美国语文第四册 第161期：阿尔弗雷德大帝（02）
For some time he dressed as a peasant, and lived in the cottage of a cowherd,
阿尔弗雷德一度装扮成农民，住在一个牧民家里，
who was so careful of his king's safety that he did not even tell his wife who he was.
牧民对国王的安全小心谨慎，即使对他的妻子也没透露。
So she treated the king as a common peasant,
因此牧民的妻子对国王就像对待普通的农民一样，
and one day gave him a sharp scolding because he allowed some cakes to burn on the griddle, after she had left him to watch them.
有一天还狠狠责备了他，因为他照看的蛋糕烤糊了。
She told him he was clever enough at eating cakes though he managed so badly at baking them.
牧民的妻子对他说，你吃蛋糕的本事可比烤蛋糕强多了。
When the search for him grew less active, Alfred gradually collected some of his followers, with whom he encamped on a small spot of firm ground in the center of a bog.
当丹麦人放松对他的搜捕的时候，阿尔弗雷德渐渐聚拢起一些追随者，他们驻扎在沼泽中心一小块结实的平地上。
It was surrounded by almost impassable forests, and Alfred fortified the place so that it could not well be taken.
四周都是密林，难以通过，加之阿尔弗雷德构筑了防御工事，因此易守难攻。
Then he made frequent sudden and successful attacks on the enemy until his troops and the people became encouraged.
他频繁地袭击敌人，都很成功，军队和人民很受鼓舞。
One victory in particular, when they captured a banner which the Danes thought enchanted, led Alfred to take bolder steps.
在一次胜利中，他们夺取了一面丹麦人认为施了魔法的旗帜，这促使阿尔弗雷德采取更大胆的行动。
He wished to find out the exact condition of the enemy, and, for this purpose, disguised himself as a harper and entered their camp.
他希望准确地了解敌人的情况，因此，他假扮成竖琴师，混进了敌营。
He was so successful in his disguise that he remained there some days, even being admitted to the tent of the Danish leader Guthrum.
他伪装得很成功，在敌营住了很多天，甚至还得到允许进入了丹麦首领古特伦的营帐。
He found their entire army living in careless security,
他发现丹麦军队纪律松弛，
and so he determined to make a sudden and bold attack on them, to try and rid his country once more of these cruel invaders.
因此决定对他们采取大胆的突袭，把这些残酷的侵略者赶出英格兰。
He summoned his people about him from far and wide.
他召集远近的人民。
Many of them had long thought their beloved king dead, but now all eagerly obeyed his call.
很多人原以为他们热爱的国王已经死了，现在纷纷响应他的命令。
He at once led them against that part of the camp which he had seen to be most unguarded.
他带领军队袭击了敌人防备最松弛的部位。
The attack was entirely unexpected; and, although the Danes were greater in numbers, they were defeated with great slaughter.
丹麦人却毫无准备，尽管人数众多，吃了败仗，死伤惨重。
Some of them, with their leader, fled to a fortified place, but were soon obliged to surrender.
他们的领袖带着一部分人逃到一个堡垒，可是很快就不得不投降了。
