A noble gangster 贵族歹徒

There was a time when the owners of shops and businesses in Chicago had to pay large sums of money to gangsters in return for 'protection'. If the money was not paid promptly, the gangsters would quickly put a man out of business by destroying his shop. Obtaining 'protection money' is not a modern crime. As long ago as the fourteenth century, an Englishman, Sir John Hawkwood, made the remarkable discovery that people would rather pay large sums of money than have their life work destroyed by gangsters. 600 years ago, Sir John Hawkwood arrived in Italy with a band of soldiers and settled near Florence. He soon made a name for himself and came to be known to the Italians as Giovanni Acuto. Whenever the Italian city-states were at war with each other, Hawkwood used to hire his soldiers to princes who were willing to pay the high price he demanded. In times of peace, when business was bad, Hawkwood and his men would march into a city-state and, after burning down a few farms, would offer to go away if protection money was paid to them. Hawkwood made large sums of money in this way. In spite of this, the Italians regarded him as a sort of hero. When he died at the age of 80, the Florentines gave him a state funeral and had a picture painted which was dedicated to the memory of 'the most valiant soldier and most notable leader, Signor Giovanni Haukodue'.

10. In spite of this, the Italians regarded him as a sort of hero.

尽管如此,意大利人还是把他视作某种英雄。

语言点1:句子结构分析:in spite of this为让步状语。As a sort of hero作him的宾语补足语。

语言点2:regard…as…的意思是“把…当作”

11. When he died at the age of 80, the Florentines gave him a state funeral and had a picture painted which was dedicated to the memory of 'the most valiant soldier and most notable leader, Signor Giovanni Haukodue'.

他80岁那年死去时,佛罗伦萨人为他举行了国葬,并为他画像以纪念这位"骁勇无比的战士、杰出的领袖乔凡尼.阿库托先生."

语言点1:句子结构分析:when以电脑时间状语从句，说明在什么时候被纪念。主句中的which引导定语从句，说明是什么性质的一幅画。

语言点2:短语补充学习:

state dinner/banquet 国宴
state visit 国事访问
state affairs 国事
The State Council 国务院
The Secretary of State 国务卿