美国语文第六册 第69期:在弗吉尼亚制宪大会上的演讲(4)

 　　An appeal to arms and the God of Hosts, is all that is left us. 对战争和战神的呼吁，是我们所能做的一切。

　　They tell us that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary¹. 他们告诉我们说，我们是弱小的。无法与如此可怕的对手一较高下。

　　But when shall we be stronger? 可是，我们什么时候才能变得强大起来呢？

　　Will it be the next week, or the next year? 是接下来的几个星期还是明年？

　　Will it be when we are totally disarmed², and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? 难道是当我们完全解除武装的时候，以及每家每户的门前都站着一个英国士兵的时候吗？

　　Shall we gather strength by irresolution³ and inaction? 难道我们犹豫不决和无所事事就会强大起来吗？

　　Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, 难道我们凭天由命和抱定虚妄的希望，

　　and hugging the delusive⁴ phantom⁵ of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? 直到我们的敌人束缚住我们的手脚，就会获得有效的抵抗手段吗？

　　We are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. 我们并不弱小，唯愿我们能适当运用造物主赋予我们旨在加强我们力量的那些手段。

　　Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, 三百万人民，为了获得自由的神圣事业而武装起来，

　　and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible⁶ by any force which our enemy can send against us. 我们只要拥有这样一个国家，不管敌人派来什么样的武装力量都无法战胜我们。

　　Besides, we shall not fight our battles alone. 况且，我们不是一个人在战斗。

　　There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. 还有主宰着国家命运的上帝，以及那些为了我们奋勇投入战斗的朋友们。

1 adversary   

adj.敌手，对手

参考例句：

• He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他将她视为公司中主要的对手。
• They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他们会不择手段地去损害对手的名誉。

2 disarmed   

v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒

参考例句：

• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。
• The swordsman disarmed his opponent and ran him through. 剑客缴了对手的械，并对其乱刺一气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 irresolution   

n.不决断，优柔寡断，犹豫不定

参考例句：

• A lack of certainty that often leads to irresolution. 疑惑缺少肯定而导致犹豫不决。 来自互联网
• Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? 我们迟疑不决、无所作为就能积聚力量吗？ 来自互联网

4 delusive   

adj.欺骗的，妄想的

参考例句：

• Most of the people realized that their scheme was simply a delusive snare.大多数人都认识到他们的诡计不过是一个骗人的圈套。
• Everyone knows that fairy isles are delusive and illusive things,still everyone wishes they were real.明知神山缥缈，却愿其有。

5 phantom   

n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的

参考例句：

• I found myself staring at her as if she were a phantom.我发现自己瞪大眼睛看着她，好像她是一个幽灵。
• He is only a phantom of a king.他只是有名无实的国王。

6 invincible   

adj.不可征服的，难以制服的

参考例句：

• This football team was once reputed to be invincible.这支足球队曾被誉为无敌的劲旅。
• The workers are invincible as long as they hold together.只要工人团结一致，他们就是不可战胜的。