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Edward asked the guardians of the realm to come up with documentary evidence
愛德華要求那些蘇格蘭的守護者 給出書面證據說明
as to why he was not, in fact, their feudal overlord,to which he got a wonderfully canny contradiction,not at all what he wanted to hear.
他為何不能成為他們的最高統治者 結果卻使他陷入一個十分尷尬的境地 與他幻想中的答案完全背道而馳
Sire, they said,the "bona gentes", the responsible man who sent us here.
陛下 他們說道 上帝讓我們在這片土地上繁衍生息
Know full well you couldn't possibly make so great a claim unless you actually believed you had a right to it.
您應該十分清楚 自己無權擅作主張 除非您確信自己有權這么做
But of this right, we know nothing.
但我們對您的這一權力毫無所知
Which is as much to say, look,you can't be completely off your head to come up with this sovereignty stuff,
這就相當于是在說 給我聽好了 你別癡心妄想了 想統治我們是不可能的
but actually it's all news to us, chum,since the Scottish realm on this side of the river is held tribute to no one but god.
不過朋友 這倒真是稀奇事 因為在河這一側的蘇格蘭領土 只歸圣主耶穌
We don't have to prove a thing.It's for you to come up with a supermonk with the perfect charter.
這一點無需我們證明 而你則需要得到神靈的特許
Why don't you let us know when you have it?
何不在你獲準時通知我們一聲
In the end, all those who thought they were still of the chance of winning the Scots crown,did pay homage to Edward.
最終 所有那些 覬覦蘇格蘭王座的人 都宣誓效忠愛德華
But the rest of the Scots community of the realm held their noses and stood aloof.
而剩下的那些蘇格蘭人 則對此嗤之以鼻 不屑一顧
Was this, as some Scottish historians have always insisted, an Edwardian trap?
這會是一些蘇格蘭歷史學家 一直支持的愛德華圈套說嗎
Was he already thinking of turning scotland into Wales North,
他已經計劃好將蘇格蘭變成北威爾士
the next territory to be gobbled up by his impeiral appetite?
以滿足自己對領土的饕餮之欲嗎
