美国语文第六册 第66期:在弗吉尼亚制宪大会上的演讲(1)

 　　It is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. 一个人沉浸于希望的错觉中是再自然不过的事情了。

　　We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. 对痛苦的真理，我们倾向于闭上眼睛，聆听塞壬企图将我们变为畜类的魅惑之歌。

　　Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous¹ struggle for liberty? 难道这是为了自由而不惜进行艰苦卓绝斗争的智者所为吗？

　　Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who, having eyes, see not,  难道我们心甘情愿成为有眼无珠，

　　and having ears, hear not the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation²? 充耳不闻，只关心自己的灵魂暂时得到拯救的那种人吗？

　　For my part, whatever anguish³ of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. 就我而言，不论付出多少血的代价，我都想知道整个实情。哪怕是最坏的情况，也要为之做好准备。

　　I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. 能指引我前进的只有一盏灯，那就是经验之灯。

　　I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past; and, judging by the past, 我清楚仅凭过去的经验根本无法对未来做出判断，

　　I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry⁴ for the last ten years  我渴望知道在过去十年里英国内阁的做法，

　　to justify⁵ those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace⁶ themselves and the house? 是否可以作为判断绅士们心底所存的聊以自慰的希望的依据？

　　Is it that insidious⁷ smile with which our petition has been lately received? 他们收到我们最近发出的请愿书后，他们在暗自窃笑，这就是我们希望得到的结果吗？

　　Trust it not: it will prove a snare⁸ to your feet. 但愿不是。这证实我们束缚住了自己的手脚。

1 arduous   

adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的

参考例句：

• We must have patience in doing arduous work.我们做艰苦的工作要有耐性。
• The task was more arduous than he had calculated.这项任务比他所估计的要艰巨得多。

2 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

3 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

6 solace   

n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和

参考例句：

• They sought solace in religion from the harshness of their everyday lives.他们日常生活很艰难，就在宗教中寻求安慰。
• His acting career took a nosedive and he turned to drink for solace.演艺事业突然一落千丈，他便借酒浇愁。

7 insidious   

adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧

参考例句：

• That insidious man bad-mouthed me to almost everyone else.那个阴险的家伙几乎见人便说我的坏话。
• Organized crime has an insidious influence on all who come into contact with it.所有和集团犯罪有关的人都会不知不觉地受坏影响。

8 snare   

n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑

参考例句：

• I used to snare small birds such as sparrows.我曾常用罗网捕捉麻雀等小鸟。
• Most of the people realized that their scheme was simply a snare and a delusion.大多数人都认识到他们的诡计不过是一个骗人的圈套。