美国学生人类历史 第134期:查理曼大帝(6)

 The Pope, once more sorely beset¹ by his enemies, sent north for help. 可怜的教皇再度卷人旋涡的中心，被敌人四面包围，被迫向北方发出求救的呼吁，

He did not appeal to the ruler of the west-Frankish kingdom, this time. 不过这次他没找西法兰克王国的统治者。

His messengers crossed the Alps and addressed themselves to Otto, 他的信使翻越阿尔卑斯山，去拜见撒克逊亲王奥托，

a Saxon Prince who was recognised as the greatest chieftain of the different Germanic tribes. 他是当时日尔曼各部落所公认的最伟大领导者。

Otto, who shared his people's affection for the blue skies and the gay and beautiful people of the Italian peninsula, hastened to the rescue. 奥托和他的日尔曼族人一样，向来对意大利半岛的蔚蓝天空和欢快美丽的人民抱有好感。

In return for his services, the Pope, Leo VIII, made Otto "Emperor," and the eastern half of Charles' old kingdom was henceforth known as the "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation." 一听到教皇陛下的召唤，他马上率兵救援。作为对奥托忠心效劳的酬报，教皇利奥八世封他为"皇帝"。从此，查理曼王国的东半部分便成为了"日尔曼民族的神圣罗马帝国"。

This strange political creation managed to live to the ripe old age of eight hundred and thirty-nine years. 这一奇特的政治产物以其顽强的生命力延续了很久，一直到839岁的高龄。

In the year 1801, (during the presidency² of Thomas Jefferson,) it was most unceremoniously relegated³ to the historical scrapheap. 公元1801年，即托马斯·杰斐逊就任美国总统那一年，它被毫不留情地扫进了历史垃圾堆。

The brutal⁴ fellow who destroyed the old Germanic Empire was the son of a Corsican notary-public who had made a brilliant career in the service of the French Republic. 摧毁这个旧日尔曼帝国的粗野家伙是一位循规蹈矩的公证员的儿子，来自法国科西嘉岛，他靠着在法兰西共和国服役期间的军功而飞黄腾达。

He was ruler of Europe by the grace of his famous Guard Regiments⁵, but he desired to be something more. 他统帅的近卫军团以骁勇善战著称。在其帮助下，这个人成为了欧洲事实上的统治者，不过他还梦想比这更多的东西。

He sent to Rome for the Pope and the Pope came and stood by 他派人从罗马把教皇请来，为他举行加冕仪式。

while General Napoleon placed the imperial crown upon his own head and proclaimed himself heir to the tradition of Charlemagne. 仪式上，教皇只能尴尬地站在一旁，眼巴巴看着这个身材矮小的家伙亲手把帝国皇冠戴在了自己头上，并大声宣布他是查理曼大帝光荣传统的继承人。此人就是著名的拿破仑将军。

For history is like life. The more things change, the more they remain the same. 历史犹如人生，变幻越无常，但是万变不离其宗。

1 beset   

v.镶嵌；困扰，包围

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• The plan was beset with difficulties from the beginning.这项计划自开始就困难重重。

2 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 relegated   

v.使降级( relegate的过去式和过去分词 )；使降职；转移；把…归类

参考例句：

• She was then relegated to the role of assistant. 随后她被降级做助手了。
• I think that should be relegated to the garbage can of history. 我认为应该把它扔进历史的垃圾箱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

5 regiments   

（军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物

参考例句：

• The three regiments are all under the command of you. 这三个团全归你节制。
• The town was garrisoned with two regiments. 该镇有两团士兵驻守。