Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death不自由，毋宁死
Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775. 帕特里克.亨利 1775年3月23日
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 questing 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?
