VOA标准英语2013--纪念林肯葛底斯堡演说150周年

 

150th Anniversary of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Marked at Battlefield 纪念林肯葛底斯堡演说150周年

GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA — One hundred and fifty years ago today, President Abraham Lincoln delivered a short speech honoring the soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg. Today, his words are considered one of the most eloquent¹ articulations of the principles the United States stands for. On Tuesday, the speech was read again at a commemoration at the Gettysburg Civil War cemetery².

“Four score and seven years ago …”

A re-enactor dressed as Abraham Lincoln read the words spoken by the president on this day in 1863.

It was part of a ceremony held at the Soldiers' National Cemetery, where Union soldiers who fell in the Battle of Gettysburg are buried.

President Lincoln came here about 5 months after that "harvest of death," in the words of the man who took this photo.

The president gave voice to the nation's shock over the enormous casualties. They totaled almost 50,000, making it the bloodiest⁴ battle of the Civil War.

"We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate⁵, we cannot hallow this ground," spoke³ President Lincoln.

His speech lasted little more than two minutes, and America's 16th president predicted that:

"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here"

He was wrong.

Princeton University historian James McPherson says Lincoln's legacy⁶ is synonymous with the founding principles of the republic.

"It was here at Gettysburg that Lincoln made the most eloquent and effective expression of these ideas," said McPherson.

Michael Crutcher is a veteran of the U.S. Army who makes appearances as abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass.

"The words were almost mystical and enchanting," said Crutcher.

Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust, a historian, says Lincoln was moved by what had happened here.

“He meant that he felt small, I think, in comparison to what had been given by so many here, and it was humbling⁷, and he was left somewhat in awe⁸ of the courage and sacrifice that had been shown by so many on this field," said Gilpin Faust.

American schoolchildren used to have to memorize the Gettysburg Address. An online project, with the help of living American presidents, urges Americans to remember it a century and a half later.

“That this nation, under God," said former President Jimmy Carter.

"shall have a new birth of freedom," said former President George W. Bush.

"And that government of the people, " said Former President Bill Clinton.

"by the people, for the people," said Former President George H.W. Bush.

“Shall not perish from the earth," said President Barack Obama. 

1 eloquent   

adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的

参考例句：

• He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩，胜过最好的演说家。
• These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。

2 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 bloodiest   

adj.血污的( bloody的最高级 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的

参考例句：

• The Russians were going to suffer their bloodiest defeat of all before Berlin. 俄国人在柏林城下要遭到他们的最惨重的失败。 来自辞典例句
• It was perhaps the bloodiest hour in the history of warfare. 这也许是战争史上血腥味最浓的1个小时。 来自互联网

5 consecrate   

v.使圣化，奉…为神圣；尊崇；奉献

参考例句：

• Consecrate your life to the church.把你的生命奉献给教堂吧。
• The priest promised God he would consecrate his life to helping the poor.牧师对上帝允诺他将献身帮助穷人。

6 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

7 humbling   

adj.令人羞辱的v.使谦恭( humble的现在分词 )；轻松打败（尤指强大的对手）；低声下气

参考例句：

• A certain humbling from time to time is good. 不时受点儿屈辱是有好处的。 来自辞典例句
• It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-buildingexperience. 据说天文学是一种令人产生自卑、塑造人格的科学。 来自互联网

8 awe   

n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧

参考例句：

• The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。