When the Saracens besieged the Italian city of Beneventum in 874, the Lombards decided to seek the help of the Greeks. A fearless citizen dropped from the walls, and accomplished his mission to Greece. As he was returning to Beneventum, he fell into the hands of the Saracens. They commanded him to deceive his countrymen, with the assurance that wealth and honours should be the reward of his sincerity, and that his falsehood would be punished with immediate death. He agreed.
But as soon as he was conducted within hearing of the Lombards on the rampart, he cried out,"Friends and brethren, be bold and patient, maintain the city. Your deliverers are at hand. I know my doom, and commit my wife and children to your gratitude." He was killed on the spot.
公元八七四年，撤拉遜人圍攻義大利貝尼溫敦城，城中的倫巴人決定向希臘求援。一個勇士下了城牆，去到希臘，完成使命，回城途中，落在撤拉遜人手上。撤拉遜人要他向同胞使詐，說只要他聽話，保證可享榮華富貴；不聽話，將馬上處死，他答應了。
他被帶去向城頭上的倫巴人喊話。他立刻高喊：「各位朋友，各位同胞，你們要勇敢，要堅忍，守住城池。救兵快來了。我知道自己劫數難逃，希望你們感我所為，照顧我妻子兒女。」他當場被殺。
【附注】 At hand是「在附近」或「即將到來」的意思，例如： He believes that the end of the world is at hand（他認為世界末日即將到來）。
（古德明）
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