WdGiveMeLiberty,OrGiveMeDeath
帕特里克·亨利
PatrickHenry
帕特里克·亨利(1736—1799),美国革命时期杰出的政治家、演说家,曾任律师、弗吉尼亚州议员。
本篇演说发表于1775年3月23日弗吉尼亚州第二届议会上,在美国革命文献史上占有重要地位。
AceintheHole
Understandthesenewwordsbeforeyoureadthisarticle.
1.sentimentn.(对怜悯、怀旧等的)柔情;态度或意
见;观点;意见
2.etitionn.(许多人签名的向当权者提出某种要求的)
请愿书
3.ministryn.(政府的)部门
4.remonstratev.抗议;告诫
5.irresolutionn.不决断,优柔寡断,犹豫不定
Mr.President,
NomanthinksmorehighlythanIdooftheatriotism,aswellasabilities,oftheveryworthygentlemenwhohavejustaddressedtheHouse.Butdifferentmenoftenseethesamesubjectindifferentlights;and,therefore,Ihoethatitwillnotbethoughtdisresectfultothosegentlemen,if,entertainingasIdo,oinionsofacharacterveryoositetotheirs,Ishallseakforthmysentimentsfreelyandwithoutreserve.Thisisnotimeforceremony.ThequestionbeforetheHouseisoneofawfulmomenttothiscountry.FormyownartIconsideritasnothinglessthanaquestionoffreedomorslavery;andinroortiontothemagnitudeofthesubjectoughttobethefreedomofthedebate.Itisonlyinthiswaythatwecanhoetoarriveattruth,andfulfillthegreatresonsibilitywhichweholdtoGodandourcountry.ShouldIkeebackmyoinionsatsuchatime,throughfearofgivingoffence,Ishouldconsidermyselfasguiltyoftreasontowardsmycountry,andofanactofdisloyaltytowardsthemajestyofheaven,whichIrevereaboveallearthlykings.
Mr.President,itisnaturaltomantoindulgeintheillusionsofhoe.Weareattoshutoureyesagainstaainfultruth,andlistentothesongofthatSiren,tillshetransformsusintobeasts.Isthistheartofwisemen,engagedinagreatandarduousstruggleforliberty?Arewedisosedtobeofthenumberofthosewho,havingeye,seenot,andhavingears,hearnot,thethingswhichsonearlyconcerntheirtemoralsalvation?Formyart,whateveranguishofsirititmaycost,Iamwillingtoknowthewholetruth;toknowtheworstandtorovideforit.
Ihavebutonelambywhichmyfeetareguided;andthatisthelamofexerience.Iknowofnowayofjudgingofthefuturebutbytheast.Andjudgingbytheast,IwishtoknowwhattherehasbeenintheconductoftheBritishministryforthelasttenyears,tojustifythosehoeswithwhichgentlemenhavebeenleasedtosolacethemselvesandtheHouse?Isitthatinsidioussmilewithwhichouretitionhasbeenlatelyreceived?Trustitnot,sir;itwillroveasnaretoyourfeet.Suffernotyourselvestobetraywithakiss.Askyourselfhowthisgraciousrecetionofouretitioncomortswiththesewar-likerearations,whichcoverourwatersanddarkenourland.Arefleetsandarmiesnecessarytoaworkofloveandreconciliation?Haveweshownourselvessounwillingtobereconciled,thatforcemustbecalledintowinbackourlove?Letusnotdeceiveourselves,sir.Thesearetheimlementsofwarandsubjugation;thelastargumentstowhichkingsresort.Iaskgentlemen,sir,whatmeansthismartialarray,ifitsurosebenottoforceustosubmission?Cangentlemenassignanyotherossiblemotivesforit?HasGreatBritainanyenemy,inthisquarteroftheworld,tocallforallthisaccumulationofnaviesandarmies?No,sir,shehasnone.Theyaremeantforus;theycanbemeantfornoother.TheyaresentovertobindandrivetuonusthosechainswhichtheBritishministryhavebeensolongforging.Andwhathavewetooosetothem?Shallwetryargument?Sir,wehavebeentryingthatforthelasttenyears.Haveweanythingnewtoofferonthesubject?Nothing.Wehaveheldthesubjectuineverylightofwhichitiscaable;butithasbeenallinvain.Shallweresorttoentreatyandhumblesulication?Whattermsshallwefindwhichhavenotbeenalreadyexhausted?Letusnot,Ibeseechyou,sir,deceiveourselveslonger.Sir,wehavedoneeverythingthatcouldbedone,toavertthestormwhichisnowcomingon.Wehaveetitioned;wehaveremonstrated;wehavesulicated;wehaverostratedourselvesbeforethethrone,andhaveimloreditsinterositiontoarrestthetyrannicalhandsoftheministryandParliament.Ouretitionshavebeenslighted;ourremonstrancehaveroducedadditionalviolenceandinsult;oursulicationshavebeendisregarded;andwehavebeensurned,withcontemt,fromthefootofthethrone.Invain,afterthesethings,mayweindulgethefondhoeofeaceandreconciliation.Thereisnolongeranyroomforhoe.Ifwewishtobefree—ifwemeantoreserveinviolatethoseinestimablerivilegesforwhichwehavebeensolongcontending—ifwemeannotbaselytoabandonthenoblestruggleinwhichwehavebeensolongengaged,andwhichwehaveledgedourselvesnevertoabandonuntilthegloriousobjectofourcontestshallbeobtained,wemustfight!
Ireeatit,sir,wemustfight!
AnaealtoarmsandtotheGodofHostsisallthatisleftus!
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