英语短文名人故事 政界精英 第6期:拿破仑·波拿马

 　　Napoleon Bonaparte 拿破仑·波拿马

　　About a hundred years ago there lived a great general whose name was Napoleon Bonaparte.  大约在一百年前，有一个伟大的将军，名叫拿破仑·波拿马。

　　He was the leader of the French army; and France was at war with nearly all the countries around.  他是法国军队的统帅。当时法国几乎对所有的邻国作战。

　　He wanted very much to take his soldiers into Italy;  他非常迫切地想把军队开进意大利。

　　but between France and Italy there are high mountains called the Alps¹, the tops of which are coveredwith snow. 但是在法国和意大利之间，有一座高山，叫阿尔卑斯山，山顶上覆盖着积雪。

　　"Is it possible to cross the Alps?" asked Napoleon. “能越过阿尔卑斯山吗?”拿破仑问。

　　The men who had been sent to look at the passes over the mountains shook their heads.  被派去查看山道的人都摇头。

　　Then one of them said, "It may be possible, but—” 其中一个说:“也许可能，但是—”

　　"Let me hear no more,”said Napoleon. "Forward to Italy!" “别让我再听到这些，”拿破仑说。“向意大利前进!”

　　People laughed at the thought of an army of sixty thousand men crossing the Alps where there was no road. 人们觉得一支六万人的军队想翻越没有道路的阿尔卑斯山的想法非常可笑，

　　But Napoleon waited to see that everything was in good order, and then he gave the order to march. 但是拿破仑只等看到一切都准备就绪，就下令出发。

　　The long line of soldiers and horses and cannons²  stretched for twenty miles.  大队人马和大炮绵延20英里。

　　When they came to a steep³ place where there seemed to be no way to go farther⁴ the trumpets⁵ sounded "Charge!"  当他们来到一处看起来无路可走的陡峭的山地时，吹起了冲锋号。

　　Then every man did his best,  and the whole army moved right onward⁶. “冲啊!”这时每个人都尽了最大的努力，整个军队继续顺利前进。

　　Soon they were safe over the Alps. In four days they were marching on the plains of Italy. 不久他们就平安地翻过了阿尔卑斯山。四天后，他们就在意大利的平原上行军了。

　　"The man who has made up his mind to win,”said Napoleon, "will never say Impossible'."  “下定决心要取得胜利的人，”拿破仑说，“永远不会说‘不可能’。”

1 Alps   

n.[the-]阿尔卑斯山脉(欧洲)

参考例句：

• I'm going skating in the Alps next month.下个月我去阿尔卑斯山滑雪。
• The river springs in the Alps.这条河发源于阿尔卑斯山脉。

2 cannons   

n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cannons bombarded enemy lines. 大炮轰击了敌军阵地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• One company had been furnished with six cannons. 某连队装备了六门大炮。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 steep   

adj.陡峭的，险峻的，急剧升降的，不合理的；n.悬崖，峭壁，浸渍，浸渍液；v.浸，泡，沉浸

参考例句：

• The slope is too steep for us to climb.这斜坡太陡，我们爬不上去。
• There was a steep climb on the road out of town.市外公路上有一处很陡的上坡路。

4 farther   

adj.更远的，进一步的；adv.更远的，此外；far的比较级

参考例句：

• I can throw the ball farther than you can.这个球我能比你扔得远。
• The farther hill is five kilometres away.那座更远的小山在五公里以外。

5 trumpets   

喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花

参考例句：

• A wreath was laid on the monument to a fanfare of trumpets. 在响亮的号角声中花圈被献在纪念碑前。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King. 嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

6 onward   

adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先

参考例句：

• The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
• He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。