Adams at once summoned Congress and addressed the members in stirring words. 亚当斯立刻召集国会，他的讲话言辞激烈。

　　He denied that the Americans were a "degraded people, humiliated under a colonial sense of fear … and regardless of national honor, character, and interest." 亚当斯否认美国是一个"卑劣的民族，在恐惧的殖民意识下受尽屈辱……毫无国家荣誉、形象和利益"；

　　It seemed best, however, to make one more effort to avoid war. 然而，最好是再做一次努力以避免战争。

　　Adams therefore sent John Marshall, a Virginia Federalist, and Elbridge Gerry, a Massachusetts Republican, to France. 因此，亚当斯派弗吉尼亚州的联邦党人约翰o马歇尔和马萨诸塞州的共和党人阿尔布里奇去法国，

　　They were to join Pinckney and together were to negotiate with the French Directory. 他们要和平克尼一起与法国的五人执政内阁磋商。

　　When they reached Paris three men came to see them. 当他们到达巴黎后三个人来见他们，

　　These men said that America (1) must apologize for the President's vigorous words, (2) must lend money to France, and (3) must bribe the Directory and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 这些人提出：（1）美国必须为总统的过激言论道歉；（2）美国必须借给法国钱；（3）美国必须向"法国指南"和法国外交部行贿。

　　These outrageous suggestions were emphatically put aside. 这些肆无忌惮的要求被断然拒绝。

　　In sending the papers to Congress, the three men were called Mr. X., Mr. Y., and Mr. Z., so the incident is always known as the "X.Y.Z. Affair." 在将文件送给国会时三个人被叫做X先生、Y先生和Z先生，因此，人们就把这个事件叫做"X.Y.Z事件"。

　　221. Indignation in America. 221．美国各地的愤慨

　　Federalists and Republicans joined in indignation. 联邦党人和共和党人都加入到抗议中，

　　"Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute," was the cry of the day. "全民保卫祖国，不派一人进贡"是当时的口号

　　French flags were everywhere torn down. ，到处都是被焚烧的法国国旗，

　　"Hail Columbia" was everywhere sung. 到处都有人传唱"嗨！哥伦比亚"。

　　Adams declared that he would not send another minister to France 亚当斯宣布，他绝不会再派第二个使节到法国。

　　until he was assured that the representative of the United States would be received as "the representative of a great, free, powerful, and independent state." 除非他相信美国的代表将被法国当做"一个伟大、自由、富强和独立国家的代表"接待，