改写西方文明的一战(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。
改写西方文明的一战
the battle of the milvian bridge, which took place in october 312 between the two rivalling roman emperors constantine and maxentius, significantly changed the path of western civilisation.
on the evening before the battle, constantine, who was a pagan at the time, reportedly had a vision as he looked towards the setting sun. he saw a cross appear in the sky and he heard in latin,"in this sign, you will conquer." constantine therefore ordered his men to paint the sign of the cross upon their shields.
the next day, constantine won the battle although his troops were heavily outnumbered. he credited his victory to the god of the christians, and ordered the end of religious persecution. with the emperor as a patron, christianity became the dominant religion of the roman empire and ultimately of europe

公元三一二年十月弭尔维安桥之役，是罗马两个皇帝君士坦丁和马克森提乌斯的争霸战。这一战大大改变了西方文明的轨迹。
战争前一天傍晚，当时并非基督徒的君士坦丁据说经历了一场幻象：他望着落日，看见天空出现一个十字架，还听到一句拉丁语：「持此标识，当奏凯歌。」君士坦丁因此下令手下在盾牌上画个十字。
第二天，君士坦丁的军队虽然远比敌人少，却打了胜仗。他认为胜利是基督徒的上帝所赐，于是传令停止宗教迫害。基督教获皇帝支持，成为罗马主要宗教，最后更风靡欧洲