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But these were not at all like those of the Greeks, where leading citizens took part in sporting contests and sang hymns in honor of the Father of the Gods.
這當(dāng)然不是希臘人那樣的由貴族公民自己為紀(jì)念主神而進(jìn)行的體育活動和唱歌，
These would have seemed ridiculous to any Roman.
這讓羅馬人覺得滑稽可笑。
What serious, self-respecting man would sing in public, or take off his formal, many-pleated toga to throw javelins before an audience?
哪個認(rèn)真、嚴(yán)肅、威嚴(yán)的人會唱歌或脫下他莊重的、多褶裥的衣裳，脫下寬外袍并當(dāng)著別人的面投擲標(biāo)槍呢？
Such things were best left to captives.
人們讓俘虜干這樣的事情。
It was they who had to wrestle and fight, confront wild beasts and stage whole battles in the arena under the eyes of thousands – sometimes tens of thousands – of spectators.
他們必須在大劇場在成千上萬人的眼前角斗和格斗，與野獸搏斗并表演整個戰(zhàn)斗場面。
It all got very serious and bloody, but that was just what made it so exciting for the Romans.
這種搏斗進(jìn)行得十分認(rèn)真和殘忍。還恰好可刺激羅馬人，
Especially when, instead of trained professionals, men who had been condemned to death were thrown into the arena to grapple with lions, bears, tigers and even elephants.
人們不僅讓訓(xùn)練有素的運動員去搏斗，而且人們也可判處死刑的人扔進(jìn)大劇場，扔給野獸，扔給獅子和熊，也扔給老虎和大象。
Anyone who put on shows like these, with generous handouts of grain, was loved by the crowd and could do what he pleased.
誰能給人民看很多這樣的精彩競賽并分發(fā)給他們許多糧食，誰就在城里受到歡迎，就可以為所欲為。
