乔治·华盛顿(George Washington)

名人档案

乔治·华盛顿（George Washington,1732—1799），美国第一任总统，被视为“美国国父”。他曾任大陆军总司令，领导美国赢得独立；1787年主持制定了现在的美国宪法。他与亚伯拉罕·林肯（Abraham Lincoln, 1809—1865）、富兰克林·罗斯福（Franklin Roosevelt, 1882—1945）一起被公认为美国历史上最伟大的三位总统。

简介与鉴赏

1796年9月17日，华盛顿在自己第二任期即将结束之时，在费城《每日新报》上发表了告别演说。演说指出各种分裂倾向给国家和民族带来的危险，告诫民众要团结一致，遵从宪法，坚守和平与自由理念。

演讲语言典雅庄重，富有排比与比喻，符合告别演说的隆重场合。

华盛顿的思想对美国后来的内政外交产生了深远影响，其主动放弃第二次连任总统为后世树立了楷模，催生了美国总统任期不超过两届的不成文规定。

英文正文

Friends and fellow citizens,

The period for a new election of a citizen to administer the executive government of the United States being not far distant, and the time actually arrived when your thoughts must be employed in designating ^[1] the person who is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, especially as it may conduce ^[2] to a more distinct expression of the public voice, that I should now apprise ^[3] you of the resolution I have formed to decline being considered among the number of those out of whom a choice is to be made.

In looking forward to the moment, which is intended to terminate ^[4] the career of my public life, my feelings do not permit me to suspend the deep acknowledgment of that debt of gratitude ^[5] , which I owe to my beloved country for the many honors it has conferred upon me; still more for the steadfast ^[6] confi dence with which it has supported me; and for the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of manifesting ^[7] my inviolable ^[8] attachment, by services faithful and persevering,though in usefulness unequal to my zeal ^[9] . If benefits haveresulted to our country from these services, let it always beremembered to your praise, and as an instructive example inour annals 10 , that under circumstances in which the passions, agitated ^{[11]in every direction, were liable to mislead,} amidst 12 appearances sometimes dubious 13, vicissitudes ^{[14]of fortuneoften discouraging, in situations in which not infrequentlywant of success has} countenanced ^{[15]the spirit of criticism, theconstancy of your support was the essential prop of the efforts,and a guarantee of the plans by which they were affected} .Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I shall carry it with me to my grave, as a strong incitement ^[16] to unceasing vows that Heaven may continue to you the choicest ^[17] tokens of its beneficence ^[18] ; that your union and brotherly affection may be perpetual; that the free constitution, which is the work of your hands, may be sacredly maintained; that its administration in every department may be stamped ^[19] with wisdom and virtue;that, in fi ne, the happiness of the people of these States, under the auspices ^[20] of liberty, may be made complete, by so careful a preservation and so prudent ^[21] a use of this blessing, as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applause,the affection, and adoption of every nation, which is yet a stranger to it.

Here, perhaps I ought to stop. But a solicitude ^[22] for your welfare which cannot end but with my life, and the apprehension ^[23] of danger, natural to that solicitude, urge me, on an occasion like the present, to offer to your solemn contemplation ^[24] , and to recommend to your frequent review,some sentiments which are the result of much reflection, of no inconsiderable observation, and which appear to me all important to the permanency of your felicity ^[25] as a people.

The unity of Government, which constitutes you one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar ^[26] in the edifi ce ^[27] of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity ^[28] at home, your peace abroad; of your safety;of your prosperity; of that very Liberty, which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee, that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifi ces ^[29] employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction ^[30] of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly ^[31] and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment, that you should properlyestimate the immense value of your national Unionto your collective and individual happiness; that you shouldcherish a cordial 32 , habitual, and immovable attachment toit; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the Palladium ^[33] of your political safety and prosperity; watchingfor its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing 34 whatever may suggest even a suspicion, that it can in any eventbe abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the fi rst dawningof every attempt to alienate ^[35] any portion of our country fromthe rest, or to enfeeble ^[36] the sacred ties which now link togetherthe various parts.

