Most of the credit will go to the emperor,

多數榮耀將歸於皇帝的領導

but this success wouldn't have been possible

但如果沒有像是 Servius Felix 這樣忠誠的士兵

without loyal soldiers like Servius Felix.

這些成就將無法達成

Servius enlisted as a legionary eight years ago at age 18,

八年前，十八歲的 Servius 加入羅馬軍團

the son of a poor farmer with few prospects.

他是一個前途渺茫的貧農之子

Unlike the majority of legionaries, he doesn't gamble,

和大多數的羅馬士兵不同，他不參與賭博

so he's been able to save most of his wages.

因此能夠將大部分的薪資存下來

He's even kept his viaticum,

他甚至將他的旅費保留下來了

the three gold coins he received when he enlisted.

當他被徵召時收到的三枚金幣

If he survives until retirement, he'll receive several acres of land.

如果他可以活到退休，他還會得到好幾英畝的田地

And he's grown rather fond of a girl back home

然後他就會與家鄉一位心儀許久的女孩

whom he intends to marry.

成婚

But he'll have to wait until he completes his 25 years of service

但在那之前，他得先等待，直到他完成 25 年的服役

before that can happen.

之後才能接下來的計畫

And the life of a legionary is dangerous and grueling.

況且羅馬軍團的生活危險又勞累

Today, Servius's legion, along with three others,

今天，Servius 的軍團與其他三個軍團

has undertaken a “great march” of 30,000 Roman paces,

已經走了一場三萬羅馬步的「遠距離行軍」

the equivalent of nearly 36 kilometers.

相當接近於 36 公里

Servius's armor and weapons,

Servius 的盔甲與武器

including his gladius,

包含了他的短劍

scutum,

盾牌

and two pila,

及兩支短矛

weigh over 20 kilograms.

加起來總共超過 20 公斤

And that's not counting his backpack, or sarcina,

那還不包含他背負的行囊

which contains food and all the tools he needs to help build the camp –

裡面有食物以及用來紮營的工具－

spade,

包含鏟子

saw,

鋸子

pickaxe,

鶴嘴鋤

and basket.

以及籃子

Although Servius is exhausted, he won't sleep much tonight.

儘管 Servius 已經精疲力竭了，他今天晚上依然睡不了太久

He's been assigned the first watch,

他被指派為去站第一班岡

which means looking after the baggage animals

意味著他要照看馱重物的動物

and keeping alert against a possible ambush.

並保持警戒，留意可能發生的埋伏攻擊

After he's done, he lies awake, dreading the day ahead,

完成職守後，他清醒地躺著，害怕明天的到來

which will force him to recall his worst nightmare.

到時他將會被迫回想起他最恐懼的夢靨

At dawn, Servius eats breakfast with his seven tent companions.

破曉時分，Servius 與其他七位同帳篷的夥伴一起共進早餐

They're like a family, all bearing scars from the battles they've fought together.

他們就像個大家庭一般，身上都有共同戰鬥留下的疤痕

Servius is from Italia,

Servius 來自義大利

but his fellow soldiers hail from all over the empire,

但他的同伴們來自羅馬帝國的各個角落

which stretches from Syria to Spain.

從敘利亞一路延伸到西班牙

So they're all far from home in the northern land of Germania.

因此，身處日耳曼尼亞北部的他們都遠離家鄉

Servius's legion and three others with him today

今天，Servius 所屬的軍團和其他三個軍團

are under the command of Emperor Tiberius's nephew Germanicus,

是由皇帝提比略的姪子，日耳曼尼庫斯領導

named for his father's military successes against the Germanic tribes.

他的名字是源自於他父親對日耳曼部落取得的軍事成就

Each legion has close to 5,000 men,

每個軍團包含將近五千人

divided into cohorts of about 500,

下面又被分為以 500 人為單位的大隊

further subdivided into centuries of around 80-100 men.

以下再細分為百人隊，每隊有 80-100 人

Each century is commanded by a centurion.

每個百人隊都有一位隊長負責指揮

An aquilifer, or eagle-bearer, marches at the head of each legion

一位旗手走在每個隊伍最前方

carrying its eagle standard.

負責拿著隊伍的鷹旗

The centurions march beside the legionaries belting out orders,

隊長會走在隊伍的旁邊大聲命令

“Dex, sin, dex, sin,"

「右，左，右，左」

“Right, left, right, left,"

「右，左，右，左」

starting with the right foot as the left is considered unlucky or sinister.

由右腳起步，因為左邊被視為不祥或不吉利的象徵

Despite the strict discipline, there's tension in the air.

雖然軍紀嚴明，但是空氣中瀰漫著一股緊張的氣氛

Last year, some legions in the area revolted,

就在去年，這個地區的幾個軍團發動叛亂

demanding better pay and a cut in the length of service.

要求提高報酬以及縮短服役年限

Only their general's charisma and negotiating skills

都是靠著他們將軍非凡的個人魅力還有談判技巧

prevented wholesale mutiny.

才避免了大規模的暴動

Today is a “just march,” only 30 kilometers.

今天是「中等距離行軍」，僅僅走了三十公里

As the marshes and forests of Germania lie beyond the empire's road system

行經日耳曼尼亞的沼澤與森林時，這裡已經超出羅馬帝國道路系統以外了，

the men must build causeways and bridges to make headway—

士兵們為了前進必須得修築小徑及橋樑來橫渡

something they've recently spent more time doing than fighting.

近來，比起打仗，他們更常將時間花在這上面

Finally, they arrive at their destination, a place Servius knows too well.

最後，他們終於到達了目的地，一個Servius 再清楚不過的地方

It's a clearing on the outskirts of the Teutoburg Forest,

條頓堡森林的外的一塊空地上

where six years ago, during the reign of the Emperor Augustus,

這個地方六年前，在奧古斯都的統治下

Germanic tribes under their chieftain Arminius

日耳曼部落群在領導人阿米尼烏斯酋長的領導下

ambushed and destroyed three legions.

埋伏發動突擊並摧毀了三個兵團

Proceeding along a narrow path,

當羅馬軍隊在狹隘的步道上行進時

the legions were attacked from forest cover under torrential rain

被森林中以暴雨為掩護的敵人攻擊

with their escape blocked.

在退路受阻的情況下慘敗

It was one of the worst defeats the Romans ever suffered

這是羅馬帝國所承受過最慘烈的大敗仗之一

and Augustus never lived it down.

而且奧古斯都終生為了這件事耿耿於懷

Servius was one of the few survivors.

Servius 是當時少數的倖存者之一

Servius still has nightmares of his comrades lying where they fell.

依然對當時戰友落馬倒下的情況餘悸猶存

But now the army is back to bury the dead with full military honors.

但是今天，軍隊是來厚葬屍骨並追發榮耀的

As he helps in the task,

在幫忙的時候

he can't help wondering whether the bones he handles belonged to someone he knew.

他不禁開始猜想，他手中的骸骨是否曾經屬於他認識的某個人

Several times he wants to weep aloud, but he pushes on with the task.

好幾次他都想放聲哭出來，但是強忍悲傷繼續完成任務

The glory of the Empire can go to the crows.

帝國的興衰於他並不重要

All he craves is to retire on a small farm with his wife-to-be,

他唯一所渴望的是不過是在退休後擁有一塊田地，與將來的妻子共度餘生

if the gods should spare his life for 17 more years.

如果上天再讓他多活超過十七年的話