古德明英語軍事小故事：母儀天下(中英對照)
古德明《征服英語》之英語軍事故事，古德明，香港英語教育作家，他開了一個《征服英語專欄》，在專欄中專門用英語寫了世界近代史上的軍事小故事，用英語講述歷史中那些驚心動魄的戰爭。
母儀天下
In 1711, Peter the Great of Russia did battle with the Ottoman Empire. At the Pruth River, he and his army were trapped and surrounded by forces four times as strong. Peter wanted to break out of the encirclement, but his wife Catherine, who accompanied him on the campaign, realised that such a move would be suicidal. She persuaded Peter to sent a letter to the Grand Vizier, to which she appended all her valuables. This decided the matter. The Turks agreed to negotiations, and peace was concluded.
Catherine was not only wise, but had heart and compassion. After Peter's death, she ascended the throne. Unlike the despots who had ruled Russia before her, she wanted her reign to be underpinned by the will of the people rather than their fear."I hope," she said,"I shall always act as a mother of my people." And she did what she said.
一七一一年，俄國彼得大帝率軍和土耳其帝國交戰，在普魯特河中伏，被四倍他兵力的敵軍圍困。他準備突圍，但陪同他出征的凱瑟琳皇后知道突圍等于送死，于是說服丈夫致函土耳其大宰相。凱瑟琳還把自己所有珍貴物品隨函送出。這一著十分成功。土耳其人答應談判，雙方締結和約。
凱瑟琳不但聰明，而且慈愛為懷，彼得去世后，繼承帝位。她和俄國歷代獨裁者不同，不要恐怖統治，而要以民意為政權的基礎。她說：「我希望能夠做百姓的母親。」她沒有食言。
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