001 我的骑士生涯

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I am Sir Jeffrey, a knight of the royal court

of England in the twelfth century.

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The twelfth century was the High Middle Ages when noble

men in shining armor ruled the land.

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My story is full of the adventures and glory that

only a knight could have known.

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I spent years on the Second and Third Crusades, fighting

to capture the city of Jerusalem.

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This city had been occupied for many years by Arab Muslims

这座城市已被阿拉伯穆斯林占领多年。

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So, in 1187, Pope Gregory VIII stated that all knights should ride

across Europe to the Middle East and take the city.

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But before I could do that, I had to spend many years becoming a knight

但在此之前，我必须花多年时间成为一名骑士。

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I began my journey to knighthood as a page at the age of seven

我七岁时以侍童的身份开始了成为骑士的旅程。

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I left home to live at the castle of a lord

我离开家，住进一位领主的城堡。

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As a page, I played many training games with other pages, such as

wrestling, sword fighting, and lance practice.

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When we practiced sword and lance skills, we used

wooden weapons to be safe.

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My other lessons involved the lady and lord of the castle

我的其他课程则与城堡的夫人和领主有关。

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I would spend the day serving my lord in all things

我会整天在各方面侍奉我的领主。

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If his armor was rusted or dirty, it was my job to clean it

如果他的盔甲生锈或脏了，我的职责就是把它擦亮。

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My lord taught me how to hunt, usually with a bow

and arrow, but also with a hawk.

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The lady of the castle showed me how to be a gentleman

by teaching me good manners.

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This was very important because a knight is not only a warrior, but

a noble person who always does what is right.

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Another big part of my day involved learning about God and religion

我一天中另一个重要部分，是学习上帝与宗教。

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This was important because many knights, including myself

were deeply religious Christians.

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When I was 14, I was chosen to become a squire

a knight's servant or apprentice.

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A squire takes care of the knight's weapons and carries them for him

扈从负责保管骑士的武器并替他携带。

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In battle, the squire quickly replaces any damaged shield or armor

so the knight can continue fighting.

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During my time as a squire, I learned the ways of

combat and warfare from my lord.

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Now, instead of training with wooden weapons, the other

squires and I used real ones.

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We studied siege warfare, or how to surround and blockade

a city, and the art of commanding soldiers.

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As squires, we became expert horsemen. We learned to ride

horses and fight at the same time.

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We also practiced fighting while wearing heavy armor

我们还练习穿着重甲战斗。

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Sometimes during a battle, we were allowed to fight alongside

our lord instead of just serving him.

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A squire could become a knight between the ages of eighteen and twenty

扈从可以在十八到二十岁之间成为骑士。

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When I was thought worthy of becoming a knight, I did everything a

squire must do just before a knighting ceremony.

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I prayed throughout the night, refusing to eat or sleep

我彻夜祈祷，不吃不睡。

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When morning came, I took a warm bath and put on

a special padded vest and hood.

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Next, I put on my full armor, which was well-polished and shiny

接着，我穿上全套盔甲，擦得锃亮发光。

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Over this armor, I put on a fine white tunic or shirt

在盔甲外面，我套上一件精美的白色长袍或衬衣。

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White was the color of purity. I was finally ready to

be knighted, or "dubbed," a knight.

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For the ceremony, I knelt before my lord and I received

my sword, my lance, and golden spurs.

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I recited a special oath, or promise, to be loyal

and obey him in all things.

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I also took the oath of chivalry to protect the weak and defenseless, defend

the church, speak the truth, respect women, and live an honorable life.

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Then the lord performing the ceremony touched me on the shoulders

with a sword and said, "I dub thee Sir Knight."

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I had knelt as a squire, but I rose as a knight

我作为扈从跪下，却作为骑士站起。

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As a knight, I was free to travel, but I always had to be available

for my lord in both peace and in war.

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But most of the time, before I went on the Crusades, I fought in tournaments

但在参加十字军东征之前，大部分时间我都在比武大会上作战。

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Tournaments were very common events that allowed knights to compete

against each other in combat with swords and lances.

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Even though the competitions were games, they were

very dangerous and many knights died.

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These events could determine a knight's fortune, since knights

often bet their wealth on a tournament.

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To be beaten was to lose money and reputation

被打败意味着失去金钱和名誉。

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To win was to gain wealth and fame

获胜则能赢得财富和名声。

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After the Crusades, I eventually returned to England

十字军东征后，我最终回到了英格兰。

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I continued to participate in tournaments and fight

wars to gain land and money.

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I even taught my own pages and squires as I had been taught

我甚至像当初别人教导我一样，教导自己的侍童和扈从。

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When I look back on my life, I am proud to say that I was a true knight

performed my duties well, and fought for my beliefs.