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03 不自由，毋宁死
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帕特里克·亨利（Patrick Henry, 1736—1799），美国独立战争时期杰出的演说家和政治家，以其机敏和演说技巧而著称。他是弗吉尼亚殖民地最成功的律师之一，曾任弗吉尼亚州州长，被誉为“弗吉尼亚之父”。
1775年3月23日，帕特里克·亨利在弗吉尼亚州里士满的圣约翰教堂发表了著名的《不自由，毋宁死》的演讲。他与塞缪尔·亚当斯（Samuel Adams,1722—1803）和托马斯·佩因（Thomas Paine, 1737—1809）同为最有影响的美国革命和共和主义者。
鉴于英国与北美殖民地关系日益紧张，在演讲当日，殖民地弗吉尼亚的代表们在圣约翰教堂开会。亨利力主参战，以此演讲代为陈词，呼吁听众不应抱着虚假的希望，阐述战斗的必要性。
演讲多用排比，多有反问，语气慷慨激昂。内容痛陈英王及议会的压迫，也诉以上帝的正义，引发了听众同仇敌忾之意。
此演讲成功说服了大多数的代表同意参战，在美国革命文献史上占有特殊地位。其结尾现已举世闻名，成为美国精神的根本基石之一。
Mr. President,
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism [1] ,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 that 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 [2] . 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 [3] of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth,and fulfi ll the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, throughfear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty oftreason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towardsthe 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 [4] to shut our eyes against a painful truth,and listen to the song of that siren [5] , till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous [6] struggle for liberty? Are we disposed [7] 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 [8] 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 judgingof 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 [9] smile with which our petition [10] has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare [11] to your feet.Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports [12] with these warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets [13] and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation 14? 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 [15] of war and subjugation [16] —the last arguments to which kings resort [17] . I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission?Can gentlemen assign [18] any other possible motives 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 [19] 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 on 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 fi nd which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech [20] you, sir,deceive ourselves longer.
Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert [21] the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated [22] ; we have supplicated [23] ; we have prostrated [24] ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical [25] hands of the ministry and Parliament.
Our petitions have been slighted [26] ; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned [27] , 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 inviolatethose inestimable privileges for which we hav e been so longcontending—if we mean not basely to abandon the noblestruggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which wehave pledged [28] ourselves never to abandon until the gloriousobject of our contest shall be obtained, we must fi ght!I repeat it,sir, we must fi ght! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak—unable to cope [29] with so formidable an adversary [30] . 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 [31] 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 the 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 [32] 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 [33] over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fi ght our battles for us
