美國語文第五冊 第166期：約翰-亞當斯的假設演講（02）

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Do we intend to violate that most solemn obligation ever entered into by men, that plighting, before God, of our sacred honor to Washington,

難道我們準備褻瀆人類始終遵從的莊嚴法則，面對上帝，褻瀆我們面對華盛頓總統(tǒng)發(fā)出自己神圣榮譽的誓言？

when, putting him forth to incur the dangers of war, as well as the political hazards of the times,

從而使他蒙受戰(zhàn)爭危險以及深陷當下的政治困局，

we promised to adhere to him in every extremity with our fortunes and our lives?

我們難道不是曾經(jīng)許諾，不管任何危難當頭，我們將傾盡所有財富甚至身家性命去追隨擁戴他？

I know there is not a man here, who would not rather see a general conflagration sweep over the land,

我清楚，在場任何人哪怕寧愿看到戰(zhàn)爭急遽爆發(fā)，戰(zhàn)火迅速席卷北美大地，

or an earthquake sink it, than one jot or tittle of that plighted faith fall to the ground.

或突如其來的地震使美國坍陷，亦不愿意拋棄曾經(jīng)的誓約，哪怕微小的背離反叛。

For myself, having twelve months ago, in this place,

對我來說，一年前假設同樣在這樣的場合，

moved you that George Washington be appointed commander of the forces raised, or to be raised, for the defense of American liberty;

假設我力勸你們，為保護美國自由，喬治.華盛頓應該被任命為崛起的或有待崛起的美國抵抗力量的統(tǒng)帥；

may my right hand forget her cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth,

但愿我的右手受到詛咒，但愿我從此閉嘴不再說話！

if I hesitate or waver in the support I give him.

萬一現(xiàn)在，我對是否支持他仍然躊躇不定，

The war, then, must go on. We must fight it through.

因此，戰(zhàn)爭必須繼續(xù)。我們必須打下去。

And if the war must go on, why put off the Declaration of Independence?

如果戰(zhàn)爭必須打下去，我們?yōu)槭裁赐涎有肌丢毩⑿浴罚?/p>

That measure will strengthen us. It will give us character abroad.

昭示天下只會使我們強大，同時賦予我們面向外界的能力。

Nations will then treat with us, which they never can do while we acknowledge ourselves subjects in arms against our sovereign.

如果我們本身認可屈從侵犯我們主權(quán)的武力，怎能指望其他國家與我們正常交往？

Nay, I maintain that England herself will sooner treat for peace with us on the footing of independence,

不僅如此，我認為，在承認獨立的前提下，與其說英國本身愿意與我們協(xié)商和平會談，

than consent, by repealing her acts, to acknowledge that her whole conduct toward us has been a course of injustice and oppression.

不如說它更為贊同廢除其法案，承認它對我們施加的所有行為始終缺乏公平正義且殘忍暴虐。