纪录片《凡尔赛宫》 75革命的爆发是个漫长的过程（在线收听）

In August 1788, the treasury was bare.

1788年8月 国库已经耗光

The government was forced to summon an Estates-General.

政府被迫召开一个全阶级会议

It really was a last throw of the dice.

这是最后的孤注一掷

Despite their huge numerical superiority,

尽管有人数上的绝对优势

the votes of the Third Estate only counted the same

第三阶级到场的投票数只等同于

as those of the nobility and the clergy.

到场贵族和神职人员的投票数

You will always have a situation

情况一直都是这样

where the two votes of the so-called privileged orders,

这两个所谓的特权秩序的投票

that is the nobility and the clergy,

也就是代表着少于50万的人口的

representing maybe less than half a million people,

贵族和神职人员

will always outweigh the wishes of the 27.5 million people

却总是比第三等级的

of the Third Estate.

275万人民的意愿更重要

So, straight away, you've got a political deadlock

所以 只要三级会议一召开

as soon as the Estates-General meet.

就立刻形成僵局

And getting out of that deadlock

为了打破僵局

will be what happens over the summer of 1789

1789年的夏天就发生了激烈的冲突

that triggers the Revolution.

从而引发了革命