Part 2 Book 1 Chapter 4 A

Those persons who wish to gain a clear idea of the battle of Waterloo have only to place, mentally, on the ground, a capital A. The left limb of the A is the road to Nivelles, the right limb is the road to Genappe, the tie of the A is the hollow road to Ohain from Braine-l'Alleud. The top of the A is Mont-Saint-Jean, where Wellington is; the lower left tip is Hougomont, where Reille is stationed with Jerome Bonaparte; the right tip is the Belle-Alliance, where Napoleon was. At the centre of this chord is the precise point where the final word of the battle was pronounced. It was there that the lion has been placed, the involuntary symbol of the supreme¹ heroism² of the Imperial Guard.

The triangle included in the top of the A, between the two limbs and the tie, is the plateau of Mont-Saint-Jean. The dispute over this plateau constituted the whole battle. The wings of the two armies extended to the right and left of the two roads to Genappe and Nivelles; d'Erlon facing Picton, Reille facing Hill.

Behind the tip of the A, behind the plateau of Mont-Saint-Jean, is the forest of Soignes.

As for the plain itself, let the reader picture to himself a vast undulating sweep of ground; each rise commands the next rise, and all the undulations mount towards Mont-Saint-Jean, and there end in the forest.

Two hostile troops on a field of battle are two wrestlers. It is a question of seizing the opponent round the waist. The one seeks to trip up the other. They clutch at everything: a bush is a point of support; an angle of the wall offers them a rest to the shoulder; for the lack of a hovel under whose cover they can draw up, a regiment³ yields its ground; an unevenness⁴ in the ground, a chance turn in the landscape, a cross-path encountered at the right moment, a grove⁵, a ravine, can stay the heel of that colossus which is called an army, and prevent its retreat. He who quits the field is beaten; hence the necessity devolving on the responsible leader, of examining the most insignificant⁶ clump⁷ of trees, and of studying deeply the slightest relief in the ground.

The two generals had attentively⁸ studied the plain of Mont-Saint-Jean, now called the plain of Waterloo. In the preceding year, Wellington, with the sagacity of foresight⁹, had examined it as the possible seat of a great battle. Upon this spot, and for this duel¹⁰, on the 18th of June, Wellington had the good post, Napoleon the bad post. The English army was stationed above, the French army below.

It is almost superfluous¹¹ here to sketch¹² the appearance of Napoleon on horseback, glass in hand, upon the heights of Rossomme, at daybreak, on June 18, 1815. All the world has seen him before we can show him. That calm profile under the little three-cornered hat of the school of Brienne, that green uniform, the white revers concealing¹³ the star of the Legion of Honor, his great coat hiding his epaulets, the corner of red ribbon peeping from beneath his vest, his leather trousers, the white horse with the saddle-cloth of purple velvet¹⁴ bearing on the corners crowned N's and eagles, Hessian boots over silk stockings, silver spurs, the sword of Marengo,--that whole figure of the last of the Caesars is present to all imaginations, saluted¹⁵ with acclamations by some, severely¹⁶ regarded by others.

That figure stood for a long time wholly in the light; this arose from a certain legendary¹⁷ dimness evolved by the majority of heroes, and which always veils the truth for a longer or shorter time; but to-day history and daylight have arrived.

That light called history is pitiless; it possesses this peculiar¹⁸ and divine quality, that, pure light as it is, and precisely¹⁹ because it is wholly light, it often casts a shadow in places where people had hitherto beheld²⁰ rays; from the same man it constructs two different phantoms²¹, and the one attacks the other and executes justice on it, and the shadows of the despot contend with the brilliancy of the leader. Hence arises a truer measure in the definitive²² judgments²³ of nations. Babylon violated lessens²⁴ Alexander, Rome enchained lessens Caesar, Jerusalem murdered lessens Titus, tyranny follows the tyrant²⁵. It is a misfortune for a man to leave behind him the night which bears his form.

希望清楚地了解滑铁卢战争的人，只须在想象中把一个大写的A字写在地上。A字的左边一划是尼维尔公路，右边一划是热纳普公路，A字中间的横线是从奥安到布兰拉勒的一条凹路。A字的顶是圣约翰山，威灵顿所在的地方；左下端是乌古蒙，雷耶和热罗姆·波拿巴①所在的地方；右下端是佳盟，拿破仑所在的地方。比右腿和横线的交点稍低一点的地方是圣拉埃，横线的中心点正是战争完毕说出最后那个字②的地方。无意中把羽林军的至高英勇表现出来的那只狮子便竖立在这一点上。

