马撒达(英中对照)

古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事，古德明，香港英语教育作家，他开了一个《征服英语专栏》，在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事，用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。
马撒达
After the Romans took Jerusalem in AD70, the last remaining pocket of Jewish resistance was the mountaintop fortress of Masada in the desert near the Dead Sea. Its 1000 inhabitants withstood several assaults from a besieging Roman army of 15000.In 73, the Romans prepared for a decisive strike. The Jewish leader, Eleazar ben Jair, knew that the Jews' situation was hopeless, and addressed his followers."Long ago, we resolved never to be servants to the Romans," he said."The time is now come that obliges us to make that resolution true in practice. Let us leave this world as free men in company with our wives and children."On 16 April, the Romans finally breached the wall of the fortress. When they entered the fortress, however, they saw nobody as an enemy. The Jews had committed mass suicide.
公元七十年，罗马人攻占耶路撒冷之后，犹太人反抗力量的最后根据地，就是死海附近沙漠一个山峯上的马撒达城堡。罗马一万五千人的军队几次进攻，都被城堡的一千居民击退。公元七十三年，罗马军队准备作雷霆万钧的一击。犹太人领袖埃利埃泽．本．睚珥知道大势已去，对手下说：「很久之前，我们决定永远不作罗马人仆役。现在，实践这决定的时间已告来临。我们要和妻子儿女一起，以自由人身分离开这世界。」四月十六日，罗马军终于攻破城墙，但进城之后，不见一个敌人。那些犹太人已经集体自杀。