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These dukes and counts and barons had sworn to be faithful to the king who had given them their "feudum" (hence our word "feudal,")
這些公爵、伯爵、男爵們統統宣誓效忠于"封邑" 的國王（封邑為"feudum"，這也是封建制（feudal）一詞的由來），
in return for their loyal services and a certain amount of taxes.
以戰爭時期的盡忠服役和平時納稅進貢作為對國王分封土地的回報。
But travel in those days was slow and the means of communication were exceedingly poor.
不過在那個交 通不便、通訊聯系不暢的年代，
The royal or imperial administrators therefore enjoyed great independence,
皇帝和國王的權威很難迅速到達他們屬地的所有角落，因此這些陛下任命的管理者們享有很大程度的獨立性。
and within the boundaries of their own province they assumed most of the rights which in truth belonged to the king.
事實上，在屬于自己管轄的土地內，他們僭越了大部分本屬于國王的權力。城堡和騎士
But you would make a mistake if you supposed that the people of the eleventh century objected to this form of government.
不過要是你以為11世紀的普通老百姓反對這種行政體制，那你就大錯特錯了。
They supported Feudalism because it was a very practical and necessary institution.
他們支持封建制，因為這在當時是一種非常必需且富于實效的政治制度。
Their Lord and Master usually lived in a big stone house erected on the top of a steep rock or built between deep moats, but within sight of his subjects.
他們的大人或領主通常住在高大堅固的石頭城堡里面，矗立于陡峭的巖壁之上，或者四周環有深險的護城河。城堡就坐落在封地屬民們看得見的地方，時時給他們極大的安全感和信心。
In case of danger the subjects found shelter behind the walls of the baronial stronghold.
一俟危險來臨，臣民們可以躲進領主城堡的堅固高墻內避難。
That is why they tried to live as near the castle as possible
這也是當時的居民總是盡可能住得挨近城堡的原因，
and it accounts for the many European cities which began their career around a feudal fortress.
而大部分的歐洲城市都起源于靠近封建城堡的地方，也出于同一原因。
But the knight of the early middle ages was much more than a professional soldier.
還必須指出一點，歐洲中世紀早期的騎士并不僅僅是一名職業戰士，
He was the civil servant of that day. He was the judge of his community and he was the chief of police.
他還是那個時代的公務員。他擔任社區的法官，裁判刑事案件，處理民間糾紛；
He caught the highwaymen and protected the wandering pedlars who were the merchants of the eleventh century.
他是負責治安的警察首腦，抓捕攔路盜賊，保護四方游走的小販（他們就是11世紀的商人）。
