摘要
01 Farewell Speech
告别演说
——乔治.华盛顿
作者小传
乔治?华盛顿(George Washington，1732—1799），1775年至1783年任美国独立战争大陆军(Continental Army)总司令，美国第1任总统(任期：1789—1797)。华盛顿早年在法国印第安人战争(French and Indian War)中曾担任支持大英帝国一方的殖民军军官。之后在美国独立战争中率领大陆军赢得美国独立。1787年他主持了制宪会议，制定了现在的美国宪法，并在1789年经过全体选举团无异议的支持而成为美国第1任总统。他在两届的任期中设立了许多持续到今天的政策和传统。在两届任期结束后，他自愿放弃权力不再续任，因此建立了美国历史上总统不超过两任的传统。由于他在美国独立战争和建国中扮演了最重要的角色，华盛顿通常被称为“美国国父”。历史学家和政治学家们一致认为，华盛顿与罗斯福、林肯是美国历史上伟大的三位总统。
演讲背景
1796年9月17日，华盛顿总统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。演说中大部分内容是谈美国国内形势和政党兴起所带来的问题，尖锐地指出了各种分裂倾向特别是地区主义，并反对政治派系之争；在对外政策方面，他提出了“孤立主义”的思想，告诫未来的美国政府要避免卷入国外争端，不与任何国家订立较为的同盟。华盛顿的这些思想对美国后来的内政外交产生了深远的影响，并且在一个当时还盛行世袭制的时代，华盛顿主动放弃权力，这不失为一个创举。
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 the person who is to be clothed with that important trust,it appears to me proper,especially as it may conduce1 to a more distinct expression of the public voice,that I should now apprise 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.
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了，事实上，现在已经是时候运用你们的思想来认真考虑该由谁来肩此重任。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。
In looking forward to the moment,which is intended to terminate2 the career of my public life,my feelings do not permit me to suspend the deep acknowledgment of that debt of gratitude,which I owe to my beloved country for the many honors it has conferred upon me; still more for the steadfast3 confidence with which it has supported me; and for the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of manifesting4 my inviolable5 attachment,by services faithful and persevering,though in usefulness unequal to my zeal6.If benefits have resulted to our country from these services,let it always be remembered to your praise,and as an instructive example in our annals,that under circumstances in which the passions,agitated in every direction,were liable to mislead,amidst appearances sometimes dubious7,vicissitudes8 of fortune often discouraging,in situations in which not infrequently want of success has countenanced9 the spirit of criticism,the constancy 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 incitement10 to unceasing vows that Heaven may continue to you the choicest11 tokens of its beneficence; 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 with wisdom and virtue; that,in fine,the happiness of the people of these States,under the auspices12 of liberty,may be made complete,by so careful a preservation and so prudent13 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.
我期盼这一时刻来临，期盼政治生涯的结束，这一时刻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，它将伴随我直到生命的终点，为此我要不停地为你们祝福：愿上天继续把最精美的赠品——它的仁慈赐给你们；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；愿你们获得把你们的宪法介绍给其他各国的荣誉，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。
Here,perhaps I ought to stop.But a solicitude14 for your welfare which cannot end but with my life,and the apprehension of danger,natural to that solicitude,urge me,on an occasion like the present,to offer to your solemn contemplation,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 felicity15 as a people.
讲到这里，我似乎应当结束讲话。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，而且在我看来，对整个民族的较为幸福有着十分重要的意义。
The unity of Government,which constitutes you one people,is also now dear to you.It is justly so; for it is a main pillar16 in the edifice17 of your real independence,the support of your tranquility18 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 artifices19 employed,to weaken in your minds the conviction20 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 covertly21 and insidiously) directed,it is of infinite moment,that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial22,habitual,and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the Palladium23 of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion,that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate24 any portion of our country from the rest,or to enfeeble25 the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.
政府的统一，使大家团结一致，现在这种统一也为你们所珍视。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。然而不难预见，会有某些力量试图削弱大家心里对于这种真理的信念，这些力量的起因不一，来源各异，但均将煞费苦心，千方百计地行动起来；内外敌人的炮火，在这最阴晴不定的时刻会持续不断地猖狂地(虽然常是秘密地、阴险地)进行轰击，其所以如此，是因为统一是你们政治堡垒中一个重点。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；大家应当常常对它抱着诚挚的、习以为常的、坚定不移的忠诚；你们在思想和言语中要习惯于把它当做大家政治安全和繁荣的保障；要小心翼翼地守护它。如果有人提到这种信念在某种情况下可以抛弃，即使那只是猜想，也不应当表示支持。我们应当严厉指责那些企图分裂我国领土，或企图削弱维护统一的神圣纽带的思想萌芽。
To the efficacy and permanency of your Union,a Government for the whole is indispensable26.No alliances,however strict,between the parts can be an adequate substitute; they must inevitably experience the infractions27 and interruptions,which all alliances in all times have experienced.Sensible of this momentous28 truth,you have improved upon your first essay,by the adoption of a Constitution of Government better calculated than your former for an intimate Union,and for the efficacious29 management of your common concerns.This Government,the offspring of our own choice,uninfluenced and unawed,adopted upon full investigation and mature deliberation30,completely free in its principles,in the distribution of its powers,uniting security with energy,and containing within itself a provision31 for its own amendment,has a just claim to your confidence and your support.Respect for its authority,compliance with its laws,acquiescence32 in its measures,are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims33 of true Liberty.
为了使统一有效而持久，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。由于明白这个重要的事实，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，它的原则和它的权力的分配，是接近自由的，它把安全和力量结合起来，而其本身则包含着修正其自身的规定。这样一个政府有充分的理由要求你们的信任和支持。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。
1 conduce v. 导致；有益于
2 terminate v. 停止；使终止
3 steadfast adj. 坚定的；毫不动摇的
4 manifest v. 表明；证明
5 inviolable adj. 不可侵犯的；不可亵渎的
6 zeal n. 热心；热忱；热情
7 dubious adj. 怀疑的；无把握的
8 vicissitude n. 变迁；变化；兴衰
9 countenance v. 赞同；赞扬
10 incitement n. 刺激；激励
11 choicest adj. 上等的；精选的
12 auspice n. 预兆；前兆
13 prudent adj. 小心谨慎的
14 solicitude n. 焦虑；关怀
15 felicity n. 幸福；福气
16 pillar n. 梁柱
17 edifice n. 大厦；宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室)
18 tranquility n. 宁静；安静
19 artifice n. 诡计
20 conviction n. 深信；确信
21 covertly adv. 偷偷摸摸地；暗地里地
22 cordial adj. 热情的；热忱的；诚恳的
23 Palladium n. 守护神；保障
24 alienate v. 使疏远；离间
25 enfeeble v. 使衰弱；使无力
26 indispensable adj. 不可缺少的；绝对必要的
27 infraction n. 违背；违反
28 momentous adj. 重大的；重要的
29 efficacious adj. 灵验的；有效的
30 deliberation n. 熟思；考虑；思考
31 provision n. 规定；要求
32 acquiescence n. 默认；顺从
33 maxim n. 格言；座右铭
