and it brings to mind of course an analogy that has always struck me

这当然会在脑中形成一种意象
as helpful in comprehending the situation confronting the Athenians at this time.

常有助于我理解此时雅典所面临的情况
To my mind,

在我看来
it is helpful to think about France in June of 1940

这很容易联想到1940年六月的法国
after the Germans had defeated France

在德国打败法国
and occupied part of it and left the other part unoccupied,

并占领其部分领土之后剩余领土虽未被占
but absolutely beholden to the Nazi Regime.

但完全受纳粹政权所左右
Now, a Frenchmen had three choices,

当时的法国人有三个选择
just as the Athenians did.

同此时的雅典人一样
One possibility would be to join up with the new regime

其一即加入新政权并为其繁荣发展
and try to prosper as part of it and some Athenians did that.

而添砖加瓦一些雅典人就是如此
Others would do what Thrasybulus did,

其他人则是走色拉西布洛斯选择的路