So, what they finally decided to do was

所以雅典人最终决定
to select from among themselves, one Athenian

从他们自己中间选出一个人
who would replace all the nine archons of the usual government of Athens

取代当时雅典政府的九名执政官
and be given the job of sole archon

并由他出任首席执政官的职位
for one year,

任期一年
and he would be allowed to legislate for the Athenians

他将被授予为雅典人立法的权力
as a way out of the trouble they were in.

由他领导雅典人走出困境
Now, think of how desperate things must be,

现在考虑到当时形势一定已经十分严峻
and one aspect of that desperation

而且其中有一方面
I think we have to believe,

我认为是
is that there was no way they could

他们不可能团结起来
have put together a coalition of citizens

结成一个市民同盟