To the effi cacy and permanency of your Union, a Government for the whole is indispensable ^[37] . No alliances, however strict,between the parts can be an adequate ^[38] substitute; they must inevitably experience the infractions ^[39] and interruptions, which all alliances in all times have experienced. Sensible of this momentous ^[40] truth, you have improved upon your fi rst essay, by the adoption of a Constitution of Government better calculated than your former for an intimate Union, and for the effi cacious ^[41] management of your common concerns. This Government,the offspring of our own choice, uninfluenced and unawed,adopted upon full investigation and mature deliberation ^[42] ,completely free in its principles, in the distribution of its powers,uniting security with energy, and containing within itself a provision ^[43] for its own amendment, has a just claim to your confi dence and your support. Respect for its authority, compliance with it s laws, acquiescence ^[44] in its measures, are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims ^[45] of true Liberty.

单词/词组

[1] designate ⁸ : v. 指派，表明

[2] conduce ⁸ : v. 导致，有益于

[3] apprise ⁸ : v. 通知，评价

[4] terminate ⁶ : v. 停止，使终止

[5] gratitude ⁴ : n.感激

[6] steadfast ⁸ : adj. 坚定的，毫不动摇的

[7] manifest ⁶ : v. 表明，证明

[8] inviolable ⁸ : adj.不可侵犯的，不可亵渎的

[9] zeal ⁴ : n. 热心，热忱，热情

[10] annals ⁸ : n. 编年史，年报

[11] agitated ⁶ : adj. 烦躁不安的，争论不休的

[12] amidst ⁸ : prep. 在……之中

[13] dubious ⁸ : adj. 怀疑的，无把握的

[14] vicissitude ⁸ : n. 变迁，变化，兴衰

[15] countenance ⁸ : v.赞同，赞扬

[16] incitement ⁸ : n. 刺激，激励

[17] choicest ⁴ : adj. 上等的，精选的

[18] benefi cenc ⁸ : n. 仁慈，慈善

[19] stamp ⁴ : v. 标记

[20] auspice ⁸ : n. 预兆，前兆

[21] prudent ⁶ : adj. 小心谨慎的

[22] solicitude ⁸ : n. 焦虑，关怀

[23] apprehension ⁸ : n.不安，忧虑

[24] contemplation ⁸ : n. 沉思

[25] felicity ⁸ : n. 幸福，福气

[26] pillar ⁴ : n. 梁柱

[27] edifi c ⁸ : n. 大厦，宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿、教室)

[28] tranquillity ⁶ : n.宁静，安静

[29] artifi c ⁸ : n. 诡计

[30] conviction ⁶ : n. 深信，确信

[31] covertly ⁸ : adv. 偷偷摸摸地，暗地里地

[32] cordial ⁴ : adj. 热情的，热忱的，诚恳的

[33] Palladium ⁸ : n. 守护神，保障

[34] discountenance ⁸ : v. 阻止

[35] alienate ⁶ : v. 使疏远，离间

[36] enfeeble ⁸ : v. 使衰弱，使无力

[37] indispensable ⁴ : adj.不可缺少的，绝对必要的

[38] adequate ⁴ : adj. 足够的，胜任的

[39] infraction ⁸ : n. 违背，违反

[40] momentous ⁸ : adj. 重大的，重要的

[41] effi caciou ⁸ : adj. 灵验的，有效的

[42] deliberation ⁶ : n. 熟思，考虑，思考

[43] provision ⁴ : n. 规定，要求

[44] acquiescence ⁸ : n.默认，顺从

[45] maxim ⁴ : n. 格言，________座右铭

中文译文

朋友们、同胞们：

我们重新选举一位公民来主持美国政府的行政工作已为期不远，事实上，现在已是你们思量该由谁来担当此重任的时候了。对我来说这是一个恰当的时刻，尤其是因为这样做可能会使得公众意见表达得更明确，我已下定决心，谢绝把我列为候选人。