The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant [34] , 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 n o retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking [35] may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable [36] —and let it come! I repeat it,sir, let it come!
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate [37] 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 fi eld! 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 asfor me, give me liberty, or give me death!
[1] patriotism 6 : n. 爱国主义
[2] ceremony 4 : n. 客套，礼节
[3] magnitude 6 : n. 重要，庞大
[4] apt 6 : adj. 恰当的，有……倾向的
[5] siren 6 : n. 塞壬（古希腊传说中半人半鸟的女海妖；惯以歌声引诱水手，使他们的船只触礁）
[6] arduous 8 : adj. 困难的，艰巨的
[7] disposed 4 : adj. 乐意的，有……倾向的
[8] anguish 8 : n. 悲痛，剧痛
[9] insidious 8 : adj. 隐伏的，潜在的
[10] petition 6 : n. 请愿
[11] snare 8 : n. 陷阱
[12] comport 8 : v. 举止，表现
[13] fl eet 4 : n. 船队
[14] reconciliation 6 : n.和解，调停
[15] implement 6 : n. 器具
[16] subjugation 8 : n. 镇压
[17] resor t 4 : v. 付诸，求助
[18] assign 4 : v. 分派，配给
[19] rivet 8 : v. 固定，吸引
[20] beseech 8 : v. 恳求
[21] avert 8 : v. 避免，转移
[22] remonstrate 8 : v. 抗议
[23] supplicate 8 : v. 恳求，哀求
[24] prostrate 8 : v. 俯伏
[25] tyrannical 6 : adj.独裁的
[26] slight 4 : v. 蔑视
[27] spurn 8 : v. 摈弃，蔑视
[28] pledge 6 : v. 发誓
[29] cope 4 : v. 处理，应付
[30] adversary 8 : n.敌手
[31] station 4 : v. 驻扎，安置
[32] invincible 8 : adj. 不可战胜的，不可动摇的
[33] preside 6 : v. 负责，主持
[34] vigilant 8 : adj. 警惕的
[35] clank 8 : v.发出叮当声
[36] inevitable 4 : adj. 不可避免的
[37] extenuate 8 : v. （用偏袒的辩解）减轻，低估
议长先生：
我比任何人都更钦佩刚刚在议会发言的先生们的爱国精神与见识才能。但对同一事物的看法常常因人而异。因此，尽管我的观点与他们截然不同，我还是要毫无顾忌、毫无保留地讲出来，希望不要因此而被认为是对先生们不敬。现在不是客套的时候，摆在各位代表面前的问题关乎国家存亡。我认为，这是关系到享受自由还是蒙受奴役的大问题。鉴于它事关重大，我们的辩论应该允许各抒己见。只有这样，我们才有可能搞清事物的真相，才有可能不辱上帝和祖国赋予我们的伟大使命。 在这种时刻，如果怕冒犯各位的尊严而缄口不语，我将认为自己是对祖国的背叛和对此世界上任何国君都更为神圣的上帝的不忠。
议长先生，对希望抱有幻觉是人的天性。我们容易不愿正视痛苦的现实，受惑于塞壬的歌声，任由她把我们化作禽兽。在为自由而进行艰苦卓绝的斗争中，这是有理智的作为吗？难道我们愿意成为对这样休戚相关的事视而不见、充耳不闻的人吗？
就我来说，无论在精神上有多么痛苦，我仍然愿意了解全部事实真相和最坏的事态，并为之作好充分准备。 我只有一盏指路明灯，那便是经验之灯。除了过去的经验，我别无他法去判断未来。 而依据过去的经验，我想知道，十年来英国政府的所作所为，凭什么足以使各位先生有理由满怀希望，欣然安慰自己和议会？难道是最近接受我们请愿时的那种狡诈的微笑吗？不要相信这种微笑，先生们，事实已经证明它是你们脚边的陷阱。不要被人家的亲吻出卖吧！请你们自问，接受我们请愿时的和气亲善和遍布我们海陆疆域的大规模战备如何能够相称？难道出于对我们的爱护与和解，有必要动用战舰和军队吗？难道我们流露过决不和解的愿望，以至为了赢回我们的爱而必须诉诸武力吗？我们不要再欺骗自己了，先生们。这些都是战争和征服的工具，是国王采取的最后论辩手段。请问先生们，这些战争部署如果不是为了迫使我们就范，又能意味着什么？哪位先生能够指出其他的动机？难道在世界的这一角，还有别的敌人值得大不列颠如此兴师动众，集结起庞大的海陆武装吗？
不，先生们，没有任何敌人了。一切都是针对我们的，而不是针对别人。他们是被派来给我们套紧那条由英国政府长期以来铸造的锁链的。我们应该如何进行抵抗呢？还靠辩论吗？先生们，我们已经辩论了十年了。难道还有什么新的御敌之策吗？没有。
我们已经从各方面经过了考虑，但一切都是枉然。难道我们还要苦苦哀告，卑词乞求吗？难道我们还有什么更好的策略没有使用过吗？先生，我请求你们，千万不要再自欺欺人了。
为了阻止这场即将来临的风暴，一切该做的都已经做了。我们请愿过，我们抗议过，我们哀求过；我们曾拜倒在英王御座前，恳求他制止国会和内阁的残暴行径。可是，我们的请愿受到蔑视，我们的抗议招致更多的镇压和侮辱，我们的哀求被置之不理，我们被轻蔑地从御座边一脚踢开。事到如今，我们怎么还能沉迷于虚无缥缈的和平希望之中呢？没有任何希望的余地了。
如果我们祈望获得自由，如果我们真想维护长期以来为之奋斗的珍贵权利，如果我们不愿卑贱地放弃多年的崇高斗争，在我们所争取的光荣目标实现之前，我们绝不放弃、必须战斗！ 我再重复一遍，我们必须战斗！我们只有诉诸武力，只有求助于万军之主的上帝。
议长先生，他们说我们太弱小了，无法抵御如此强大的敌人。但是我们何时才能强大起来？是下周，还是明年？难道要等到我们被彻底解除武装，家家户户都驻扎英国士兵的时候？难道我们犹豫迟疑、无所作为就能积聚起力量吗？难道我们高枕而卧，抱着虚幻的希望，待到敌人捆住了我们的手脚，就能找到有效的御敌之策了吗？
先生们，只要我们能妥善地利用自然之神赐予我们的力量，我们就不弱小。一旦三百万人民为了神圣的自由事业，在自己的国土上武装起来，那么任何敌人都无法战胜我们。此外，我们并非孤军作战，公正的上帝主宰着各国的命运，他将号召朋友们为我们而战。
先生们，战争的胜利并非只属于强者；它将属于那些机警、主动和勇敢的人们。
何况我们已经别无选择。即使我们没有骨气，想退出战斗，也为时已晚。退路已经切断，除非甘受屈辱和奴役。囚禁我们的枷锁已经铸成。叮当的镣铐声已经在波士顿草原上回响。战争已经无可避免——让它来吧！我重复一遍，先生，让它来吧！
企图使事态得到缓和是徒劳的。各位先生可以高喊：和平！和平！但根本不存在和平。战斗实际上已经打响。北方刮来的风暴将把武器的铿锵回响传到我们的耳中。我们的弟兄已经奔赴战场！我们为什么还要站在这里袖手旁观呢？先生们想要做什么？他们会得到什么？难道生命就这么可贵，和平就这么甜蜜，竟值得以镣铐和奴役作为代价？全能的上帝啊，制止他们这样做吧！ 我不知别人会如何行事；至于我，不自由，毋宁死！