世界小史 第69期:妻子和孩子

 　　Added to which, the Athenians all knew what was at stake: their freedom and their lives, and those of their wives and children.

　　再加上全部的雅典人都知道，这关系到什么：关系到他们的自由和他们的生命，关系到他们妻子和孩子们的生命。

　　So there at Marathon they formed ranks, and fell upon the startled Persians. And they were victorious¹.

　　所以他们在马拉松集结并向受惊的波斯人发起攻击。雅典人打了胜仗。

　　The Persians suffered heavy losses. Those remaining took to their ships and fled. Such a victory!

　　许多波斯人阵亡了。剩下的波斯人登船逃跑了。竟然在获胜几率如此低的情况下取得了胜利！

　　And against such odds²! Others in his place might have thought of nothing but celebration.

　　其他人在取得这样一次胜利后也许只会想着庆祝。

　　But Miltiades was shrewd as well as brave.

　　但是米尔提亚德斯不但勇敢，而且还富有智谋。

　　He had noted³ that instead of sailing back the way they had come, the Persian ships had turned towards Athens, which lay undefended and open to attack.

　　他注意到波斯舰队根本就没有真正驶离而去，而是向雅典方向驶去了，现在雅典根本就没有一个士兵，轻易就可以被攻破。

　　But as luck would have it, the distance from Marathon to Athens was greater by sea than by land.

　　幸好海路比从马拉松出发的陆路远。人们得划船绕过一个长长的岬角，

　　For ships had to negotiate a long spit of land easily crossed on foot.

　　而这个岬角人们也可以步行横越的。

　　This Miltiades did. He sent a messenger ahead, who was to run as fast as he could, to warn the Athenians.

　　米尔提亚德斯就这样做了。他派遣一名使者以尽量快的速度跑去提醒雅典人。

1 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。

2 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。