第一册第12篇：受命统率全军

12 Accepting the Command of the Army 受命统率全军
George Washington 乔治·华盛顿
 
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 unwillingness¹ 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 prospect² 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 undertaking³ it(6) is designed to answer some good purpose ....
I shall rely confidently on that Providence⁴(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 toil⁵ 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 fortitude⁶, 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.

中文译文：
你可以相信我，我极其庄严地向你保证我根本没有追求过这项任命，而是竭尽全力，千方百计地回避它。这不仅是因为我不愿意同你以及全家人分别，而且因为我深知责任重大，苎我力所能及。另外，倘若我出门数十载寻求前景非常遥远的幸福，那还比不上在家中与你相聚一个月那样真正幸福。但是，既然命运已赋予我这个使命，我希望，安排我来承担这个任务是为了使我有所建树。……
我将信赖一直保佑我和降福于我的上帝，深信到秋天我将平安地回到你的身边。对出征所带来的艰辛和危险，我不会感到痛苦，使我难过的是我知道你独自一人留在家中必然感到焦虑不安。因此，我恳求你鼓起全部勇气，尽量愉快地过日子.没有什么比听到你过得愉快的消息--并且是从你的笔下听到这消息，能使我感到更大的欣慰了．

英文注释：
(1)accepting the command of the army： 受命统率全军。华盛顿于1775年就任全军总司令时给爱妻写了一封信。本文摘自这封信的两段。
(2) far from： 远远不;完全不。
(3) not only from…．but from…： 不仅由于……而且由于……。but后面省去了also. ．
(4) its being a trust： 这是一种信任。动名词短语，作介词of的宾语。
(5)if my stay were to be seven times seven years：假如我在外数十年。虚拟语气。seven times seven：许许多多。
(6) my undertaking it： 我来承担这一任务。动名词短语， 作is designed的主语。
(7) Providence： 大写时，解释为"上帝"。
(8)mot doubting but that…： 深信……。这里but无实义，but that相当于that,
(9)flow from：来自。
(10) this： 代词，代替前面的you will summon your whole fortitude，and pass your time as agreeably as possible。

1 unwillingness   

n. 不愿意，不情愿

参考例句：

• Her unwillingness to answer questions undermined the strength of her position. 她不愿回答问题，这不利于她所处的形势。
• His apparent unwillingness would disappear if we paid him enough. 如果我们付足了钱，他露出的那副不乐意的神情就会消失。

2 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

3 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。

4 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

5 toil   

vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事

参考例句：

• The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
• Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

6 fortitude   

n.坚忍不拔；刚毅

参考例句：

• His dauntless fortitude makes him absolutely fearless.他不屈不挠的坚韧让他绝无恐惧。
• He bore the pain with great fortitude.他以极大的毅力忍受了痛苦。