The Awakening of Europe, 12. The Siege of Leyden

12. The Siege of Leyden

"Better a drowned land than a lost land." —MOTLEY.

The news of the terrible massacre of St Bartholomew that had staggered Europe seemed only to strengthen the resolution of the Protestants in the Netherlands. The return of William of Orange had given new vigour to the Hollanders; town after town rose after the taking of Briel, turned out the hated Spaniard, and raised aloft the colours of their Prince. As winter came on and the great expanses of water froze into masses of solid ice, the undaunted Dutchmen put on their skates and glided into battle, to the astonishment of the Spaniards. Not to be beaten, Alva ordered 7000 pairs of skates to be supplied to the Spaniards, who soon became expert skaters too.

Haarlem was now attacked—Haarlem, one of the most beautiful cities in the country, lying between the Zuyder Zee and the German Ocean. With the utmost heroism she held out for seven months and then fell. She had cost the Spaniards 12,000 men; and even rich Spain, with all her treasure from the New World, could not go on much longer at this rate.

Men from England were helping the Netherlands now. Over the seas they sailed in small companies, and with pike and musket they stood shoulder to shoulder with the men of Haarlem against the power of mighty Spain.

"Like a hen calling her chickens, his Majesty still seeks to gather you all under the parental wing," cried Alva at last. "But if you will not," he added sternly, "every city in the Netherlands shall be burned to the ground." The Protestants refused, and the Spaniards next besieged the town of Leyden, to the south of Haarlem. It was one of the most wonderful feats of the whole war.

The siege began on October 1573. It was October 1574 when it ended, and all through this long dreary year the Dutchmen inside the town were fighting with famine and starvation—fighting for their religious liberty and freedom from the Spanish tyranny.

In the very centre of Leyden rose an old tower, standing high above the surrounding low country. From it could be seen the broad fertile fields which once had lain under the sea, little villages with their bright gardens and fruitful orchards, numerous canals, and the 145 bridges that spanned those watery streets.

The Prince of Orange was doing all he could from outside to help his countrymen in their plucky defence; but as the long months wore on their condition became desperate. They were starving, but they would not yield; for if Leyden fell, Holland fell too. Yet what could be done?

The Prince of Orange knew what could be done. "Better a drowned land than a lost land. If nothing else could save the city, the dykes could be opened, and the great stormy sea would once more ebb and flow over the country. Holland would be ruined, but it would not be in the hands of the Spaniards." "We have held out as long as we can," wrote the starving citizens. "Human strength can do no more." Then the Prince went himself and had the great dykes bored in sixteen places; the water-gates were opened, and the water began slowly to pour over the flat land.

The good news was carried into the despairing city. The citizens took fresh heart. Leyden, their city, would yet be saved. The besiegers, too, heard the news of the cutting of the dykes; but they did not believe in the possibility of the sea getting up so far as Leyden.

"Go up to the tower, ye Beggars," they laughed; "go up to the tower and tell us if you can see the ocean coming over the dry land to your relief." And day after day the citizens crept up the old ruined tower and strained their eyes out over the sea, "watching, hoping, praying, fearing, and at last almost despairing of relief by God or man." Meanwhile the Prince lay in a burning fever at Rotterdam. Under the strain of the last months he had broken down. In his fever he seemed to hear the cries of the starving citizens. Would they give in before the ships could sail to their relief?

It was the 1st of September when the Sea Beggars embarked in their shallow boats on the water that was now slowly rising over the land. The little fleet made its way over fifteen miles of flooded country between the sea-coast and Leyden. So far a favourable wind had blown them onwards. Now the wind changed, the waters began to sink, and despair once more fell on the starving people within Leyden. They had eaten everything now. They had boiled the leaves of trees and eaten roots. Women and children dropped down dead in the streets, the burghers could hardly drag their weary legs up to the watch-tower. Yet they would not give up. "Leyden was sublime in her despair." They must be true to their charge, true to their Prince, true to their country. The old burgomaster of the town spoke to the wavering from time to time.

"My life is at your disposal," he said one day. "Here is my sword. Plunge it into me and divide my flesh among you. But expect no surrender as long as I live." "As well," shouted the angry Spaniards—"As well can the Prince of Orange pluck the stars from the sky as bring the ocean to the walls of Leyden." On the 1st of October a violent gale swept over the waste of waters from the north-west. The waters rose rapidly, and the Sea Beggars sailed proudly forward in the darkness of the night.

