美國語文第六冊 第66期:在弗吉尼亞制憲大會上的演講(2)
被背叛后不是一個吻就能了事的。
Ask yourselves, how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land.
我們不妨捫心自問，對我們的請愿書這種得體的接受是如何使切斷我們的水源，以及令我們的土地陷入暗無天日的戰(zhàn)爭準備顯得冠冕堂皇的。
Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?
對需要愛和和解的事業(yè)，難道戰(zhàn)艦和軍隊是必要的嗎?
Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love?
難道我們的做法顯得對和解如此不情愿，以至于必須動用軍事力量來贏得我們的愛嗎?
Let us not deceive ourselves.
我們不要自欺了。
These are the implements of war and subjugation,— the last arguments to which kings resort.
這些都是戰(zhàn)爭和鎮(zhèn)壓的工具而已，爭論最后的焦點是必須訴諸于王權。
I ask, gentlemen, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us into submission?
尊敬的先生們，我倒要問一下，如果英國人的目的不是強迫我們服從的話，那么這種戰(zhàn)爭安排意味著什么?
Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it?
有誰能說出還有其他可能的動機?
Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?
在這個世界上除了大不列顛還有哪個敵人會集結這么多的軍艦和軍隊?
No, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other.
沒有，能這么做的只有它。他們是在向我們示意：他們除了動武以外，沒有別的選擇。
They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging.
他們被派到這兒來捆綁然后給我們套上枷鎖，要知道英國政府長久以來一直在為我們鍛造這些枷鎖。
And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument?
我們除了反抗，還能做什么?難道我們極力抗辯嗎?
We have been trying that for the last ten years.
在這十年里我們一直在爭辯，可是有用嗎?
Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing.
對于這個主題我們還能提出什么新的解決辦法嗎?不能。
We have held the subject up in every light in which it was capable; but it has been all in vain.
每個可能的解決辦法我們都嘗試過了，但是所有的一切都證明徒勞無益。
