英文真差。上班這麽久覺得英文沒怎麽進步

所以現在有空看看英文小說。碰到這一句，怎麽這麽別扭啊。

The despotism and hatred of Liberalism which animated
the Continental governments had had the effect of driving to our shores a
number of men who might have made excellent citizens were they not
soured by the recollection of all that they had undergone.