美國語文第六冊 第81期:懷念先輩(1)
我們響應(yīng)上帝的召喚，向我們的先輩致以崇高的敬意和深切的緬懷。
Both the ties of nature and the dictates of policy demand this.
不論是親情的紐帶還是上天的神旨，都要求我們這樣做。
And surely no nation had ever less occasion to be ashamed of its ancestry, or more occasion for gratulation in that respect;
可以確信的是，沒有哪個國家曾經(jīng)為它的祖先感到羞恥，更多的是表示敬意中獲得滿足。
for while most nations trace their origin to barbarians, the foundations of our nation were laid by civilized men, by Christians.
由于絕大多數(shù)國家的歷史都可以追溯到野蠻人，我們國家是由文明人，是由基督徒建立起來的。
Many of them were men of distinguished families, of powerful talents,
其中許多人都出身于受人尊敬的家庭，都是有影響力的天才人士，
of great learning and of preeminent wisdom, of decision of character, and of most inflexible integrity.
都是偉大的學者，擁有卓越的智慧和決斷力，而且擁有不可動搖的正直品質(zhì)。
And yet not unfrequently they have been treated as if they had no virtues;
不同尋常的是，人們認為他們擁有完美無缺的美德;
while their sins and follies have been sedulously immortalized in satirical anecdote.
與此同時，在頗具諷刺意味的趣聞軼事里，他們的過錯和愚蠢行為被刻意看做是不朽的。
The influence of such treatment of our fathers is too manifest.
這樣對待我們的先輩所產(chǎn)生的影響顯而易見。
It creates and lets loose upon their institutions, the vandal spirit of innovation and overthrow;
創(chuàng)建制度然后放任其發(fā)展，創(chuàng)新和推翻都帶有野蠻人的印記，
for after the memory of our father shall have been rendered contemptible, who will appreciate and sustain their institutions?
在對先輩的懷念已經(jīng)證明是可鄙的之后，誰還會珍視和維護他們的制度呢?
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