BBC英国史

Cumberland gave a taste of what he was capable of at Carlisle.

坎伯兰公爵在卡莱尔展示了他杰出的才能

The garrison had been captured by Jacobites on their march south,

尽管詹姆斯二世党人在南下的时候 端掉了这里的驻军

but they were unable to hold out against Cumberland's advance.

但他们仍无法抵抗坎伯兰公爵的进攻

Into this tiny space were crammed hundreds of Jacobite soldiers,

在这个狭窄的空间里 挤着几百名詹姆斯二世党军队的士兵

locked up without any air or any water.

关在这里没有空气 也没有水源

What they did have were these shiny stones.

有的只是这些发光的石头

Smooth, damp, slimy a terrible memento of their distress.

光滑 潮湿又黏滑的石头 这些都是他们永久的梦魇

To this day, they're called "Licking stones"

直到今天 他们都被称为"舔石"

because the prisoners were brought to such horrible extremities

因为有很多囚犯被送到 这个可怕的绝境

that they were forced and reduced to sliding their tongues

被迫沦落到把他们的舌头

in these cavities to try and collect the pathetic amount of moisture gathered on the rock.

伸到这些洞穴里来收集 岩石里少的可怜的水分

This really was Hanoverian Britain's Black Hole of Calcutta.

这里就是汉诺威王朝时代英国 在加尔各答城的小地牢

By the time winter turned into spring in the Highlands,

待到苏格兰高地上冬去春来之时

it was unmistakably clear that,whatever its temporary successes,the Jacobite war was lost.

形势毫无疑问地表明 尽管取得过短暂性的胜利 詹姆斯二世党人还是战败了

With every passing week,the Hanoverian advantage in men,money and guns told.

随着时间的推移 汉诺威王朝在人力 财力和军力方面的优势逐渐显露出来

The two armies eventually faced each other at Culloden,near Inverness.

最终两支军队在因弗内斯附近的 卡洛登相遇了

Cumberland's force was only a third as big again as the prince's,

坎伯兰公爵的兵力只有美王子的三分之一

but it was lethally better equipped.

但装备更为精良

A new verse of the National Anthem proved to be prophetic as the big guns began to fire.

随着炮声响起 国歌当中的一段歌词 也得到了证实

词汇解析

1、capable

有…能力的;能够…的

He appeared hardly capable of conducting a coherent conversation.

他好像连话都说不清楚。

The kitchen is capable of catering for several hundred people.

厨房能同时容纳数百人进餐。

熟练的;胜任的;有能力的

She's a very capable speaker.

她能说会道。

Her husband was such a fine, capable man.

她丈夫又体贴又能干。

2、hold out

伸出（手等）;递出

'I'm Nancy Drew,' she said, holding out her hand.

“我是南希·德鲁，”她伸出手来说。

Max held out his cup for a refill.

马克斯递过杯子来要再续一杯。

坚持要求;拒绝妥协

I should have held out for a better deal.

我应该坚持要求更优厚的条件的。

He can only hold out a few more weeks.

他只能再坚持几周了。

坚持抵抗;坚决顶住

The guerrillas were holding out in the Paghman valley.

游击队员正在帕格曼山谷地区坚持抵抗。

One prisoner was still holding out on the roof of the jail.

一名犯人仍在监狱的房顶上顽抗。