George Washington 喬治·華盛頓
You may believe me, when I assure you in the most solemn manner that, so far from(2) seeking this employment, I have used every effort in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family, but from a consciousness(3) of its being a trust(4) too great for my capacity; and I should enjoy more real happiness in one month with you at home than I have the most distant prospect of finding abroad, if my stay were to be seven times seven years(5). But as it has been a kind of destiny that has thrown me upon this service, I shall hope that my undertaking it(6) is designed to answer some good purpose ....
I shall rely confidently on that Providence(7) which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall(8). I shall feel no pain from the toil or danger of the campaign; my unhappiness will flow from(9) the uneasiness I know you will feel from being left alone. I therefore beg that you will summon your whole fortitude, and pass your time as agree- ably as possible. Nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this(10), and to hear it from your own pen.
中文譯文:
你可以相信我,我極其莊嚴(yán)地向你保證我根本沒(méi)有追求過(guò)這項(xiàng)任命,而是竭盡全力,千方百計(jì)地回避它。這不僅是因?yàn)槲也辉敢馔阋约叭胰朔謩e,而且因?yàn)槲疑钪?zé)任重大,苧我力所能及。另外,倘若我出門(mén)數(shù)十載尋求前景非常遙遠(yuǎn)的幸福,那還比不上在家中與你相聚一個(gè)月那樣真正幸福。但是,既然命運(yùn)已賦予我這個(gè)使命,我希望,安排我來(lái)承擔(dān)這個(gè)任務(wù)是為了使我有所建樹(shù)。……
我將信賴(lài)一直保佑我和降福于我的上帝,深信到秋天我將平安地回到你的身邊。對(duì)出征所帶來(lái)的艱辛和危險(xiǎn),我不會(huì)感到痛苦,使我難過(guò)的是我知道你獨(dú)自一人留在家中必然感到焦慮不安。因此,我懇求你鼓起全部勇氣,盡量愉快地過(guò)日子.沒(méi)有什么比聽(tīng)到你過(guò)得愉快的消息--并且是從你的筆下聽(tīng)到這消息,能使我感到更大的欣慰了.
英文注釋?zhuān)?/p>
(1)accepting the command of the army: 受命統(tǒng)率全軍。華盛頓于1775年就任全軍總司令時(shí)給愛(ài)妻寫(xiě)了一封信。本文摘自這封信的兩段。
(2) far from: 遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不;完全不。
(3) not only from….but from…: 不僅由于……而且由于……。but后面省去了also. .
(4) its being a trust: 這是一種信任。動(dòng)名詞短語(yǔ),作介詞of的賓語(yǔ)。
(5)if my stay were to be seven times seven years:假如我在外數(shù)十年。虛擬語(yǔ)氣。seven times seven:許許多多。
(6) my undertaking it: 我來(lái)承擔(dān)這一任務(wù)。動(dòng)名詞短語(yǔ), 作is designed的主語(yǔ)。
(7) Providence: 大寫(xiě)時(shí),解釋為"上帝"。
(8)mot doubting but that…: 深信……。這里but無(wú)實(shí)義,but that相當(dāng)于that,
(9)flow from:來(lái)自。
(10) this: 代詞,代替前面的you will summon your whole fortitude,and pass your time as agreeably as possible。