六级英语晨读经典100篇 03

（单词翻译）

First Broadcast as Prime Minister to the British People

I speak to you for the first time as Prime Minister in a solemn hour for the life of our country, of our empire, of our allies, and above all, of the cause of Freedom. A tremendous battle is raging in France and Flanders. The Germans, by a remarkable¹ combination of air bombing and heavily armored tanks, have broken through the French defenses north of the Maginot Line, and strong columns of their armored vehicles are ravaging² the open country, which for the first day or two was without defenders³.

　　　　We must expect that as soon as stability is reached on the Western Front, the bulk of that hideous⁴ apparatus⁵ of aggression⁶ which dashed Holland into ruin and slavery in a few days will be turned upon us. I am sure I speak for all when I say we are ready to face it, to endure it, and to retaliate⁷ against it-to any extent that the unwritten laws of war permit. There will be many men and many women in this Island who when the ordeal⁸ comes upon them, as come it will, will feel comfort, and even a pride, that they are sharing the perils⁹ of our lads at the front-soldiers, sail- ors and airmen, God bless them-and are drawing away for them a part at least of the onslaught they have to bear. Is not this the appointed time for all to make the utmost exertions¹¹ in their power? If the battle is to be won, we must provide our men with ever-increasing quantities of the weapons and ammunition¹² they need. We must have, and have quickly, more airplanes, more tanks, more shells, more guns. There is imperious need for these vital munitions¹³. They increase our strength against the powerfully armed enemy They replace the wastage of the obstinate¹⁴ struggle; and the knowledge that wastage will speedily be replaced enables us to draw more readily upon our reserves and throw them in now that everything counts so much.

　　Our task is not only to win the battle-but to win the war. After this battle in France abates¹⁵ its force, there will come the battle for our Island-for ail¹⁰ that Britain is, and ail that Britain means. That will be the struggle. In that supreme¹⁶ emergency we shall not hesitate to take every step, even the most drastic, to call forth¹⁷ from our people the last ounce and the last inch of effort of which they are capable. The interests of property, the hours of labor¹⁸, are nothing compared to the struggle for life and honor, for right and freedom, to which we have vowed¹⁹ ourselves.