In this course, we have tried to prepare you to understand and discuss important topics that are often in the news.Sometimes the news is good news ,but all too often（经常，时常，很多时候） we learn of problems and crises.Once in a while（间或，有时）, an event is extraordinary（令人惊奇的，非比寻常的） and will change the world.
在这次的课程中，我们试图让你准备好理解和讨论经常出现在新闻中的重要话题。有时消息是好消息，但我们常常从中学到问题和危机。每隔一段时间，就会发生一件非同寻常的事情，它将改变世界。
In this lesson, we focus on an event that changed history forever.This historic event was the assassination（暗杀，刺杀） of the Roman leader, Julius Caesar（尤利乌斯•凯撒）.We will never know how history might have been different had these event not taken place.But we can speculate（猜测，推测） what caused it and how it might have been prevented.
本节课，我们将关注一个永远改变历史的事件。这一历史性事件就是刺杀罗马领袖凯撒大帝。我们永远不会知道如果这些事件没有发生，历史会有什么不同。但我们可以推测是什么导致了它，以及如何预防它。
One of the most famous assassinations in history was the assassination of Julius Caesar. At the time of his death in 44 B.C, he was the leader of the Roman Empire（罗马帝国）.His title was “Dictator（专横的人，独裁者） for Life” which meant he had absolute authority for as long as he lived.He had gained this power through his successes as a military commander（指挥官，长官）.In fact, some historians（历史学家） consider him to be one of the greatest military commanders in history.
历史上最著名的暗杀之一是刺杀尤利乌斯·凯撒。公元前44年他去世时，他是罗马帝国的领袖。他的头衔是“终身独裁者”，这意味着只要他活着，他就拥有绝对的权力。他是通过他作为军事指挥官的成功而获得这种权力的。事实上，一些历史学家认为他是历史上最伟大的军事指挥官之一。
Once gaining power, he fought against corruption and began to restructure the government.For example, he increased the number of senators（参议员） and changed how they were chosen.Instead of being elected, they could be appointed, even if they were not from Rome.
一旦掌权，他就开始与腐败作斗争，并开始重组政府。例如，他增加了参议员的人数，并改变了他们的选举方式。他们可以被任命，而不是被选举，即使他们不是来自罗马。
These actions reduced the power of individual senators and shifted the power to Caesar himself. In doing so, he created many enemies, especially among the aristocracy（贵族）.
这些行动减少了元老个人的权力，将权力转移到凯撒本人手中。在这样做的过程中，他树立了许多敌人，特别是在贵族中。
However, he also had many admirers（仰慕者，爱慕者） who supported his efforts to end corruption.Caesar was stabbed（刺伤，刺穿） to death by a group of Roman senators on March 15, 44 B.C. He was scheduled to leave Rome 3 days later to fight in another war.
然而，他也有许多仰慕者支持他终结腐败的努力。凯撒于公元前44年3月15日被一群罗马元老刺死，他计划在3天后离开罗马参加另一场战争。
He had appointed members of his army to rule the Empire while he was away.This action angered many in the Roman senate（参议院，元老院） who didn't want to take orders from（听某人指挥，听命于） Caesars subordinates（属下，下级）.
他已经任命他的军队成员在他离开时统治帝国。这一举动激怒了罗马元老院的许多人，他们不想听命于凯撒的下属。
He should have been aware that many of the senators hated him, but he dismissed（解雇，解散） his security force not long before the assassination.If he hadn't dismissed it, the assassination attempt might not have succeeded.
他本应意识到许多参议员憎恨他，但在暗杀发生前不久，他解散了他的安全部队。如果他没有拒绝，暗杀行动可能不会成功。
On the day of his assassination, it is reported that Caesar may have been handed a warning note as he entered the senate. If he did receive such a note, he didn't read it.It seems as if he was in a state of denial（否认，拒绝承认） and refused to recognize the danger that was facing him.
据报道，在他被暗杀的那天，凯撒可能在进入元老院时收到了一张警告便条。如果他真的收到了这样一张纸条，他也没有看。他似乎处于一种否认的状态，拒绝承认他所面临的危险。
Once he had entered the senate, he was surrounded by senators holding daggers（匕首）, or knives. The first blow（初次打击） hit Caesar in his neck and drew blood（抽血，流血了）. Then the other senators joined in and stabbed him repeatedly until he fell to the floor and died. In total, he suffered 23 knife wounds.
他一进入参议院，就被拿着匕首或刀子的参议员包围了。第一拳打在恺撒的脖子上，流了血。其他元老也加入进来，用刀刺他，直到他倒在地上死了。他总共有23处刀伤。
With his death, power shifted to his adopted son, Octavian, who vowed（发誓，誓言） revenge（复仇） against the assassins（刺客，暗杀者）.Eventually, several of the leading assassins were either killed or committed suicide.After a power struggle（权力斗争，争夺）, Octavian strengthened his position as leader and ruled the Empire for many years. In the end ,Caesar’s attempts to end corruption failed.
他死后，权力转移到他的养子屋大维手中，屋大维发誓要报复那些刺客。最后，几个主要的刺客不是被杀就是自杀了。经过一场权力斗争，屋大维巩固了自己的领袖地位，统治了罗马帝国多年。最后，凯撒试图结束腐败的努力失败了。
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