翻译题目
和亲(peace-making marriage)政策可以追溯到西汉时期(the Western Han Dynasty)。当时西汉政府为了缓和与匈奴的关系，将公主嫁给匈奴部落(Xiongnu tribes)的首领。人们对和亲一直有着不同的看法。有人对和亲持肯定态度，因为和亲可以停止战争，与少数民族建立和平友好的关系而另一些人则认为和亲政策是—种妥协和投降。总的来说，和亲政策有利有弊，应放在当时的历史环境下来考虑。
表达难点
1.第2句中的“为了缓和与匈奴的关系”表目的，故将其译作状语in order to…放在句末。而“将公主嫁给……”作句子的谓宾成分，译作marry its princesses to…。
2.第4句“有人对和亲持肯定态度，因为……”的后半句可用as引导的原因状语从句来处理。
3.倒数第2句“而另一些人则认为和亲政策是一种妥协和投降”可套用句型consider sth. (be/as) sth.，译作 others consider the policy a kind of compromise and surrender.
4.最后一句中的“应放在当时的历史环境下来考虑”处理成由which引导的非限制性定语从句，并用被动语态来表达，译为 which should be considered…，其中“环境”应选用 circumstance，而不能用 environment，因为后者指的是自然生态环境，而非文中表示的人文社会历史状况。
参考译文
The policy of peace-making marriage can date back to the Western Han Dynasty. At that time, the government of Western Han married its princesses to the heads of Xiongnu tribes in order to smooth out the relationship between the two parties. People always have different opinions towards the policy. Some people hold a positive attitude towards it, as peace-making marriage can put an end to the war and build up a peaceful and friendly relationship with the minority groups. Others consider the policy a kind of compromise and surrender. Generally speaking, the policy peace-making marriage had its pros and cons, which should be considered under the historical circumstance at that time.
