英語短文名人故事 政界精英 第1期:尤里烏斯.凱撒
Julius Caesar 尤里烏斯.凱撒
Nearly two thousand years ago there lived in Rome a man whose name was Julius Caesar. 大約兩千年前，羅馬有一個名叫尤利烏斯·凱撒的人。
He was the greatest of all the Romans. 他是全體羅馬人中最偉大的人。
Why was he so great? 他為什么這么偉大呢?
He was a brave warrior，and had conquered many countries for Rome. 他是個勇敢的戰(zhàn)士，為羅馬征服了許多國家。
He was wise in planning and doing. 他計劃周密，辦事精明。
He knew how to make men both love and fear him. 他懂得如何讓人們既愛他又怕他。
At last he made himself the ruler of Rome. 最后他讓自己當(dāng)上了羅馬的統(tǒng)治者。
Some said he wished to become its king. 有人說他想成為羅馬國王。
But the Romans at that time did not believe in kings. 但那時候羅馬并不信任國王。
Once when Caesar was passing through a little country village, all the men, women and children of the place came out to see him. 有一次，凱撒途經(jīng)一個小村莊，這個地方的男女老少都出來看他。
There were not more than fifty of them, all together, and they were led by their mayor，who told each one what to do. 總共不到50人，由他們的市長率領(lǐng)。市長告訴每一個人做什么。
These simple people stood by the roadside and watched Caesar pass. 這些純樸的人站在路邊看著凱撒走過。
The mayor looked very proud and happy for he was not the ruler of this village. 市長看上去既驕傲又得意，難道不是因為他是這個村莊的統(tǒng)治者嗎?
He felt that he was almost as great as Caesar himself. 他感到自己幾乎像凱撒一樣偉大了。
Some of the ranking officers who were with Caesar laughed. 隨同凱撒的一些高級官員都笑了。
They said, "See how that fellow struts at the head of his little flock!” 他們說:“看，這群人前頭的那個家伙有多神氣呀!”
"Laugh as you will." said Caesar, he has reason to be proud. “你們想怎么笑就怎么笑吧，”凱撒說。他有他驕傲的理由。
"I would rather be the head man of a village than the second man in Rome!" “我寧愿做一村之長，也不做羅馬的第二號人物。”
At another time, Caesar was crossing a narrow sea in a boat. 還有一次，凱撒乘小船橫渡一個不寬的海面。
Before he was half way to the farther shore, a storm overtook him. 劃出還不到一半的路程時，遇到了暴風(fēng)雨風(fēng)猛烈地刮著，
The wind blew hard; the waves dashed high; the lightning flashed; the thunder rolled. 波浪沖天，電閃雷鳴。
It seemed every minute as though the boat would sink. 看上去這條船馬上就要沉沒了。
The captain was in great fright. 船長害怕極了。
He had crossed the sea many times, but never in such a storm as this. 他曾多次橫渡大海，但是從沒有遇到過這樣的暴風(fēng)雨。
He trembled with fear; he could not guide the boat; he fell down upon his knees; he moaned, "All is lost! All is lost!" 他嚇得渾身發(fā)抖，無法再掌舵了。他跪下嘟咬著:“全完了!全完了!”
But Caesar was not afraid. He bade the man get up and take his oars again. 但是凱撒一點也不害怕。他吩咐那個人站起來，重新拿起漿來。
"Why should you be afraid?" he said. “你為什么害怕呢?”他問。
"The boat will not be lost; for you have Caesar on board." “這條船不會沉沒的，因為凱撒在船上。”
