評論
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So Iron Age Britain was definitely not the back of beyond.
因此 鐵器時代的不列顛絕非蠻夷之地
Its tribes may have led lives separated from each other by custom and language,
或許礙于語言與習俗 部落間相互隔絕不相往來
and they may have had no great capital city but taken together they added up to something in the world,
亦或許他們不曾擁有繁榮的首都 但整體來說 也為世界文明貢獻了力量
the bustling of countless productive, energetic beehives.
正如一個個熙攘而充滿活力的蜂房
What the bees made was not honey, but gold.
不過他們所釀絕非蜂蜜 而是黃金
The Romans would have known about this strange but alluring world of fat cattle and busy forges.
羅馬人對這個家畜成群 工場繁忙的 陌生而誘人地方 肯定有所聽聞
Evidence of its refinement would certainly have found its way to Rome.
這里文明的制品 肯定也早就行銷羅馬
But along with the glittering metal ware came stories of alarming cults,
但隨著閃亮金屬制品而來的 是可怖的邪教
which may have prompted the usual Roman dinner time discussions.
這些也成為了羅馬人飯后的談資
All very interesting, I dare say,but would we really want to call them a civilisation?
我想這的確都很有趣 但我們真的能稱之為文明嗎
Supposing they would have seen an ancient sculpture,
假設他們看到了一尊遠古雕塑
like this haunting stone face with its archaic secretive smile,
像這張令人難忘的 古老而神秘的笑臉
the eyes closed as if in a mysterious devotional trance.
雙目緊閉 仿佛正在虔誠地禱告
The nose flattened, the cheeks broad,
鼻梁平塌 面頰寬闊
the whole thing so spellbindingly reminiscent of things
通體與羅馬人在伊特魯利亞和希臘諸島
the Romans must have seen in Etruria or the Greek islands.
所見的藝術珍品神形俱似
Would they then have said,Yes, this is a work of art?
他們是否會頷首稱道 這確是藝術珍品呢
Probably not. Sooner or later they would have noticed that the top of the head is sliced off, scooped out,
大概不會 因為他們終會注意到 雕像的頭頂處被切開挖掉了
like a boiled egg of breakfast, to hold sacrificial offerings.
如同一顆煮蛋 專為放置祭祀品而設
