BBC英国史

This is the point at which Cromwell could've seized power,and everyone expected him to.

克伦威尔本可以在此时独揽大权 每个人都认为他会这样做

But Cromwell wasn't working for himself,he was working for God.

但克伦威尔并不在乎一己私利 他是在代上帝行事

In parliament's place, he'd set up an assembly of men hand-picked for their piety.

他重新组织人填补议会席位 他们皆是精心挑选的虔诚之士

It would be an assembly of saints,

议会成了圣徒的集中地

and his language was very different as he exhorted them to go about their business.

他的口吻也一反从前 他苦心劝诫他们要尽职尽责

Love all the sheep, love the lambs.Love all. Tender all.

珍爱每一头羊 珍爱每一头羊羔 珍爱人人 善待人人

But mystical rapture and politics don't go well together.At least, not in Britain.

但痴迷宗教与治国安邦从来就不是一回事 至少 在不列颠不是

In a few months, the unworkable assembly collapsed,

几个月之内 能力有限的议会便难以为继

its leaders begging Cromwell to put it out of its misery.He duly obliged.

他们祈求克伦威尔能带他们走出困局 克伦威尔责无旁贷

Now there seemed no alternative but to take the crown to become Oliver I.

现在他除了加冕成为奥利佛一世 似乎已经别无选择

This was still a step too far for a man God had told to punish the haughtiness of kings.

而对上帝派来 惩罚国王傲慢的人来说 这又走得太远

So instead he chose to become a Lord Protector.

因此他选择成为护国公

That had a good ring to it.Authority, but not tyranny.

这样就有了一个好名头 摄政 而非独裁

He was king in all but name,but a constitutional sovereign,

除了国王的称谓 他坐拥一切 不过形式改为立宪制国家

ruling with a council and a newly-elected parliament.

由委员会和新议会共同执政

词汇解析

1、expect

预期;预料;期待

a council workman who expects to lose his job in the next few weeks.

预计自己在接下来的几周里会丢掉工作的市政工人

They no longer expect corporate profits to improve.

他们不再期待公司利润会增长。

盼望;期待;等待

I am expecting several important letters but nothing has arrived.

我正在等几封重要的信件，可是一封都没到。

I wasn't expecting a visitor.

我没想到会有人来访。

要求；认为应当得到;指望

He wasn't expecting our hospitality.

他没有指望我们会盛情款待。

I do expect to have some time to myself in the evenings.

我确实希望晚上能有些属于自己的时间。

2、oblige

(形势、规定或法律)强迫，迫使

The storm got worse and worse. Finally, I was obliged to abandon the car and continue on foot.

暴风雨愈发猛烈，我最终不得不弃车步行。

This decree obliges unions to delay strikes.

该法令迫使工会推迟罢工。

施恩惠于；帮…的忙

If you ever need help with the babysitting, I'd be glad to oblige.

如果你什么时候需要找人照看孩子，我很乐意帮忙。

We called up three economists to ask how to eliminate the deficit and they obliged with very straightforward answers.

我们打电话给3位经济学家询问如何消除赤字，他们坦率地给予了答复。

感激不尽;不胜感激

Much obliged for your assistance.

对您的帮助我不胜感激。

Thank you very much indeed, Doctor, I am extremely obliged to you.

大夫，太感谢您了，您真是我的大恩人。