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Greek comedies and Greek tragedies were translated
希臘喜劇和希臘悲劇被翻譯成
into Latin and performed in Rome before enthusiastic
拉丁語并在羅馬激動的人群中演出
crowds. But the audiences had to stand or sit in
但是觀眾必須站著或者坐在
temporary bleachers erected for every festival
臨時為每次節日而搭的露天看臺上
because the idea of permanent theaters somehow
因為修建永久的劇場一定程度上
went against the mos maiorum.
與祖制背道而馳
Moreover, the worldly, sophisticated comedy characters
而且，翻譯本中的這些世界的復雜的喜劇人物
in these translated plays, were portrayed as Greeks
被刻畫成希臘人
so as not to offend Roman sensibilities. Roman
這樣就不會冒犯羅馬的感受性
dramatists who claimed the traditional Hellenistic
羅馬戲劇家宣稱傳統古希臘文化的
freedom of speech sometimes found themselves in
言論自由，他們有時會進監獄
prison thinking of ways to get out. As a nation,
想著怎么逃出來
the Romans were typically free of self-esteem issues.
羅馬人很典型地不在乎自尊
They were secure knowing that despite their apparent
他們很安心地知道即使
cultural inferiority,they had conquered and pacified
在文化上明顯的落后，但他們征服并平定了
the entire Greek world.They were big enough to admit
整個希臘世界，他們足夠強大
the Hellenic culture was superior in many ways. Yet
來承認古希臘文化在很多方面優越于他們的
I believe they never entirely let go of the idea that
但是我相信他們從不放下希臘人
the Greeks were somehow still a little more civilized.
或多或少更文明的這個想法
As Rome became more powerful and more interested
隨著羅馬變得越來越強大，越來越有興趣
in shaping how people saw Roman culture, Romans
影響人們如何看待羅馬文化
became concerned that Roman art and Roman literature
羅馬人變得很關心羅馬藝術和羅馬文學
should reflect Rome's special place in the world.
認為應該反映羅馬在世界的特別地位
Having Greeks like Polybius write about the
有希臘人例如波利比奧斯來撰寫
Roman Constitution, that was great, but the
羅馬憲法是很好，但是
Roman Constitution really was best explained by
羅馬憲法還是由一位
a Roman political scientist. Ironically, the Roman art
羅馬政治學家解讀得最好，諷刺的是
and Roman literature which resulted invariably
羅馬藝術和羅馬文學總是或多或少
resembled Greek models in one way or another.
模仿希臘模式
This helps explains why the Roman civilization of
這就解釋了為什么帝國的羅馬文明
the empire is most often known as Greco-Roman.
最常為人所知為希臘羅馬的
Although the Romans would never entirely lose
羅馬人永遠不會放掉
their envy of Greek accomplishments, their admiration
對希臘成就的羨慕，但他們的贊美
never faded away either. Ironically, this Greco-Roman
也不會消失，諷刺的是，這個希臘羅馬的文化
culture would later be carried on by the Byzantines,
不久被拜占庭人延續下去
a Greek-speaking people which called itself the Romaioi,
他們說希臘語，稱自己為Romaioi
which is Ancient Greek for the Romans.
是古希臘語中的羅馬人意思
Segment nine C: The Costs of Success. Rome's conquests
第九節 C 成功的代價
had brought new ager publicus, new prisoners of war
羅馬的征服帶來了新的公地
to be slaves, and other material riches. Combined with
新的戰俘成為奴隸，物質變得富有
the cultural wealth of the Hellenistic tradition,
與古希臘傳統的文化財富相結合
it was all good. But serious trouble lay just beneath
是很好的，但是表面下存在很嚴重的問題
the surface.Without an official plan for dispersing the
沒有官方的計劃來處理
spoils of war, the generals and the Senate were free to
戰爭遺留下的東西，將軍和元老院可以隨意
do as they pleased with the booty.
處置戰利品
This of course helped the wealthy aristocrats more than
這當然更利于富有的貴族
it helped the plebeian slugs who actually fought the
而不利于為戰爭出力的平民懶漢
wars. Supposedly the ager publicus was merely lent to
假設這些公地只是借給
the victorious generals,the senators, or their friends,
勝利的將軍，元老或者他們的朋友
but then as now, possession was nine tenths of the law.
但是那時他們基本可以合法獲得這些公地
Advances in agriculture and the booming number of
農業上的進步以及不斷增多的奴隸
slaves had made it profitable to run large-scale
使經營大規模農場，或者大莊園
plantations,or latifundia.Naturally,the wealthy
有利可圖，自然而然這些富有的貴族
patricians who wound up with the ager publicus,the
擁有公地就很容易
public land,were in perfect position to make a killing.
大賺一筆
They could have their latifundia worked with
他們可以用廉價的奴隸作為勞動力
cheap slave labor, driving their small farmer neighbors
來經營大莊園，把周圍的小農趕出競爭
out of business. Best of all, they could pretend to be
最棒的是，他們可以變為成功的農民來
honoring the mos maiorum by being successful farmers.
假裝尊敬祖制
