陈冠商英语背诵文选第二册第5篇：越过卢比孔河 (MP3)

5 Crossing The Rubicon 越过卢比孔河
James Baldwin 詹姆斯．鲍德温

The march to Italy was begun. The soldiers were even more enthusiastic than caesar (2) himself. They climb- ed mountains, waded rivers, endured fatigue, faced all kinds of danger for the sake of their great leader.
向意大利的进军开始了。士兵们甚至比恺撒本人还要热情旺盛。为了他们的伟大领袖，他们跋山涉水，不顾疲劳，面临各种艰难险阻而毫无惧色。

At last they came to a little river called the Rubicon. It was the boundary line of caesar's province of Gaul; on the other side of it was Italy. caesar paused a moment on the bank. He knew that to cross it would be to declare war against Pompey and the Roman Senate; it would involve all Rome in a fearful strife, the end of which no man could foresee.
最后，他们来到了一条叫做卢比孔的小河边。这条小河是恺撒管辖的高卢省的边界线，河那边就是意大利。恺撒在岸边停留了片刻。他知道越过这条河就是对庞培和罗马元老院宣战，就会使整个罗马卷入一场可怕的战争，其结局是没有人能够预料的。

But he did not hesitate long. He gave the word, and rode boldly across the shallow stream.
但是，他没有犹豫多久。他下了命令，并且无畏地策马渡过了这条浅流。
 
"We have crossed the Rubicon," he cried as he reached the farther shore. "There is now no turning back."
"我们已经越过卢比孔河了，"他到达河的对岸时喊道，"现在只有前进，决不后退。" 

Soon the news was carried to Rome: "caesar has cross- ed the Rubicon;" and there was great dismay among those who had plotted to destroy him. Pompey's soldiers desert- ed him and hastened to join themselves to caesar's army. The Roman senators and their friends made ready(3) to flee from the city.
"恺撒越过卢比孔河了，"这一消息很快就传到了罗马，在那些曾经密谋消灭他的人中间引起了极大的惊慌。庞培的部下纷纷叛离，急忙投奔恺撒的部队。罗马元老院的议员和他们的朋友都准备逃离罗马了。

"caesar has crossed the Rubicon !" was shouted along the roads and byways leading to Rome; and the country people turned out(4) to meet and hail with joy the conquer- hag hero.
 "恺撒越过卢比孔河了！"在通往罗马的大道和小路上到处都呼喊着．乡村里的人们都奔走欢呼，准备迎接这位胜利的英雄。
 
The word was carried a second time to the city: "caesar has crossed the Rubicon," and the wild flight began. Senators and public officers left everything behind and hurried away to seek safety with Pompey. On foot, on horseback, in litters, in carriages, they fled for their lives all because Caesar had crossed the Rubicon. Pompey was unable to protect them. He hurried to the seacoast, and, with all who were able to accompany him, sailed away to Greece.
消息第二次传到罗马："恺撒越过卢比孔河了。"于是大家仓惶出逃，一片慌乱。元老和政府官员们扔下了一切，急急忙忙逃到庞培那里去避难。他们或徒步，或骑马，或坐轿子，或乘马车，纷纷逃命--只因为恺撒越过了卢比孔河。庞培无力保护他们。他匆匆赶到海边，带着所有能够伴随他的人，坐船逃往希腊去了。 

Caesar was the master of Rome.
恺撒成了罗马的主宰.
 
英文注释：
(1)the Rubicon：卢比孔河，在意大利北部。Cross the Rubicon有"破釜沉舟"之意。 
(2)Caesar：恺撒(公元前100-44年)，古罗马统帅和政治家，与庞培，克拉苏结成前三头政治联盟，率军侵略海外，屡建奇功。公元前49年初，元老院与庞培联合，解除其军权并召之回国。同年恺撒率军越过卢比孔河，进占罗马。庞培偕大批元老院议员出奔希腊。公元前46年，恺撒在征服了海外很多国家后，返回罗马建立独裁政权，公元前44年3月16日遇刺身亡。 
(3) made ready：解作'准备好'，后面常接动词不定式短语或介词for所引导的短语o 
(4)turned out：出动。