统治者法则：当他们死后会发生什么：英语精读讲义

Rulers are so often related.

统治者之间往往沾亲带故。

Power passes from member to member, 短語搭配

权力在成员之间传递，

forming a dynasty.

形成了王朝。

Not just with royalty or dictators, 語法

不仅是王室或独裁者如此，

but also with representatives in a democracy.

民主制度中的民意代表也是如此。

Families pass power or vie with other families for a turn at the top, 短語搭配

家族传递权力，或与其他家族争夺最高权力，

much more than chance would have.

这绝不仅仅是巧合。

Dynasties seem so natural,

王朝的存在似乎是理所当然的，

you may never have deeply considered them,

你可能从未深思过这个问题，

but you must if you wish to grasp and hold power as long as possible. 短語搭配

但如果你想尽可能长久地掌握权力，就必须深思。

Even if you follow the rules for rulers we have discussed, 語法

即使你遵循了我们讨论过的统治者规则：

swaying the keys to power, 文化背景

掌控权力之钥、

securing the treasure,

守住国库、

and controlling the court,

控制宫廷，

no man rules forever.

也没有人能永远统治。

Dictators with resources abundant and power unchallenged,

即使是拥有丰富资源、权力无可撼动的独裁者，

still die,

也终将一死；

and representatives must contend with death both literal and political. 講解

民意代表也必须面对生理和政治上的死亡。

But no matter what kind of ruler you are, 語法

但无论你是哪种统治者，

your keys to power value their treasure.

你的权力之钥看重的是他们的财富。

They keep you in your position not for love of you in particular, 講解

他们让你保住权位，并不是因为特别爱你，

but for the rewards you provide in general.

而是为了你通常能提供的回报。

But dead rulers can't distribute treasure.

但死去的统治者无法分配财富。

Thus, as your grave approaches,

因此，当死亡临近时，

your key supporters get nervous.

你的核心支持者会变得紧张。

Your impending death forces your keys to plan for your replacement,

你即将到来的死亡迫使你的权力之钥为你的继任者做计划，

not just to maintain their treasure,

不仅是为了保住他们的财富，

but also because a dead ruler surprise without plans in place 短語搭配

还因为如果统治者突然死亡而没有任何预案，

will lead to a scramble for power at best 講解

往好了说会引发权力争夺，

and a bloodbath at worst,

往坏了说会导致血流成河，

leaving many keys on the inside now on the outside after. 習語

使得许多原本在权力圈内的权力之钥日后被排挤出局。

This is why if you happen to be sick, 語法

这就是为什么如果你碰巧生病了，

keep it secret.

一定要保守秘密。

If your keys even think you might die on them, 習語

如果你的权力之钥甚至认为你可能会死，

they must start planning for the next ruler to avoid this,

他们就必须开始为下一任统治者做计划以避免这种情况，

which is what makes even a rumor about the ruler's health concerning. 語法

这也是为什么即使是关于统治者健康的一点谣言都会令人担忧。

Whispers about your health are a destabilizing poison 習語

关于你健康的流言蜚语是一种破坏稳定的毒药，

in the minds of your key supporters,

深植于你的核心支持者心中，

nearly impossible to remove.

几乎不可能被清除。

To the keys, your replacement is inevitable anyway,

对权力之钥来说，你的被取代反正不可避免，

so why not start planning sooner just in case. 短語搭配

那为什么不早点开始计划以防万一呢。

Thus, after a rumor,

因此，在谣言传出后，

the keys might seem to stay on your side in their actions, 習語

权力之钥在行动上可能看起来还站在你这边，

but you're already dead in their minds. 習語

但你在他们心里已经是个死人了。

You've lost control and will lose your throne sooner than you like. 語法

你已经失去了控制，并会比你预想的更快失去王座。

But while you can't defend against the reaper 文化背景

但是，虽然你无法抵御死神，

or extract poison from the minds of your key supporters,

也无法清除核心支持者心中的毒药，

there is a way to defend your power in this world

还是有一种方法可以捍卫你在这个世界的权力，

from rumors of your departure to the next.

以抵御你要前往另一个世界（死亡）的谣言。

Family. 表達脈絡

家人。

Family is the answer.

家人就是答案。

Dictatorships and democracies have so much family rule

独裁政体和民主政体都有如此多的家族统治，

because the key supporters want it.

