×

Мы используем cookie-файлы, чтобы сделать работу LingQ лучше. Находясь на нашем сайте, вы соглашаетесь на наши правила обработки файлов «cookie».


image

The Awakening of Europe, 46. The Greatest General of His Age

46. The Greatest General of His Age

"Jack of Marlborough, Who beat the Frenchman thorough and thorough." —Old English Rhyme.

Though the seventeenth century ended in peace, yet dark storm-clouds were hovering over Europe. Louis XIV. still reigned in France, William III. in England; but it was towards distant Spain that the eyes of kings and people were now strained.

There on the throne of his forefathers sat a miserable and sickly king, whose death must end the long line of princes who had for two hundred years occupied the Spanish throne. The great question now engaging Europe was: Who should succeed him? Spain had fallen from her high estate, but so vast still was the extent of her empire that under vigorous rule her old power might yet return. In 1700 the poor king died, leaving his kingdom to Philip, the young grandson of Louis XIV. of France, the younger brother of that little Louis loved and taught by Fénelon years before. Nothing could have been more pleasing to the ambition of Louis XIV. Gladly enough he despatched his grandson, a boy of seventeen, to the Court of Madrid, though the boy-king of Spain was in bitter tears at leaving his home in Paris for a long winter journey to his new kingdom.

"Remember there are no longer any Pyrenean mountains," were Louis' parting words to Philip. Louis had promised faithfully never to unite the thrones of France and Spain, and it was with some uneasiness now that Europe watched him directing young Philip with a high hand.

No one felt more uneasy than William III. of England. His whole life had been a struggle to keep the ever-growing power of France within bounds. He distrusted Louis, and it was with reluctance that he acknowledged Philip as King of Spain. Now Louis went a step farther.

James, the exiled King of England, lay dying in France, when Louis entered his room and promised him to help his son Charles to regain the English throne when William should die. In a moment all England was in a blaze. The English people had never loved their Dutch king, but he had made them free, he had been the champion of the Protestant religion. Should the King of France dictate to them who was to be their king? A thousand times No. Rather would they fight. In the midst of these storms William was thrown one day from his horse and broke his collar-bone. In the wretched state of his health he had no strength to rally.

"There was a time when I should have been glad to have been delivered out of my difficulties," whispered the dying king to his lifelong Dutch friend; "but I see another scene, and could wish to live a little longer." This was denied him. It was in the year 1702 that William died, leaving his sister-in-law Anne to be Queen of England. Angrily the King of France received the news of her accession, and two months later war was declared by England against France and Spain.

The command of the troops was given by Anne to her old friend the Duke of Marlborough. This was the man who was now to carry on the work of his old master in baffling the ambitions of France—the man who was to decide the fate of Europe.

Already glimpses of him have appeared from time to time. He was one of those who deserted his king to fight under the banner of William of Orange. He had helped Anne to escape before her father, James II., reached London. He had later been caught plotting with the very king whom he had deserted, and thrown into prison by William. Pardoned and restored to favour, he became tutor to Anne's little boy, heir to the throne; for Mary had died of smallpox while still young, leaving no child to succeed her and William. Marlborough was ambitious and scheming, but he was a marvellous soldier. He did not take up his command till the age of fifty-two, an age when the work of many men is nearly done; but he had unbroken good fortune. Voltaire said that he never besieged a fortress that he did not take, or fight a battle that he did not win.

"Our Duke was as calm at the mouth of a cannon as at the door of a drawing-room," said one who served under him. "He was cold, calm, resolute as fate." "Yet those of the army who knew him best and had suffered most from him admired him most of all; and as he rode along the lines to battle, or galloped up in the nick of time to a battalion reeling from before the enemy's charge or shot, the fainting men and officers got new courage as they saw the splendid calm of his face, and felt that his will made them irresistible." Such was the Duke of Marlborough, the "greatest general of his age."

46. The Greatest General of His Age 46. Der größte General seiner Zeit 46. El mejor general de su época 46.当代きっての名将 46. O maior general da sua época 46. Величайший генерал своей эпохи 46. Çağının En Büyük Generali 46. Найвидатніший генерал свого часу 46.这个时代最伟大的将军

"Jack of Marlborough, Who beat the Frenchman thorough and thorough." ||||||French soldier|completely|| "Джек Мальборо, который победил француза основательно и основательно". —Old English Rhyme. ||Ancient verse pattern

Though the seventeenth century ended in peace, yet dark storm-clouds were hovering over Europe. Despite the fact||||||||||||looming|| Хотя семнадцатый век закончился миром, над Европой все же нависли темные грозовые тучи. Louis XIV. still reigned in France, William III. |was king|||| Во Франции по-прежнему царствовал Вильгельм III. in England; but it was towards distant Spain that the eyes of kings and people were now strained. |||||||||||||||||intently focused on В Англии, но именно к далекой Испании были устремлены взоры королей и народа.

