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Alfred's victory was a holding operation,forcing the Vikings to settle for less than half the country.
阿爾弗雷德此戰(zhàn)告捷 只能維持現(xiàn)狀 迫使維京海盜安于半壁江山
But when in 886 Alfred entered London,rebuilt over the old Roman site,something of a deep significance did happen.
而當886年阿爾弗雷德進駐倫敦 在羅馬舊址上重建都城時 發(fā)生了一件具有歷史性意義的事
He was acclaimed as the sovereign lord of all the English people not under subjection to the Danes.
他被尊為至高無上的王 所有不在丹麥人管轄內(nèi)的英格蘭人的王
So it appears that during Alfred's lifetime the idea of a united English kingdom had become conceivable and even desirable.
因此 似乎在阿爾弗雷德的有生之年 建立統(tǒng)一的英格蘭王國 不僅不再是夢想 還成為了民心所向
The exquisite Alfred Jewel found not far from Athelney has inscribed on its edge: Aelfred mec heht gewyrcan Alfred caused me to be made.
人們阿塞爾內(nèi)附近發(fā)現(xiàn)了阿爾弗雷德之寶 它的邊緣雕刻著 我因阿爾弗雷德而創(chuàng)造
And the same might well be said of his reinvention of the English monarchy.
同因阿爾弗雷德而出現(xiàn)的 還有英格蘭君主制的改革
The enormous haunting eyes which dominate the figure are said to be symbols of wisdom or sight,
人像的亮點是那碩大而令人難忘的雙目 它們被譽為智慧與洞察力的象征
apt qualities for a ruler whose ambitions were so lofty.
也是擁有雄心壯志的統(tǒng)治者應(yīng)有的才能
Alfred's special gift was indeed to be able to see clearly England's place in the scheme of things,
阿爾弗雷德真正過人的天賦是 對英格蘭的一切都了若指掌
the debt of his realm to antiquity his bequest to posterity.
無論是自先人手中結(jié)果的爛攤子 還是他將留與子孫的遺贈
With his realm transformed,Alfred made possible a true Anglo-Saxon renaissance in the 10th century,
隨著他的王國煥然一新 阿爾弗雷德在公元十世紀 讓盎格魯-撒克遜從獲新生
creating stunning works of Christian art and architecture.
創(chuàng)造出一批精美絕倫的基督教藝術(shù)與建筑
But the long shadow of Rome still fell over all this brilliance.
然而所有珍品上都隱約可見羅馬的影子
Alfred's grandson would be crowned the first King of England in a great Roman-style coronation.
阿爾弗雷德的孫子 是第一個以羅馬儀式加冕的英格蘭國王
Where did this momentous event happen? Where else but Bath?
如此盛事 定是要選在巴斯舉行
Well we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.England has been conceived, not yet born.
這一切或許尚言之過早 此時的英格蘭仍在孕育 尚未誕生
And to the north, Pictland has even further to go before it's recognisably a kingdom of Scotland.
而北方的皮克特則要經(jīng)歷更漫長的過程 蘇格蘭王國才會初見雛形
But for a generation or two it did look as though the grafting of Anglo-Saxon culture onto the enduring legacy of Roman Britain had produced an extraordinary flowering.
在當時的那一兩代人看來 羅馬不列顛遺留下來的不朽遺產(chǎn) 仿佛正哺育著盎格魯撒克遜文明抽枝萌芽 不日將成為奇葩
But the shoots were still green,the buds were tender and vulnerable,
但枝芽尚且嬌嫩 蓓蕾仍舊脆弱
and before this new kingdom had a chance to mature it would be cut down by the devastating blow of an invader's axe.
而這個新興的王國還未及發(fā)展成熟 便將徹底夭折在入侵者的戰(zhàn)斧之下
