林肯总统在盖茨堡演说讲词中英对照版
林肯總統在蓋茨堡演說講詞的中英對照版
本文為林肯總統在蓋茨堡(Gettysburg)所作的一場演說講詞，全文僅272字、10句話、不到2分鐘，卻是美國史上最偉大的演說之一，那也曾被我國選為高中職英文課本教材，許多人應都背誦過。同學可按此超連結播放講詞錄音，一邊聽一邊閱讀底下文字，將可有另一番領會，最好可一起唸出來，如此可幫助學習。這個講詞架構完整、文字優美、理念深遠，推薦給同學細細品味文字背後所傳遞的高雅價值。
The Gettysburg Address
Four score and seven years1 ago our fathers brought forth2 on this continent, a new nation, conceived3 in liberty, and dedicated4to the proposition5 that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged6 in a great civil war7, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion8 of that field9, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives10that that nation might live.11 It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate12 -- we can not hallow13 -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.14 The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause15 for which they gave the last full measure16 of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish17 from the earth.
蓋茨堡演講詞
八十七年前，我們的祖先在這片大陸上建立了一個新的國家，它孕育於自由，並且獻身給一種理念，即所有人都是生來平等的。
現在，我們正在經歷一場意義重大的內戰，考驗著這個國家，或任何一個有這種主張和這種信仰的國家，能否長久存在。我們此刻一同聚集在戰爭的一個大戰場上。我們來到這裡，奉獻戰場上的一部分土地，作為在此為國家的生存而犧牲了自己生命的人永久眠息之所。我們應該這樣做，那十分合情合理。
然而，就更宏觀的意義而言，我們無從奉獻這片土地——無從使它成為聖地——也不可能把它變為人們景仰之所。那些在此奮戰的勇士，活著的和死去的，早已使這塊土地神聖化，遠高於我們的菲薄能力所能增減的境地。世人將鮮少注意，也不會久記我們在此所說的話語，然而世界將永遠緬懷這些勇士在這裡的事蹟。更甚者，我們仍在世的人應繼續獻身、接續那些曾在此奮戰的人們英勇崇高地推動而尚未完成的工作。我們應該在此獻身於餘留在眼前的偉大工作——由於他們的光榮犧牲，我們要更堅定地致力於他們全力盡瘁的那份事業——我們在此堅定立志，不能讓他們白白犧牲——要使這個國家在上帝的庇佑之下，得到新生的自由——要使「民有、民治、民享」的政府永世長存。
(以上中譯文字編修自美國在臺協會官方網站)
針對同學可能遇到的詞彙，補充說明如下：
註1. s core：二十，因此「four score and seven」即為「四個二十又七」，亦即87。這樣的表述方式類似我們在自己的母語中偶而會講”一甲子之前…”，風格類似。
註2. b ring forth：產生、建造。
註3. c onceive：孕育、設想、懷抱著…想法。
例：Who first conceived the idea of building nuclear power plants? 是誰第一個想到建造核電廠?
例：She conceives love for the children. 她愛這些孩子。
註4. d edicate：奉獻(身)或把(時間、精力等)用於(+to)。
註5. p roposition：主張、論點。
註6. e ngage：使從事、聘雇、與...交戰、佔用(時間、精力等)、使訂婚。
例：He was busily engaged in painting the furniture.他忙於油漆傢俱。
例：They engaged a cook for the summer. 那個夏天他們雇了一個廚子。
例：The book engaged my full attention. 這本書把我完全吸引住了。
註7. c ivil war 內戰。Civil的字意為：公民的、民用的，民事的，意思甚廣。譬如：civil rights為公民權；civil engineering為土木工程；而civil status可指婚姻狀態(單身或已婚)，相當於marital status。
註8. p ortion：(一)部分，也可當動詞使用，意為把...分成多份、分配[(+out)。另需與proportion區分不同使用方式。
例：He was hungry and ordered two portions of roast chicken. 他很餓，因而叫了兩份烤雞。
例：She portioned out the cake, so everyone had a piece. 她將蛋糕切成多塊，每人可得一份。
註9. f ield：原野、田地、(戰)場、(遼闊的大片)地、實地、野外，意思甚廣。例如：field trip指實地考察旅行（配合正課到校外作參訪式旅行可用）。field trial常用於新技術或服務即將上線、提供大規模使用之前，所作的實地測試。
註10. 此為life的複數形式(請注意讀法)，意指許多人的生命。
註11. 這邊連續使用二個that並非筆誤；第一個that為關係連接詞，而第二個that 為形容詞，與跟在其後的nation形成語意上的一個單元。整個子句「that that nation might live」係用以修飾that之前的lives，可將lives視為nation might live的受詞。舉個例子，我們可說“They live lives of luxury”(他們過著奢華的生活/生命)，在這此例中，lives為live的受詞。同學們注意此例中的lives與live的關係與功能，再回過頭來看原演講文，應即能掌握到整句話的意涵。
註12. c onsecrate：奉...為神聖、尊崇、現身致力於…。
例：She consecrated her life to art. 她獻身於藝術。
註13. h allo：使神聖、把…視為神聖、崇敬…（類似consecrate）。
註14. d etract：減損、降低。
例：The scandal will not detract from his fame. 這個醜聞無損於他的名聲。
註15. c ause：原因、起因、動機、目標（理想、事業）。
例：World peace is a cause we should all work for. 世界和平是一項我們都應該為之而努力的事業。
註16. m easure：此當名詞用，意為尺寸、分量、(判斷等的)基準、尺度、程度、限度、分寸。
例：I feel a measure of compassion for her. 我對她懷有一定程度的同情。
註17. p erish：消滅、卒亡、枯萎、腐爛，亦可當及物動詞或解作「麻痺」。例：Hundreds of people perished in the earthquake. 數百人在那場地震中喪生。
例：Flowers perish in frost. 花毀於霜凍。
例：Oil on your car tires will perish them. 車胎上的油會毀損車胎。
例：I was perished with cold. 我被凍僵了。
編按：
蓋茨堡演說中的部分理念被其他國家引用，也啟發孫中山先生的三民主義思想。演講的時間雖短，但準備的時間通常很長。有時候講者得花上一整天準備僅5分鐘的講詞。另一經典例子是美國國父華盛頓先生所作的就職總統演說，全文僅133字，亦常被引用。
