美国语文第五册 第167期:约翰-亚当斯的假设演讲(3)

 　　Her pride will be less wounded by submitting to that course of things, which now predestinates our independence,  倘若英国顺其自然，美国独立在所难免，大英帝国颜面多少得以保留；

　　than by yielding the points in controversy¹ to her rebellious² subjects.  倘若英国在双方论战中屈从它的反叛者论点，情况将有所不同。

　　The former, she would regard as the result of fortune; the latter, she would feel as her own deep disgrace.  前者，英国认为原本会有幸运的结局；后者，它将为此深感羞辱。

　　Why, then, do we not change this from a civil to a national war?  既然如此，我们为何不将这场内战改为民族之战？

　　And since we must fight it through, why not put ourselves in a state to enjoy all the benefits of victory, if we gain the victory. 既然必须打下去，如果我们获取胜利，为什么不愿享受胜利将给我们带来全身心的喜悦？

　　If we fail, it can be no worse for us. But we shall not fail.  如果我们遭受失败，对我们来说，境况绝不会更糟，然而我们不应该失败。

　　The cause will raise up armies; the cause will create navies.  我们将兴建自己的军队，建立自己的海军。

　　The people—the people, if we are true to them, will carry us, and will carry themselves, gloriously through this struggle.  假如我们真心对待民众，民众将支持我们，其实质就是支持他们自己，并通过战斗取得荣耀。

　　I care not how fickle³ other people have been found. I know the people of these colonies;  我不介意有些人总是善变无常，我了解殖民地民众；

　　and I know that resistance to British aggression⁴ is deep and settled in their hearts, and can not be eradicated⁵.  我清楚民众对英国入侵的刻骨仇恨与反抗源自他们内心，况且仇恨不可能消弭。

　　Sir, the Declaration of Independence will inspire the people with increased courage.  先生们，《独立宣言》将鼓舞民众获得勇气。

　　Instead of a long and bloody⁶ war for the restoration of privileges, for redress⁷ of grievances⁸, for chartered immunities⁹,  这场长期流血的战争并非旨在恢复某些特权，并非为社会不公抱怨或改错纠偏，

　　held under a British king, set before them the glorious object of entire independence, and it will breathe into them anew the spirit of life.  并非为获取大英国王属下控制的特许豁免权，这是一项彻底独立的宏图大业，铺展在美国民众面前，并将为其生命注入崭新灵魂的明天。

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 rebellious   

adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的

参考例句：

• They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反，他们就要发生危险。
• Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和，但她的心里十分反感。

3 fickle   

adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的

参考例句：

• Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.物价的波动往往是由于群众需求的不稳定而引起的。
• The weather is so fickle in summer.夏日的天气如此多变。

4 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

5 eradicated   

画着根的

参考例句：

• Polio has been virtually eradicated in Brazil. 在巴西脊髓灰质炎实际上已经根除。
• The disease has been eradicated from the world. 这种疾病已在全世界得到根除。

6 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

7 redress   

n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除

参考例句：

• He did all that he possibly could to redress the wrongs.他尽了一切努力革除弊端。
• Any man deserves redress if he has been injured unfairly.任何人若蒙受不公平的损害都应获得赔偿。

8 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 immunities   

免除，豁免( immunity的名词复数 )； 免疫力

参考例句：

• Supplying nutrients and immunities to my baby? 为我的宝贝提供营养物质和免疫物质？
• And these provide immunities against the a host of infections and diseases. 这些物质可提高婴儿的免疫力，使之免受病毒感染和疾病侵袭。