阿基米德之死(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。
阿 基 米 德 之 死
after a two-year-long siege, roman forces under general marcellus captured syracuse in 212 bc. the city is said to have fallen due to a peace party opening a small door in the wall to negotiate a peace, but the romans charged through the door.
according to the popular account given by greek biographer plutarch, archimedes was contemplating a mathematical diagram when the city was taken. a roman soldier commanded him to come and meet general marcellus, but he declined, saying that he had to finish working on the problem. the soldier was enraged and killed him with his sword. general marcellus was reportedly angered by the death of archimedes, as he had ordered him not to be harmed.
公元前二一二年，马塞勒斯将军率领罗马军队围攻西拉库斯两年之后，终于攻陷城池。据说，西拉库斯陷落，是因为议和代表团打开城墙一道小门，准备出城谈判，不料罗马军队乘机冲进城中。

希腊传记作家蒲鲁塔克笔下有一个脍炙人口的故事：西拉库斯沦陷时，阿基米德正在研究数学图表。一个罗马士兵命令他前去谒见马塞勒斯将军，但他拒绝，说要先解决眼前的数学问题。那士兵大怒，一剑取了他性命。根据传说，马塞勒斯将军听到阿基米德死了，很不高兴：他曾下令不得伤害阿基米德。
【附注】关于阿基米德之死，蒲鲁塔克还记录了另一说法：阿基米德拿数学工具，向一罗马士兵投降。那士兵以为他手上的是宝物，把他杀了。