Within the town all was mysterious. Would the Spaniards attack them or flee? Must they yet perish in sight of help?

But before morning had dawned the Spanish host had grown alarmed at the rapidly rising waters, and the crews of wild fierce sailors sailing ever nearer and nearer. And before the waters reached them they had crept away under cover of the darkness.

A long line of moving lights were seen to flit across the black face of the waters at dead of night, and when day dawned at last there was not a Spaniard left. Only a boy stood waving his cap from the summit of the Spanish fort, a boy who had seen the enemy's flight and had had the courage to go and wave the signal. So the Sea Beggars sailed to Leyden and the city was saved.

The Prince of Orange had a new and beautiful town built up to celebrate the victory over Spain. And as long as the world rolls on, this splendid story of heroic defence will be told and retold with ever-growing enthusiasm.

12. The Siege of Leyden |围 siege||莱顿 |||Leyden 12. Die Belagerung von Leyden 12. El sitio de Leyden 12. Le siège de Leyden 12. L'assedio di Leida 12.ライデン包囲戦 12. O cerco de Leyden 12. Осада Лейдена 12. Leyden Kuşatması 12. Облога Лейдена 12. 莱顿围城战 12. 萊頓圍城戰

"Better a drowned land than a lost land." ||drowned||||| ||uma terra afogada||||| ||沉没||||| 「失われた土地よりも溺死した土地の方が良い」 "宁可沉没的土地，也不要失去的土地。" —MOTLEY. motley ——莫特利。

The news of the terrible massacre of St Bartholomew that had staggered Europe seemed only to strengthen the resolution of the Protestants in the Netherlands. |||||||||||otřásla||||||||||||| ||||||||Bartholomew|||staggered|||||||determination|||||| |||||massacre||||||deixou atônita||||||||||||| |||||||||||震惊||||||||||||| La notizia del terribile massacro di San Bartolomeo, che aveva sconvolto l'Europa, sembrò solo rafforzare la risoluzione dei protestanti nei Paesi Bassi. 巴尔托洛缪大屠杀的可怕消息震惊了欧洲，似乎只加强了荷兰新教徒的决心。 The return of William of Orange had given new vigour to the Hollanders; town after town rose after the taking of Briel, turned out the hated Spaniard, and raised aloft the colours of their Prince. |||||||||sílu||||||||||||||||||||vysoko||||| |return||William||Orange||||活力||||città||||一个接一个|的||||turned||||||raised|aloft = high up||colours||| |||||||||||||||||||||a tomada de Briel|expulsou|||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||高高举起||||| 威廉·奥兰治的归来给荷兰人注入了新的活力；在布里尔被占领之后，一个又一个城镇崛起，驱逐了可恨的西班牙人，举起了他们王子的旗帜。 As winter came on and the great expanses of water froze into masses of solid ice, the undaunted Dutchmen put on their skates and glided into battle, to the astonishment of the Spaniards. |||||||vast stretches|||froze = it froze||masses = large quantities||||||||||skates||they glided|||||astonishment = surprise||| ||||||||||||||||||||||滑冰鞋||滑行|||||||| 随着冬天的到来，广阔的水域结冰成坚固的冰块，勇敢的荷兰人穿上冰鞋，滑入战斗，让西班牙人感到惊讶。 Not to be beaten, Alva ordered 7000 pairs of skates to be supplied to the Spaniards, who soon became expert skaters too. |||||||||||||||||||bruslaři| |||beaten = defeated|||pairs||||||||||||skilled|skaters| ||||||双|||||||||||||| 阿尔瓦不甘示弱，下令为西班牙士兵提供7000双冰鞋，他们很快也成为了熟练的滑冰者。

Haarlem was now attacked—Haarlem, one of the most beautiful cities in the country, lying between the Zuyder Zee and the German Ocean. ||||||||||城市|||||||南海||||| ||||||||||||||||||Sea|||| With the utmost heroism she held out for seven months and then fell. ||největším|||||||||| ||maximum||||||||||fell Con il massimo eroismo resistette per sette mesi e poi cadde. 她以无比的英雄主义坚持了七个月，然后倒下了。 She had cost the Spaniards 12,000 men; and even rich Spain, with all her treasure from the New World, could not go on much longer at this rate. ||||||||||||||||||||||||at|this| 她让西班牙人损失了12000名士兵；即使是富裕的西班牙，凭借她从新世界获取的所有财富，也无法在这种情况下再坚持多久。

