BBC英国史

When they emerged from the vivats and incense,

在欢呼喝彩 袅袅焚香中

they were the french-speaking sovereigns of an enormous realm

来自法语区的他们接管了幅员辽阔的帝国

which stretched from the Pyrenees through to the vineyards of Gascony,

自庇里牛斯山起 到加斯科尼的葡萄园

along the cod-fish run coastal waters of Brittany,

沿着鳕鱼丰富的布列塔尼海域

over the Channel to England, along the length and breadth of the country to the Welsh borders and the windy moors of Cumbria and Northumbria.

跨过海峡直达英格兰 顺着整个威尔士边界 越过广袤乡村 止于坎布里亚和诺森布里亚 多风的原野

And it was a perfect time to come into this colossal inheritance.

继承如此庞大的财富 任谁都会欢欣喜悦

For the mid-12th century really was the springtime of the middle ages.

而十二世纪中叶 确实是中世纪的春天

Literacy and learning were spreading from the cathedral schools in Paris and Canterbury.

文化的风潮始于巴黎 及坎特伯雷的教堂学校 迅速席卷开来

Monasteries were being founded at a record pace,

修道院如雨后春笋般建立起来

and although they were supposed to be purged of worldliness,

尽管它们应该是远离世俗的清静之地

before long they were the engines of economic power,Producers of wool, master of the mills and rivers.

而在很久以前 它们却是国家经济的带动者 羊毛的生产者 磨坊与河流的所有者

So if this was indeed springtime, Henry and Eleanor had just got themselves the fattest and the ripest fruit.

在那个春光明媚的时代 亨利和埃莉诺 刚刚摘得了最为成熟饱满的果实

It's unlikely they ever thought of it as a true empire in the Roman sense of a single realm.

他们并没有如同罗马统治者那样 视其为绝对统一的帝国

Its many regions were treated separately,according to their customs.

根据各地的习俗 很多地方也受到区别对待

While Westminster was increasingly at the heart of administration,

当威斯敏斯特逐渐地 成为权力机构的中心

Rouen in Normandy, Chinon in Anjou and Poitiers in Aquitaine were just as important.

诺曼底的鲁昂 安茹的希侬 阿基坦的普瓦捷也还是同样重要

It was rather the greatest and grandest family estate in all christendom.

这些不过是基督教国家中 最雄厚无匹的家族财产罢了

That surely was enough to be going on with.

当然也就足以应付一时

词汇解析

1、emerge

出现;露出

Richard was waiting outside the door as she emerged.

她出现的时候，理查德正在门外等着。

The postman emerged from his van soaked to the skin.

邮递员从他的厢式货车中出来，浑身湿透了。

（从困境或不好的经历中）摆脱出来，熬出来

There is growing evidence that the economy is at last emerging from recession.

有越来越多的证据表明经济终于开始摆脱萧条。

their plans to emerge from bankruptcy by February of next year.

他们计划于明年2月之前摆脱破产困境

（事实或结果）显露，显现，暴露

the growing corruption that has emerged in the past few years.

过去几年暴露出来的越来越多的腐败现象

It soon emerged that neither the July nor August mortgage repayment had been collected.

很快就发现，原来7月和8月的抵押还款都没有偿还。

2、separate

分开的;单独的;独立的

Each villa has a separate sitting-room.

每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。

They are now making plans to form their own separate party.

他们如今正计划组建自己的独立政党。

不同的;各别的

Use separate chopping boards for raw meats, cooked meats, vegetables and salads.

切生肉、熟肉、蔬菜和拌色拉的青菜时要使用不同的切菜板。

Men and women have separate exercise rooms.

男女有各自的健身房。