先讀課文﹕
Mr. President: No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as
well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed
the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights;
and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen
if, entertaining as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs,
I shall speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve. This is no
time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment
to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question
of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject
[1]ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we
can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we
hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time,
through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason
towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven,
which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope.
We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song
of that siren[2] till she transforms us into beasts[3]. Is this the part
of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we
disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having
ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?
For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know
the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of
experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And
judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of
the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with
which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House? Is
it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received?
Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves
to be betrayed with a kiss[4]. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception
of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our
waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of
love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled,
that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves,
sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments
to which kings resort. I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array,
if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any
other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter
of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No,
sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other.
They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British
ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them?
Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years.
Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the
subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in
vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall
we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you,
sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done,
to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated;
we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and
have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry
and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have
produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded;
and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In
vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation?
There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free, if we mean to
preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so
long contending, if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in
which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves
never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained,
we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to
the God of Hosts[5] is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable
an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or
the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British
guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution
and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying
supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our
enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make
a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.
Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such
a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our
enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone.
There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who
will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not
to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides,
sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now
too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission
and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains
of Boston[5]! The war is inevitable, and let it come! I repeat it, sir,
let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace,
Peace, but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that
sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms!
Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it
that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet,
as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty
God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty
or give me death!
1) 背景﹕To avoid interference from Lieutenant-Governor Dunmore and his
Royal Marines, the Second Virginia Convention met March 20, 1775 inland
at Richmond--in what is now called St. John's Church--instead of the Capitol
in William*****urg. Delegate Patrick Henry presented resolutions to raise a
militia, and to put Virginia in a posture of defense. Henry's opponents urged
caution and patience until the crown replied to Congress' latest petition
for reconciliation.
On the 23rd, Henry presented a proposal to organize a volunteer company
of cavalry or infantry in every Virginia county. By custom, Henry addressed
himself to the Convention's president, Peyton Randolph of William*****urg.
Henry's words were not transcribed, but no one who heard them forgot their
eloquence, or Henry's closing words: "Give me liberty, or give me death!"
2) 生詞﹕自己查。
3) 註解﹕[1] 請作句子結構分析﹐看這裡有沒問題。[2] In Greek mythology, the
Sirens are creatures with the head of a female and the body of a bird. They
lived on an island and with the irresistible charm of their song they lured
mariners to their destruction on the rocks surrounding their island. [3]
Through a mythical allusion, he is metaphorically comparing how the British
are saying things to the colonists which are promising false hopes to how
Circe in Homer's Odyssey transformed men into swine after charming them
with her singing. In Greek mythology, Circe is a minor goddess of magic,
described in the Odyssey as 'The loveliest of all immortals,' living on
the island of Aeaea, famous for her part in the adventures of Odysseus in
Homer's Odyssey. [4] According to the Synoptic Gospels, Judas identified
Jesus to the soldiers by means of a kiss, which occurs in the Garden of
Gethsemane after the Last Supper, leads directly to the arrest of Jesus
by the police force of the Sanhedrin (Kilgallen 271). [5] Here it denotes
the god of war.
4) 這篇演講條理清楚﹐邏輯性強。擺情況﹐作分析﹐導致最後的必然結論。
5) 要求﹕能背誦。
选择“Disable on www.wenxuecity.com”
选择“don't run on pages on this domain”
