But these were not at all like those of the Greeks, where leading citizens took part in sporting contests and sang hymns in honor of the Father of the Gods.

这当然不是希腊人那样的由贵族公民自己为纪念主神而进行的体育活动和唱歌，

These would have seemed ridiculous to any Roman.

这让罗马人觉得滑稽可笑。

What serious, self-respecting man would sing in public, or take off his formal, many-pleated toga to throw javelins before an audience?

哪个认真、严肃、威严的人会唱歌或脱下他庄重的、多褶裥的衣裳，脱下宽外袍并当着别人的面投掷标枪呢？

Such things were best left to captives.

人们让俘虏干这样的事情。

It was they who had to wrestle and fight, confront wild beasts and stage whole battles in the arena under the eyes of thousands – sometimes tens of thousands – of spectators.

他们必须在大剧场在成千上万人的眼前角斗和格斗，与野兽搏斗并表演整个战斗场面。

It all got very serious and bloody, but that was just what made it so exciting for the Romans.

这种搏斗进行得十分认真和残忍。还恰好可刺激罗马人，

Especially when, instead of trained professionals, men who had been condemned to death were thrown into the arena to grapple with lions, bears, tigers and even elephants.

人们不仅让训练有素的运动员去搏斗，而且人们也可判处死刑的人扔进大剧场，扔给野兽，扔给狮子和熊，也扔给老虎和大象。

Anyone who put on shows like these, with generous handouts of grain, was loved by the crowd and could do what he pleased.

谁能给人民看很多这样的精彩竞赛并分发给他们许多粮食，谁就在城里受到欢迎，就可以为所欲为。