11.Accordingly，on the following day-April 12，1868-a force of five thousand men was sent to storm the rock-built citadel of Magdala；and after a feeble resistance the Abyssinians were forced to yield.It was found，when the stockade at the north gate was forced，that King Theodore，having seen his men defeated and his defences to be useless，had shot himself with a pistol.The army then retraced its steps to the shore of the Red Sea.Sir Robert Napier，in recognition of his services in this war，was raised to the Peerage with the title of Lord Napier of Magdala.
中文阅读
1.阿比西尼亚是非洲东部一个多山国家，位于红海的入海口附近。尼罗河几条主要支流的水从它岩石林立的高原地区奔涌而下。每年夏天宏伟的尼罗河洪水，大都归因于这一地区（我们可以称之为非洲高原）的雨水和溶雪，而埃及也由此得以丰收。
2.1868年，这一非洲地区的英国领事卡梅隆先生冒犯了一个名叫西奥多的阿比西尼亚首领或叫国王，因为他访问了几个与埃及关系不错的地区。这个血气方刚的非洲人认为，这次访问策划了反对他权力的某种阴谋，于是便抓了一些英国国民，并且拒绝释放他们。女王随即宣战，并派出一支部队袭击这位阿比西尼亚首领的城堡。
3.英国挑选了一位在印度战事中经历过考验并享有军事威名（即纳皮尔）的将军指挥远征军。罗伯特爵士手头拥有的，是一支1.2万战斗人员组成的部队，但是远征的路途异常艰难，他需要的部队人数还要更多才行。他指挥下的军队的全部人数后来达到了2.6万人左右。
4.登陆地点在红海的一个海湾。艰苦行军的目标是占领马戈达拉--一个坐落在贫瘠小山山顶的要塞，这个要塞远在这片热带地区的怪石林立的荒野之上。在这里，西奥多如同一只待在巢穴里的秃鹫，俯视着白人的足迹很少踏入的王国。
5.我们在那些到埃及旅行过的人所写的书中读到，要登上大金字塔a，就必须攀爬一连串的石阶，而每级石阶都齐胸高。英国军队爬上通向马戈达拉的高原的行a Great Pyramid，即胡夫的吉萨金字塔。--译者注军，就与攀爬大金字塔十分相像，只不过石阶在这里是高山台地罢了。一开始，他们并不是与人的脚板斗，与灼热的气候斗，而是与四处耸立的巨大岩石斗，因为这些岩石似乎挡住了通往平地中心的入口。
6.不过，我们的工程技术人员战胜了每一个困难。如果通往某个陡峭通道的入口被一座大石头山所阻塞，他们就会用火药将山炸开，并用炸出的碎片铺成一条行军路。如果山壁的上升又陡峭又光滑，他们就凿出一个窄窄的平台，让士兵们成一路纵队沿平台前进。加农炮则负在大象的背上。
7.西奥多国王对文明国家之间发生的真实的战争几乎一无所知。对于用长矛、弓箭和硬木棒进行的格斗，他可谓驾轻就熟，而且他也了解火药及其在战争中的可怕威力。他拥有一门大型加农炮，也将打败白人勇士的全部希望，都放在这门大炮的预期威力上。他从自己的侦察兵那儿了解到，这些白皮肤的士兵每天都在马不停蹄地前进，离他岩石耸立的堡垒已经越来越近了。
8.他将这门炮架在一块岩石上，并将自己的部队部署在它附近，认为这就是打不垮的战斗队形了。英国军队逼近了，他们缓慢而坚定地向着大山行进着。西奥多命令巨炮开火，但令他惊奇的是，这似乎对于阻止敌人的前进毫无效果！
9.很快，对方迅速开火。装备了后膛装填的步枪的英国士兵们迅猛而不间断地开火，在岩谷中激起的所有回声，都如同下着一场啪哒啪哒的暴雨。随后，大象背负的轻型炮开始登场，圆锥形子弹和钢制炮弹构成的弹雨极其猛烈，打得阿比西尼亚“军队”（如果我们可以用这样一个词来抬举这群黑人的话）四散逃窜。就这样，英国军队刚与敌人一交手，就抓住机会赢得了胜利。
10.两名欧洲战俘打着一面要求休战的旗子，随之进入英军营地，这是受西奥多国王差遣以示与罗伯特·纳皮尔爵士谈判的。将军高兴地接见了他们，但却让送他们回去捎个口信，大意是说他不想听到任何其他提议，除非对方提出将所有欧洲战俘立即送往他的营地。这一条件对方照做了，不过，将军认为还有必要给这位反复无常的暴君一个深刻的教训，因为他的固执和残忍让大英帝国付出了沉重的代价、制造了巨大的麻烦。
11.于是，在第二天即1868年4月12日，一支5000人的部队被派去突袭马戈达拉用岩石垒砌的城堡；在经过一阵无力的抵抗后，阿比西尼亚人被迫投降。当北门的围栏被强行打开时，大家发现西奥多国王在看到手下兵败并且防御不起作用之后，已经开枪自杀。于是，英军沿原路返回红海海滩。为表彰罗伯特·纳皮尔爵士在这场战争中的贡献，他被提拨为贵族，并授予马戈达拉的纳皮尔爵士头衔。
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THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR
第二次阿富汗战争
The First Afghan War took place in 1839-1842.
（第一次阿富汗战争在1839~1842年进行）
abandoned，given up；quitted.accompanied，went with.annihilated，destroyed.
cavalcade，procession of persons on horseback.
disaster，mishap.
embassy，mission.
fanatics，religious madmen；zealots.
gorge，passage；defile.
intense，strong.
negotiations，interchange of proposals.
previously，before.rebuff，check；repulse.traversed，passed over.
