纪录片《美国商业大亨传奇》 铁路之争（7）

The growth of the railroads thrusts

铁路运输的增长

America into the biggest building expansion the country has ever seen,

助推了美国有史以来最为迅猛的建设扩张

led by a new breed of leader.

由新领袖所领导

The story of America isn't just the story of the patriots¹

美国历史并不是一群爱国者

that helped build the democracy.

建立美国民主的故事

The reason the United States is a leading economy in the world is because

美国能够成为世界领导经济体的原因就在于

of the work of entrepreneurs who created entire industries

企业家努力创造出了整个整个的行业

that propelled the United States to be the leader of the free world.

正是这些 让美国能够成为自由世界的领导者

One man, Cornelius Vanderbilt,

科尼利厄斯·范德比尔特

through brute² force and intimidation³,

通过蛮力和恫吓

has made himself the undisputed king of the railroads.

让自己成为了铁路行业无可争辩的王者

He now owns forty percent of America's train lines.

这时 他拥有美国全部铁路线路的40%

But he wants them all.

但他想要所有

To me, it's always "What's next?"

总是在于"下一步是什么"

and I think that's what drives most very successful people.

成功人士都是由这个问题驱动的

It's never about the money.

钱不是意义

I mean, that's a way of keeping score.

钱只是一种计分方式

It's about achievement,

追求的是成就

and it's about winning a game,

是赢得一场游戏

and it's about upping the ante.

是加大赌注

Chicago is America's fastest growing city.

芝加哥是美国增速最快的城市

The line connecting it to New York

连接芝加哥和纽约的线路

is the most traveled and valuable in all the world.

是世界上走过最多 也是最有价值的线路

And it's not Vanderbilt's.

但它却不属于范德比尔特

To make his empire complete,

为了完成他的帝国版图

he must gain control of the Erie Line.

他必须控制伊利铁路公司

The Erie was one of the relatively⁴ early publicly traded corporations.

伊利是一家较早的公开交易公司

Vanderbilt had the advantage of millions and millions of dollars.

范德比尔特拥有数以百万美元计的巨大财富

Deep pockets are always an advantage

有钱总是最大的优势

when you're trying to gain control of a corporation.

特别是在试图取得公司控制权的时候

Vanderbilt instructs his agents

范德比尔特要求他的代理人

to buy up as much stock as possible...

尽量多地买进股票

Buying Erie!

买伊利

Buying Erie!

买伊利

demanding control of the company by the end of the week.

在这周结束之前 控制这家公司

Erie at forty-five!

伊利 价格45

It's a vintage Vanderbilt move

这是范德比尔特惯用的手法

one he pioneered—known today as a "hostile takeover".

他所开创的这种方法 现如今叫作"恶意收购"

Erie, fifty!

伊利 50

But his attempt will be thwarted⁵ by an even more ingenious idea

但他的尝试被另一种更好的创意所挫败

cooked up by two unknowns:

这种想法来自于两位当时名不见经传的人：

Jay Gould and Jim Fisk.

杰·古尔德和吉姆·菲斯克

1 patriots   

爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Abraham Lincoln was a fine type of the American patriots. 亚伯拉罕·林肯是美国爱国者的优秀典型。
• These patriots would fight to death before they surrendered. 这些爱国者宁愿战斗到死，也不愿投降。

2 brute   

n.野兽，兽性

参考例句：

• The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
• That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲，它咬人。

3 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

4 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

5 thwarted   

阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过

参考例句：

• The guards thwarted his attempt to escape from prison. 警卫阻扰了他越狱的企图。
• Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the rain. 我们的野餐计划因雨受挫。