精美英文欣赏:奥巴马总统就职演说

Inaugural¹ Address of Obama

奥巴马就职演说

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.

今天我要向你们说的是，我们面临的挑战是真实存在的。

They are serious and they are many.

这些挑战很多，也很严重，

They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.

它们不会轻易地或者在短时间内就得以克服。

But know this, America-they will be met.

但记住这一点：美国终将渡过难关。

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture,the time has come to set aside childish things.

我们仍是一个年轻的国家，但借用《圣经》的话说，摒弃幼稚的时代已经来临。

The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit;

是时候重树我们坚韧的精神；

to choose our better history;

选择我们更好的历史；

to carry forward that precious gift,that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation:

弘扬那些珍贵的天赋和高尚的理念，并代代传承下去，

the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free,and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

即上帝赋予的信念：天下众生皆平等，众生皆自由，且均应有追求最大幸福的机会。

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation,we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned.

在重申我们国家伟大之处的同时，我们深知伟大从来不是上天赐予的，而是要靠我们努力争取。

Our journey has never been one of shortcuts² or settling for less.

我们从不抄捷径，也不会退而求其次。

It has not been the path for the fainthearted-for those who prefer leisure over work,or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.

我们的历程不属于那些胆怯懦弱、享受安逸或追逐名利之人。

Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers,the makers³ of things-some celebrated⁴ but more often men and women obscure in their labor⁵, who have carried us up the long, rugged⁶ path towards prosperity and freedom.

这条历程属于勇于承担风险者，属于实干家和创造者，他们中的一些人名留青史，但更多的人却在默默无闻地工作着。正是这些人带领我们走过了漫长崎岖的旅途，带领我们走向富强和自由。

We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn⁷ from every end of this Earth;

美国是由来自地球上各个角落的语言和文化融汇而成的国家。

and because we have tasted the bitter swill⁸ of civil war and segregation,and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united,we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds⁹ shall someday pass;

我们品尝过内战和种族隔离的苦酒，经历过黑暗的历史篇章，因此，我们变得更加强大，更加团结，我们坚信昔日仇恨总有一天会成为过去；

that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve;

部族之间的隔阂不久将会消除；

that as the world grows smaller,our common humanity shall reveal itself;

我们坚信，随着世界变得越来越小，我们共有的人道精神将会放出光芒，

and that America must play its role in ushering¹⁰ in a new era of peace.

美国必将会在开创和平新纪元的过程中发挥应有的作用。

America. In the face of our common dangers,in this winter of our hardship,let us remember these timeless words.

这就是美国。面对我们共同的危机，在这艰难的寒冬，让我们牢记那些不朽的字句。

With hope and virtue,let us brave once more the icy currents,and endure what storms may come.

怀着希望和勇气，让我们再一次冲破结冰的逆流，迎接任何可能来临的狂风骤雨。

Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end,that we did not turn back nor did we falter¹¹;

让我们的子孙传唱，当我们面对考验时，我们拒绝结束我们的旅程，我们没有回头，没有踟蹰不前。

and with eyes fixed¹² on the horizon and God's grace upon us,we carried forth¹³ that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

我们在上帝的关爱下眺望远方，我们带着自由这个伟大的礼物，将它安全地传递给未来的世世代代。

1 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

2 shortcuts   

n.捷径( shortcut的名词复数 )；近路；快捷办法；被切短的东西（尤指烟草）

参考例句：

• In other words, experts want shortcuts to everything. 换句话说，专家需要所有的快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Offer shortcuts from the Help menu. 在帮助菜单中提供快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

5 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

6 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

7 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

8 swill   

v.冲洗；痛饮；n.泔脚饲料；猪食；（谈话或写作中的）无意义的话

参考例句：

• Having finished his coffee,he swilled out the mug and left it on the draining board.喝完咖啡后，他涮了涮杯子然后把它放在滴水板上。
• A crowd of men were standing around swilling beer.一群人正站在一起痛饮啤酒。

9 hatreds   

n.仇恨，憎恶( hatred的名词复数 )；厌恶的事

参考例句：

• He had more enimies and hatreds than anyone could easily guess from his thoughtful expression. 从他的思想表达方式难以被人猜透来看，他的敌人和仇家是不会多的。 来自辞典例句
• All the old and recent hatreds come to his mind. 旧恨新仇一起涌上他的心头。 来自互联网

10 ushering   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They were right where the coach-caller was swinging open a coach-door and ushering in two ladies. "他们走到外面时，叫马车的服务员正打开车门，请两位小姐上车。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Immediately the two of them approached others, thanking them, ushering them out one by one. 他们俩马上走到其他人面前，向他们道谢，一个个送走了他们。 来自辞典例句

11 falter   

vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚

参考例句：

• His voice began to falter.他的声音开始发颤。
• As he neared the house his steps faltered.当他走近房子时，脚步迟疑了起来。

12 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

13 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。