The French wife of the miserable Richard was now only ten years old; and, when her father, Charles of France, heard of her misfortunes and of her lonely condition in England, he went mad: as he had several times done before, during the last five or six years. The French Dukes of Burgundy and Bourbon took up the poor girl's cause, without caring much about it, but on the chance of getting something out of England. The people of Bordeaux, who had a sort of superstitious attachment to the memory of Richard, because he was born there, swore by the Lord [以Lord之名起誓] that he had been the best man in all his kingdom - which [swore...kingdom] was going rather far [太过了] - and promised to do great things against the English. Nevertheless, when they came to consider that they, and the whole people of France, were ruined by their own nobles, and that the English rule was much the better of the two, they cooled down again; and the two dukes, although they were very great men, could do nothing without them. Then, began negotiations between France and England for the sending home to Paris of the poor little Queen with all her jewels and her fortune of two hundred thousand francs in gold [金法郎]. The King was quite willing to restore [使回到原处] the young lady, and even the jewels; but he said he really could not part with the money. So, at last she was safely deposited [放下] at Paris without her fortune, and then the Duke of Burgundy (who was cousin to the French King) began to quarrel with the Duke of Orleans (who was brother to the French King) about the whole matter; and those two dukes made France even more wretched than ever.
and even the jewels; but he said he really could not part with the money... 嗨，宝石不值钱，See?
As the idea of conquering Scotland was still popular at home, the King marched to the river Tyne and demanded homage of the King of that country. This being refused, he advanced to Edinburgh, but did little there; for, his army being in want of provisions, and the Scotch being very careful to hold him in check without giving battle, he was obliged to retire [转进]. It is to his immortal honour that in this sally [出击] he burnt no villages and slaughtered no people, but was particularly careful that his army should be merciful and harmless. It was a great example in those ruthless times.
hold/keep sth in check: prevent sth from advancing or increasing
A war among the border people of England and Scotland went on for twelve months, and then the Earl of Northumberland, the nobleman who had helped Henry to the crown, began to rebel against him - probably because nothing that Henry could do for him would satisfy his extravagant expectations. There was a certain Welsh gentleman, named Owen Glendower, who had been a student in one of the Inns of Court, and had afterwards been in the service of the late King, whose Welsh property was taken from him by a powerful lord related to the present King, who was his neighbour. Appealing for redress [补偿], and getting none, he took up arms, was made an outlaw, and declared himself sovereign of Wales. He pretended to be a magician; and not only were the Welsh people stupid enough to believe him, but, even Henry believed him too; for, making three expeditions into Wales, and being three times driven back by the wildness of the country, the bad weather, and the skill of Glendower, he thought he was defeated by the Welshman's magic arts. However, he took Lord Grey and Sir Edmund Mortimer, prisoners, and allowed the relatives of Lord Grey to ransom him, but would not extend such favour to Sir Edmund Mortimer. Now, Henry Percy, called Hotspur, son of the Earl of Northumberland, who was married to Mortimer's sister, is supposed to have taken offence [feel offended] at this; and, therefore, in conjunction with his father and some others, to have joined Owen Glendower, and risen against Henry. It is by no means [not at all] clear that this was the real cause of the conspiracy; but perhaps it was made the pretext [借口]. It was formed, and was very powerful; including Scroop, Archbishop of York, and the Earl of Douglas, a powerful and brave Scottish nobleman. The King was prompt [迅速的] and active, and the two armies met at Shrewsbury.
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers [律师, 不是开酒吧的] in England and Wales. There are four Inns of Court – Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple and Middle Temple. All barristers must belong to one of them. The Inns of Court began in 1292 when King Edward I directed his chief justice to implement a plan to enhance the skill of advocates [律师] before the Royal Court of Westminster.
Glendower was a Welsh rebel who led a revolt against Henry IV (1400), controlled most of Wales, and summoned his own parliament (1405) before being effectively crushed by English forces (1409).
prompt: 及时的; 迅速的; 作提示; (给演员等的)提词。所以电脑prompt D:\>时，它可能是在催你快点。:-)
六级/考研单词: wretched, misfortune, lonely, superstition, nonetheless, ruin, noble, deposit, quarrel, conquer, march, oblige, slaughter, mercy, ruthless, rebel, probable, extravagant, inn, potent, outlaw, sovereign, magic, expedition, gray, offend, thereby, conjunction, conspire, pretext, outer, temple, implement, advocate, revolt, summon, parliament, crush
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