評論
打印
Bede sees without any starry-eyed sentimentality what could overcome the deep mistrust of the pagan kings
比德總能理智地思考 如何才能除去異教國王深埋心中的疑慮
when asked to abandon their traditional gods.
讓他們能夠摒棄傳統的神祗
According to the most touching speech in Bede's entire history,
根據比德演講史上最動人心弦的一場演說
the clinching moment of persuasion for one noble was nothing more than a gambler's bet.
對于一個貴族而言 最脆弱的時刻 莫過于他賭上自己的前身后世之時
It seems to me, my Lord,that the present life of men on earth is as though a sparrow in winter should come to a house and swiftly fly through it,
陛下 在我看來 一個人現世的生活 就好似一只麻雀 在隆冬進入一間暖屋 轉瞬之間便穿堂而過
entering at one window and then passing out through another,while you sit at dinner with your captains in a hall made warm with a great fire,
從一扇窗中進入 自另一扇飛出 當你在此和你的部下們圍火而坐 盡享美食
while outside are the raging tempests of winter rain and snow.
而外面卻值嚴冬 狂風大作雨雪交加
For that short time it be within the house,the bird feels no smart of the winter storm,
在這房中短促的時間內 鳥對窗外的寒冬毫無預警
but soon passes again from winter back to winter and escapes your sight.
但很快地便會飛出 從嚴寒中來 往嚴寒中去 脫離你的視線
So the life of man here appears for a little season,but what follows or has gone before,that surely we do not know.
人的一生也不過轉瞬 而我們從哪里來 最終要到哪里去 我們無從得知
Wherefore if this new learning has brought us any certainty,methinks it is worthy to be followed.
因此 若這道理有任何啟發作用 在我看來都是值得遵從的
It typical of Bede put these words in the mouth of a nobleman.
比德慣于借由貴族之口說出此番話語
The church in Anglo-Saxon England was just really a branch of the aristocracy.
盎格魯-撒克遜時期的英格蘭 教會不過是貴族統治的一小分支
St Wilfred, the aristocratic Bishop of York,deliberately used part of Hadrian's Wall
約克郡的貴族主教圣威爾弗雷德 特意借用哈德良長城一隅
to build at Hexham a basilica worthy of Roman authority.
在赫克瑟姆 建起了足以匹配羅馬權貴的長方形大教堂