林肯幼年生長於西部拓荒者的家庭，僅受過約一年的正規教育，但他一直熱衷於學習，辛苦自學出身，青年時期即有高大的體格，具律師背景，這是大家熟知的。他與夫人Mary Todd Lincoln有四位子女，然其中三個孩子先後夭折，這對林肯夫婦造成重大打擊。文獻提及他本身是一位慈愛但無法經常陪伴子女的父親(“He was an affectionate, though often absent, husband and father of four children.”)。
林肯解放黑人奴隶宣言(中英文对照)
林肯解放黑人奴隶宣言(中英文对照)
林肯：解放黑人奴隶宣言 THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION: By the President of the United States of America: 1862年9月22日，一个瘦弱而伟大的总统用颤抖的双手签署了这份宣言，他知道虽然该宣言会激起奴隶主们的反抗，可能会造成国家
南北的分裂。但为了结束一个资本主义与奴隶制并存的畸形社会，他用颤抖的双手签了，虽然此后他的担心成真了，而且自己还被同情奴隶制的蒲斯刺杀了。但统一后的美利坚合众国在通往现代化的道路上一路狂飙，创造了无数现代文明，引领了整个20世纪。这个丑陋而羸弱的总统也成就了美国历史上最伟大的总统。 THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION: By the President of the United States of America: A PROCLAMATION Whereas on the 22nd day of September, A.D. 1862, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit: "That on the 1st day of January, A.D. 1863, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom. "That the executive will on the 1st day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any,
林肯就职演讲
林肯的第二任总统就职演说 这篇演说的讲稿是人类历史上最伟大的演说词，永久地刻在了林肯纪念堂里，英文原文 是： at this second appearing to take the oath of the presidential office，there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. then a statement， somewhat in detail，of a course to be pursued，seemed fitting and proper. now，at the expiration of four years，during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention，and engrosses the energies of the nation，little that is new could be presented. the progress of our arms，upon which all else chiefly depends，is as well known to the public as to myself; and it is，i trust，reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. with high hope for the future，no prediction in regard to it is ventured. on the occasion corresponding to this four years ago，all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. all dreaded it--all sought to avert it. while the inaugural address was being delivered from this place，devoted altogether to saving the union without war，insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war--seeking to dissolve the union，and divide effects，by negotiation. both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. and the war came. one eighth of the whole population were colored slaves，not distributed generally over the union，but localized in the southern part of it. these slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. all knew that this interest was，somehow，the cause of the war. to strengthen，perpetuate，and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the union，even by war; while the government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. neither party expected for the war，the magnitude，or the duration，which it has already attained. neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with，or even before， the conflict itself should cease. each looked for an easier triumph，and a result less fundamental and astounding. both read the same bible，and astounding to the same god; and each invokes his aid against the other. it may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just gods assistance in wringing their bread from with malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right，as god gives us to see the right，let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nations wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle，and for his widow，and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace，among ourselves，and with all nations. 最后两段译文： (交战)每一方都在寻求一个快速的、不伤根本的胜利。双方都读同一本圣经，向同一位 上帝祷告，求祂的帮助。看起来真是奇怪：一些人竟企求上帝让别人流汗而使自己可以得到 面包；但是，不要让我们论断，如果我们自己不想被论断的话。双方的祷告不会同时被回答， 任何一方的祷告也不会被完全应允。全能的神自有其旨意。“祸哉世界！因着必来之罪；祸哉