Men from England were helping the Netherlands now. 现在，来自英国的人们正在帮助荷兰。 Over the seas they sailed in small companies, and with pike and musket they stood shoulder to shoulder with the men of Haarlem against the power of mighty Spain. ||||||||||halapartna|||||||||||||||||| |||||||groups|||pike|||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||pike|||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||銃|||||||||||||||| ||||||||||长矛|||||||||||||||||| Navigarono in piccole compagnie e, con picca e moschetto, si schierarono a fianco degli uomini di Haarlem contro la potenza della Spagna. 他们以小队的形式在海上航行，带着长矛和步枪，与哈勒姆人并肩对抗强大的西班牙。

"Like a hen calling her chickens, his Majesty still seeks to gather you all under the parental wing," cried Alva at last. ||hen||||||||||||||parental|wing|||| ||||||||||||||||父母的||||| “就像母鸡叫唤她的小鸡一样，陛下仍然试图把你们都召集到他的父母之翼下，”阿尔瓦终于喊道。 "But if you will not," he added sternly, "every city in the Netherlands shall be burned to the ground." |||||||sternly||||||||burned||| “但是如果你们不愿意，”他严厉地补充道，“荷兰的每一个城市都将被烧成灰烬。” The Protestants refused, and the Spaniards next besieged the town of Leyden, to the south of Haarlem. |||||||obléhali||||||||| |||||||besieged||||||||| 新教徒拒绝了，西班牙人随后围攻了位于哈伦南部的莱顿镇。 It was one of the most wonderful feats of the whole war. |||||||činů|||| ||||||wonderful|feats|||| 这是整个战争中最精彩的壮举之一。

The siege began on October 1573. |obléhání||| 围城始于1573年10月。 It was October 1574 when it ended, and all through this long dreary year the Dutchmen inside the town were fighting with famine and starvation—fighting for their religious liberty and freedom from the Spanish tyranny. |||||||||||||||||||||hladem||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||famine||||||||||||| 它在1574年10月结束，在这一漫长而阴沉的年份里，城内的荷兰人正与饥饿和 starvation 作斗争——为他们的宗教自由和摆脱西班牙暴政而奋斗。

In the very centre of Leyden rose an old tower, standing high above the surrounding low country. |||||||||tower||||||| 在莱顿的中心耸立着一座古老的塔楼，高高地屹立在周围的低洼地区之上。 From it could be seen the broad fertile fields which once had lain under the sea, little villages with their bright gardens and fruitful orchards, numerous canals, and the 145 bridges that spanned those watery streets. |||||||úrodné||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||||||||||||||||丰饶的|果园|||||||跨越||| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||spanned = crossed||watery|streets Da qui si potevano vedere gli ampi e fertili campi che un tempo si trovavano sotto il mare, i piccoli villaggi con i loro giardini luminosi e i frutteti, i numerosi canali e i 145 ponti che attraversavano quelle strade acquatiche. 从这里可以看到曾经位于海面之下的广阔肥沃的田野，小村庄与它们明亮的花园和丰硕的果园，无数的运河，以及跨越水域街道的145座桥梁。

The Prince of Orange was doing all he could from outside to help his countrymen in their plucky defence; but as the long months wore on their condition became desperate. |||||||||||||||||statečné|||||||||||| |||Orange||||||||||||||勇敢的|defence||||||passava||||| |||||||||||||||||勇敢的|||||||||||| 奥兰治亲王在外尽其所能地帮助他的同胞们进行勇敢的防御；但随着漫长的月份流逝，他们的状况变得绝望。 They were starving, but they would not yield; for if Leyden fell, Holland fell too. |||||||yield||||||| Yet what could be done?

