Soon the nobles became poor and the rich became paupers.是什么意思？

Soon the nobles became poor and the rich became paupers.

瞬息间,贵族变贫民,富翁成乞丐,荷兰陷入一片萧条.

soon

adv. 立刻，马上，一会儿，不久，快，宁愿；

例句
The minister advised him to leave as soon as possible...
部长建议他尽快离开。

the

art. 指已提到的人（物），指说话人与听者已知的人（物），用于独一无二的事物前，与形容词最高级和序数词连用；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

nobles

n. 尊贵的人( noble的名词复数 )，（中世纪后期的）英国金币（约合英国旧币六先令八便士或半马克），（英国）爵士；

例句
More and more nobles made Moscow their home during Catherine's reign.
在叶卡捷琳娜大帝统治时期，越来越多的贵族移居莫斯科。

became

v. 变为，成为（ become的过去式 ）；

例句
It became very clear that the incident was not just an aberration, it was not just a single incident.
事实已经很清楚，这件事不是偶发的，它并不是一起孤立的事件。

poor

adj. 贫穷的，贫乏的，令人怜悯的，可怜的，匮乏的，低劣的；n. the poor 贫困者，穷人；

例句
I suppose the shock had addled his poor old brain.
我估摸这个打击已经把他那可怜的脑袋瓜搞糊涂了。

and

conj. 和，与，而且，于是，然后，因此；

例句
I spend a lot on expensive jewelry and clothing...
我花很多钱购买昂贵的首饰和衣服。

rich

adj. 富有的，肥沃的，丰富多彩的，油腻的；

例句
I married above myself — rich county people...
我高攀了一门亲事，是县里的富有人家。

paupers

n. 穷人( pauper的名词复数 )，贫民，贫穷；

例句
The garment is expensive, paupers like you could never afford it!
这件衣服很贵, 你这穷鬼根本买不起!