①热罗姆·波拿巴，拿破仑的八弟。

②指康布罗纳将军在拒绝投降时对英军说的那个“屎”字，详见下面第十四、十五节。法国人说“屎”字有如我们说“放屁”一样，有极端轻视对方的意思。　

从A字的尖顶到横线和左右两划中间的那个三角地带是圣约翰山高地。争夺那片高地是那次战争的全部过程。

两军的侧翼在热纳普路和尼维尔路上向左右两侧展开；

戴尔隆和皮克顿对峙，雷耶和希尔对峙。

在A字的尖顶和圣约翰山高地后面的，是索瓦宁森林。

至于那平原本身，我们可以把它想象为一片辽阔、起伏如波浪的旷地；波浪越起越高，齐向圣约翰山荡去，直到那森林。

战场上两军交战，正如两人角力，彼此互相搂抱。彼此都要使对方摔倒。我们对任何一点东西都不肯放松；一丛小树可以作为据点，一个墙角可以成为支柱，背后缺少一点依靠，可以使整队人马立不住足；平原上的洼地，地形的变化，一条适当的捷径，一片树林，一条山沟，都可以撑住大军的脚眼，使它不后退。谁退出战场，谁就失败。因此，负责的主帅必须细致深入地察遍每一丛小树和每一处有轻微起伏的地形。

两军的将领都曾仔细研究过圣约翰山平原棗今日已改称滑铁卢平原。一年以前，威灵顿便早有先见，已经考察过这地方，作了进行大战的准备。在那次决战中，六月十八日，威灵顿在那片地上占了优势，拿破仑处于劣势。英军居高，法军居下。

在此地描绘拿破仑于一八一五年六月十八日黎明，在罗松高地上骑着马，手里拿着望远镜的形象，那几乎是多事。在写出以前，大家早已全见过了。布里埃纳①军校的小帽下那种镇静的侧面像，那身绿色的军服，遮着勋章的白翻领，遮着肩章的灰色外衣，坎肩下的一角红丝带，皮短裤，骑匹白马，马背上覆着紫绒，紫绒角上有几个上冠皇冕的N和鹰，丝袜，长统马靴，银刺马距，马伦哥剑，在每个人的想象中都有着这副最后一个恺撒的尊容，有些人见了欢欣鼓舞，有些人见了侧目而视。

①布里埃纳（Brerne），地名，拿破仑在该地军校毕业。

那副尊容久已处于一片光明之中，即使英雄人物也多半要受到传说的歪曲，致使真相或久或暂受到蒙蔽，但到今天，历史和真象都已大白。

那种真象棗历史棗是冷酷无情的。历史有这样一种特点和妙用，尽管它是光明，并且正因为它是光明，便常在光辉所到之处涂上一层阴影；它把同一个人造成两个不同的鬼物，互相攻讦，互相排斥。暴君的黑暗和统帅的荣光进行斗争。于是人民有了比较正确的定论。巴比伦被蹂躏，亚历山大的声誉有损；罗马被奴役，恺撒因而无光；耶路撒冷被屠戮，梯特为之减色。暴政随暴君而起。一个人身后曳着和他本人相似的暗影，对他而言那是一种不幸。

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 heroism   

n.大无畏精神，英勇

参考例句：

• He received a medal for his heroism.他由于英勇而获得一枚奖章。
• Stories of his heroism resounded through the country.他的英雄故事传遍全国。

3 regiment   

n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制

参考例句：

• As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
• They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。

4 unevenness   

n. 不平坦，不平衡，不匀性

参考例句：

• This unevenness comes about because topics are developed in a logical order. 所以出现这种不平衡，是因为课题是按逻辑顺序展开的。
• I sanded the corners to take away any unevenness in the joints. 我用砂纸磨边边角角的地方，去除接头处的不均。

5 grove   

n.林子，小树林，园林

参考例句：

• On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。
• The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。

6 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。

7 clump   

n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走

参考例句：

• A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
• It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。

8 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 foresight   

n.先见之明，深谋远虑

参考例句：

• The failure is the result of our lack of foresight.这次失败是由于我们缺乏远虑而造成的。
• It required a statesman's foresight and sagacity to make the decision.作出这个决定需要政治家的远见卓识。

10 duel   

n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争

参考例句：

• The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
• Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。

11 superfluous   

adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的

参考例句：

• She fined away superfluous matter in the design. 她删去了这图案中多余的东西。
• That request seemed superfluous when I wrote it.我这样写的时候觉得这个请求似乎是多此一举。

12 sketch   

n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述

参考例句：

• My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
• I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

13 concealing   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Despite his outward display of friendliness, I sensed he was concealing something. 尽管他表现得友善，我还是感觉到他有所隐瞒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• SHE WAS BREAKING THE COMPACT, AND CONCEALING IT FROM HIM. 她违反了他们之间的约定，还把他蒙在鼓里。 来自英汉文学 - 三万元遗产

14 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

15 saluted   

v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。
• He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

17 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

18 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

19 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

20 beheld   

v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

21 phantoms   

n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They vanished down the stairs like two phantoms. 他们像两个幽灵似的消失在了楼下。 来自辞典例句
• The horrible night that he had passed had left phantoms behind it. 他刚才度过的恐布之夜留下了种种错觉。 来自辞典例句

22 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。

23 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

24 lessens   

变少( lessen的第三人称单数 )； 减少（某事物）

参考例句：

• Eating a good diet significantly lessens the risk of heart disease. 良好的饮食习惯能大大减少患心脏病的机率。
• Alcohol lessens resistance to diseases. 含有酒精的饮料会减弱对疾病的抵抗力。

25 tyrant   

n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a despotic tyrant.该国处在一个专制暴君的统治之下。
• The tyrant was deaf to the entreaties of the slaves.暴君听不到奴隶们的哀鸣。