Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat 热血、辛劳、眼泪、汗水

 

 

导言阅读

温斯顿·丘吉尔（1874—1965），政治家、演说家、作家以及记者，1953年诺贝尔文学奖得主，曾分别于1940—1945年及1951—1955年两度任英国首相，被认为是20世纪最重要的政治领袖之一，带领英国获得第二次世界大战的胜利。本篇为丘吉尔就职演讲稿。

演讲实录

On Friday evening last I received from His Majesty¹ the mission to form a newadministration. It was the evident will of Parliament and the nation that this should be conceivedon the broadest possible basis and that it should include all parties. I have already completed themost important part of this task.

A war cabinet has been formed of five members, representing, with the Labor², Opposition³,and Liberals, the unity⁴ of the nation. It was necessary that this should be done in one single day onaccount of the extreme urgency and rigor⁵ of events. Other key positions were filled yesterday. I amsubmitting a further list to the king tonight. I hope to complete the appointment of principalministers during tomorrow. The appointment of other ministers usually takes a little longer.

I trust when Parliament meets again this part of my task will be completed and that theadministration will be complete in all respects. I considered it in the public interest to suggest tothe Speaker that the House should be summoned today. At the end of today's proceedings⁶, theadjournment of the House will be proposed until May 21 with provision for earlier meeting ifneed be. Business for that will be notified to MPs at the earliest opportunity. I now invite theHouse by a resolution to record its approval of the steps taken and declare its confidence in thenew government.

To form an administration of this scale and complexity⁸ is a serious undertaking⁹ in itself. Butwe are in the preliminary phase of one of the greatest battles in history. We are in action at manyother points-in Norway and in Holland-and we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean¹⁰. The airbattle is continuing, and many preparations have to be made here at home.

In this crisis I think I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length today, andI hope that any of my friends and colleagues or former colleagues who are affected¹¹ by the politicalreconstruction will make all allowances for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessaryto act. I say to the House as I said to ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing tooffer but blood, toil¹², tears, and sweat.

We have before us an ordeal¹³ of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, manymonths of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea,and air. War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage waragainst a monstrous¹⁴ tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable¹⁵ catalogue of humancrime. That is our policy.

You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs —Victory in spite of all terrors — Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for withoutvictory there is no survival.

Let that be realized. No survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the BritishEmpire has stood for, no survival for the urge, the impulse of the ages, that mankind shall moveforward toward his goal.

I take up my task in buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to failamong men. I feel entitled at this juncture¹⁶ , at this time, to claim the aid of all and to say, “Comethen, let us go forward together with our united strength.”

参考译文

星期五晚上，我接受了英王陛下的委托，组织新政府。这次组阁，应包括所有的政党，既有支持上届政府的政党，也有上届政府的反对党，显而易见，这是议会和国家的希望与意愿。我已完成了此项任务中最重要的部分。

战时内阁业已成立，由5位成员组成，其中包括反对党的自由主义者，代表了举国一致的团结。三党领袖已经同意加入战时内阁，或者担任国家高级行政职务。三军指挥机构已加以充实。由于事态发展的极端紧迫感和严重性，仅仅用一天时间完成此项任务，是完全必要的。其他许多重要职位已在昨天任命。我将在今天晚上向英王陛下呈递补充名单，并希望于明日一天完成对政府主要大臣的任命。其他一些大臣的任命，虽然通常需要更多一点的时间，但是，我相信会议再次开会时，我的这项任务将告完成，而且本届政府在各方面都将是完整无缺的。

我认为，向下院建议在今天开会是符合公众利益的。议长先生同意这个建议，并根据下院决议所授予他的权力，采取了必要的步骤。今天议程结束时，建议下院休会到5月21日星期二。当然，还要附加规定，如果需要的话，可以提前复会。下周会议所要考虑的议题，将尽早通知全体议员。现在，我请求下院，根据以我的名义提出的决议案，批准已采取的各项步骤，将它记录在案，并宣布对新政府的信任。

组成一届具有这种规模和复杂性的政府，本身就是一项严肃的任务。但是大家一定要记住，我们正处在历史上一次最伟大的战争的初期阶段，我们正在挪威和荷兰的许多地方进行战斗，我们必须在地中海地区做好准备，空战仍在继续，众多的战备工作必须在国内完成。

