01 Leonardo da Vinci to the Duke of Milan达·芬奇致米兰大公书
My Excellency，
显贵的大公阁下：
Having,most illustrious lord,seen and considered the experiments of all those who pose as masters in the art of inventing instruments of war,and finding that their inventions differ in no way from those in common use,I am emboldened,without prejudice to anyone,to solicit an appointment of acquainting your Excellency with certain of my secrets.
我对那些冒充作战器械发明家的人所进行的试验做了观察和思考，发现他们发明的东西与平常使用的并无两样，故此斗胆求见阁下，以便面呈机密，但对他人不抱任何成见。
1.I can construct bridges which are very light and strong and very portable,with which to pursue and defeat the enemy；and others more solid,which resist fire or assault,yet are easily removed and placed in position；and I can also burn and destroy those of the enemy.
一、我能建造轻便、坚固、搬运便利的桥梁，可在追逐和击败敌军时派上用场；也能建造坚固的桥梁，能经受住敌军的炮火和进攻，这种桥梁装卸非常方便；我也能焚毁、破坏敌军的桥梁。
2.In case of a siege I can cut off water from the trenches and make pontoons and scaling ladders and other similar contrivances.
二、在围攻城池之际，我能从战壕中切断水源，还能制造浮桥、云梯和其他类似设备。
3.If by reason of the elevation or the strength of its position a place cannot be bombarded.I can demolish every fortress if its foundations have not been set on stone.
三、一个地势太高，或坚不可摧，因而无法用炮火轰击的据点，只要它的地基不是用石头筑的，我能摧毁它的每一个碉堡。
4.I can also make a kind of cannon which is light and easy of transport,with which to hurl small stones like hail,and of which the smoke causes great terror to the enemy,so that they suffer heavy loss and confusion.
四、我还能制造一种既轻便又易于搬运的大炮，可用来投射小石块，犹似下冰雹一般，其中喷出的烟雾会使敌军惊慌失措，因而遭受沉重损失，并造成巨大混乱。
5.I can noiselessly construct to any prescribed point subterranean passages either straight or winding,passing if necessary underneath trenches or a river.
五、我能在任何指定地点挖掘地道，无论是直的或弯的，不出半点声响，必要时可以在战壕和河流下面挖。
6.I can make armored wagons carrying artillery,which shall break through the most serried ranks of the enemy,and so open a safe passage for his infantry.
六、我能制造装有大炮的铁甲车，可用来冲破敌军最密集的队伍，从而打开一条向敌军步兵进攻的安全通道。
7.If occasion should arise,I can construct cannon and mortars and light ordnance in shape both ornamental and useful,and different from those in common use.
七、在必要情况下，我能建造既美观又实用的大炮、迫击炮和其他轻便军械，不同于通常所使用的。
8.When it is impossible to use cannon I can supply in their stead catapults,mangonels,trabocchi,and other instruments of admirable efficiency not in general use—In short,as the occasion requires I can supply infinite means of attack and defense.
八、不能使用大炮时，我能代之以弹弓、投石机、陷阱和其他效果显著的器械，非通用器械所能比——总之，必要时我能提供不胜枚举的进攻和防御器械。
9.And if the fight should take place upon the sea I can construct many engines most suitable either for attack or defense and ships which can resist the fire of the heaviest cannon,and powders or weapons.
九、倘若在海上作战，我能建造多种极适于进攻和防守的器械，也能制造可以抵御最重型火炮炮火的兵船以及各种火药和武器。
10.In time of peace,I believe that I can give you as complete satisfaction as anyone else in the construction of buildings both public and private,and in conducting water from one place to another.
十、在太平年代，我能营造公共建筑和民用房屋，还能疏导水源，自信技术决不次于他人，而且包您满意。
I can further execute sculpture in marble,bronze or clay,also in painting I can do as much as anyone else,whoever he may be.
此外，我还善于用大理石、黄铜或陶土雕塑；在绘画方面，我也绝不逊色于当今任何一位画家，无论他是谁。
Moreover,I would undertake the commission of the bronze horse,which shall endue with immortal glory and eternal honor the auspicious memory of your father and of illustrious house of Sforza.
此外，我还愿意承担雕塑铜马的任务，它将为您已故的父亲和声名显赫的斯福尔扎家族增添不朽的光彩和永恒的荣誉。
And if any of the aforesaid things should seem to anyone impossible or impracticable,I offer myself as ready to make trial of them in your park or in whatever place shall please your Excellency,to whom I commend myself with all possible humility.
