The Yeomen Warders: England's Champions!

英倫聚焦

The Yeomen Warders: England's Champions! 倫敦塔衛兵—英國觀光一大賣點 撰文及考題設計 英國文化協會教學團隊 Joel Finnestad 中譯 陳怡君 （中央社編譯）

I

f you were one of Great Britain's Yeomen Warders, you might be hard

pressed to fit your official job title on a standard business card. Officially known as the Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary, the title is quite a mouthful.

Today they are better known as simply "Beefeaters".

It is not entirely clear exactly where the title "Beefeater" originated, but some sources suggest it was chosen based on the French word "buffetier", who were

英國女王伊麗莎白二世（左二）和夫婿菲利普親王（左一）今年4月2日在謝菲 爾德大教堂出席復活節濯足活動，其身旁即為皇家近衛軍儀仗衛士。 （歐新社）

guards in the French king's palace and were respon-

also protect the crown jewels. Needless to say, Great

sible for guarding the food. Others suggest the name

Britain is no longer in the habit of sending prisoners

evolved because the "Beefeaters" were once paid in

to wither and die in the Tower of London! Although

chunks of beef. Today their key role in Great Britain

their official duties are connected to the Tower of

is to act as tour guides, and they are a major tourist

London, Warders also stand guard at all coronations.

attraction in their own right.

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如果你是英國皇家近衛軍儀仗衛士（Yeomen

The Yeomen Warders do have duties more of-

Warders）的一員，你可能很難把正式職稱塞入

ficial than showing people around the numerous

標準名片。英國皇家 近衛軍儀仗衛 士的官方稱

attractions in England. They are ceremonial guard-

謂是，女王陛下宮殿與城堡倫敦塔的皇家近衛軍

ians of the Tower of London, and are responsible

儀仗衛 士與君主的英國皇家衛隊衛 士，很 拗口

for looking after any prisoners in the tower. They

的職稱。今日，他們常見的稱呼是「倫敦塔衛兵」

全球中央雜誌 2015.08

本文由BRITISH COUNCIL–全球最值得信賴的英語 教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw

（Beefeater）。

London since the time of King Charles II, and that if

我們還無法完全確定「倫敦塔衛兵」名稱的由

they were ever to leave, the tower and the monarchy

來，但有些說法是，這個稱號是根據法文的「牛肉

itself would collapse! To prevent this, the wings of

食客 」（buffetier）而來，buffetier為法國國王宮殿

these black birds are clipped so they can't fly away.

衛兵，負責看守食物。其他說法是，英國之所以衍

They are also given a ration of beef every day lead-

生出這個稱呼，是因為「倫敦塔衛兵」的工資曾是

ing many to consider the sacred ravens the true

數塊牛肉。今日，他們在英國的主要角色是擔任導

"beefeaters".

遊，本身就是一大觀光賣點。

To this day, the opportunity to have one of the

除了向民眾展示英格蘭的數個景點外，英國皇

Yeomen Warders serve as your tour guide is an ex-

家近衛軍儀仗衛士的確有更官方的職責。他們是

perience not to be missed. They are famous for their

倫敦塔（Tower of London）禮兵，負責看守倫敦塔

knowledge and wit. One Warder, Bill Callaghan, has

囚犯，同時也保護御寶。英國已不再有將囚犯送

had over a million hits on the Internet because of

到倫敦塔任憑老死的作法！雖然職務仍與倫敦塔

his hilarious quips. Poking fun at the French, he is

有關，皇家近衛軍儀仗衛士也在所有加冕典禮站

famous for saying “History is nearly always written

崗。

by the people who win. This explains all the empty

The position is very special indeed, and in 2011

pages in the French history books.”

there were only thirty-seven Yeomen Warders, and

這個職位確實十分特別。2011年，只有37位皇

one Chief Warder. All must have served at least

家近衛軍儀仗衛士、一位總指揮 ，成為一員的條

twenty-two years in the armed forces, and must

件是全都須在軍中服役過至少22年，也必須獲得

also have been awarded the Long Service and Good

「長期服務與優秀行為」獎章。

Conduct Medal.

