常春藤名家散文精选 (21)肯尼迪总统就职演说

Unit21 An Excerpt of John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address

第二十一课 肯尼迪总统就职演说摘录

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price,bear any burden,

告知诸国,不论是希望我们好或不好的国家,我们都会不惜任何代价,

meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.

承担任何重任,不辞艰辛地支持友邦,对抗敌国,以确保自由的存续与成功。

To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends.

对于那些在文化上或精神上与我们同源的旧盟邦,我们保证会以挚友的忠贞来对待他们。

United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures.

我们若团结合作,则从事种种的合作计划几乎是无所不能。

Divided, there is little we can do, for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

但若分裂,我们将一筹莫展,因为如果我们自己由于意见分歧而分裂,便不敢面对强敌。

To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free,

至于那些新兴国家,我们则欢迎他们加入自由国家的行列。

we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny.

我们誓言殖民统治结束后不会有更残酷的暴政来取代。

We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view.

我们并不期望这些新兴的国家会永远支持我们的观点。

But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom-and to remember that,

但是我们永远希望他们能固守属于自己的自由—而且也希望我们自己能永远记得,

in the past, those who foolishly sought to find power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

在过去,愚昧地试图骑着虎背仗势求权的人结果反入虎腹。

To those peoples in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery,

对于那些居住在茅屋与村落里正奋力挣脱集体悲惨命运的另一半地球民族,

we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required.

只要他们需要,不管到何年何月,我们保证将尽全力帮助他们自救。

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