美国学生人类历史 第107期:拿撒勒的约书亚(5)

 　　According to my informant he made another attempt to save the life of the kindly 1 prophet.

　　据约瑟夫讲，彼拉多又作了一次努力，以挽救这位仁慈先知的性命。
　　He kept putting the execution off.
　　他一直拖延着，避免对耶稣定刑。
　　Meanwhile the Jewish people, lashed 2 into fury by their priests, got frantic 3 with rage.
　　与此同时，群情激奋的犹太人在祭司们的再三鼓动之下，变得歇斯底里。
　　There had been many riots in Jerusalem before this and there were only a few Roman soldiers within calling distance.
　　之前，耶路撒冷已经发生过多次骚乱，可驻扎在附近能随时听候召唤的罗马士兵却为数甚少。
　　Reports were being sent to the Roman authorities in Caesarea that Pilatus had "fallen a victim to the teachings of the Nazarene.
　　人们向该撒利的罗马当局递交报告，控告彼拉多总督"对拿撒勒人的危险教义入了迷，沦为异端的牺牲品"。
　　"Petitions were being circulated all through the city to have Pilatus recalled, because he was an enemy of the Emperor.
　　城市里到处都发生了请愿活动，要求诏回彼拉多；撤消他的总督职位，因为他已经变成帝国皇帝的敌人。
　　You know that our governors have strict instructions to avoid an open break with their foreign subjects.
　　你知道，我们的政府对驻海外总督有一条严格规定，那就是必须避免和当地属民发生公开冲突。
　　To save the country from civil war, Pilatus finally sacrificed his prisoner, Joshua, who behaved with great dignity and who forgave all those who hated him.
　　为避免国家陷入内战；彼拉多最终不得不牺牲掉他的囚犯约书亚。约书亚以令人钦敬的尊严态度接受了这种结局，并对所有憎恨他的人施以宽恕。
　　He was crucified amidst the howls and the laughter of the Jerusalem mob.
　　最终，在耶路撒冷群众的狂叫与嘲笑声中，他被钉上十字架处死了。
　　That is what Joseph told me, with tears running down his old cheeks.
　　这就是约瑟夫给我讲的事情。他一边讲，一边涕泗横流，哀恸之情让人颇为不忍。
　　I gave him a gold piece when I left him, but he refused it and asked me to hand it to one poorer than himself.
　　离开时，我递给他一个金币，不过他拒绝收下，还请求我把金币施与比他更贫穷、更需要帮助的人。
　　I also asked him a few questions about your friend Paul.
　　我也向他问到了你的朋友保罗的事情，
　　He had known him slightly.
　　不过他了解不多。
　　He seems to have been a tent maker 4 who gave up his profession that he might preach the words of a loving and forgiving God,
　　保罗似乎原本是一名做帐篷的，后来他放弃了职业，为的是能一心宣讲他那位仁爱宽容的上帝。
　　who was so very different from that Jehovah of whom the Jewish priests are telling us all the time.
　　这位上帝与犹太祭司们一直以来向我们描述的耶和华有着截然不同的性情。
　　Afterwards, Paul appears to have travelled much in Asia Minor 5 and in Greece,
　　后来，保罗游历了小亚细亚和希腊的许多地方，
　　telling the slaves that they were all children of one loving Father and that happiness awaits all,
　　告诉奴隶们，他们全都是同一位仁慈天父的孩子，
　　both rich and poor, who have tried to live honest lives and have done good to those who were suffering and miserable 6.
　　不论富有或贫穷，只有尽力过诚实的生活，为那些遭难和悲惨的人做善事，就能进入天国，就有幸福的前景在等待他们。
　　I hope that I have answered your questions to your satisfaction.
　　我了解的情况就这么多，希望我的答复能让您满意。
　　The whole story seems very harmless to me as far as the safety of the state is concerned.
　　就帝国的安全来说，我倒看不出这整个故事有任何危险的地方。
　　But then, we Romans never have been able to understand the people of this province.
　　不过话说回来，我们罗马人是不可能真正理解生活在这一地区的人民的。
　　I am sorry that they have killed your friend Paul. I wish that I were at home again, and I am, as ever,
　　我很遗憾他们杀死了你的朋友保罗。真希望此时我能在家里闭门思过。
　　Your dutiful nephew, Gladius Ensa
　　你忠实的外甥 格拉丢斯·恩萨