亨利七世在1485年成立皇家近衛軍儀仗衛士，

Formed in 1485 by King Henry VII, the Warders

原本是要讓他們擔任隨扈的角色。1509年，亨利七

were originally expected to serve as bodyguards. In

世讓12名生病的近衛軍儀仗衛士去守倫敦塔，這

1509, Henry VIII left behind twelve of them (who

也就是目前這職務的緣由。從古至今沒有改變太

were sick) to guard the Tower of London, and this

多的是制服，其中包括鮮紅色馬褲與襪子、及膝的

was the beginning of the current role. One thing

鮮紅色束腰外衣以及一頂滾邊的都鐸呢帽，但顯

that has not changed very much is the uniforms

然這頂帽子戴起來並不舒服。

they wear. It consists of scarlet knee-breeches and

或許最具傳奇性（與最特別）的職位就屬「烏鴉

stockings, a knee-length scarlet tunic, and a round

使者」，目前是由史凱夫（Chris Skaife）所擔任。據

brimmed hat called a Tudor bonnet. Apparently they

信烏鴉自從查理二世時期就開始盤旋，如果牠們

are extremely uncomfortable to wear!

離開，倫敦塔與王朝也會跟著垮！因此為了避免這

Perhaps the most legendary (and bizarre) posi-

事發生，烏鴉的翅膀就被剪除、所以無法飛走，烏

tion connected to the Yeomen Warders is that of

鴉也會每天分到一小塊牛肉，所以許多人認為這

the Ravenmaster, currently filled by Chris Skaife. It

些神聖的烏鴉是如假包換的「牛肉食客」。

is believed that ravens have occupied the Tower of

若今天有機會讓皇家近衛軍儀仗衛士擔任你

CNA NEWSWORLD

117

英倫聚焦

的導遊，可千萬別錯過，他們的博學多聞與機智

有超過百萬點閱率。他有一句挖苦法國的名言，就

可是赫赫有名。像是近衛軍儀仗衛士賈拉漢（Bill

是：「歷史幾乎是勝利者所寫，這就是為什麼法國

Callaghan）就因他的妙語如珠，上傳網路的影片

歷史教科書上幾近空白的原因。」

Key Words hard pressed – 工作繁重的 experiencing great difficulty or distress

n e e d l e s s t o s ay – 不言而喻something so obvious that it doesn't need to be explained

q u i t e a m o u t h f u l – 字句非常長或難以發音 a word or phrase that is very long or hard to pronounce act as – 從事 serve as, or do the job of

in the habit of – 習慣做 used to doing something; routine procedure wither and die – 失去生命力 to lose force or vitality; become diminished

in their own right – 依靠自己努力 by reason of one's own ability or ownership

ration – 配額 a small portion of something given a little bit at a time

ceremonial – 儀式性的 not official; only for show or tradition

quip – 妙語 a clever or witty remark or comment

雅思考試模擬試題 IELTS questions

雅思考試粉絲團： www.facebook.com/ielts.testcentre

TRUE, FALSE, or NOT GIVEN 1. The Yeomen Warders were originally known as the "Beefeaters".

2. In the time of King Henry VIII, the Warders were left behind at the Tower of London where they became sick, and were appointed guards.

3. The name "Beefeater" probably came about based on either a French guard's duty, or the fact that they were once paid with pieces of beef.

4. Today, many Warders consider giving up their position because they find that the uniforms are far too uncomfortable.

5. The ravens in the Tower of London are protected by one of the Warders whose title includes the name of the bird.

Which paragraph provides the following information?

1. An example of why so many tourists might enjoy seeing tourist attractions in England based on the witty personality of a Yeomen Warder.

2. Some theories as to where the unoffical name for the Yeomen Warders came from.

3. An explanation of how the Warder's job descriptions have changed over time.

4. A specific job description that is probably based more on unrealistic beliefs from the past rather than on events that could truly happen.

5. Information about the requirements and the necessary background needed in order to become a Yeomen Warder.

1.F

2.F

3.T

4.NG

5. T

1.(7)

2.(2)

3.(3)

4.(6)

5.(4) 全球中央雜誌 2015.08

Answers

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