A Rhetorical Analysis of Second Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln林肯第二次就职演讲的修辞分析
A Rhetorical Analysis of Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address Abstract: Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, during his second inauguration as president of the United States. This address is planned; it is adapted to his audience; it is shaped by Lincoln’s motives; it seeks persuasion. Lincoln made full use of argument, appeals, arrangement, and aesthetics which are four resources of symbols assisting the goal of persuasion. Thus it is categorized as rhetoric. This thesis makes a rhetorical analysis of Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. Key words:Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, rhetoric, analysis 1. Introduction The custom of delivering an address on Inauguration Day started with the very first Inauguration—George Washington's—on April 30, 1789. After taking his oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, Washington proceeded to the Senate chamber where he read a speech before members of Congress and other dignitaries. Every President since Washington has delivered an Inaugural address. While many of the early Presidents read their addresses before taking the oath, current custom dictates that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court administer the oath first, followed by the President's speech. Today, Presidents deliver their Inaugural address on the west front of the Capitol, but this has not always been the case. Until Andrew Jackson's first Inauguration in 1829, most Presidents spoke in either the House or Senate chambers. Jackson became the first President to take his oath of office and deliver his address on the east front portico of the U.S. Capitol in 1829. With few exceptions, the next 37 Inaugurations took place there, until 1981, when Ronald Reagan's swearing-in ceremony and Inaugural address occurred on the west front terrace of the Capitol. The west front has been used ever since. Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, during his second inauguration as president of the United States. At a time when victory over the secessionists in the American Civil War was within days and slavery was near an end, Lincoln did not speak of happiness, but of sadness. Some see this speech as a defense of his pragmatic approach to Reconstruction, in which he sought to avoid harsh treatment of the defeated South by reminding his listeners of how wrong both sides had been in imagining what lay before them when the war began four years earlier. Lincoln balanced that rejection of triumphalism, however, with
Abraham Lincoln 林肯人物简介,英文版
Abraham Lincoln, an Influential President in the American History Name:李亚君 Number:111206123
Abraham Lincoln, an Influential President in the American History The United States of America is a country with a president system. The president of USA is not only head of the state and the government, but also administrative departments of the supreme leader and army commander, usually called Mr.President. There are 44 presidents in the history of the United States. Abraham Lincoln is the 16th one who maintained the unity of the nation and abolished the slavery that influenced the nation much. He is the first Republican president and also ranked among the greatest president ranked first. USA once held a poll in 2005--"the greatest Americans", Lincoln was elected America figure of second. He is one of the most popular presidents. On February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born in a poor family in Hardin