第60章 不自由毋宁死 1-《世界上最伟大的演说辞》

第60章 不自由毋宁死 1(第1页)
🎁美女直播

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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