It is the latter half of the 4th century BC and the situation in Greece and the Balkans has reached a watershed.
時間是西元前4世紀的後半，希臘與巴爾幹半島間的局勢已到達了臨界點。

War between the Greek city states of Sparta, Corinth, Thebes and Athens has rumbled on for decades.
戰火已在希臘眾城邦，包括斯巴達、哥林斯、底比斯、及雅典之間，燃燒了數十年之久。

After their invasion of Greece and eventual withdrawal over a century ago, the mighty Persian empire has settled down to a long game.
強大的波斯帝國在入侵希臘，並於100年前撤退之後，就已經投入了一場長長的競技之中。

Their financial and naval support of alternately one or other of the Greek factions prevents any resolution of the conflict and holds all in check.
它們（波斯）輪流使用金融及海軍支援，並同時利用了希臘的內亂，避免這場衝突出現任何轉機，讓全盤皆在它們的掌控之中。
（這句最難翻）

To the north lies Macedonia, still recovering from the depredations of the Persian invasion more than a century before.
座落於北方的馬其頓，仍在波斯超過一個世紀以前的入侵蹂躪中，恢復療傷。

With the chaos in Greece to the south and warlike peoples pressing her borders on all sides, she is in danger of being swallowed at any moment.
南方希臘的動亂，加上好戰民族對於其（馬其頓）邊界的全面迫近，馬其頓處在隨時被併吞的危機之中。

Yet a strong hand has come to guide her from this dark place.
就在此時，一隻強壯的手為馬其頓指引了她在黑暗中的方向。

King Philip II, all too aware of Macedonia's vulnerable position,has raised a new army based on new ideas, one capable of fulfilling his dream of a unified Greece under his command.
菲力普王二世迫切警覺於馬其頓岌岌可危的地位，他依據新的概念組織了一支新的軍隊，
一支能夠實踐他的夢想 --- 在他的號令下一統希臘的夢想，的軍隊。

But fate has seemingly dealt Macedonia a heavy blow once again - with his plans as yet unfulfilled, Philip has died leaving his son Alexander, a mere youth of 18 years, on the throne.
但是命運的吹襲卻再一次席捲了馬其頓，菲力普大計未成卻身先死，僅留下他的兒子 -- 年僅18歲的亞歷山大，繼承他的王位。

Yet there is something about Alexander which suggests that all is not lost.
然而亞歷山大這件事，卻暗示著失去極其有限。

To secure his own position in Macedonia, to unify Greece under his rule, to fulfil his father's greater dream of striking back at the hated Persians - surely these are impossible dreams to one so young?
要穩固他在馬其頓的地位，要統一希臘，要實踐他父親反擊可恨波斯人的夢想
--- 當然對一位這樣的年輕人來說，這些是幾乎遙不可及的夢想？

Alexander's answer to such questions is simple: "There is nothing impossible to him who will try"
亞歷山大對這些問題的答案很簡單：『有志者事竟成。』