Then the waters receded.But they left behind the fertile clay of a higher civilization and Alexander, with all his childish ambitions and his silly vanities, had performed a most valuable service.

• 随后这股潮流消退了，但留下了孕育出更高层文明的沃土，亚历山大的雄心壮志虽然幼稚，其虚荣心虽然愚蠢，可他做出了最有价值的贡献。