The Prince of Orange knew what could be done. "Better a drowned land than a lost land. If nothing else could save the city, the dykes could be opened, and the great stormy sea would once more ebb and flow over the country. ||||||||hrázě||||||||||||odlivat||||| |||||||||||||||tempestoso|||||to recede||||| ||||||||||||||||||||退潮||||| Holland would be ruined, but it would not be in the hands of the Spaniards." |||rovinata = ruined||||||||||| "We have held out as long as we can," wrote the starving citizens. "Abbiamo resistito finché abbiamo potuto", scrivevano i cittadini affamati. "Human strength can do no more." "人力无能为力。" Then the Prince went himself and had the great dykes bored in sixteen places; the water-gates were opened, and the water began slowly to pour over the flat land. ||||||||great||bored|||||||||||||||to|||| Sonra Prens bizzat gidip büyük bentleri on altı yerden deldirdi; su kapıları açıldı ve su yavaş yavaş düz araziye akmaya başladı. 随后王子亲自去了十六个地方打通了大堤；水闸被打开，水开始缓缓流过平坦的土地。

The good news was carried into the despairing city. 好消息传到了绝望的城市。 The citizens took fresh heart. |||fresh| 公民们重新振作起来。 Leyden, their city, would yet be saved. 他们的城市莱顿还会被拯救。 The besiegers, too, heard the news of the cutting of the dykes; but they did not believe in the possibility of the sea getting up so far as Leyden. |obléhatelé||||||||||hrází||||||||||||||||| |asediadores|||||||cutting|||||||||||||||||||| |围攻者||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 围城的敌人也听到了决堤的消息；但他们不相信海水能涨到莱顿那么高的可能。

"Go up to the tower, ye Beggars," they laughed; "go up to the tower and tell us if you can see the ocean coming over the dry land to your relief." ||||||||笑|||||||||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||relief "上塔吧，乞丐们，"他们笑道；"上塔去告诉我们你是否能看到海洋涌向干旱的土地来解救你们。" And day after day the citizens crept up the old ruined tower and strained their eyes out over the sea, "watching, hoping, praying, fearing, and at last almost despairing of relief by God or man." |||||||||||||||||||||||fearing|||||||relief|||| 日复一日，市民们悄悄爬上那座破旧的塔，紧紧盯着海面，"观察、希望、祈祷、恐惧，最后几乎绝望于上天或人的拯救。" Meanwhile the Prince lay in a burning fever at Rotterdam. 与此同时，王子正在鹿特丹发烧。与此同时，王子在鹿特丹高烧不退。 Under the strain of the last months he had broken down. ||tlakem|||||||| In his fever he seemed to hear the cries of the starving citizens. Would they give in before the ships could sail to their relief? |||||||||||relief 他们会在船只启航救援之前屈服吗？

It was the 1st of September when the Sea Beggars embarked in their shallow boats on the water that was now slowly rising over the land. ||||||||||vystoupili||||||||||||||| ||||||||||embarked = got on||||||||||||||| 当海盗在浅底小船上出发时，已是九月一日，水面正在缓缓上涨，淹没大地。 The little fleet made its way over fifteen miles of flooded country between the sea-coast and Leyden. ||||||over||||flooded||||||| 这支小舰队穿越了海岸与莱顿之间超过十五英里的淹没地区。 So far a favourable wind had blown them onwards. |||příznivý|||||vpřed So||||||||forwards 到目前为止，一阵顺风一直把他们向前吹去。 Now the wind changed, the waters began to sink, and despair once more fell on the starving people within Leyden. 现在风变了，水开始淹没，绝望再次降临莱顿的饥民们。 They had eaten everything now. 他们现在已经吃光了一切。 They had boiled the leaves of trees and eaten roots. ||boiled||||||| 他们煮了树叶，吃了根茎。 Women and children dropped down dead in the streets, the burghers could hardly drag their weary legs up to the watch-tower. ||||||||||měšťané||||||||||| ||||||||||burghers|||||weary|||||| ||||||||||市民||||||||||| 街上女人和孩子们倒下死去，市民们几乎拖着疲惫的腿走到瞭望塔。 Yet they would not give up. 然而他们不会放弃。 "Leyden was sublime in her despair." ||sublimní|||zoufalství ||sublime||| ||sublime||| "莱顿在绝望中显得崇高。" They must be true to their charge, true to their Prince, true to their country. The old burgomaster of the town spoke to the wavering from time to time. |||||||||váhajícím|||| ||il vecchio sindaco|||||||wavering|从||| ||市长|||||||摇摆不定的人|||| 镇上的老市长时不时地对摇摇欲坠的人们说话。

