美国语文第六册 第197期:教育的必要性(3)

But when our fear and our efforts shall correspond with our danger, the danger is past.

但是，我们的担心和努力与我们面临的危险是共存的，而危险已经成为过去。

For it is not the impossibility of self-preservation¹ which threatens us;

在面临威胁时，激起自卫本能是完全可能的，

nor is it the unwillingness² of the nation to pay the price of the preservation, as she has paid the price of the purchase of our liberties.

国家也并非不情愿为维持下去付出代价，正如她为我们的自由所付出的代价一样。

It is inattention and inconsideration, protracted³ till the crisis is past, and the things which belong to our peace are hid from our eyes.

这种自卫本能不被注意且没有给予考虑，被延长后直到危机成为过去。事关我们和平的诸多事宜，我们的眼睛被遮住了没有看到。

And blessed be God, that the tokens of a national waking up, the harbinger of God's mercy, are multiplying upon us!

多亏上帝，作为国家觉醒的象征，展现上帝仁慈的预兆，才得以连续降临到我们头上。

We did not, in the darkest hour, believe that God had brought our fathers to this goodly land to lay the foundation of religious liberty,

在最黑暗的时刻，我们不相信上帝之所以会把我们的先辈带到这块美丽的土地上，来奠定宗教自由，

and wrought⁴ such wonders in their preservation, and raised their descendants to such heights of civil and religious liberty,

在他们保持共和政体的恒久性时成就了这样的奇迹，将他们的后代提升到公民和宗教自由这样的高度，

only to reverse the analogy of his providence⁵, and abandon his work.

只是为了推翻他的天道类比寓言，抛弃他的功业。

And though there now be clouds, and the sea roaring, and men's hearts failing, we believe there is light behind the cloud,

尽管现在仍然乌云密布，大海仍旧在咆哮呼号，人们缺乏勇气，但是我们相信乌云背后就是曙光，

and that the imminence⁶ of our danger is intended,

我们面临危险的迫近是上帝有意为之，

under the guidance of Heaven, to call forth⁷ and apply a holy, fraternal fellowship between the East and the West,

目的在于引起和致力于东西方之间一种神圣的、兄弟般的伙伴关系。

which shall secure our preservation, and make the prosperity of our nation durable⁸ as time, and as abundant as the waves of the sea.

这种关系能确保我们的政体保持下去，使我们国家的繁荣像时间一样恒久，如大海的波浪一样丰富。

1 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

2 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。

3 protracted   

adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The war was protracted for four years. 战争拖延了四年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We won victory through protracted struggle. 经过长期的斗争，我们取得了胜利。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 wrought   

v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的

参考例句：

• Events in Paris wrought a change in British opinion towards France and Germany.巴黎发生的事件改变了英国对法国和德国的看法。
• It's a walking stick with a gold head wrought in the form of a flower.那是一个金质花形包头的拐杖。

5 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。

6 imminence   

n.急迫，危急

参考例句：

• The imminence of their exams made them work harder.考试即将来临，迫使他们更用功了。
• He had doubt about the imminence of war.他不相信战争已迫在眉睫。

7 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

8 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。