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Chapter 24
第二十四章
The roman empire
羅馬帝國的故事
How the republic of Rome after centuries of unrest and revolution become an empire
羅馬共和國歷經數世紀的動亂和革命，終于變成了羅馬帝國
When the Roman armies returned from these many victorious campaigns, they were received with great jubilation.
羅馬軍隊從一連串的輝煌勝利中凱旋，羅馬人舉行盛大的游行和狂歡來歡迎他們。
Alas and alack! this sudden glory did not make the country any happier.
可惜，這種突然的榮耀，并未讓人民的生活變得幸福一些。
On the contrary. The endless campaigns had ruined the farmers who had been obliged to do the hard work of Empire making.
相反，綿延不絕的征戰使農夫們疲于應付國家的兵役，使農事荒蕪，毀掉了他們的正常生活。
It had placed too much power in the hands of the successful generals (and their private friends) who had used the war as an excuse for wholesale robbery.
通過戰爭，那些功勛卓著的將軍及他們的親朋好友掌握了太大的權力。他們以戰爭之名，行大撈個人利益之實。
The old Roman Republic had been proud of the simplicity which had characterised the lives of her famous men.
古老的羅馬共和國崇尚簡樸，許多著名人士都過著非常樸素的生活。
The new Republic felt ashamed of the shabby coats and the high principles which had been fashionable in the days of its grandfathers.
可如今的共和國卻追求奢侈浮華，恥于簡樸的物質生活，早把先輩時代流行的崇高的生活準則丟到了九霄云外。
It became a land of rich people ruled by rich people for the benefit of rich people.
羅馬變成了一個由富人統治、為富人謀利、被富人享有的地方。
As such it was doomed to disastrous failure, as I shall now tell you.
這樣一來，它便注定要以災難性的結局而告終的。現在我就將告訴你們。
Within less than a century and a half. Rome had become the mistress of practically all the land around the Mediterranean.
在短短不到150年的時間里，羅馬事實上成為了地中海沿岸所有土地的主人。
In those early days of history a prisoner of war lost his freedom and became a slave.
在早期歷史中，作為一名戰俘，其命運肯定是失去自由 ，被賣為奴隸。
The Roman regarded war as a very serious business and he showed no mercy to a conquered foe.
羅馬人將戰爭視為生死存亡的事情，對被征服的敵人毫無憐憫之心。
After the fall of Carthage, the Carthaginian women and children were sold into bondage together with their own slaves.
迦太基陷落后，當地的婦女和兒童被捆綁著，與他們的奴隸一起被賣為奴隸。
And a like fate awaited the obstinate inhabitants of Greece and Macedonia and Spain and Syria when they dared to revolt against the Roman power.
對那些敢于反抗羅馬統治的希臘人、馬其頓人、西班牙人、敘利亞人，等待他們的是同樣的結局。