如果有人认为上述任何一项办不到或不切实际的话，我愿随时在阁下花园里或您指定的其他任何地点实地试验。谨以无限谦恭之忱向阁下推荐我本人。
embolden[ɪmˈbəʊldən]vt.鼓励，使有胆量
例Emboldened by the wine,he went over to introduce himself to her.
他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她做自我介绍。
pontoon[pɒnˈtuːn]n.浮码头；浮桥平台
例 Military engineers hurriedly constructed a pontoon bridge across the river.
工程兵在河上匆匆地架设浮桥。
scaling ladder[ˈskeɪlɪŋ；ˈlædə（r）]云梯
例 Here is an opening door.Welcome you all who are getting down from the scaling ladder of real life.
这里，是一个打开的门，欢迎所有从生活的云梯上下来的人。
contrivance[kənˈtraɪvəns]n.发明；发明物
例 The film is spoilt by unrealistic contrivances of plot.
这部电影被不实际的牵强情节给毁了。
subterranean[sʌbtəˈreɪniən]adj.地下的
例 London has 9 miles of such subterranean passages.
伦敦像这样的地下通道有9英里长。
serried[ˈserid]adj.（指士兵的行列等）密集的，靠紧的
例 Above the bush the trees stood in serried ranks.
荆棘之上耸立着密密麻麻的大树。
ordnance[ˈɔːdnəns]n.大炮；军械（如弹药、军车等）
例 Shoes and clothing for the army were scarce,and ordnance supplies were scarcer.
军队很缺鞋和衣服，武器供应就更少了。
stead[sted]n.代替
例 Foxton was dismissed and John Smith was appointed in his stead.
福克斯顿被解职，受命接替他的是约翰·史密斯。
mangonel[ˈmæŋgənel]n.投石机，军用射石机
例 Manginel was widely used in ancient wars.
在古代战争中，投石机被广泛使用。
trabocchi n.[意大利语]陷阱
例 Watch out the trabocchi！
小心陷阱！
endue[ɪnˈdjuː]vt.授予，赋予（特性、才能等）
例 He prayed to God to endue him with wisdom.
他祈求上帝赋予他智慧。
①Having,most illustrious lord,seen and considered the experiments of all those who pose as masters in the art of inventing instruments of war,and finding that their inventions differ in no way from those in common use,I am emboldened,without prejudice to anyone,to solicit an appointment of acquainting your Excellency with certain of my secrets.
这个句子中主干为“I am emboldened……my secrets”，“Having seen and considered……”和“finding……”是动词的现在分词形式做原因状语。
例 Having no great talents,he lived a normal but happy life.
他没有什么才华，度过了平淡且幸福的一生。
②If by reason of the elevation or the strength of its position a place cannot be bombarded,I can demolish every fortress if its foundations have not been set on stone.
这是一个主从复合句，if引导了一个条件状语从句，用来说明事情发生的条件。
例 If there is no Einstein,the scientific world will be very different.
如果没有爱因斯坦，科学世界会变得十分不同。
③I can noiselessly construct to any prescribed point subterranean passages either straight or winding,passing if necessary underneath trenches or a river.
这个句子中有一个插入语成分——if necessary，意为“如果必要的话”，同时也是if it is necessary的缩写。
例 He said he would help Lisa out of debt if necessary.
他说必要的时候会帮助丽莎摆脱债务。
④When it is impossible to use cannon I can supply in their stead catapults,mangonels,trabocchi,and other instruments of admirable efficiency not in general use.
这个句子中有一个句型“it is impossible/possible/likely/unlikely（for somebody）to do something”，意为“某人做某事是可能的/不可能的”。
例 It is possible for you to enter a good university if you work hard.
只要你努力，就有可能上一所好大学。
1.There is no royal road to learning.
书山有路勤为径，学海无涯苦作舟。
2.He who seize the right moment,is the right man.—Goethe
谁把握机遇，谁就心想事成。——歌德
3.Cease to struggle and you cease to live.—Thomas Carlyle
生命不止，奋斗不息。——卡莱尔
4.You have to believe in yourself.That's the secret of success.—Charles Chaplin
人必须有自信，这是成功的秘密。——卓别林
5.The unexamined life is not worth living.—Socrates
浑浑噩噩的生活不值得过。——苏格拉底
6.Living without an aim is like sailing without a compass.—John Ruskin
生活没有目标，犹如航海没有罗盘。——罗斯金
7.“It is not our abilities that show what we truly are,it is our choices.”—Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
决定我们成为什么样人的，不是我们的能力，而是我们的选择。——《哈利·波特与密室》
8.Work hard！Work will save you.Work is the only thing that will see you through this.—Sleepless in Seattle
努力工作吧！工作能拯救你，埋头苦干可令你忘记痛楚。——《西雅图不眠夜》