在这危急存亡之际，如果我今天没有向下院做长篇演说，我希望能够得到你们的宽恕。我还希望，因为这次政府改组而受到影响的任何朋友和同事，或者以前的同事，会对礼节上的不周之处予以充分谅解，这种礼节上的欠缺，到目前为止是在所难免的。正如我曾对参加本届政府的成员所说的那样，我要向下院说：“我没什么可以奉献，有的只是热血、辛劳、眼泪和汗水。”

摆在我们面前的，是一场极为痛苦的严峻的考验。在我们面前，有许多许多漫长的斗争和苦难的岁月。你们问：我们的政策是什么？我要说，我们的政策就是用我们的全部能力，用上帝所给予我们的全部力量，在海上、陆地和空中进行战争，同一个在人类黑暗悲惨的罪恶史上所从未有过的穷凶极恶的暴政进行战争。这就是我们的政策。

你们问：我们的目标是什么？我可以用一个词来回答：胜利——不惜一切代价，去赢得胜利——无论多么可怕，也要赢得胜利，无论道路多么遥远和艰难，也要赢得胜利。因为没有胜利，就不能生存。

大家必须认识到这一点：没有胜利，就没有大英帝国的存在，就没有大英帝国所代表的一切，就没有促使人类朝着自己目标奋勇前进这一世代相传的强烈欲望和动力。但是当我挑起这个担子的时候，我是心情愉快、满怀希望的。

我深信，人们不会看到我们的事业遭受失败。此时此刻，我觉得我有权利要求大家的支持，我要说：“来吧，让我们同心协力，共同前进。”

Vocabulary Bank

1. mission ［'mi??n ］n （个人或集团担负的）特殊任务，使命My mission in life is to help poor people.

我的使命是帮助穷人。

2. evident ［'evid?nt ］adj (~ to sb.that...) 明显的，明白的It must be evident to all of you that he has made a mistake.

你们一定很清楚，他犯了错误。

3. cabinet ［'k?binit ］n 内阁

Members of the Cabinet are chosen by the Prime Minister.

内阁成员是由首相挑选的。

4. appointment ［?'p?intm?nt ］n (~ to sth.) 任命，委派His promotion¹⁷ to manager was a popular appointment.

他升任经理是众望所归的。

5. summon ［'s?m?n ］v 召开（会议等）

The Queen has summoned Parliament.

女王已召集了议会开会.

6. adjournment⁷ ［?'??:nm?nt ］n 休会，使延期

The judge granted us a short adjournment.

法官准予我们短期休庭。

7. provision ［pr?'vi??n ］n （为将来或为防万一而做的）准备The present law makes no provision for this.

现行的法律对此未作任何规定。

8. notify ［'n?utifai ］v (~ sb. of sth.) 将某事报告某人Have the authorities been notified of this?

当局是否已得知此事？

9. preliminary ［pri'limin?ri ］adj 开端的，预备性的All this is preliminary to the main election struggle.

这一切都只是大选较量前的预备活动。

10. pardon ［'pɑ:dn ］v (~ sb. for sth./doing sth.) 宽恕，原谅He begged her to pardon him for his rudeness.

他请求她原谅他的无礼。

11. ordeal ［?:'di:?l ］n （尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验The hostages went through a dreadful ordeal.

每位人质都经历了可怕的折磨。

12. wage ［wei? ］v 开始，进行（战争、运动等）The government is waging a campaign against sex discrimination.

政府正在展开反对性别歧视的运动。

13. lamentable ［'l?m?nt?bl ］adj 惋惜的，可悲的His command of English was lamentable.

他的英语很糟糕。

14. impulse ［'imp?ls ］n 推动，冲力

The war has given an impulse to industrial expansion.

这场战争促进了工业的扩展。

15. buoyancy ［'b?i?nsi ］n （指人、态度等）能从挫折中迅速振作起来的He has a mood of buoyancy and optimism.

他天生积极乐观。

16. juncture ［'???k?? ］n 关键时刻，危急关头It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.

