Napoleon Bonaparte 拿破侖·波拿馬
About a hundred years ago there lived a great general whose name was Napoleon Bonaparte. 大約在一百年前,有一個偉大的將軍,名叫拿破侖·波拿馬。
He was the leader of the French army; and France was at war with nearly all the countries around. 他是法國軍隊的統(tǒng)帥。當(dāng)時法國幾乎對所有的鄰國作戰(zhàn)。
He wanted very much to take his soldiers into Italy; 他非常迫切地想把軍隊開進意大利。
but between France and Italy there are high mountains called the Alps, the tops of which are coveredwith snow. 但是在法國和意大利之間,有一座高山,叫阿爾卑斯山,山頂上覆蓋著積雪。
"Is it possible to cross the Alps?" asked Napoleon. “能越過阿爾卑斯山嗎?”拿破侖問。
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搖頭。
Then one of them said, "It may be possible, but—” 其中一個說:“也許可能,但是—”
"Let me hear no more,”said Napoleon. "Forward to Italy!" “別讓我再聽到這些,”拿破侖說。“向意大利前進!”
People laughed at the thought of an army of sixty thousand men crossing the Alps where there was no road. 人們覺得一支六萬人的軍隊想翻越?jīng)]有道路的阿爾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. 但是拿破侖只等看到一切都準備就緒,就下令出發(fā)。
The long line of soldiers and horses and cannons stretched for twenty miles. 大隊人馬和大炮綿延20英里。
When they came to a steep place where there seemed to be no way to go farther the trumpets sounded "Charge!" 當(dāng)他們來到一處看起來無路可走的陡峭的山地時,吹起了沖鋒號。
Then every man did his best, and the whole army moved right onward. “沖啊!”這時每個人都盡了最大的努力,整個軍隊繼續(xù)順利前進。
Soon they were safe over the Alps. In four days they were marching on the plains of Italy. 不久他們就平安地翻過了阿爾卑斯山。四天后,他們就在意大利的平原上行軍了。
"The man who has made up his mind to win,”said Napoleon, "will never say Impossible'." “下定決心要取得勝利的人,”拿破侖說,“永遠不會說‘不可能’。”