常春藤生活英语【13】Julius Caesar 西泽大帝

Julius Caesar, the Roman military and political leader, was born in 100 BC. He is considered to be one of the ancient world's mightiest¹ leaders. Caesar caused a civil war in 49 BC. After winning the war, he became the head of the Roman world. He gained control of the government and began to make changes to Roman law and life.

Citizens of Rome between the ages of 20 and 40 were not allowed to leave Italy for more than three years unless they were on a military assignment. This law was established so that local farms and businesses would still operate and corruption4 from abroad would also be prevented. This law showed that Caesar had the best interest of his country at heart.

There were many festivals in his honor, and people built statues and temples to celebrate the great Julius Caesar. However, all of the money that was being spent on ceremonies started to anger many members of the Roman Senate. One of them was Caesar's closest friend, Brutus.

西泽大帝生于公元前100年，是罗马的军事和政治领袖。他被视为古代最强大的领导者之一。西泽于公元前49年引发一场内战。在他打了胜战后，西泽变成罗马世界的领袖。他取得了政府的掌控权，并着手改变罗马的律法和生活。

除非身负军队任务，否则二十到四十岁的罗马人民不准离开意大利超过三年。设立这条法律的目的是为了让当地的农田和生意仍可照常运作，也为了避免来自海外的贪腐。这条法律显示出西泽以国家利益为优先考虑。

许多庆典是为了纪念他而举办，人们也建造雕像和寺庙来赞颂伟大的西泽大帝。不过花费在这些庆典的所有开销开始惹恼了许多在罗马元老院的议员。其中一位是西泽最亲近的朋友，布鲁特斯。

Building Your Vocabulary

1bmighty　a. 强大的，强有力的
A mighty³ empire once ruled the world.
一个强大的帝国曾经统治了世界。

2.bestablish　vt. 建立
The new company tried to establish its name in the market.
这家新公司试图在市场上建立名声。

3.boperate　vi. 营运，经营
Gary's company operates all over China.
盖瑞的公司在全中国都有生意活动。

4.bcelebrate　vt. 颂扬，赞美
These poems celebrate the beauty of life.
这些诗词赞扬了生命的美好。

5.banger vt. 使发怒，使生气
What you said really angered your mother.
你所说的话让你妈妈真的生气了。

Phrases for Learning

have the best interest of...at heart　　(极为)关心……的利益
Miss Nien always has the best interests of her students at heart.
粘老师总是处处为她学生的利益为着想。

参考字词

1.Roman　a. 罗马（人）的

2.civil war n. 内战

3.assignment　n. 任务，工作

4.corruption²　n. 腐化；贪污

5.ceremony　n. 仪式，典礼

6.Senate　n.（古罗马的）元老院
Senator⁴　n. 元老院议员

Enjoy Box
西泽的一生

西泽成长于一个充满政治斗争的环境，年轻时因言论激进，而被当时的罗马领袖苏拉（Sulla）视为眼中钉，因此展开逃亡生涯。三年后，成为律师的西泽回到罗马，雄辩的演说技巧成为日后广得民心的利器。西泽十九岁时投笔从戎，多年的军旅生活增长他的军事才干和毅力。离开军队后，西泽担任财政官和市政官，以高明的政治手腕，让他声望大增，成为民主派公认的领袖。于政界崭露头角后，西泽继续他的军事作为，在高卢战争和内战获胜后，集军、政、司法大权于一身，还得到『祖国之父』的美名。

成为罗马最高统治者的西泽，因独裁和大幅改革，引发元老院议员不满，最后遇刺身亡。在莎士比亚的名剧《西泽大帝》中，布鲁特斯对众人说：『Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.（吾爱西泽，但吾更爱罗马）』。据说西泽遇刺时，本可逃出生天，但当他发现挚友布鲁特斯持刀相向时，他永不认输的精神心防瞬间瓦解，无奈地将生命奉上，悲剧性地结束了风光的一生。他临终前的最后一句话为：『You, too, Brutus?（你也有份，布鲁特斯？）』。

Tips In Use

...leave Italy for more than...　（……离开意大利超过……）

1."more than..."在本句中表『多于……』。
例：
More than 10 apples are in the basket.
=Over 10 apples are in the basket.
（篮子里有超过十颗苹果。）

2.此外，"more than..."也可以用来表示『不仅∕非常……』，之后可置名词、形容词或副词以供修饰。
例：
Tammy is more than curious about the singer's scandal⁵.
（塔米对那位歌手的绯闻十分好奇。）

1 mightiest   

adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的

参考例句：

• \"If thou fearest to leave me in our cottage, thou mightiest take me along with thee. “要是你害怕把我一个人留在咱们的小屋里，你可以带我一块儿去那儿嘛。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
• Silent though is, after all, the mightiest agent in human affairs. 确实，沉默毕竟是人类事件中最强大的代理人。 来自互联网

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

4 senator   

n.参议员，评议员

参考例句：

• The senator urged against the adoption of the measure.那参议员极力反对采取这项措施。
• The senator's speech hit at government spending.参议员的讲话批评了政府的开支。

5 scandal   

n.丑事，丑闻，流言蜚语，反感，愤慨

参考例句：

• Scandal and gossip are meat and drink to him.各种丑闻和流言蜚语是他最感兴趣的事。
• His theft from the shop caused scandal in the village.他因偷商店的东西引起全村的公愤。