There on the throne of his forefathers sat a miserable and sickly king, whose death must end the long line of princes who had for two hundred years occupied the Spanish throne. |||royal seat|||ancestors|||unhappy and ill||In poor health||||||||||royal heirs|||||||||| На троне его предков сидел несчастный и больной король, смерть которого должна была положить конец длинной череде принцев, двести лет занимавших испанский престол. The great question now engaging Europe was: Who should succeed him? ||||occupying the attention|||||| Теперь перед Европой встал великий вопрос: Кто должен стать его преемником? Spain had fallen from her high estate, but so vast still was the extent of her empire that under vigorous rule her old power might yet return. ||declined||||high status|||immense|even now|||size||||||energetic|governance|||||| Испания утратила свои высокие позиции, но масштабы ее империи были столь велики, что при энергичном правлении ее былое могущество еще может вернуться. In 1700 the poor king died, leaving his kingdom to Philip, the young grandson of Louis XIV. ||||||||||||young male descendant||| В 1700 году бедный король умер, оставив свое королевство Филиппу, юному внуку Людовика XIV. of France, the younger brother of that little Louis loved and taught by Fénelon years before. |||||||||||||French tutor|| Франции, младший брат того маленького Луи, которого любил и учил Фенелон много лет назад. Nothing could have been more pleasing to the ambition of Louis XIV. |||||gratifying|||desire for power||| Ничто не могло быть более приятным для амбиций Людовика XIV. Gladly enough he despatched his grandson, a boy of seventeen, to the Court of Madrid, though the boy-king of Spain was in bitter tears at leaving his home in Paris for a long winter journey to his new kingdom. Willingly|||sent off|||||||||||the Spanish capital|||||||||intense emotional pain|||||||French capital|in order to|||||||| С радостью он отправил своего внука, семнадцатилетнего юношу, ко двору Мадрида, хотя испанский король был в горьких слезах, покидая свой дом в Париже и отправляясь в долгое зимнее путешествие в свое новое королевство.

"Remember there are no longer any Pyrenean mountains," were Louis' parting words to Philip. ||||||Pyrenees-related||||farewell||| "Помни, что Пиренейских гор больше нет", - сказал Луи на прощание Филиппу. Louis had promised faithfully never to unite the thrones of France and Spain, and it was with some uneasiness now that Europe watched him directing young Philip with a high hand. |||with full commitment|||||||||||||||nervousness||||||guiding authoritatively|||||authoritative manner| Людовик твердо обещал никогда не объединять престолы Франции и Испании, и теперь Европа с некоторым беспокойством наблюдала, как он направляет юного Филиппа, высоко подняв руку.

No one felt more uneasy than William III. ||||more uncomfortable||| Никто не чувствовал себя более беспокойно, чем Вильгельм III. of England. His whole life had been a struggle to keep the ever-growing power of France within bounds. ||||||constant effort||||||||||under control Вся его жизнь была борьбой за то, чтобы удержать в рамках постоянно растущее могущество Франции. He distrusted Louis, and it was with reluctance that he acknowledged Philip as King of Spain. |did not trust||||||hesitation|||accepted||||| Он не доверял Людовику и с неохотой признал Филиппа королем Испании. Now Louis went a step farther. ||proceeded|||

James, the exiled King of England, lay dying in France, when Louis entered his room and promised him to help his son Charles to regain the English throne when William should die. ||banished from country||||was lying||||||||||||||||||||||||| Яков, изгнанный король Англии, умирал во Франции, когда в его комнату вошел Людовик и пообещал ему помочь своему сыну Карлу вернуть английский трон, когда Вильгельм умрет. In a moment all England was in a blaze. ||very short time||||||in turmoil Через мгновение вся Англия была охвачена огнем. The English people had never loved their Dutch king, but he had made them free, he had been the champion of the Protestant religion. ||||||||||||||||||||||Reformed Christian faith| Английский народ никогда не любил своего голландского короля, но он сделал их свободными, он был защитником протестантской религии. Should the King of France dictate to them who was to be their king? |||||impose authority over|||||||| A thousand times No. Rather would they fight. Prefer to|||engage in combat In the midst of these storms William was thrown one day from his horse and broke his collar-bone. ||||||||hurled off|||||||||collarbone| В разгар этих бурь Уильям однажды был сброшен с лошади и сломал ключицу. In the wretched state of his health he had no strength to rally. ||Poor condition||||||||||recover or improve В таком плачевном состоянии здоровья у него не было сил на восстановление.

