美國語文第六冊 第102期:拿破侖·波拿巴的性格(2)
需要補充的是，他不會公開宣稱任何一種信條，他也不會公開發(fā)表任何一種意見：
in the hope of a dynasty, he upheld the crescent; for the sake of a divorce, he bowed before the cross;
懷著對建立王朝的希望，他支持奧斯曼帝國;為了離婚，他在十字架前鞠躬;
the orphan of St. Louis, he became the adopted child of the Republic;
圣路易的孤兒，他成為共和國的養(yǎng)子;
and, with a parricidal ingratitude, on the ruins both of the throne and the tribune, he reared the throne of his despotism.
還有，在王座和講壇的廢墟上，他憑借殺長上者的忘恩負義，樹立起進行專制統(tǒng)治的寶座。
A professed Catholic, he imprisoned the Pope; a pretended patriot, he impoverished the country;
作為一名立誓信教的天主教徒，他將教皇囚禁起來;作為一名假裝愛國的人，他使這個國家愈發(fā)貧困;
and in the name of Brutus, he grasped without remorse, and wore without shame, the diadem of the Caesars.
他以暗殺愷撒的布魯圖的名義，在攫取皇帝的王權時沒有絲毫自責，在發(fā)誓時沒有任何羞愧。
The whole continent trembled at beholding the audacity of his designs, and the miracle of their execution.
整個大陸在目睹他退位的大膽舉動和屬下被處決這一奇跡后瑟瑟發(fā)抖。
Skepticism bowed to the prodigies of his performance; romance assumed the air of history;
持懷疑態(tài)度的人屈服于他的表演天才;浪漫史披上了歷史的外衣;
nor was there aught too incredible for belief, or too fanciful for expectation,
當這個世界見證了來自科西嘉的一名中尉將帝國的大旗覆在她最古老的首都上時，
when the world saw a subaltern of Corsica waving his imperial flag over her most ancient capitals.
對信仰而言，任何事物都不足為信，對期望而言，再多的幻想也是虛妄。
All the visions of antiquity became commonplace in his contemplation: kings were his people; nations were his outposts;
所有對古代幻想在他沉思中成了最尋常不過的事情：國王是他的臣民，國家是他的前哨;
and he disposed of courts, and crowns, and camps, and churches, and cabinets, as if they were the titular dignitaries of the chessboard!
他隨意處置法律、王權、軍營、教堂和內閣事務，仿佛他們只不過是隨意擺布的棋子!
Amid all these changes, he stood immutable as adamant.
在所有這些變化中間，他堅如磐石地巋然不動。
