美国语文第五册 第167期：约翰-亚当斯的假设演讲（03）
Her pride will be less wounded by submitting to that course of things, which now predestinates our independence,
倘若英国顺其自然，美国独立在所难免，大英帝国颜面多少得以保留；
than by yielding the points in controversy to her rebellious subjects.
倘若英国在双方论战中屈从它的反叛者论点，情况将有所不同。
The former, she would regard as the result of fortune; the latter, she would feel as her own deep disgrace.
前者，英国认为原本会有幸运的结局；后者，它将为此深感羞辱。
Why, then, do we not change this from a civil to a national war?
既然如此，我们为何不将这场内战改为民族之战？
And since we must fight it through, why not put ourselves in a state to enjoy all the benefits of victory, if we gain the victory.
既然必须打下去，如果我们获取胜利，为什么不愿享受胜利将给我们带来全身心的喜悦？
If we fail, it can be no worse for us. But we shall not fail.
如果我们遭受失败，对我们来说，境况绝不会更糟，然而我们不应该失败。
The cause will raise up armies; the cause will create navies.
我们将兴建自己的军队，建立自己的海军。
The people—the people, if we are true to them, will carry us, and will carry themselves, gloriously through this struggle.
假如我们真心对待民众，民众将支持我们，其实质就是支持他们自己，并通过战斗取得荣耀。
I care not how fickle other people have been found. I know the people of these colonies;
我不介意有些人总是善变无常，我了解殖民地民众；
and I know that resistance to British aggression is deep and settled in their hearts, and can not be eradicated.
我清楚民众对英国入侵的刻骨仇恨与反抗源自他们内心，况且仇恨不可能消弭。
Sir, the Declaration of Independence will inspire the people with increased courage.
先生们，《独立宣言》将鼓舞民众获得勇气。
Instead of a long and bloody war for the restoration of privileges, for redress of grievances, for chartered immunities,
这场长期流血的战争并非旨在恢复某些特权，并非为社会不公抱怨或改错纠偏，
held under a British king, set before them the glorious object of entire independence, and it will breathe into them anew the spirit of life.
并非为获取大英国王属下控制的特许豁免权，这是一项彻底独立的宏图大业，铺展在美国民众面前，并将为其生命注入崭新灵魂的明天。
