This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed-why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
这就是我们的自由和我们坚守的信条具有的意义——说明了为什么各种族、各类信仰的男女老少能在这个雄伟的大草坪上欢聚一堂，也说明了为什么今天有人能站在这里进行最庄严的宣誓，但他的父亲在不到60年前在当地的餐馆还不能受到接待。
So let us mark this day with remembrance of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
为此，让我们记住这一天，记住我们是什么样的人，记住我们已经走过了多长的路。在美利坚诞生的年月，在那些最寒冷的日子里，为数不多的爱国者聚集在一条冰河的岸边，身旁的篝火即将熄灭，首都已经撤防，敌人正在进攻，雪地沾满了斑斑血迹。在我们的革命何去何从，结局最难以估计的时刻，我国的开国元勋决定向人民宣读以下这段话：
"Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."
“让我们昭告未来的世界，在这个酷寒的冬季，万物萧苏，只有希望和美德坚韧不拔。这个城市和这个国家，受到共同危难的召唤，挺身而出，奋起迎战。”
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. 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 falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
美利坚，在我们面临共同危难之际，在我们遇到艰难险阻的冬日，让我们牢记这些永恒的话语。心怀希望和美德，让我们再一次不惧严寒，勇作中流砥柱，不论什么风暴来袭，我们都将坚不可摧。今后，让我们的后代子孙如此评说：我们在遇到考验的时候没有半途而废，没有退缩不前，也没有丝毫动摇。让我们全神贯注，高瞻远瞩，感谢上帝对我们的恩典，继承自由这个宝贵的传统，平稳地世代相传。
Thank you. God bless you. God bless United States of America.
谢谢你们！上帝保佑你们，保佑美国！
重点讲解：
1. in doubt
不能肯定的；拿不准的；
eg. His inclusion in the team is in doubt.
他是否能被选入这个队还未定案。
eg. When in doubt, call the doctor.
如有疑问，请联系医生。
2. nothing but
只有，仅仅；
eg. Nothing but a miracle can save her.
只有出现奇迹才能挽救她。
eg. Fame brought her nothing but misery.
名声只给她带来了痛苦。
3. in the face of
面对；在…面前；
eg. They showed courage in the face of danger.
面对危险他们表现出了勇气。
eg. He resigned in the face of mounting pressure from the shareholder.
面临来自股东们日益增长的压力，他辞职了。
4. turn back
后退；返回；
eg. You can not turn back the hand of the clock.
时钟难倒转，光阴不可留。
eg. We cannot turn back.
我们不能后退。
5. fix on
将（注意力）集中在；专心考虑；
eg. Attention is fixed on the stock market.
重点关注的是证券市场。
eg. She kept her mind fixed on the practical problems which faced her.
她专心思考面临的一些实际问题。 |