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LESSON 48 The battle of bannockburn (A. D. 1314.)
第四十八課 班諾克本戰役（公元1314年）
King Robert The Bruce, well aware of the mighty force advancing against him, mustered his army.
羅伯特·布魯斯國王清楚地知道進攻的敵人有多強大，但還是集結了軍隊。
It did not exceed 30,000 fighting men, while the English host numbered altogether more than 100,000.
他的軍隊能打仗的不超過三萬人，而英軍的人數卻超過了十萬。
His plan was to await the enemy on ground where their vast cavalry should not have room to act with effect.
他計劃在一個敵軍騎兵不能發揮戰斗力的地方伏擊，
He chose his position in what was then called the New Park, near Stirling—a space of ground studded and encumbered with trees.
他選了斯特林附近的一個地點，就是后人所熟知的新公園——那個地方長滿了樹木，可以作為天然屏障。
The Scottish army, fronting to the expected advance of the English, looked towards the southeast.
面對如期而至的英軍，蘇格蘭軍隊看向東南方。
The enemy could not get in upon their right, for it was protected by the Bannock Burn, whose banks were steep and wooded.
敵軍無法從右側進攻，因為右側有班諾克·本守衛，而且其河畔陡峭，樹木繁茂。
On the left, again, where the ground was open, Bruce caused a vast number of pits to be dug, and covered carefully with turf;
左邊是一片開闊地，布魯斯國王命人在此處挖了很多坑，再用草皮仔細蓋好；
so that the field, which looked level and firm to the eye, was in reality like a honeycomb, and perfectly impassable to cavalry.
所以，這一片看上去平坦堅固的地面，實際上暗伏危機，騎兵根本無法通行。
The front of the position was so far protected by a marsh, that only one way of approach was left open to the English.
這片開闊地的前方是一片沼澤，英軍要通過，只有這條路可走。
On Sabbath the 23d of June they came in sight. Countless banners, standards, and pennons floated gaily above their broad and dense battalions.
6月23日安息日這一天，英軍來了。軍隊浩浩蕩蕩，旌旗無數。
The sun shone brightly, and the land seemed in a blaze with their burnished helmets, and the brilliant colours of the surcoats which the knights wore above their mail.
陽光很明媚，大地在英軍錚亮的頭盔以及騎士們身上穿的光鮮戰衣的反射下仿佛著火了一般。
They came so near, that it seemed as if they were going to attack at once.
他們逼得很近，仿佛馬上就會進攻一樣。
