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Segment 12c:the five good emperors
12c 五贤帝
The period from Nerves' succession in 96 AD to Marcus Aurelius' death in 180 AD is generally called the time of the five good emperors
从公元96年涅尔瓦继位到公元180年马可·奥勒留逝世
during this time period living conditions were better for some Romans than they were for others.
这一时期称为五贤帝时期，在这段时期里，一些罗马人的生活条件要比另外一些罗马人好得多。
The wealthy still were far outnumbered by the poor.
穷人的数量要远远大于富人数量。
In the country side life was nastier more brutish and shorter than in the cities,
在农村地区，生活更难熬，粗野，寿命也比城里人要短，
where the masses wallowed in the proverbial bread and circuses.
而那些城里人，还享有众所周知的公共当局提供的饮食和娱乐。
Yet the Roman life offered unusual compensations, the Roman peoples was diverse and its culture inclusive.
罗马人的生活得到了不同寻常的补助，与此同时，罗马的人口结构非常多样化，文化也极具包容性。
The Roman government respected the rule of law and the emperors in fact believed themselves responsible for the solace generus humani,
罗马政府崇尚法制，事实上皇帝也相信自己有责任慰藉全人类，
the well being of the entire world and its people.
也要对全世界人民的福祉负责。
The time of the 5 good emperors was indeed the high water mark of the ancient world's greatest empire.
五贤帝时期的确是这个古代世界最伟大帝国的高峰标志。
Riding in decline and fall of the Roman Empire.
在写到罗马帝国的衰落与衰亡时，
Edward Gibbon describes the 18th century admiration for the time of the five good emperors, and I quote:
爱德华 吉本描写了18世纪人民对于五贤帝时期的羡慕这里我引用他的原文，
If a man were called to fix the period in the history of the world during which the condition of the human race was most happy and prosperous
如果让一个人说出在世界历史的什么时代，人类过着最为幸福繁荣的生活，
he would without hesitation name that which elapsed from the death of Domician to the accession of Commodus.
他定会毫不犹豫地说那是从图密善去世到康茂德继位的那段时间。
The vast extent of the Roman Empire was governed by absolute power under the guidance of virtue and wisdom.
那时广袤的罗马帝国按照仁政和明智的原则，完全处于专制权力的统治之下。
The armies were restrained by the firm but gentle hand of four successive emperors whose characters and authority commanded involuntary respect,
接连四代在为人和权威方面很自然地普遍受到尊重的罗马皇帝坚决而温和地控制着所有的军队，
the forms of the civil administration were carefully preserved by Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian and Anthonius,
涅尔瓦，图拉真，哈德良和两位安东尼
who delighted in the image of liberty and were pleased with considering themselves the accountable ministers of the law.
全都喜爱自由生活的景象，愿意把自己看成是负责的执法者。
Such princes deserved the honour of restoring the republic.
因而一直保持着文官政府的形式。
Had the Romans of their days been capable of enjoying a rational freedom the path of this remarkable development was itself rather amazing.
如果他们那一时代的罗马人能够安享一种合乎理性的自由生活，这几位君王完全可以享有恢复共和制的荣誉的。
When Domician met his end in 96 AD the roman senate did have a chance to reestablish the old republican government.
公元96年图密善去世时，罗马议会的确有机会重新建立古老的共和制政府。
Yet a century and a quarter the principate had in fact rendered Rome unable to enjoy its quote unquote "rational freedom".
但是一个多世纪的元首统治事实上已经让罗马人无法享受所谓的合乎理性的自由生活。
To the senate's credit it decided instead to appoint one of its own as the next emperor.
因此，议会决定从自己的成员中选择一位任命为下一任皇帝。
The respected old senator Nerva accepted the purple,
受人敬重的老议员涅尔瓦继任皇位，
not only filling the power vacuum but setting many positive precedents during his brief reign from 96 to 98 AD.
不仅补上了权力真空，也在他从公元96到98年短暂的任期内创下了许多积极的先例。
