcontents, marched on Rome and entered the city with his professional highwaymen, spent five days and five nights, slaughtering³ the enemies of the Senatorial party, got himself elected Consul and promptly⁴ died from the excitement of the last fortnight.

　　争执中，拥有财产的最终获胜。苏拉事实上控制了军队。他率军东征，讨伐米特拉达特斯，马略被迫逃到非洲，静待反击的时机。当他听说苏拉率领的军队已抵达亚洲，便返回意大利，纠集了一批不满现状的乌合之众，气势汹汹地朝罗马进军。马略率领着这帮人轻而易举地进人罗马城，用五天五夜的时间来-一清洗他在元老院的政治对手。最终，马略让自己顺利当选为执政官，可随即因前两周的过度兴奋而猝死。

　　There followed four years of disorder⁵. Then Sulla, having defeated Mithridates, announced that he was ready to return to Rome and settle a few old scores of his own. He was as good as his word. For weeks his soldiers were busy executing those of their fellow citizens who were suspected of democratic sympathies. One day they got hold of a young fellow who had been often seen in the company of Marius. They were going to hang him when some one interfered⁶. "The boy is too young," he said, and they let him go. His name was Julius Caesar. You shall meet him again on the next page.

　　接下来的4年里，罗马一直处于混乱状态。此时，苏拉打垮了米特拉达特斯，声言已准备好回罗马来了结一些个人恩怨。他确实言出必行。一连好几个星期，他的士兵起劲地屠杀 自己的同胞，只要是被怀疑同情民主 改革的人他们都不放过。一天，他们抓住一个常常陪同马略出人的年轻人，准备将他吊死。这时有旁人说，"饶了他吧！这孩子还太小。"于是士兵放过了他。这位逃过一劫的年轻人名叫裘利斯·恺撒，我们下面马上会讲到他。

1 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

2 consul   

n.领事；执政官

参考例句：

• A consul's duty is to help his own nationals.领事的职责是帮助自己的同胞。
• He'll hold the post of consul general for the United States at Shanghai.他将就任美国驻上海总领事(的职务)。

3 slaughtering   

v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The Revolutionary Tribunal went to work, and a steady slaughtering began. 革命法庭投入工作，持续不断的大屠杀开始了。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• \"Isn't it terrific slaughtering pigs? “宰猪的！ 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

4 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。

5 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

6 interfered   

v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉

参考例句：

• Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》