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France, since the defeat of the Seven Years' War,
法国自为时七年的战争失败以后
had been desperate to get revenge on England.
一直渴望向英国复仇
Louis XVI would like nothing more than to attack the old enemy.
路易十六最希望的就是对老对手发动攻击
But, on the other hand, there's a problem.
但另一方面 有一个问题
If they do that, are they not supporting insurgence?
如果他们这么做 是否是在支持暴动呢
And indeed insurgents, many of whom were republicans,
而那些起义者 大多数是共和党人
and avowed republicans like that.
以及拥护共和党的人
And so, it's difficult.
所以 选择陷入两难
And so, to begin with, they take a kind of a middle course.
因此在开始时 他们作了折中选择
Louis approved the aid,
路易同意提供支持
but insisted that everything was done in secret.
但坚持一切都要秘密进行
Using a certain amount of covert skulduggery,
用一系列的掩盖手法
weapons and arms are sent off to help the Americans
武器被送去支援美国人
fight off the British
对抗英国
attempt to reconquer the rebellious colonies.
重新征服殖民地的野心
重点讲解
一.defeat：n.挫败, 败北 vt.战胜, 击败, 使...不能实现
【语法用法】
defeat既作类名词，也可作抽象名词，如a defeat（一次挫败）和in defeat（挫败）；
defeat后接不同的介词时，表示不同意思。例如his defeat of the enemy表示“他打败敌人”，his defeat by the enemy表示“他被敌人打败”，而his defeat表示“他被别人打败”。
【词义辨析】
conquer, overcome, overthrow, defeat, beat, subdue
这些动词均含“征服，战胜”之意。
conquer侧重战胜和控制。书面用词。
overcome多指战胜或克服非物质的东西，如困难和不良习惯等。语气较弱也可指在斗争或竞争中战胜或压倒对方。
overthrow指彻底击败对手，使其丧失力量和地位。
defeat普通用词，多指在战争、比赛、竞选或辩论中战胜对手，侧重胜利的暂时性。
beat口笔语均可用，可与defeat换用。
subdue正式用词，与conquer同义，但强调失败后的臣服状态；也可用作借喻，表克制、压抑感情、欲望等。
【例句用法】
He was depressed by his defeat.
失败让他沮丧。
The hopes were defeated.
希望落空了。
Our men were heavily defeated in the battle.
我军在此战役中受到重创。
二.insist：vt.坚持, 坚决主张 vi.坚持, 强调
【词义辨析】
insist, persist, persevere, adhere, cling
这些动词均有“坚持”之意。
insist通常用于对意见、主张等的坚持。
persist用于褒义指坚持继续做某事，但更常用于贬义，指不听劝告，顽固坚持。
persevere含褒义，强调坚持不懈的努力。
adhere与to连用，指坚持意见、计划或承诺等，含坚持不懈之意。
cling和to连用，指对信仰、意见、习惯等的坚持。
【例句用法】
The bank will insist on collateral for a loan of that size.
银行对这样的大笔贷款一定要有抵押物。
Since you insist, I must amend the letter of credit.
既然你坚持，我就只好修改信用证。
He insisted that he had done right.
他坚决认为自己做对了。
He insisted on paying for the meal.
他坚持要付饭钱。