"There was a time when I should have been glad to have been delivered out of my difficulties," whispered the dying king to his lifelong Dutch friend; "but I see another scene, and could wish to live a little longer." |||||||||||||rescued from|free from|||challenges|||||||long-time||||||||||||||| "Было время, когда я был бы рад избавиться от своих трудностей, - шептал умирающий король своему пожизненному голландскому другу, - но я вижу другую сцену и хотел бы прожить еще немного". This was denied him. ||not given to| В этом ему было отказано. It was in the year 1702 that William died, leaving his sister-in-law Anne to be Queen of England. Angrily the King of France received the news of her accession, and two months later war was declared by England against France and Spain. With anger||||||||||taking the throne||||||||||||| Король Франции с гневом воспринял новость о ее воцарении, а через два месяца Англия объявила войну Франции и Испании.

The command of the troops was given by Anne to her old friend the Duke of Marlborough. Командование войсками Анна передала своему старому другу герцогу Мальборо. This was the man who was now to carry on the work of his old master in baffling the ambitions of France—the man who was to decide the fate of Europe. |||||||||||||||||Thwarting|||||||||||||| Это был человек, которому теперь предстояло продолжить дело своего старого хозяина по пресечению амбиций Франции - человек, которому предстояло решить судьбу Европы.

Already glimpses of him have appeared from time to time. |brief sightings|||||||| Уже сейчас время от времени появляются его проблески. He was one of those who deserted his king to fight under the banner of William of Orange. ||||||abandoned|||||||flag or cause||||William III Он был одним из тех, кто дезертировал от своего короля, чтобы сражаться под знаменем Вильгельма Оранского. He had helped Anne to escape before her father, James II., reached London. ||||||||||James the Second|| Он помог Анне бежать до того, как ее отец, Яков II, добрался до Лондона. He had later been caught plotting with the very king whom he had deserted, and thrown into prison by William. ||||apprehended|conspiring||||||||abandoned or left|||||| Позже его поймали на заговоре с тем самым королем, которого он покинул, и Вильгельм бросил его в тюрьму. Pardoned and restored to favour, he became tutor to Anne's little boy, heir to the throne; for Mary had died of smallpox while still young, leaving no child to succeed her and William. Forgiven||"Returned to favor"||good graces|||private teacher||Anne of England||||||||||passed away||infectious disease||||||||||| Помилованный и восстановленный в правах, он стал воспитателем маленького мальчика Анны, наследника престола; ведь Мария умерла от оспы, будучи еще маленькой, не оставив ребенка, который мог бы стать наследником ее и Вильгельма. Marlborough was ambitious and scheming, but he was a marvellous soldier. ||||plotting or conniving|||||exceptional| Мальборо был амбициозен и интриган, но при этом он был прекрасным солдатом. He did not take up his command till the age of fifty-two, an age when the work of many men is nearly done; but he had unbroken good fortune. |||assume||||||||||||||tasks||||||||||||good luck Он принял командование только в пятьдесят два года - возраст, когда работа многих мужчин уже почти завершена; но ему постоянно сопутствовала удача. Voltaire said that he never besieged a fortress that he did not take, or fight a battle that he did not win. the philosopher|||||laid siege to|||||||capture||||||||| Вольтер говорил, что он никогда не осаждал крепость, которую не взял, и не сражался в битве, которую не выиграл.

"Our Duke was as calm at the mouth of a cannon as at the door of a drawing-room," said one who served under him. ||||unflustered|||opening of|||large gun|||||||reception room||||||| "Наш герцог был так же спокоен перед пушкой, как и перед дверью гостиной", - сказал один из тех, кто служил под его началом. "He was cold, calm, resolute as fate." ||||determined|| "Он был холоден, спокоен, решителен, как судьба". "Yet those of the army who knew him best and had suffered most from him admired him most of all; and as he rode along the lines to battle, or galloped up in the nick of time to a battalion reeling from before the enemy's charge or shot, the fainting men and officers got new courage as they saw the splendid calm of his face, and felt that his will made them irresistible." |||||||||||||||||||||||traveled on horseback|||||||rushed swiftly||||critical moment|||||military unit|staggering under pressure|||||||||losing consciousness|||||||||||||||||||||||unbeatable "Но больше всего им восхищались те, кто знал его лучше всех и больше всех от него пострадал; и когда он скакал вдоль строя на битву или галопом подбегал к батальону, отступавшему перед вражеской атакой или выстрелом, терявшие сознание люди и офицеры обретали новое мужество, видя великолепное спокойствие его лица и чувствуя, что его воля делает их непреодолимыми". Such was the Duke of Marlborough, the "greatest general of his age." Таким был герцог Мальборо, "величайший полководец своей эпохи".