在这一关头很难预料公司的前景。

Language Guide

The Labor Party

英国工党

英国工党（the Labor Party）是英国两大执政党之一，是中间偏左，社会民主主义和民主社会主义的政党。1900年2月27日建立于伦敦，1906年称工党。1924年1月，在自由党的支持下首次组阁，并从此开始与保守党轮流执政。英国前首相布莱尔、戈登·布朗皆为工党领袖。

The Opposition Party

反对党

英国是内阁制国家，两大政党靠竞选争夺下议院议员席位，获多数席位的政党为执政党，其领袖担任内阁首相，组织对议会负责的内阁，新政府即告成立。最大的在野党依法成为正式的反对党，组成“影子内阁”。

The Liberal Party

英国自由党

英国自由党（the Liberal Party）是英国资产阶级政党，前身是1679年成立的辉格党。

1832年议会改革后，辉格党逐渐转向自由主义，要求自由贸易和自由政治。19世纪最后30年，自由主义开始衰落。此后，自由党日益衰落。

The Speaker

英国下议院议长

下议院议长（Speaker of the House of Commons）是英国国会下议院的议长。议长要与内阁部门及其他政府部门进行交流。19世纪中叶后，议长逐渐演变为今日的形式，不属于任何党派并保持政治中立。

Grammar Master

1. on account of意为“因为、由于、为了某事”，相当于because of。

例　We delayed our departure on account of the bad weather.

由于天气不好，我们将起程的时间推迟了。

on account of，because of，due to，owing to和thanks to都可以表示“由于”的意思，但在使用时应注意用法上的区别：

because of意为“由于，因为”，强调因果关系。在句中仅作状语，修饰句中的一部分与其他成分不用逗号隔开。

例　We must not get discouraged because of such a minor¹⁸ setback¹⁹.

我们决不可因为这样一个小小的挫折而灰心丧气。

owing to与because of一样，也强调因果关系。除作状语外，也可作表语。作状语时修饰整个句子，可在句首或句末，用逗号隔开。

例　They decided²⁰ to cancel the flight，owing to the storm.

由于这场暴风雨，他们决定取消这趟航班。

due to引出造成后果的原因，在句中作表语、状语和定语。作表语和状语时与owing to同义。作状语时，一般不与其他成分隔开。

例　This accident was due to (owing to) his careless driving.

这次车祸是由于他开车疏忽大意造成的。

on account of与because of，owing to同义，但语气较为正式。可作状语、表语，不作定语。

例　He could not come on account of his illness.

他因病不能前来。

thanks to表示“幸亏，多亏”，多用于表达正面意思，相当于感谢。在句中作状语和表语。

例　Thanks to your advice，much trouble was saved.

多亏你的建议，减少了许多麻烦。

2. suggest有“建议”的意思，与advise，propose类似，后面都可接that宾语从句，that从句需用should + 动词原形，should可以省略。

例　She suggested / advised / proposed that the class meeting (should) not be held on Saturday.

她建议班会不要在星期六举行。

例　We suggested / advised / proposed that he (should) go and make an apology to his teacher.

我们建议他去向老师道歉。

 

1 majesty   

n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权

参考例句：

• The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
• Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 rigor   

n.严酷，严格，严厉

参考例句：

• Their analysis lacks rigor.他们的分析缺乏严谨性。||The crime will be treated with the full rigor of the law.这一罪行会严格依法审理。

6 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

7 adjournment   

休会； 延期； 休会期； 休庭期

参考例句：

• The adjournment of the case lasted for two weeks. 该案休庭期为两周。
• The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case. 律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。

8 complexity   

n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物

参考例句：

• Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
• The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。

9 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。

10 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

12 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。

13 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。

14 monstrous   

adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的

参考例句：

• The smoke began to whirl and grew into a monstrous column.浓烟开始盘旋上升，形成了一个巨大的烟柱。
• Your behaviour in class is monstrous!你在课堂上的行为真是丢人！

15 lamentable   

adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的

参考例句：

• This lamentable state of affairs lasted until 1947.这一令人遗憾的事态一直持续至1947年。
• His practice of inebriation was lamentable.他的酗酒常闹得别人束手无策。

16 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

17 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

18 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

19 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

20 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。