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So Grant and Lee were in complete contrast, representing two diametrically opposed elements in American life. Grant was the modern man emerging; beyond him, ready to come on the stage, was the great age of steel and machinery, of crowded cities and a restless, burgeoning vitality. Lee might have ridden down from the old age of chivalry, lance in hand, silken banner fluttering over his head. Each man was the perfect champion of his cause, drawing both his strengths and his weaknesses from the people he led.
因此，格兰特和李是完全不同的，他们代表美国历史上截然不同的两派。格兰特是正在崛起的现代人，继他之后，准备要登上历史舞台的便是伟大的钢铁和机器时代、拥挤的城市、骚动不安又生机勃勃的活力。而李则好像是从古老的骑士时代骑马而来，手握长枪，丝绸旗在头上飘扬。他们两个都是各自事业的完美捍卫者，从他们所领导的人民那里获取他们的强势与弱点。
Yet it was not all contrast, after all. Different as they were—in background, in personality, in underlying aspiration—these two great soldiers had much in common. Under everything else, they were marvelous fighters. Furthermore, their fighting qualities were really very much alike.
然而两人并非完全不同。尽管有背景、性格以及志向方面的不同，这两个伟大的军人却也有很多的共同点。除去其他的，他们都是伟大的战士。而且他们的战斗品质都非常相似。
Each man had, to begin with, the great virtue of utter tenacity and fidelity. Grant fought his way down the Mississippi Valley in spite of acute personal discouragement and profound military handicaps. Lee hung on in the trenches at Petersburg after hope itself had died. In each man there was an indomitable quality... the born fighter's refusal to give up as long as he can still remain on his feet and lift his two fists.
首先，这两个人都具有坚强的意志和忠诚的品质。格兰特在个人受挫和军事上处于严重不利的局面时，仍率军沿密西西比河挺进。李则在希望全无之后仍坚持在彼得斯堡的战壕里作战。两个人都具有百折不挠的品质……两个生就的斗士，只要没有倒下，还能挥拳，就不会放弃战斗。
