They encountered severe storms and piercing cold. When half way up the mountains, a rumbling noise was heard among the cliffs.
他们遭遇到严重的暴风雪和刺骨的寒冷。当爬到半山高时,在悬崖上传来了轰隆隆的噪音。
The guides looked at each other in alarm, for they knew well what it meant.
先行部队惊恐地看着每个人,他们非常清楚这意味着什么。
It grew louder and louder. "An avalanche! an avalanche!" they shrieked;
声音越来越响。“雪崩!雪崩!”他们尖叫着;
and the next moment a field of ice and snow came leaping down the mountains,
下一瞬间,一片冰雪滑下山,向前划动,
striking the line of march and sweeping away thirty dragoons in its wild plunge.
还将30名骑兵卷入其中。
The black forms of the horses and their riders were seen for an instant struggling for life, and then they disappeared for ever.
能看到黝黑的战马和他们的骑手为生命挣扎的一瞬,随后他们就永远的消失了。
The sight struck the soldiers with horror; they crouched and shivered in the blast.
这景象让士兵们感到恐惧;他们在狂风中蜷缩着,颤抖着。
Their enemy was not now flesh and blood, but wild winter storms; swords and bayonets could not defend them from the desolating avalanche.
他们的敌人现在不是血肉之躯,而是冬天狂暴的风雪,剑和刺刀在荒凉的雪崩下不能保护他们。
Flight or retreat was hopeless; for all around lay the drifted snow, like a vast winding-sheet.
逃跑或撤退是无望的;四周都被雪包围的情况下,这里就像是个巨大的斜坡。
On they must go, or death was certain; and the brave men struggled forward.
他们必须前进,要么就死定了;勇敢的人们挣扎着前进。
"Soldiers!" exclaimed their commander, "you are called to Italy; your general needs you.
“战士们!”指挥官喊道,“你们被召唤到了意大利;你们的将军需要你们。
Advance and conquer—first the mountain and the snow, then the plains and the enemy."
前进,获胜——先是这座大山和风雪,然后才是平原和敌人。”