County in Kentucky prefecture. His parents are descendants of British immigrants, taking farming and hunting.When he was young, he helped the family move firewood, water, do farm work and so on.In 1816, Lincoln's family moved to Indiana Southwest. At his age of 9, his mother died who was just 36 years old. Second years, his father married a kindness and enlightened woman named Sarah Bush, and the family lived happily. Because of poverty, his education degree wasn't high. In order to earn money, he was a ferry worker on the Ohio River and a plantation worker when he was young. Lincoln is a man who loves reading. At his young age, he read all the writings of Shakespeare and "American history", also read lots of books about history and literature.He became a learned and wisdom man through self-study. He ran for state senator that meant he embarked on a political road since 1832. Finally he was elected president in 1860. In the 28 years, he has undergone a lot of difficulties that normal people cannot imagine. Eight elections, eight voted out, twice failed in business, and even once mental collapse, many times, he could give up, but he didn't. Just because of not giving up, he became one of the greatest presidents in the history of America.The teacher of the revolution Marx highly evaluated Lincoln, "he is a man who will not be scared by difficulties, not to confuse for success, he refuse to be cowed or submit to his great goal, but never act rashly and blindly, he steadily forward, and never back;...... In a word, he is a rare character that achieved the great realm and still maintained his excellent quality". Owing to his view of abolishing slavery, Lincoln's election, threatened the benefits of the Southern plantation owners. They certainly don't want a man who advocates the abolition of slavery as their president. Then the Civil War broke out in 1861. At the beginning of the war, Lincoln tried to seek the policy that compromised with the Southern plantation owners. With the military losing ground, Lincoln realized that to abolish slavery truly, there must have sacrifice, peaceful means can not solve any problems. If they want to win the war, they must transfer the enthusiasm of farmers, abolish the slavery, and liberate black slaves .In 1862 May, Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. This measure eliminated the possibility of southern slave owners to seize the western land fundamentally, but also met the urgent needs of the peasants, greatly stimulated the enthusiasm of farmers to participate in. On January 1, 1863,
林肯葛底斯堡演说中英文对照翻译
林肯葛底斯堡演说中英文对照翻译 林肯的讲话是极简短、极朴素的。这往往使那些滔滔不绝的讲演家大瞧不起。 葛底斯堡战役后，决定为死难烈士举行盛大葬礼。掩葬委员会发给总统一张普通的请帖，他们以为他是不会来的，但林肯答应了。既然总统来，那一定要讲演的，但他们已经请了著名演说家艾佛瑞特来做这件事，因此，他们又给林肯写了信，说在艾佛瑞特演说完毕之后，他们希望他“随便讲几句适当的话”。这是一个侮辱，但林肯平静地接受了。两星期内，他在穿衣、刮脸、吃点心时也想着怎样演说。演说稿改了两三次，他仍不满意。到了葬礼的前一天晚上，还在做最后的修改，然后半夜找到他的同僚高声朗诵。走进会场时，他骑在马上仍把头低到胸前默想着演说辞。 那位艾佛瑞特讲演了两个多小时，将近结束时，林肯不安地掏出旧式眼镜，又一次看他的讲稿。他的演说开始了，一位记者支上三角架准备拍摄照片，等一切就绪的时候，林肯已走下讲台。这段时间只有两分钟，而掌声却持续了10分钟。后人给以极高评价的那份演说辞，在今天译成中文，也不过400字。 Commented by 鱼化石：林肯的这篇演说是演说史上著名的篇章，其思想的深刻，行文的严谨，语言的冼练，确实是不愧彪炳青史的大手笔。尤其是其中的第二段，建议加以仔细分析，其语义的承转，结构的安排，甚至包括其句式的使用，无一不是极尽推敲之作。 GETTYSBURG ADDRESS Abraham Lincoln Delivered on the 19th Day of November, 1863 Cemetery Hill, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Fourscore and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continenta new Nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition thatall men are created equal. Now, we are engaged in a great Civil War,testing whether that Nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated,can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We havecome to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for thosewho gave their lives that Nation might live. It is altogether fitting andproper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannothallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled
