A document long considered an unofficial copy of the “Magna Carta” has been identified as a rare original issued by King Edward I in 1300. Tucked away in Harvard Law School’s library, the manuscript was acquired in 1946 for a mere US$27.50.
Medieval history professors from King’s College London used ultraviolet light and spectral imaging to analyze the faded text. They found that the handwriting, wording, and word order perfectly match those of the six other surviving charters from that year.
The Magna Carta was the first document to formally assert that the king is subject to the law. It remains a powerful symbol of liberty and justice. The professors hope Harvard’s copy will soon be displayed to the public so its message and significance can reach a wider audience.
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片： AdobeStock
一份長期被認為是《大憲章》非官方複本的文件，已被認定是國王愛德華一世於 1300 年頒布的稀有原稿。這份手稿藏於哈佛法學院的圖書館中，於 1946 年以區區 27.50 美元的價格購得。
倫敦國王學院的中世紀歷史教授使用紫外線和光譜影像來分析褪色的文字。他們發現，這份原稿上的筆跡、措辭和文字順序與同一年的其他六份現存憲章完全一致。
《大憲章》是第一份正式主張國王受法律規範的文件。它仍然是自由和正義的有力象徵。教授們希望哈佛大學的這份稿件能盡快向公眾展示，這樣其訊息和意義便能觸及到更多人。
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片： AdobeStock
What Did You Learn?
1. How many original copies of the
Magna Carta from the year 1300 exist now?
參考答案
1. Seven.
Words in Use
1. document n. 文件
There are several legal documents you have to sign when you purchase a house.
你在買房子的時候必須要簽好幾份法律文件。
2. acquire vt. 購得，獲得
Ned has been saving up his money to acquire a rare first-edition comic book.
奈德為了買到一本稀有的初版漫畫而一直在存錢。
3. analyze vt. 分析
Arthur spends lots of time analyzing the stock market.
亞瑟花了許多時間分析股市。
4. handwriting n. 筆跡
Despite his literary genius, the author has notoriously poor handwriting.
儘管那位作家文采不凡，他的筆跡卻是出名地潦草。
5. assert vt. 主張
assert + that 子句 主張……
Although the man was found guilty, he continued to assert that he was innocent.
雖然那名男子被判有罪，他仍主張自己是無辜的。
Practical Phrases
1. identify A as B 將 A 認定為 B
A witness identified the young man in blue as the robber.
一位目擊證人指認那名穿藍色衣服的年輕男子就是搶匪。
2. be tucked away 被收藏∕隱藏起來
tuck vt. 把……藏入∕塞進
The old letters were tucked away in a dusty box.
這些舊信件被收藏在一個滿是灰塵的盒子裡。
3. be subject to. . . 受……規範，
受制於……
Everyone is subject to the law, and the rich are no exception.
每個人都受到法律規範，有錢人也不例外。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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