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It was the hand of God that decided the outcome of battles,
是上帝决定了战斗的胜负
the fate of nations and the life or death of kings.Everyone knew that.
国家的兴衰和国王的生死 这一点妇孺皆知
It was winter, the season of frost and death.A king lay dying.
那是一个冬天 一个充满寒冷与死亡的季节 一位国王正值弥留
His name was Edward the Confessor.
他名叫"忏悔者爱德华"
He was dying childless and it was far from obvious who would succeed him.
国王生前无嗣 因而王位的继承变得晦暗不明
Because there was no heir,there were many who thought they should be the next king,
由于没有继承人 觊觎王位者 遍布四野
including foreign princes like Duke William of Normandy.
这其中包括一些外国王子 比如诺曼底公爵威廉
Among those gathered round the bed of the dying Saxon king
在垂死的撒克逊国王榻前聚集的众人中
was the next most powerful man in England,Harold Godwineson
蛰伏着下一任英格兰的掌权者 哈罗德·戈德温森
and he thought the crown would look well on his head.
他认为自己是当之无愧的继承人
He was hoping for some sign that King Edward felt the same way.
并希望爱德华国王也表示出有同样的想法
And then Edward stretched out his hand and touched Harold.
后来 爱德华伸手握住了哈罗德
But was he giving him a blessing or a curse?
这究竟是祝福还是诅咒呢
Was this the hand of God making Harold king?
还是上帝要借老国王之手把王位传给哈罗德
Nobody knew for sure,but Harold had no qualms.
究竟何意 无人知晓 但哈罗德却无丝毫疑虑
Harold seized the crown.The question now was for how long would he keep it?
抓住机会 登上了王位 现在的问题是 他能在这王位上坐多久
Then, in the April sky,the hand of God showed itself as a comet,
紧接着 在四月的某一天 一颗彗星传来了上帝的旨意
a hairy star, and everyone knew this was no blessing but an evil omen.
这颗扫帚星让所有人意识到 此非赐福 而是凶兆
The year was 1066.
时年1066
