BBC英国史

Patrick understood that the monastic ideal of retreat was perfectly matched with the needs of local royal clans.

帕特里克明白 宗教退避的思想 与当地部落首领的需求完美契合

So monasteries like Arran, off the gull-swept Irish coast,with their beehive cells and encircling stone walls,

因此阿蓝岛式的修道院遍布爱尔兰海岸 并配以蜂窝样的小屋及环绕垒砌的石墙

looked like a stronghold, an encampment for God.

犹如一个基督教大本营

But what about the dragon slayers on the mainland?Who converted them?

而大陆之上的屠龙者呢 又是谁改变了他们的信仰

One man gives us the answer.

有一个人给了我们答案

To all schoolchildren of my generation,growing up in the 1950s,he will always be the Venerable Bede.

对于我们这一代 成长于50年代的小学生来说 能给出答案的只能是 可敬的比德

Bede was not just the founding father of English history.

比德不仅推动了英格兰历史发展的进程

Arguably, he was the first consummate storyteller in all of English literature.

并可以说 在所有文献中 他是完整记述历史的第一人

He was not exactly well travelled.He spent virtually his entire life here in Jarrow.

他其实并未游历过许多地方 几乎一生都在贾罗度过

But in a few luminous lines he could conjure up not just the world of holy men and hermits

但只需一点线索 他的脑海中便能显现 不光是圣人与隐士

but the world of the great timbered halls of Saxon kings,with their firelight and roasting meat,or the death throes of a great war-horse.

还有撒克逊国王雄伟的会客大堂之上 篝火通明的宴会 以及英勇的战马死前的悲鸣

It was this masterful grip on narrative that made Bede not just an authentic historian

便是凭着如此娴熟严谨的叙事手法 让比德成为了一个可信的历史学家

but also a brilliant propagandist for the early church.

和一位早期教会伟大的传播者

词汇解析

1、convert

(使)改变;更改;(使)转变

The signal will be converted into digital code.

信号会被转变为数字代码。

naturally occurring substances which the body can convert into vitamins.

自然产生的能被身体转化成维生素的物质

改造，改建(房屋等)

By converting the loft, they were able to have two extra bedrooms.

把阁楼改造一下，他们就可以多出两间卧室。

the entrepreneur who wants to convert County Hall into an hotel.

想把市政厅改建成旅馆的企业家

(使)改变宗教（或政治）信仰

If you try to convert him, you could find he just walks away.

如果你试图改变他的信仰，他就会走开。

He was a major influence in converting Godwin to political radicalism.

戈德温变成政治激进主义者主要是受他的影响。

2、consummate

造诣极高的;技艺精湛的;炉火纯青的

He acted the part with consummate skill.

他以精湛的演技饰演了这一角色。

Those familiar with Sanders call him a consummate politician.

那些熟悉桑德斯的人都称他为手段高明的政治家。

圆房;通过性交使(婚姻或两人关系)圆满

They consummated their passion only after many hesitations and delays.

他们几经踌躇和拖延后才尽情宣泄了激情。

完成，达成(协议等)

There have been several close calls, but no one has been able to consummate a deal.

有好几次死里逃生，却没有人做成一笔交易。