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So Iron Age Britain was definitely not the back of beyond.
因此 铁器时代的不列颠绝非蛮夷之地
Its tribes may have led lives separated from each other by custom and language,
或许碍于语言与习俗 部落间相互隔绝不相往来
and they may have had no great capital city but taken together they added up to something in the world,
亦或许他们不曾拥有繁荣的首都 但整体来说 也为世界文明贡献了力量
the bustling of countless productive, energetic beehives.
正如一个个熙攘而充满活力的蜂房
What the bees made was not honey, but gold.
不过他们所酿绝非蜂蜜 而是黄金
The Romans would have known about this strange but alluring world of fat cattle and busy forges.
罗马人对这个家畜成群 工场繁忙的 陌生而诱人地方 肯定有所听闻
Evidence of its refinement would certainly have found its way to Rome.
这里文明的制品 肯定也早就行销罗马
But along with the glittering metal ware came stories of alarming cults,
但随着闪亮金属制品而来的 是可怖的邪教
which may have prompted the usual Roman dinner time discussions.
这些也成为了罗马人饭后的谈资
All very interesting, I dare say,but would we really want to call them a civilisation?
我想这的确都很有趣 但我们真的能称之为文明吗
Supposing they would have seen an ancient sculpture,
假设他们看到了一尊远古雕塑
like this haunting stone face with its archaic secretive smile,
像这张令人难忘的 古老而神秘的笑脸
the eyes closed as if in a mysterious devotional trance.
双目紧闭 仿佛正在虔诚地祷告
The nose flattened, the cheeks broad,
鼻梁平塌 面颊宽阔
the whole thing so spellbindingly reminiscent of things
通体与罗马人在伊特鲁利亚和希腊诸岛
the Romans must have seen in Etruria or the Greek islands.
所见的艺术珍品神形俱似
Would they then have said,Yes, this is a work of art?
他们是否会颔首称道 这确是艺术珍品呢
Probably not. Sooner or later they would have noticed that the top of the head is sliced off, scooped out,
大概不会 因为他们终会注意到 雕像的头顶处被切开挖掉了
like a boiled egg of breakfast, to hold sacrificial offerings.
如同一颗煮蛋 专为放置祭祀品而设