因为核心支持者希望如此。

As your term limit or deathbed approach,

当你的任期结束或临终之际，

your family is there,

你的家人在那里，

ready to keep turning the machinery of power, 表達脈絡

准备继续运转权力机器，

keep raising the treasure,

继续增加财富，

keep the keys calm and plot-free.

让权力之钥保持平静且不策划阴谋。

Sure, warm-hearted rulers may want to give their family advantages

当然，热心的统治者可能会想给家人带来好处，

and being the ruler comes with many,

成为统治者也会带来很多好处，

but the key supporters also want the ruler's family in positions of power

但核心支持者也希望统治者的家人身居高位，

because the family that plots together rules together. 文化背景

因为一起密谋的家族也会一起统治。

Generational power transcending death and term limits.

超越死亡和任期限制的世代权力。

Thus, your keys get to worry less about transitions of power 語法

因此，你的权力之钥不必太担心权力过渡，

and you get to worry less about their plans for your replacement.

你也不必太担心他们更换你的计划。

While key supporters won't ever simply trust you and your family,

虽然核心支持者永远不会单纯地信任你和你的家人，

the keys can look at the motivating interests of you all,

但权力之钥可以看到你们所有人的核心利益，

calculating that sticking with your family during a transition 短語動詞

他们算计出，在过渡期间坚持支持你的家人，

gives them better odds of staying on the inside 短語搭配

能让他们有更大的几率留在权力圈内，

because they know you and your relatives also calculate

因为他们知道，你和你的亲属也在算计，

sticking with the keys during a transition

在过渡期间坚持与权力之钥站在一起，

gives you better odds of staying on the throne.

能让你们有更大的几率保住王座。

It's a virtuous cycle formed by calculations that are like trust, 用詞

这是一个由类似于信任的算计所形成的良性循环，

but better.

但比信任更好。

The ruler gets to rule longer,

统治者能统治得更久，

the keys get to worry less,

权力之钥能减少担忧，

and everything is smooth because when the king is dead,

一切都很顺利，因为当旧王驾崩时，

long live the king. 文化背景

新王万岁。

So put family in high-ranking military, business, or political positions.

所以，把家人安排在军队、企业或政治高位上。

Never mind their qualifications because being family is the qualification. 語氣意圖

别管他们的资质如何，因为是家人就是资质。

They must work with your key supporters

他们必须与你的核心支持者合作，

so they know where the money comes from and how it is distributed. 語法

这样他们才会知道钱从哪里来以及如何分配。

Family's relationships with the keys keep everyone calm,

家人与权力之钥的关系能让所有人保持平静，

not just during the transition,

不仅是在过渡期间，

but more importantly for you and your political longevity preceding it.

更重要的是，这也关乎你在过渡期之前的政治寿命。

So even if you have no interest in a spouse

因此，即使你对配偶没兴趣，

and have no love for babies,

也不喜欢孩子，

nonetheless, acquire them.

你仍然需要他们。

Of course, the risk you run with family is they too will overthrow you.

当然，任用家人带来的风险是，他们也会推翻你。

Many a cunning prince has stabbed his king in the back 講解

许多狡猾的王子都在背后捅过国王一刀，

once confident the keys won't mind. 語法

只要他们确信权力之钥不会介意。

But nothing is certain.

但世事无绝对。

You can only play the odds, 習語

你只能赌一把，

and a ruler without family is more vulnerable to rivals and rumors. 短語搭配

而一个没有家人的统治者更容易受到对手和谣言的攻击。

Remember, your keys care about the security of their treasure in general,

记住，你的权力之钥看重的是他们财富的整体安全，

not you in particular.

而不是特别在乎你。

And for them, a family of rulers is a safer investment. 習語

对他们来说，一个统治者家族是更安全的投资。

Thus, possible regicide is the price you pay 習語

因此，可能的弑君是你为了换取

for buying the longer and securer reign a family brings,

家族带来的更长久、更安全的统治所付出的代价，

which is why families are so popular among rulers and their key supporters. 表達脈絡

这就是为什么家族在统治者及其核心支持者中如此受欢迎。

Family is a tool for maintaining power just like any other. 語法

家人就像其他工具一样，是维持权力的工具。