我期盼这一时刻来临，期盼政治生涯的结束，此时我不能不对我深爱的祖国表示深切感谢。我感谢祖国给予我许多荣誉，并以坚定不移的信心支持我，使我享有一切机会通过坚贞不渝地工作表达我对祖国的神圣感情，尽管我的表现不足以表达我的热忱。 假使我的供职对我的祖国有所裨益，请永远记住：当各方面激起的热情把我们引入歧途时，当出现捉摸不定而又令人泄气的局势时，当因经常失利而大受责难时，你们坚定不移的支持就是战胜艰难的主要支柱，也是使各项计划有效实施的一项保证。这才是你们应当赞扬的，并把它视为有教益的事例列入史册。 我深感此种支持将伴随我直到生命的终点，为此我要不停地为你们祝福：愿上天继续把最美好的恩典赐给你们；愿你们的联邦和兄弟般的情谊万古长存；愿你们一手制定的自由宪法将神圣地保持下去；愿每个行政部门的工作都将显示出智慧与德行；总之，愿你们在自由的庇护下认真维护并慎重使用上帝的赐福，各州人民享有更美满的幸福；愿你们能够荣耀地把你们的宪法介绍给其他各国，使这部宪法为那些对之还十分陌生的国家所赞美、爱慕和采用。

讲到这里，我似乎该结束了。但我对你们幸福的关切却终其一生难以割舍。由于关切，自然对威胁你们幸福的危险忧心忡忡。这种心情促使我在今天这样的场合提出一些看法供你们严肃思考，并建议你们经常回顾。这是我深思熟虑和仔细观察的结论，且在我看来，对整个民族的永久幸福意义重大。

你们现在所珍视的政府统一将大家凝聚在一起。这是理所当然的，因为你们就像一座独立大厦，政府的统一乃是这座大厦的主要柱石；它支持国内的安定、国外的和平；支持大家的安全、繁荣，以及大家如此重视的真正自由。但不难预见，会有某些起因不一、来源各异的力量煞费苦心、千方百计地试图削弱大家对于这种真理的信念；内外敌人的炮火，在最阴晴不定的时刻会持续不断地猖狂（虽然常是秘密地、阴险地）轰击，其所以如此，是因为统一是你们政治堡垒中的重点。 因此，最重要的是大家应当正确估计国家统一对于集体和个人幸福所具有的重大价值；大家应当对它抱着诚挚的、习以为常的、坚定不移的忠诚；在思想和言语中要习惯于把它当成大家政治安全和繁荣的保障；要小心翼翼地守护它；要摈弃任何有关这种信念在某种情况下可以抛弃的论调，即使那只是猜想；应当严厉指责那些企图分裂我国领土或削弱维护统一的神圣纽带的思想萌芽。

为使统一有效而持久，一个代表全体的政府是不可或缺的。不论怎样严密的地区联盟，都不能充分代替这样的政府——这种联盟一定会经历古往今来所有联盟的遭遇，即背约和中断。由于明白这个重要事实，所以大家把最初的文件加以改进，通过了一部胜过从前的政府宪法，以期密切团结，更有效地管理大家的共同事务。这个政府是我们自己所选择的，不曾受人影响，不曾受人威胁，是经过全盘研究和缜密考虑而建立的，它的原则和权力的分配是完全自由的；它把安全和力量结合起来，其本身则包含着修正自身的规定。这样一个政府有充分的理由要求你们信任和支持。尊重它的权力，服从它的法律，遵守它的措施，这些都是真正自由的基本准则所构成的义务。 qF/vZEtX/HHfNXa40VG3OetWeeHW3iTIg/XkogVFhwjbSUQhhxD3lrnO5X1B8bMA