勇敢的卜者(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。
勇敢的卜者
in 88 bc, when sulla, a roman general and politician, had made himself master of rome, and expelled his enemies, he summoned the senate to meet. coming with an armed force, he demanded that marius, his rival, should immediately be declared an enemy of the people. there was none found in the grave assembly with courage enough to oppose his motion, and by their silence gave consent.
at length, scaevola, the augur, being pressed to declare his mind, spoke as follows:"though, sulla, thou thinkest to terrify me with thy armed troops that have encircled the senate house, and have threatened me with death itself, yet i scorn to save a little superannuated blood, by pronouncing marius an enemy to this state, by whose valour and prudent conduct not only the city of rome, but all italy, has been preserved."

公元前八十八年，罗马将领及政客苏拉驱除了对手，成为罗马之主，召开元老院之中。他率领武装部队到场，要与会者马上宣布他的对手马留斯是人民公敌。肃穆的元老院内，没有一人敢反对建议，而沉默等于同意。
最后，卜者斯克埃沃拉被迫发表意见。他说：「苏拉，虽然你以包围元老院的武装部队恐吓我，并且以死亡相胁，但我还不屑为了爱惜一点老弱的血，而声言马留斯是国家敌人。马留斯勇敢而慎重，全靠他，罗马城以至整个意大利才能保存至今。」
【附注】 at length是「最后」的意思，例如： he talked randomly for some time, but at length came to the point（他东拉西扯谈了一会，终于说到要点了）。