罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (157).docxVIP

PAGE

经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

Alevelwaywascoveredwithabroadplatformofstrongandsolidplanks;andtorenderthemmoreslipperyandsmooth,theywereanointedwiththefatofsheepandoxen.Fourscorelightgalleysandbrigantines,offiftyandthirtyoars,weredisembarkedontheBosphorusshore;arrangedsuccessivelyonrollers;anddrawnforwardsbythepowerofmenandpulleys.Twoguidesorpilotswerestationedatthehelm,andtheprow,ofeachvessel:thesailswereunfurledtothewinds;andthelaborwascheeredbysongandacclamation.Inthecourseofasinglenight,thisTurkishfleetpainfullyclimbedthehill,steeredovertheplain,andwaslaunchedfromthedeclivityintotheshallowwatersoftheharbor,farabovethemolestationofthedeepervesselsoftheGreeks.Therealimportanceofthisoperationwasmagnifiedbytheconsternationandconfidencewhichitinspired:butthenotorious,unquestionablefactwasdisplayedbeforetheeyes,andisrecordedbythepens,ofthetwonations.^48Asimilarstratagemhadbeenrepeatedlypractisedbytheancients;^49theOttomangalleys(Imustagainrepeat)shouldbeconsideredaslargeboats;and,ifwecomparethemagnitudeandthedistance,theobstaclesandthemeans,theboastedmiracle^50hasperhapsbeenequalledbytheindustryofourowntimes.^51AssoonasMahomethadoccupiedtheupperharborwithafleetandarmy,heconstructed,inthenarrowestpart,abridge,orrathermole,offiftycubitsinbreadth,andonehundredinlength:itwasformedofcasksandhogsheads;joinedwithrafters,linkedwithiron,andcoveredwithasolidfloor.Onthisfloatingbatteryheplantedoneofhislargestcannon,whilethefourscoregalleys,withtroopsandscalingladders,approachedthemostaccessibleside,whichhadformerlybeenstormedbytheLatinconquerors.TheindolenceoftheChristianshasbeenaccusedfornotdestroyingtheseunfinishedworks;^!buttheirfire,byasu