BBC英国史

At the very end, Orderic Vitalis puts into William's mouth

最后 奥尔德里克·维塔利斯强迫威廉

an extraordinary deathbed confession,

进行了鹦鹉学舌般非凡的临终忏悔

so penitential, so utterly out of character that it seems on the face of it completely incredible.

言辞极其忏悔 完全和他的性格不符 乍一看来 真是让人难以置信

But whether William actually spoke those words or not,

但是无论威廉是否真的说出了这些话

they clearly reflected what some,

它们都反映出了一些人

perhaps many people, felt about William the conqueror that when all the battles were won,

或许是许多人眼中的征服者威廉 这便是 即便取胜疆埸

when the laws were all laid down,he was what he had always been,a brutal adventurer.

纵然安邦定律 他却依然故我 一个野蛮的冒险者

And the conquest of England not a righteous crusade,but just a grand throw of history's dice.

征服英格兰的 并非正义之师 只不过是历史的偶然

I appoint no one my heir to the crown of England for I did not attain that honour by hereditary right,

我未指定任何子嗣 为英格兰王位的继承者 因为我并未获此殊荣世袭统治

but wrestled it from a perjured King Harold

我靠着一场不顾一切的战争与无数人的鲜血

in a desperate battle with much effusion of human blood.

从背誓者哈罗德手中夺过王位

I have persecuted its native inhabitants beyond all reason.

我毫无理由的残害原住民

Whether gentle or simple,I cruelly oppressed them.Many I unjustly disinherited.

无论是出身高贵和贫贱 我对他们进行了残忍的压迫 我不义地剥夺了很多人继承祖产的权利

Innumerable multitudes, especially in the county of York,perished through me by famine or the sword.

数不清的子民 特别是约克郡的人们 因我而惨死于屠杀与饥荒

Having therefore made my way to the throne of that kingdom by so many crimes,

我靠着这些不义的行为 最终坐上了国王的宝座

I dare not leave it to anyone but God alone,lest after my death worse should happen by my means.

我不敢将王位交与除上帝外的任何人 以免我死后 我所造之孽继续祸害人间

词汇解析

1、actually

的确;真实地;事实上

One afternoon, I grew bored and actually fell asleep for a few minutes.

一天下午，我觉得有些无聊，还真的睡着了一小会儿。

Interest is only payable on the amount actually borrowed.

利息只能根据实际借款数目给付。

（引入新话题）其实，说实在的

Well actually, John, I rang you for some advice.

这么说吧，约翰，我给你打电话是想得到些建议。

Actually, let's just read this little bit where you've made them bump into each other.

这样吧，我们就只读你让他们偶遇这一小段吧。

2、persecute

(因种族、信仰）迫害，残害，压迫

Mr Weaver and his family have been persecuted by the authorities for their beliefs.

韦弗先生和他的家人由于其信仰而遭到当局的迫害。

They began by brutally persecuting the Catholic Church.

他们开始残酷迫害天主教。

找…的麻烦；骚扰；纠缠

He said his first wife persecuted him with her unreasonable demands.

他说他的第一任妻子总是拿无理要求纠缠他。

Vic was bullied by his father and persecuted by his sisters.

维克受到父亲的欺压和姊妹们的纠缠。