BBC英国史

To push back the Viking onslaught,to repair some of the terrible damage they'd done,

想要抵御住维京海盗的猛攻 在他们留下的废墟之中重建家园

would need more than just a competent tribal warrior chief.

仅有一个骁勇善战的部落首领是远不够的

It would need someone with a vision,a vision not just of victory, but of government;

他还须具有深谋远略 不仅着眼于胜利 更要善于管理

someone who could harness Anglo-Saxon energy and determination to Roman military discipline.

一个能将盎格鲁-撒克逊部落力量与决心 转变成罗马式军纪的领袖

It was going to need, in fact, a local Charlemagne,with the intelligence and imagination of a truly Roman ruler.

实际就是需要一位查理曼大帝式的首领 一位极具天赋与想象力的真正罗马统治者

He, of course, was Alfred.Our cherished image of Alfred is of the hero on the run,up against steep odds, muddling through,

这便是阿尔弗雷德大王 我们对阿尔弗雷德大王的印象 或许是落难英雄 或是绝处逢生 吉人天相

taking it on the chin when scolded for burning the cakes.

甚至是因烤糊蛋糕而受责骂的临时工

But the story which really tells you all you need to know about Alfred

而真正应该讲述的 你不可不知的阿尔弗雷德

isn't set in the swamps of Somerset but on the Palatine Hill of Rome

并非萨默塞特泥沼中的他 而是在罗马帕拉蒂尼山巅的他

and is more startling and illuminating and it happens to be true.

这个他更加光辉耀眼 也更为真实

As a small boy,Alfred's father, King Aethelwulf, sent him on a special mission to Rome to see Pope Leo IV,

阿尔弗雷德小时候 他的父亲埃特尔伍尔夫国王 交付他一项特殊任务 去罗马拜见教皇圣良四世

probably to ask the Pope's help in the struggle against the Vikings.

大概是在与维京海盗的鏖战中 请求教皇的支援

In a ceremony, the Pope dressed the little fellow in the imperial purple of a Roman consul

一次典礼上 教皇让这小伙子穿上了 罗马执政官所穿的紫袍

and wound a sword belt around his waist,turning little Alfred into a true Roman Christian warrior.

并扎上佩剑腰带 让小阿尔弗雷德成为了一名真正的基督教罗马战士

词汇解析

1、mission

(尤指赴他国的)使命，重要任务

Salisbury sent him on a diplomatic mission to North America.

索尔兹伯里派他到北美执行一项外交任务。

He has been on a mission to help end Lebanon's political crisis.

他已经被派执行一项旨在帮助结束黎巴嫩政治危机的使命。

驻外使团;出国代表团

the head of the mission in South Africa.

驻南非代表团团长

a senior member of a diplomatic mission.

外交使团的高级成员

使命;天职

He viewed his mission in life as protecting the weak from the evil.

他认为自己毕生的使命就是保护弱者不受邪恶势力的欺凌。

There is an enormous sense of mission in his speech and gesture.

他的一言一行都带着强烈的使命感。

2、discipline

训练;纪律;风纪

Order and discipline have been placed in the hands of headmasters and governing bodies.

维持秩序和纪律的工作已交接给了校长和管理机构了。

discipline problems in the classroom.

课堂纪律问题

可训练;磨炼

inner disciplines like transcendental meditation.

内省，如冥思静坐

The discipline of studying music can help children develop good work habits.

音乐学习中的训练可以帮助孩子们培养好的工作习惯。

惩罚;处罚;处分

The workman was disciplined by his company but not dismissed.

那个工人受到了公司的处罚，但并没有被解雇。

Her husband had at last taken a share in disciplining the boy.

她的丈夫最后也加了进来一起教训那个男孩。