林肯第一次就职演讲稿
林肯第一次就职演讲稿 林肯第一次就职演讲稿 的安全，我们最好服从并遵守现在还没有废除的一切法令，而不 要轻易相信可以指之为不合宪法，便可以逃脱罪责，而对它们公然违反。自从第一任总统根据国家宪法宣誓就职以来，七十二年已经过去了。在这期间，十五位十分杰出的公民相继主持过政府的行政部门。 他们引导着它度过了许多艰难险阻;一般都获得极大的成功。然而，尽管有这么多可供参考的先例，我现在将在宪法所规定的短短四年任期 中来担任这同一任务，却.面临着巨大的非同一般的困难。在此以前，分裂联邦只是受到了威胁，而现在却是已出现力图分裂它的可怕行动了。从一般法律和我们的宪法来仔细考虑，我坚信，我们各州组成的 联邦是永久性的。在一切国民政府的根本大法中永久性这一点，虽不 一定写明，却是不言而喻的。我们完全可以肯定说，没有一个名副其 实的政府会在自己的根本法中定出一条，规定自己完结的期限。继续 执行我国宪法所明文规定的各项条文，联邦便将永远存在下去——除 了采取并未见之于宪法的行动，谁也不可能毁灭掉联邦。还有，就算 合众国并不是个名副其实的政府，而只是依靠契约成立的一个各州的 联合体，那既有契约的约束，若非参加这一契约的各方一致同意，我 们能说取消就把它取消吗?参加订立契约的一方可以违约，或者说毁约;但如果合法地取消这一契约，岂能不需要大家一致同意吗?从这些总原则出发，我们发现，从法学观点来看，联邦具有永久性质的提法，是 为联邦自身的历史所证实的。联邦本身比宪法更为早得多。事实上， 它是由1774年，签订的《联合条款》建立的。到1776年的《独立宣
言》才使它进一步成熟和延续下来。然后，通过1778年的“邦联条款”使它更臻成熟，当时参加的十三个州便已明确保证要使邦联永久存在下去。最后，到1787年制订的宪法公开宣布的目的之一，便是“组建一个更为完美的联邦”。但是，如果任何一个州，或几个州也可以合法地把联邦给取消掉，加这个联邦可是比它在宪法制订以前还更不完美了，因为它已失去了它的一个至关重要因素——永久性。从这些观点我们可以认定，任何一个州，都不可能仅凭自己动议，便能合法地退出联邦——而任何以此为目的的决议和法令在法律上都是无效的;至于任何一州或几州的反对合众国当局的暴力行为，都可以依据具体情况视为叛乱或革命行为。因此我认为,从宪法和法律的角度来看，联邦是不容分裂的;我也将竭尽全力，按照宪法明确赋于我的责任，坚决负责让联邦的一切法令在所有各州得以贯彻执行。这样做，我认为只是履行我应负的简单职责;只要是可行的，我就一定要履行它，除非我的合法的主人美国人民，收回赋予我的不可缺少的工具，或行使他们的权威，命令我采取相反的行动。我相信我这话决不会被看成是一种恫吓，而只会被看作实现联邦已公开宣布的目的，它必将按照宪法保卫和维持它自己的存在。要做到这一点并不需要流血或使用暴力，除非有人把它强。加于国家当局，否则便决不会发生那种情况。赋予我的权力将被用来保持、占有和掌管属于政府的一切财产和土地。征收各种税款和关税;但除开为了这些目的确有必要这外，决不会有什么入侵问题——决不会在任何地方对人民，或在人民之间使用武力。任何内地，即使对联邦政府的敌对情绪已十分严重和普遍，以致妨害有能力的当地公民执行联邦职务的时候，政府也决不会强制派进令人厌恶的外来人去担任这些职务。尽管按严格的法律规定，政府
林肯演说词
林肯著名演讲 Gettysburg Address 葛底斯堡演说 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania November 19, 1863 -Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. -Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives. That nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. -But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. -It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to - that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve - that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (By Abraham Lincoln) 葛底斯堡演说 亚伯拉罕·林肯，1863年11月19日宾夕法尼亚葛底斯堡（盖兹堡）公墓山 87年前，我们的先辈们在这个大陆上创立了一个新国家，它孕育于自由之中，奉行一切 人生来平等的原则。现在我们正从事一场伟大的内战，以考验这个国家，或者任何一个 孕育于自由和奉行上述原则的国家是否能够长久存在下去。我们在这场战争中的一个伟 大战场上集会。烈士们为使这个国家能够生存下去而献出了自己的生命，我们来到这 里，是要把这个战场的一部分奉献给他们作为最后安息之所。我们这样做是完全应该而 且是非常恰当的。 但是，从更广泛的意义上来说，这块土地我们不能够奉献，不能够圣化，不能够神化。 那些曾在这里战斗过的勇士们，活着的和去世的，已经把这块土地圣化了，这远不是我 们微薄的力量所能增减的。我们今天在这里所说的话，全世界不大会注意，也不会长久 地记住，但勇士们在这里所做过的事，全世界却永远不会忘记。毋宁说，倒是我们这些 还活着的人，应该在这里把自己奉献于勇士们已经如此崇高地向前推进但尚未完成的事 业。倒是我们应该在这里把自己奉献于仍然留在我们面前的伟大任务--我们要从这些 光荣的死者身上汲取更多的献身精神，来完成他们已经完全彻底为之献身的事业；我们
林肯第二次就职演讲(英文)
At this second appearing to take the oath of the presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of his great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured. On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it; all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving teing delivered from thisurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war-seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came. One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. Their slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration, which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must need be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comet." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern there in any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass