【视频讲解】

The Article 50 bill will pass, but the real debate about Brexit is yet to begin. It was certainly a majestic setting.
《里斯本条约》第五十条会被通过，但关于脱欧的真正谈判才正要开始。英国的上议院十分壮丽。
Majestic
壮丽的; 雄伟的 = grand
...a majestic country home that once belonged to the Astor family.
一座曾经属于阿斯特家族的漂亮的乡村住所

The House of Lords was resplendent with gilt, glass, a bevy of bishops and many geriatric former politicians crammed onto its red leather benches.
有金碧辉煌的墙壁，装饰着花纹的玻璃，上议院的红皮长椅上坐满了神职议员、年长的前任政客们。
Resplendent 华丽的; 灿烂的
Bessie, resplendent in royal blue velvet, was hovering beside the table.
身穿华丽的深蓝色天鹅绒衣服的贝茜正在桌旁徘徊。
gilt 镀金的
...marble columns and gilt spires.
…大理石圆柱和镀金尖顶。
Bevy 一群
...a bevy of bright young officers.
...一群充满活力的年轻军官。
Geriatric 老家伙 (有冒犯之嫌)
He will complain about having to spend time with such a boring bunch of geriatrics.
他会抱怨不得不花费时间跟这么一帮乏味的老家伙在一起。
Crammed 塞满的
The house is crammed with priceless furniture and works of art.
这房子里堆满了价值连城的家具和艺术品。
Bench
1. 长凳
He sat down on a park bench.
他在一条公园的长凳上坐下来
2. 法官
The chairman of the bench adjourned the case until October 1th.
首席法官将该案延至到10月1日。

And there perched on a parapet just below the glittering royal throne sat Theresa May, on a highly unusual visit to the upper house.
特蕾莎梅闪闪发光的御座下有一个矮护墙，在这里开始了一次不同寻常的讨论。
Perch
1. 轻坐在; 轻落在 (边上或顶上)
He lit a cigarette and perched on the corner of the desk.
他点了一支烟，轻轻地坐在书桌角上。
2. 栖息
A blackbird flew down and perched on the parapet outside his window.
一只乌鸫飞下来，栖息在他家窗外的矮墙上。
Parapet 护墙
Glitter 闪闪发光
The bay glittered in the sunshine.
海湾在阳光下闪闪发光。

The reason for the prime minister's presence on February 20th was that the Lords were starting to debate the bill authorising her to invoke Article 50, the treaty procedure for leaving the European Union.
上议院开始就是否允许特雷莎•梅援引关于脱欧程序的《里斯本条约》第五十条展开辩论，于是英国首相特蕾莎梅在2月20日出席上议院会议。
Invoke
1. 援引
...economists who invoke the principle of "consumer sovereignty" to support their arguments.
…援引“消费者主权”原则来支持自己论点的经济学家们。
2. 乞灵：祈求（一种更高的力量）给予帮助，支持，或灵感：
“Stretching out her hands she had the air of a Greek woman who invoked a deity”(Ford Madox Ford)
“她伸出她的双手，就象一个希腊妇人祈求神灵一样”(福特•马多克斯•福特)

Although (or because) they are unelected, the quality of their debate far exceeded that in the Commons a fortnight ago.
虽然上议院的大多数议员都是未经过选举的，但就两周前下议院同样就第五十条法案展开辩论的来看，其辩论水平远远不如这次。
excel, surpass, exceed, transcend, outstrip, outdo
Excel, surpass 超群的, 远远超出 (预期)
happiness that surpassed description.
难以形容的幸福。
Exceed 可以指在性质上优于
exceed a speed limit 超速
Outstrip 经常和outdo 互换， 但在上下文中它更偏重于把另一个甩在后面这个意思：
It is a case of the student outstripping the teacher.
这是一个学生超过老师的例子。

Lord Hague, a former Tory leader, loudly denounced Tony Blair, a former Labour prime minister, for inviting people to “rise up” against Brexit.
前保守党领导人黑格强烈谴责前英国首相布莱尔怂恿民众“起义”反对脱欧。
Rise up 起义
The people of the whole country got united to rise up against the foreign invaders.
全国人民团结起来反抗外国侵略者。
Uprising 起义
Nanchang uprising 南昌起义
Many revolutionary devotees were blooded in Wuchang uprising.
武昌起义使很多热血志士首次经受革命的洗礼。

Lord Mandelson, Mr Blair's close ally, responded that Brexit supporters did not want Britain to be poorer and politically isolated, and so should be entitled to change their minds.
布莱尔的亲信曼德尔森回应说，脱欧支持者不希望英国出现国力衰退，政治上被孤立的情况，当然他们也有权利改变他们的主意。
Ally 同盟者
Entitle
1. 使有权
If the warranty is limited, the terms may entitle you to a replacement or refund.
如果保修单有限制，这些条款可让你有权换货或退款。
2. 给 (书、电影、画作等) 命名
...a performance entitled "United States."
…一场名为“合众国”的演出。

Lords Lawson and Lamont, both former Tory chancellors, attacked as undemocratic the idea of amending a bill that had not only passed the Commons unscathed but also reflected one of the biggest votes in British history.
前保守党大臣劳森和拉蒙特将此修改条款的做法视为非民主的行为，这不仅能毫发无损地通过下议院颁布这项法令，也反映了英国史上影响力范围最大的一次投票。
Chancellor
高级干部：总理，大臣，甚至大学校长
Unscathed 毫发无损
The crisis, far from leaving Japan unscathed, exacerbated its structural problems and laid the groundwork for a far greater disaster.
那场和日本擦肩而过的危机加剧了他的结构上的问题并为更大灾难的诞生奠定了基础。
scathe 损害，伤害
athletic scathe 运动损伤

Even so, because the government lacks a majority in the upper house, the Lords will try to amend the bill. One amendment could demand a bigger role for Parliament.Another would try to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in Britain to stay put.
即使如此，因为特雷莎•梅的保守党在上议院没有占多数席位，上议院将设法修改法案。其中一项修改是需要议会发挥更大的作用。另一项是设法保证欧盟人民在英国的权利。
stay put 留在原处
Nigel says for the moment he is very happy to stay put in Lyon.
奈杰尔说目前他很乐意留在里昂。

Their Lordships might even demand a second referendum on the precise terms of Brexit. This idea was supported not just by Liberal Democrats and Scottish Nationalists but by other luminaries, including Lord Butler, a former cabinet secretary.
当局者还为是否脱欧进行第二次公投而考虑。这个想法不仅得到了自由民主党和苏格兰民族主义者的支持，还得到了其他名人的支持，如前内阁秘书巴特勒勋爵。
Referendum 公民投票; 全民公决
Estonia said today it too plans to hold a referendum on independence.
爱沙尼亚今天称它也计划要就独立进行全民公决。
Luminary 方家; 大师; 泰斗
...the political opinions of such luminaries as Sartre and Marks.
...诸如萨特和马克思等大家的政见。