1.On a bright September morning，in 1878，a cavalcade might have been seen riding up the Khyber Pass-the deep and narrow gorge which forms the most direct road from Northern India to Afghan-istan.The company was an English embassy，headed by Sir Neville Chamberlain，on its way to Cabul，the Afghan capital.
2.When the horsemen reached Ali Musjid-a fortress near the head of the pass-they were told that they would not be allowed to proceed further.Shere Ali，the Ameer or Emperor of Afghanistan，had refusedto receive the embassy，and had given orders that it was to be turned back.
3.Sir Neville was prepared for this rebuff，and received it quietly.He knew that it meant war.Some months previously，the Ameer had received a Russian mission with great pomp at his capital.The English Government of India was highly displeased on hearing of this.Its members were jealous of the influenceRussia had acquired in Central Asia，believing that she was preparing the way for an attack on India.
4.The Viceroy （Lord Lytton）therefore asked the Ameer to show his good-will to England by receiving an English mission at Cabul.This he refused to do，and after some formal and fruitless negotiations，war was declared.Its objects were said to be，to avenge the insult offered to England，to destroy Russian influence at Cabul and establish that of England，and to secure for India aa“scientific frontier”
as a defence against Russia.
5.In November，the English forces entered Afghanistan in three columns.Their success in two or three engagements showed the Ameer how hopeless was his cause.Having no trust in his own people，he took to flight.By arrangement with England，the Russian mission was withdrawn from Cabul in December.Shere Ali either accompanied it or followed it；and overcome by grief and despair，he died of a broken heart about six weeks later.
6.His son and successor，Yakoob Khan，submitted to the English，and madebwith them the Treaty of Gandamak.
Its most important terms were，that the
Ameer agreed to be guided in his foreign policy by the advice of England，and with that view to receive at his capital an English Resident with a suitable escort.
7.In due course，Sir Louis Cavagnari，who was selected for the post of Resident，arrived at Cabul.He was accompanied by several English officers，and by an escort of eighty men，-chiefly native Indians.Quarters were assigned them in the Bala Hissar，which had once been the citadel of the town，but the defences of which had almost entirely disappeared.
8.For several weeks all went well；but early in September there was a sudden and fearful outbreak of hostility to the English.A body of Afghan soldiers went to the Ameer‘s palace and demanded the arrears of their pay.When this was refused them，they rushed to the English Residency，and attacked the soldiers on guard there，at first with stones，and afterwards with rifle bullets.
