【作文素材】Give me liberty or give me death! 请熟读或背诵

山姆大叔

如果失去自由，那么不如去死。源于苏格兰裔美国人帕特里克·亨利一七七五年三月二十三日于殖民地维吉尼亚议会演讲中的最后一句：Give me liberty or give me death.


帕特里克·亨利(Patrick Henry,1736～1799),苏格兰裔美国人。他生于弗吉尼亚，是弗吉尼亚殖民地最成功的律师之一，以机敏和演说技巧而著称。他是独立战争时期的自由主义者，美国革命时期杰出的政治家、演说家，被称为“美国革命之舌”。他是著名的《独立宣言》的主要执笔者之一，曾任弗吉尼亚州州长，深受爱戴，被誉为“弗吉尼亚之父”。在反英斗争中发表过许多著名演说。被普遍传诵的警句“不自由，毋宁死”就出自他的演说。


历史背景


18世纪中叶，北美要求独立的呼声越来越高，面对这种情况，英国政府软硬兼施，采用各种手段，力图维持它与北美殖民地的宗主国关系。殖民地某些人由于在利益上与英国有联系，主张效忠英国；有些人对未来谁来统治他们漠不关心，他们愿意向任何一方出售商品，谁给的价钱高就卖给谁。还有些人对于反抗英国感到悲观，极力主张和解。在种种压力下，北美殖民地独立的步伐始终是"慢慢吞吞、勉勉强强"的。第一届大陆会议只字未提独立问题，进入70年代，莱克星敦已经打响了独立的第一枪，独立已摆到了议事日程上，成为人们谈论的热点问题，然而各种意见仍然争执不休，不能统一。


60年代，亨利就在弗吉尼亚州议会上提出了一系列决议，坚决反对英国向殖民地人民征收印花税。在独立问题上，亨利更是个激进派。他主张北美殖民地不惜以自己的生命和鲜血来换取独立，摆脱对英国的依附关系。1775年3月23日，他在弗吉尼亚州议会上发表了这篇演讲。


亨利的主张明确，态度坚决，立场十分鲜明，这已为社会所知。然而这篇演讲是在议会上发表的，议会是宣传自己主张的讲坛，也是政治斗争的场所。要使自己的主张能为众人接受，争取各方面的理解和支持，就要讲究策略。所以演讲一开始，亨利并未用激烈的语调，义正辞严的态度，令其演讲的内容充满剑拔弩张的火药味。而是采用委婉的态度，舒缓的语调，首先肯定了在他之前发言的几位议员的良善用心。然后婉转地道出自己的主张与上面几位议员有所不同，避免惊人之举。演说开始这种求同存异的做法，表现了亨利的政治智慧，也为下面的发言争取众多的拥护者打下了基础。


在议员中，主张效忠英国的人虽有，但只是少数。对这极少数人，要靠言词来打动他们，使他们转变立场，几乎是不可能的。相比之下，主张与英国妥协、避免武力中突的议员较多，这部分议员是争取的对象。他们主张和解，反对战争的理由主要有两点：一是对英国抱有各种各样的幻想；二是认为英国武力强大，自己势单力薄，万一战争爆发，后果不堪设想。对此，亨利看得很清楚，他的演讲就是针对着保守派和温和分子的，因而演说在内容上紧紧扣住上述两点，一步步详细阐述，一段段逐层批驳，最后归引到结论上来："唯一的出路只有诉诸武力，求助于战争之神。"演说内容的安排，体现了亨利的政治策略，也说明了一篇演说的结构，要受到演讲者追求的政治目的的制约。





演讲正文：


没有人比我更相信刚才在议会发言的尊敬的先生们所怀有的爱国心和能力。然而，对于同一个问题 ，不同的人有不同的观点。如果我的观点和你们相反，我会直率地、毫无保留地说出来，我希望不会被认为是无礼的，或许，应该感到高兴。我已经无暇顾及礼仪。当前议题悬系国家生死存亡，在我看来，它不能退缩到一个比关于自由和被奴役更小的议题。其概念具微到我们的议论本身，那就是辩论的自由，只有这样我们才能达到真理、履行我们为上帝和国家所承担的责任；如果，在这个时候，我因为害怕受到攻击而讳言，那就是背叛国家，背叛我所崇敬的建立超越世俗君王的庄严国土的信念。

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 ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill 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 offense, 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.

