小说园

第60章 不自由毋宁死 1（第1页）

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！