評(píng)論
打印
Walpole sat at the controlling centre of a vast empire of patronage.
沃波爾奉諭旨坐鎮(zhèn)于帝國(guó)的權(quán)利中心
The jobs at his disposal conferred honour as well as cash on the holder
他所分派的職位不僅位高權(quán)重 且油水十足
and they were dangled on a string by the great political puppeteer.
而他任用的官員一舉一動(dòng)都由他幕后操控
In retrospect, we can see that Walpole built Britain's, in fact the world's,
回顧歷史 我們不難發(fā)現(xiàn) 沃波爾建立了全英 乃至世界
first modern party political machine.
首個(gè)現(xiàn)代政黨體制
He had placemen in parliament primed to vote as he directed.
他操控議員按照他的意志投票
He had George I and then George II eating out of the palm of his hand.
并將喬治一世和之后的喬治二世 玩弄于股掌之間
And in case anyone was tempted to flirt with the Opposition,
為防止有人與在野黨相勾結(jié)
he had the kind of information that could make life really difficult for them.
他搜集了眾多 對(duì)在野黨不利的情報(bào)
In short, Walpole had the goods.
總之 沃波爾權(quán)傾朝野 風(fēng)光無限
The goods, in fact, in every sense of the word.
他的風(fēng)光實(shí)際上涵蓋了各個(gè)方面
For as well as looking after the country's interest,
最大化國(guó)家利益的同時(shí)
Walpole made sure he looked after his own.
沃波爾也努力擴(kuò)充自己的財(cái)富
Just how much of a fortune he made for himself
其斂財(cái)數(shù)額之巨
is spectacularly on view here at his country house in Norfolk, Houghton Hall.
僅從他位于諾福克的霍頓府邸就可見一斑
Houghton was the Whig Xanadu, the last word in opulence.
霍頓府邸是輝格黨的圣地 堂皇富麗
Anything that riches could buy, Walpole bought.
只要錢能買到的 沃波爾都會(huì)買
Marble, mahogany, figured damask,shimmering silks and satins, classical sculpture,
大理石 紅木 花紋錦緞 絢麗絲綢 傳世雕像
glorious Renaissance and Baroque art,all shipped to his East Anglian pleasure dome.
甚至文藝復(fù)興的杰作 巴洛克時(shí)期的珍品 都被珍藏于他的東盎格魯圓頂珍寶室中
