【BBC紀錄片】凡爾賽宮 第64期：凡爾賽宮奇跡之子的到來

France, since the defeat of the Seven Years' War,

法國自為時七年的戰(zhàn)爭失敗以后

had been desperate to get revenge on England.

一直渴望向英國復仇

Louis XVI would like nothing more than to attack the old enemy.

路易十六最希望的就是對老對手發(fā)動攻擊

But, on the other hand, there's a problem.

但另一方面 有一個問題

If they do that, are they not supporting insurgence?

如果他們這么做 是否是在支持暴動呢

And indeed insurgents, many of whom were republicans,

而那些起義者 大多數(shù)是共和黨人

and avowed republicans like that.

以及擁護共和黨的人

And so, it's difficult.

所以 選擇陷入兩難

And so, to begin with, they take a kind of a middle course.

因此在開始時 他們作了折中選擇

Louis approved the aid,

路易同意提供支持

but insisted that everything was done in secret.

但堅持一切都要秘密進行

Using a certain amount of covert skulduggery,

用一系列的掩蓋手法

weapons and arms are sent off to help the Americans

武器被送去支援美國人

fight off the British

對抗英國

attempt to reconquer the rebellious colonies.

重新征服殖民地的野心

一.defeat：n.挫敗, 敗北 vt.戰(zhàn)勝, 擊敗, 使...不能實現(xiàn)

【語法用法】

defeat既作類名詞，也可作抽象名詞，如a defeat(一次挫敗)和in defeat(挫敗);

defeat后接不同的介詞時，表示不同意思。例如his defeatof the enemy表示“他打敗敵人”，his defeat by theenemy表示“他被敵人打敗”，而his defeat表示“他被別人打敗”。

【詞義辨析】

conquer, overcome, overthrow, defeat, beat, subdue

這些動詞均含“征服，戰(zhàn)勝”之意。

conquer側重戰(zhàn)勝和控制。書面用詞。

overcome多指戰(zhàn)勝或克服非物質的東西，如困難和不良習慣等。語氣較弱也可指在斗爭或競爭中戰(zhàn)勝或壓倒對方。

overthrow指徹底擊敗對手，使其喪失力量和地位。

defeat普通用詞，多指在戰(zhàn)爭、比賽、競選或辯論中戰(zhàn)勝對手，側重勝利的暫時性。

beat口筆語均可用，可與defeat換用。

subdue正式用詞，與conquer同義，但強調失敗后的臣服狀態(tài);也可用作借喻，表克制、壓抑感情、欲望等。

【例句用法】

He was depressed by his defeat.

失敗讓他沮喪。

The hopes were defeated.

希望落空了。

Our men were heavily defeated in the battle.

我軍在此戰(zhàn)役中受到重創(chuàng)。

二.insist：vt.堅持, 堅決主張 vi.堅持, 強調

【詞義辨析】

insist, persist, persevere, adhere, cling

這些動詞均有“堅持”之意。

insist通常用于對意見、主張等的堅持。

persist用于褒義指堅持繼續(xù)做某事，但更常用于貶義，指不聽勸告，頑固堅持。

persevere含褒義，強調堅持不懈的努力。

adhere與to連用，指堅持意見、計劃或承諾等，含堅持不懈之意。

cling和to連用，指對信仰、意見、習慣等的堅持。

【例句用法】

The bank will insist on collateral for a loan of that size.

銀行對這樣的大筆貸款一定要有抵押物。

Since you insist, I must amend the letter of credit.

既然你堅持，我就只好修改信用證。

He insisted that he had done right.

他堅決認為自己做對了。

He insisted on paying for the meal.

他堅持要付飯錢。