BBC英国史

In the summer of 1348,

1348年夏

the English could be forgiven for thinking themselves unconquerable.

英格兰人自诩天下无敌的狂言 或许也情有可原

They had vanquished the old enemies,the Scots and the French.

因为他们已经击败了宿敌 苏格兰人和法国人

Their king, Edward III,seemed the most powerful ruler in Europe.

他们的国王 爱德华三世 一跃而成欧洲最强悍君主

But they would be conquered,

然而他们终将一尝败绩

and by a king against whom neither longbows nor warships offered any defence.

在这个进攻者面前 长弓战舰毫无招架之力

King Death.His weapon was plague,

那就是死神 他的武器就是瘟疫

and by the end of his terrible campaign,

在他那毛骨悚然的战役结束时

almost half the people of Britain would be dead.

几乎一半的英国人死于非命

The country would survive the trauma,

这个国家终将走出伤痛

but first it had to undergo a purgatory of unimaginable misery,

但首先 它必须忍受 难以想象的悲惨炼狱

because hard on the heels of pestilence would come rebellion and civil war.

因为瘟疫来袭后不多久 叛乱和内战接踵而来

The century of plague was a pilgrimage through pain,

整个世纪的瘟疫 是充满痛苦的朝圣之旅

and this is the story of that journey.

而本集所诉说的 就是这段故事

词汇解析

1、conquer

占领;征服

During 1936, Mussolini conquered Abyssinia.

1936年，墨索里尼攻占了阿比西尼亚。

Early in the eleventh century the whole of England was again conquered by the Vikings.

11世纪早期，整个英格兰再次被北欧海盗征服。

克服;攻克

I was certain that love was quite enough to conquer our differences.

我相信爱足以克服我们的种种差异。

He has never conquered his addiction to smoking.

他一直未能戒除烟瘾。

2、campaign

(社会、政治)运动,活动

During his election campaign he promised to put the economy back on its feet.

他在竞选时许诺将重振经济。

Apacs has launched a campaign to improve the training of staff.

雅拍体育用品公司开展了加强员工培训的活动。

发起运动;开展活动

We are campaigning for law reform.

我们正在宣传呼吁进行法律改革。

Mr Burns has actively campaigned against a hostel being set up here.

伯恩斯先生积极活动,反对在这儿建青年旅舍。

(包括一系列战斗的)战役

The allies are intensifying their air campaign.

联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。

a bombing campaign.

轮番轰炸