总统先生，人们总是容易寄希望于幻想，在痛苦的现实面前闭上眼睛，麻醉在女妖的歌声中，直到她把我们变成畜牲。在我们这些投身于伟大而又艰巨的、为自由而斗争的人们当中，是否也存在这样的人？是否也存在倾向于成为这样的人？他们对于如此生死攸关的大事视而不见，听而不闻。对于我来说，无论承受多大精神痛苦，我都愿意知道事情的全部真相，知道最坏的可能，做好准备，为之斗争。

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 till she transforms us into beasts. 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.

我有但只有一盏灯用来指引我的脚步，那就是经验之灯，通过过去判断未来，除此之外，我别无办法。通过过去，我想知道，英国政府过去十年当中的所作所为，哪一点证明了这些希望、这些尊敬的先生们用以安慰自己和议院的希望，是有理由实现的？是不是最近我们递交请愿书时他们所堆出的阴险的笑容？不，先生，事实会证明它是一个陷阱。不要被人亲一下嘴就被诱惑，使自己遭受痛苦。问问你们自己，他们接收我们请愿时的友善态度与那些大范围的海陆战备相称吗？相爱、和解需要这些舰队和陆军吗？难道我们表露出不愿意和解，以至于他们要用武力来赢回我们的芳心？不要再自欺欺人了，先生。他们在实施战争和镇压，这是英王所采取的最后的解决争端的办法。我想问一下诸位，这些军事部署，如果不是为了迫使我们屈服，还会是什么？诸位还能想象出其它可能的动机吗？在这个世界的角落，大不列颠帝国还有敌人让他大动干戈的吗？没有，先生，没有。军队是针对我们而非他人。他们要把我们绑在和钉在大不列颠帝国早已为我们铸成的锁链之上。我们该如何反抗？ 我们要据理力争吗？先生，我们已经争了十年了，争出新意了吗？没有。我们已经穷极辩争所能及的方方面面，但是一切归于枉然。我们要哀求、一再地低声下气地哀求吗？还有什么新花样我们还没有折腾够的呢？ 请不要欺骗自己了，我求求你们，先生。我们已经竭尽所能来避免这场暴风雨的来临。我们请愿，我们抗议，我们哀求，我们匍匐在英王的脚下哀求她干预并约束殖民政府和国会的暴政。我们的请愿被轻蔑，我们的抗议招致更多的暴力和凌辱，我们的哀求被忽视，在王座的跟前，我们被一脚踢开。一切枉然！在经历这些事之后，我们还要沉迷于自作多情的和解之梦吗？已经无梦可作了。如果我们想要自由，如果我们想要捍卫我们为之长期斗争的无上权力，如果我们还不至于那么卑鄙，卑鄙得要放弃我们一直从事的崇高斗争、违背我们永不放弃直至斗争胜利的誓言，——那么，我们必须战斗！我再说一遍，先生们，我们必须战斗！诉诸武力和战争之神！除此之外，别无选择。

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. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike 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?

有人告诉我们，先生们，说我们太弱小了，对付不了如此强大的敌人。但是，我们什么时候才变得强大？下个星期？明年？等到我们被彻底缴械？等到每个家门口都站了一个英国卫兵？我们优柔寡断无所作为就能积攒力量？我们躺在床上、沉迷于希望的幻影直至束手就擒才能够获得一种有效的抵抗方法？先生们，如果我们正确地运用上天赋于我们的力量，我们并不弱小。百万民众，被追求自由的神圣目标所鼓舞、所武装，在我们伟大的国度，我们不乏这样的力量，这种力量是敌人的任何武力所战胜不了的。此外，先生们，我们并非孤身作战，正义的上帝主持着万国的命运，他将唤起朋友与我们并肩作战。胜利不仅仅取决于强大，胜利更取决于警惕、善战和勇敢。何况，我们已别无选择。即使我们卑鄙之极、心存幻想、想不干都来不及了。退路已断，只有投降、做亡国奴。我们的锁链已经铸成！我们仿佛能够听到它们在波士顿平原上哐啷作响。战争不可避免-- 那么，就让它来吧！我再说一遍，先生们，就让它来吧！

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 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. The 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! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

试图低估事态的严重性是枉然的。也许你们要喊，和平，和平 ——但是和平不复存在。战争实际上已经开始！当北方的大风再起之时，金戈的鏦铮、炮火的轰鸣将传入我们的耳际！我们的弟兄已经投入战斗！我们还在这里等什么？先生们，你们还在希望什么？你们还有什么办法？难道生命就如此可贵、和平就如此甜美，竟值得我们用被禁锢、被奴役来换取？ 不！上帝！我不知道你们如何选择，对于我，不自由，毋宁死！

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!