"My life is at your disposal," he said one day. |||||dispozici|||| |||||disposal|||| "我的生命听凭你们支配，"他有一天说。 "Here is my sword. |||sword "这是我的剑。 Plunge it into me and divide my flesh among you. vnořte||||||||| to plunge|||||||flesh|among| 把它插入我的身体，把我的肉分给你们。 But expect no surrender as long as I live." 但只要我活着，就不要指望我投降。 "As well," shouted the angry Spaniards—"As well can the Prince of Orange pluck the stars from the sky as bring the ocean to the walls of Leyden." |||||||||||||pluck|||||||||||||| "Così come", gridarono gli spagnoli infuriati, "così come il Principe d'Orange può strappare le stelle dal cielo e portare l'oceano alle mura di Leida". “同样，”愤怒的西班牙人喊道——“橙子王子能从天空中摘下星星，就能把海洋带到莱顿的城墙上。” On the 1st of October a violent gale swept over the waste of waters from the north-west. |||||||vichřice|||||||||| ||||October|||gale||||waste|||||| 10月1日，一场猛烈的暴风从西北方向席卷了水域的荒野。 The waters rose rapidly, and the Sea Beggars sailed proudly forward in the darkness of the night. |||||||Beggars||with pride||||||| 水位迅速上升，海盗们在夜幕的黑暗中自豪地向前航行。

Within the town all was mysterious. |||||mysterious 在城镇内，一切都显得神秘。 Would the Spaniards attack them or flee? ||||||to flee 西班牙人会攻击他们还是逃跑？ Must they yet perish in sight of help? |||zhynout|||| |||perire = to perish|||| |||死去|||| 他们难道还要在看见帮助的情况下灭亡吗？

But before morning had dawned the Spanish host had grown alarmed at the rapidly rising waters, and the crews of wild fierce sailors sailing ever nearer and nearer. ||||era sorto il giorno||||||||||||||||||||||| ||||破晓||||||||||||||||||||||| Ama daha sabah olmadan İspanyollar hızla yükselen sular ve gittikçe yaklaşan vahşi denizci tayfaları karşısında telaşa kapıldılar. 但在黎明未至之前，西班牙军队因迅速上涨的水位而感到恐慌，凶猛的水手们的船只越来越近。 And before the waters reached them they had crept away under cover of the darkness. |||||||||||cover||| 在洪水到达他们之前，他们就在黑暗的掩护下悄悄溜走了。在水流到他们之前，他们在黑暗的掩护下悄悄溜走了。

A long line of moving lights were seen to flit across the black face of the waters at dead of night, and when day dawned at last there was not a Spaniard left. |||||||||to flit||||||||||||||||||||||| |||||||||掠过||||||||||||||||||||||| 在黑暗夜晚的水面上，看到一长串移动的光线快速掠过，当白天终于来临时，已经没有一个西班牙人留下。 Only a boy stood waving his cap from the summit of the Spanish fort, a boy who had seen the enemy's flight and had had the courage to go and wave the signal. |||||||||||||堡垒|||||||敌人的|飞行|and|||||||||| ||||||||||||||||||||敌人的|||||||||||| Doar un băiat își flutura șapca din vârful fortului spaniol, un băiat care văzuse fuga inamicului și avusese curajul să meargă și să dea semnalul. 只有一个男孩站在西班牙堡垒的顶峰挥舞着他的帽子，这个男孩看到敌人的逃跑并鼓起勇气去挥舞信号。 So the Sea Beggars sailed to Leyden and the city was saved. |||||||||||被拯救 Astfel, cerșetorii de mare au navigat spre Leyden și orașul a fost salvat. 因此，海盗们航行到了莱顿，城市得以拯救。

The Prince of Orange had a new and beautiful town built up to celebrate the victory over Spain. 奥兰治亲王为庆祝对西班牙的胜利而建立了一座新的美丽城镇。 And as long as the world rolls on, this splendid story of heroic defence will be told and retold with ever-growing enthusiasm. |||||||||skvělý||||||||||||| ||||||滚动||||||||||will be told||重述|||| ||||||||||||||||||重述|||| Atât timp cât lumea va continua să meargă înainte, această splendidă poveste de apărare eroică va fi spusă și repovestită cu un entuziasm din ce în ce mai mare. 只要世界继续转动，这个英勇防御的辉煌故事将会被传颂不衰，热情不断增长。