Part C: Translation (2022)

Part 1: Full Text (Click to Translate)

Between 1807 and 1814 the Iberian Peninsula (comprising Spain and Portugal) was the scene of a titanic and merciless struggle. It took place on many different planes: between Napoleons French Army and the angry inhabitants; between the British, ever keen to exacerbate the emperors difficulties, and the marshals sent from Paris to try to keep them in check; between new forces of science and meritocracy and old ones of conservatism and birth. (46) It was also, and this is unknown even to many people well read about the period, a battle between those who made codes and those who broke them. 

I first discovered the Napoleonic code-breaking battle a few years ago when I was reading Sir Charles Omans epic History of the Peninsular War. In volume V he had attached an appendix, "The Scovell Ciphers." (47) It listed many documents in code that had been captured from the French Army of Spain, and whose secrets had been revealed by the work of one George Scovell, an officer in British headquarters. Oman rated Scovells significance highly, but at the same time, the general nature of his History meant that (48) he could not analyze carefully what this obscure officer may or may not have contributed to that great struggle between nations or indeed tell us anything much about the man himself. Keen to read more, I was surprised to find that Omans appendix, published in 1914, was the only considered thing that had been written about this secret war. 

I became convinced that this story was every bit as exciting and significant as that of Enigma and the breaking of German codes in the Second World War. The question was, could it be told? 

Studying Scovells papers at the Public Record Office, London, I found that he had left an extensive journal and copious notes about his work in the Peninsula. What was more, many original French dispatches had been preserved in this collection, which, I realized, was priceless. (49) There may have been many spies and intelligence officers during the Napoleonic Wars, but it is usually extremely difficult to find the material they actually provided or worked on. 

As I researched Scovells story, I found far more of interest besides his intelligence work. His status in Lord Wellingtons headquarters and the recognition given to him for his work were bound up with the class politics of the Army at the time. His story of self-improvement and hard work would make a fascinating biography in its own right, but represents something more than that. (50) Just as the code-breaking has its wider relevance in the struggle for Spain, so his attempts to make his way up the promotion ladder speak volumes about British society. 

Part 2: Sentence Translation (Click to Expand)

(46)It was also, and this is unknown even to many people well read about the period, a battle between those who made codes and those who broke them.▶

这也是一场制定密码的人与破译密码的人之间的较量，而这一点甚至连许多熟读该时期历史的人都不知道。

(47)It listed many documents in code that had been captured from the French Army of Spain, and whose secrets had been revealed by the work of one George Scovell, an officer in British headquarters.▶

它列出了许多从西班牙的法国军队中缴获的密码文件，而这些文件的秘密已经被英国指挥部的一名叫乔治·斯科维尔的军官给破译了。

(48)he could not analyze carefully what this obscure officer may or may not have contributed to that great struggle between nations or indeed tell us anything much about the man himself.▶

他无法仔细分析这位默默无闻的军官究竟对那场国家间的伟大斗争做出了还是没有做出贡献，或者实际上也没有告诉我们太多关于他本人的事情。

(49)There may have been many spies and intelligence officers during the Napoleonic Wars, but it is usually extremely difficult to find the material they actually provided or worked on.▶

在拿破仑战争期间，可能有很多间谍和情报官员，但通常极难找到他们实际提供或处理过的资料。

(50)Just as the code-breaking has its wider relevance in the struggle for Spain, so his attempts to make his way up the promotion ladder speak volumes about British society.▶

正如破译密码在争夺西班牙的斗争中具有更广泛的意义一样，他为在晋升阶梯上往上爬所做的尝试也充分说明了英国社会的状况。

Part 3: Syntax Analysis (难点句型剖析)

(46) 句型拆解：插入语与定语从句
主干为 It was also... a battle between those... and those...。在 also 和 a battle 之间，插入了 and this is unknown even to many people well read about the period。在这里，well read 相当于形容词短语作后置定语，修饰 people（对该时期历史熟读的人）。后面的 who made codes 和 who broke them 分别引导定语从句修饰前面的两个 those。

(47) 句型拆解：并列定语从句
主干为 It listed many documents in code。其后跟了两个由 and 连接的定语从句，共同修饰先行词 documents。第一个是 that had been captured from the French Army...，第二个是 whose secrets had been revealed by...。在第二个定语从句末尾，an officer in British headquarters 是 one George Scovell 的同位语。

(48) 句型拆解：并列谓语与宾语从句
主干为 he could not analyze... or indeed tell...。谓语动词 analyze 后面接了一个由 what 引导的宾语从句 what this obscure officer may or may not have contributed to that great struggle...。情态动词 may or may not have contributed 表达对过去发生事情的推测（也许做出了或也许没有做出贡献）。tell 后面接了双宾语 tell us anything much...

(49) 句型拆解：There be 句型与形式主语
本句是由 but 引导的并列句。前半句是 There be 句型结合情态动词的完成式 There may have been...，表示对过去情况的推测（可能已经有...）。后半句使用了形式主语 it is usually extremely difficult to find the material...，真正的主语是 to find...。在 material 后面省略了关系代词 that/which，引导定语从句 they actually provided or worked on 修饰 material。

(50) 句型拆解：Just as..., so... 结构
本句使用了 Just as..., so...（正如...，...也一样）的固定句型。Just as 引导方式状语从句，主干是 the code-breaking has its wider relevance...。so 引导主句，主干是 his attempts... speak volumes about British society。在主句中，to make his way up the promotion ladder 是不定式短语作后置定语，修饰 attempts；speak volumes about 是固定习语，意为“充分说明/有力证明”。