THIRD PART

I shall not try to relate [讲述] the particulars [facts or details] of the great civil war between King Charles the First and the Long Parliament, which lasted nearly four years, and a full account [描述] of which would fill many large books. It was a sad thing that Englishmen should once more be fighting against Englishmen on English ground; but, it is some consolation to know that on both sides there was great humanity, forbearance, and honour. The soldiers of the Parliament were far more remarkable for these good qualities than the soldiers of the King (many of whom fought for mere pay without much caring for the cause); but those of the nobility and gentry [绅士] who were on the King's side were so brave, and so faithful to him, that their conduct cannot but command our highest admiration. Among them were great numbers of Catholics, who took the royal side because the Queen was so strongly of their persuasion.

Forbearance is the quality of being patient, able to control your emotions, and willing to forgive someone who has upset you.
cannot but: 双重否定表强调。

The King might have distinguished some of these gallant spirits, if he had been as generous a spirit himself, by giving them the command [指挥权] of his army. Instead of that, however, true to his old high notions of royalty, he entrusted it to his two nephews, Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice, who were of royal blood and came over from abroad to help him. It might have been better for him if they had stayed away; since Prince Rupert was an impetuous [鲁莽的], hot-headed fellow, whose only idea was to dash into battle at all times and seasons, and lay about [放倒周围的人] him.

The general-in-chief of the Parliamentary army was the Earl of Essex, a gentleman of honour and an excellent soldier. A little while before the war broke out, there had been some rioting at Westminster between certain officious [爱发号施令的] law students and noisy soldiers, and the shopkeepers and their apprentices, and the general people in the streets. At that time the King's friends called the crowd, Roundheads, because the apprentices wore short hair; the crowd, in return, called their opponents Cavaliers, meaning that they were a blustering set [一伙人], who pretended to be very military. These two words now began to be used to distinguish the two sides in the civil war. The Royalists also called the Parliamentary men Rebels and Rogues [无耻之徒], while the Parliamentary men called them Malignants [毒瘤], and spoke of themselves as the Godly [obeying God and leading a good life], the Honest, and so forth [等等].

bluster: speak in a loud angry way that is not really very impressive

The war broke out at Portsmouth, where that double traitor Goring had again gone over to the King and was besieged by the Parliamentary troops. Upon this, the King proclaimed the Earl of Essex and the officers serving under him, traitors, and called upon [命令] his loyal subjects to meet him in arms at Nottingham on the twenty-fifth of August. But his loyal subjects came about him in scanty [not enough] numbers, and it was a windy, gloomy day, and the Royal Standard [旗帜] got blown down, and the whole affair was very melancholy. The chief engagements [接战] after this, took place in the vale [山谷] of the Red Horse near Banbury, at Brentford, at Devizes, at Chalgrave Field (where Mr. Hampden was so sorely [very seriously] wounded while fighting at the head [前列] of his men, that he died within a week), at Newbury (in which battle Lord Falkland, one of the best noblemen on the King's side, was killed), at Leicester, at Naseby, at Winchester, at Marston Moor near York, at Newcastle, and in many other parts of England and Scotland. These battles were attended [be present] with various successes. At one time, the King was victorious; at another time, the Parliament. But almost all the great and busy towns were against the King; and when it was considered necessary to fortify London, all ranks of people, from labouring men and women, up to lords and ladies, worked hard together with heartiness and good will. The most distinguished leaders on the Parliamentary side were Hampden, Sir Thomas Fairfax, and, above all, Oliver Cromwell, and his son-in-law Ireton.

六级/考研单词: tertiary, parliament, console, humane, mere, noble, conduct, upset, generous, entrust, niece, princess, fellow, dash, superb, riot, apprentice, militant, rebel, loud, besiege, proclaim, loyal, gloom, engage, wound, hectic, necessity, fortify, rank