威廉王子为女王自传作序

 　　Prince William has written movingly of the "example and continuity" provided by the Queen throughout the turbulent decades of her long rein¹.

　　威廉王子动情写道，女王在其漫长的任期中经历了动荡的几十年，她“立下了典范，为国家服务矢志不渝”。

　　Writing in the preface to a new biography of his grandmother, the Duke of Cambridge said she had presided over a period of uNPRecedented² transformation³, in which the world had changed "almost beyond recognition".

　　剑桥公爵（Duke of Cambridge）为祖母的新传记作序，他写道，女王任期间，世界发生了前所未有、“翻天覆地”的变革。

　　Prince William, in his preface to Elizabeth II: The Steadfast⁴, by the former Home and Foreign Secretary Lord Hurd, writes: "Over the last ninety years, the world has changed more rapidly than at any time in history. When my grandmother The Queen was born in 1926, the wounds of the Great War were still healing, but few would imagine how soon they would be reopened. The confidence of the previous century had morphed into uncertainty⁶ and many worried – as they still do – about the challenge presented to our communities by rapid technological⁷ and social change."

　　前英国内政兼外交大臣赫德男爵（Home and Foreign Secretary Lord Hurd）创作了女王自传《伊丽莎白二世：坚定不移》（Elizabeth II: The Steadfast）。威廉王子在该书的序言中写道，“过去90年间，世界变化之快超过了历史上任何时期。当我的祖母——女王伊丽莎白二世于1926年降生时，一战留下的创伤还在愈合期，但是很少有人会料想到，不久之后，历史的创伤将被再次揭开。人们在上个世纪的自信转变成了不确定性。科技发展和社会变革对我们的社会提出了挑战，许多人对此表示担忧，这种担忧一直延续至今。”

　　威廉王子为女王自传作序

　　Prince William adds: "After almost ninety years, we find ourselves in a world that has changed dramatically, almost beyond recognition to the world that The Queen was born into, but where the role of charity, family, duty and compassion⁸ perseveres⁹. I think I speak for my generation when I say that the example and continuity provided by The Queen is not only very rare among leaders but a great source of pride and reassurance¹⁰. Time and again, quietly and modestly, The Queen has shown us all that we can confidently embrace the future without compromising the things that are important.”"

　　威廉王子还写道：“将近90年之后，世界的面貌发生了巨大改变。与女王出生时的世界相比，这种变化可以说是翻天覆地的，但女王慈善、家庭、责任及热情这些原则却始终如一。我想，我可以代表我这一代人发言，女王立下的典范及为国家服务的矢志不渝，不仅在领袖中极为罕见，而且给人民带来巨大的自豪感和慰藉。一次又一次，女王以平静而谦虚的方式向我们所有人展示，我们既能自信地拥抱未来，同时也能坚守重要的价值。”

　　"From a personal point of view, I am privileged to witness the private side of The Queen, as a grandmother and great-grandmother. The Queen’s kindness and sense of humour, her innate¹¹ sense of calm and perspective, and her love of family and home are all attributes I experience first-hand. All of us who will inherit the legacy¹² of my grandmother's reign⁵ and generation need to do all we can to celebrate and learn from her story. Speaking for myself, I am privileged to have The Queen as a model for a life of service to the public."

　　“从个人角度来说，我很荣幸能见证女王作为祖母、曾祖母时私人的一面。我亲身体会到了女王的慈爱和幽默感，她与生俱来的冷静和远见，以及他对家人和家庭的爱。祖母的任期和她所处在的世代将给我们留下宝贵的财富，我们都应尽自己的所能，颂扬、学习她的人生故事。女王一生都在为人民服务。就我个人来说，我很荣幸能有这样的榜样。”

　　Prince William also pays tribute to the role played by his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, in supporting the Queen throughout her 63-year reign. He writes: "I should add that no mention of The Queen is complete without paying tribute to my grandfather Prince Philip, who has devoted¹³ his life to supporting her."

　　威廉王子也对其祖父爱丁堡公爵（Duke of Edinburgh）致敬，赞颂祖父在女王63年任期中提供的支持。他写道，“我应该补充一句，提到女王，就不得不向我的祖父菲利普亲王致以敬意。他毕生都是女王的支持者。”

　　The book comes as the country prepares to celebrate the moment, on September 9, when the Queen's becomes Britain's longest-reigning monarch¹⁴ – overtaking the record set by Queen Victoria.

　　今年9月9日，女王伊丽莎白二世将成为英国史上在位最久的君主，打破之前维多利亚女王的记录。随着英国人民准备庆祝这一时刻，这本自传也即将出版。

　　Although the Queen had insisted she wanted no fuss to be made, the landmark¹⁵ will be recognised with a range of souvenir china and photographic exhibitions at three royal palaces. On the day itself the Queen will be opening a new railway line in Scotland and taking a ride in a carriage pulled by a steam train. 虽然女王坚持不想兴师动众，但是为庆祝这一里程碑式的日子，三座皇家宫殿将推出一系列的纪念品瓷器和摄影展。纪念日当天，女王将启动苏格兰一条新铁路线路开通仪式，并搭乘蒸汽火车。

　　Elizabeth II: The Steadfast will be published on August 27 by Penguin¹⁶ Books, as part of series of short histories of Britain's sovereigns entitled Penguin Monarchs¹⁷.

　　《伊丽莎白二世：坚定不移》将于8月27日由企鹅出版集团发布。这部自传属于题为“企鹅君主”（Penguin Monarchs）的英国君主简史系列之一。

1 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

2 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

3 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

4 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

5 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

6 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

7 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

8 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

9 perseveres   

v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Although he is in poor health, he still perseveres in his studies. 尽管他身体不好，他仍孜孜不倦地学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This astounding cell will continue multiplying, reticulating as long as life perseveres. 只要生命延续，这种令人惊叹的细胞就会继续繁衍、交织变幻。 来自互联网

10 reassurance   

n.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• He drew reassurance from the enthusiastic applause.热烈的掌声使他获得了信心。
• Reassurance is especially critical when it comes to military activities.消除疑虑在军事活动方面尤为关键。

11 innate   

adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的

参考例句：

• You obviously have an innate talent for music.你显然有天生的音乐才能。
• Correct ideas are not innate in the mind.人的正确思想不是自己头脑中固有的。

12 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

13 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

14 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。

15 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

16 penguin   

n.企鹅

参考例句：

• The penguin is a flightless bird.企鹅是一种不会飞的鸟。
• He walked with an awkward gait like a penguin.他走路的步子难看得就像企鹅。

17 monarchs   

君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Monarchs ruled England for centuries. 世袭君主统治英格兰有许多世纪。
• Serving six monarchs of his native Great Britain, he has served all men's freedom and dignity. 他在大不列颠本国为六位君王服务，也为全人类的自由和尊严服务。 来自演讲部分