世界小史 第151期:宗教

 　　They could practice their own religion and speak their own language, and in many ways they benefited from all the good things the Romans brought, such as roads.

　　他们可以保持自己的宗教并讲自己的语言。是的，罗马人也带给他们各种各样好的东西，尤其是罗马人所修的路。

　　Many of these, splendidly paved, led out from Rome across the plains and over distant mountain passes to remote and inaccessible¹ parts of the empire.

　　许多极好的、铺石子的路从罗马出发穿过平原越过最遥远的山隘。

　　It must be said that the Romans didn't build these roads out of consideration for the people living there.

　　罗马人这样做不见得是为了替遥远的地方的居民谋利益，

　　On the contrary, their aim was to send news and troops to all parts of the empire in the shortest possible time.

　　而是为了便于他们自己能够相当迅速地把军队和消息送达帝国的各个地区，

　　The Romans were superb engineers. Most impressive of all their works were their magnificent aqueducts.

　　罗马人是出色的工程师。此外他们也善于修建实用的建筑物。

　　These brought water from distant mountains and carried it down through valleys and into the towns – clear, fresh water to fill innumerable fountains and bathhouses,

　　尤其是罗马人铺设了妙不可言的水管，远远地从高山铺进山谷，铺进城市，于是城市里就有了许多清澈的水井和浴场，

　　so that Rome's provincial² officials could enjoy all the comforts they were used to having at home.

　　好让罗马官员在异乡也能享用到他们在家乡惯于享用的东西。

1 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

2 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。