Speech 7 Patrick Henry's Speech in the Virginia Co...
Noman thinksmore highly than Ido 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，Ihope itwill 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 awfulmoment to this country.Formy own part，Iconsider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery.And in proportion to themagnitude of the subject，ought to be the freedom of the debate.It is only in this way thatwe can hope to arrive at truth，and fulfil the great responsibilitywhich we hold to God and our country.Should Ikeep back my opinions at such a time，through fear of giving offence，I should consider myself as guilty of treason towardmy country，and of an act of disloyalty toward themajesty of Heaven，which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr.President，it is natural forman 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 transformsus into beasts.Is this the part ofwisemen，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 itmay cost，Iam willing to know thewhole truth—to know theworst，and to provide for it.
Ihave 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，Iwish to know what there has been in the conductof the Britishministry for the last ten years，to justify those hopeswith 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 itnot，sir；itwill 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 forcemust be called in towin back our love？Let us not deceive ourselves，sir.These are the implements ofwar and subjugation—the last arguments towhich kings resort.Iask gentlemen，sir，whatmeans this martial array，if its purpose be not to force us to submission？Can gentlemen assign any other possiblemotive for it？Has Great British any enemy in this quarter of the world，to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies？No，sir，she has none.They aremeant for us；they can bemeant 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？Shallwe 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 ofwhich it is capable；but it has been all in vain.Shallwe resort to entreaty and humble supplication？What terms shall we find，which have not been already exhausted？Let us not，Ibeseech you，sir，deceive ourselves longer.
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—ifwemean 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，wemust fight！I repeat it，sir，wemust fight！An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts，is all that is left us！
They tell us，sir，thatwe areweak—unable to copewith so formidable an adversary.But when shallwe be strong？Will it be the nextweek or the next year？Will it be when we are totally disarmed，and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house？Shallwe 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 notweak，ifwemake a proper use of thosemeans which the God of nature hath placed in our power.Threemillions 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 clankingmay be heard on the pains of Boston！Thewar is inevitable—and let it come！！I repeat it，sir，let it come！！！
It is in vain，sir，to extenuate thematter.Gentlemen may cry， “Peace！Peace！”—but there isno peace.Thewar is actually begun！The nextgale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms！Our brethren are already on the field！Why stand we here idle？What is it that gentlemen wish？Whatwould they have？Is life so dear，or peace so sweet，as to be purchase at the price of chains and slavery？Forbid it，Almighty God！Iknow notwhat course othersmay take；but as for me，giveme liberty，or give me death！
背景简介：
18世纪后半期，英国在大西洋岸建立了13个殖民地，并开发了大量的种植园，建立了纺织、炼铁、采矿等多种工业。为了增加财政收入，英国政府不断增加殖民地的课税。其在北美殖民地推行的印花税规定：一切公文、契约合同、执照、报纸、杂志、广告、单据、遗嘱等等，都必须贴上印花税票，才能生效流通。
此举激起了殖民地人民的极大愤怒，各种秘密反英组织相继出现，各地相继发生了抵制英货，赶走税吏，焚烧税票，武装反抗等反英事件。这一切引起了英国政府的恐慌，他们立即派军队前往镇压。1770年3月5日，英军在波士顿制造了震惊北美的“波士顿惨案”。
弗吉尼亚为向第二次大陆会议派出代表而召开了一次议会。在会上，亨利·帕特拉克发表了这篇慷慨激昂的演讲，表明了反对妥协和退让的态度，提出了放弃和平幻想的呼吁，阐述了争取民权和自由的独立的必要性和紧迫性。演说结束后，一时群情激愤，“拿起武器！拿起武器！”的呼喊声响彻会场。亨利的演讲极大地鼓舞了北美殖民地人民为争取独立而进行战斗的激情。这篇演说词从此成为不朽的名篇，特别是结尾的警句“不自由，毋宁死！”广为流传。
1775年4月19日清晨，波士顿人民在列克星敦上空打响了争取独立的第一枪，拉开了美国独立战争的序幕。1776年7月4日，大陆会议通过《独立宣言》，宣告美利坚合众国诞生。(https://www.daowen.com)
注释：
1.listen to the song of that siren，till she transforms us into beasts：这句话暗引希腊荷马史诗《奥德赛》里面的一个故事，故事中赛妊是一个美丽的海妖，她用美妙的歌声迷惑过往船只上的船员，船员被迷惑上岸后赛妊就将他们变成野兽后杀死。
2.Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss：这句话暗引《圣经》中的一个典故：耶稣被犹大用亲吻出卖并被罗马征服者钉死在十字架上。
参考译文：
帕特里克·亨利1775年3月23日在美国弗吉尼亚州代表大会上的演说词
刚才几位可敬的先生向全体代表发言了。对诸位的爱国精神以及见识才干，我个人比任何人都更为钦佩。不过，看待同一问题，往往人各有异。因此，如果我的见解和他们恰好相反，并无拘无束、毫无保留地直抒己见，希望不致被认为是对诸位先生的不敬。现在已经不是讲客套话的时候了。摆在全体代表面前的是关系到我国危急存亡的重大问题。依我看来，我认为这完全是一个要么赢得自由要么沦为奴隶的问题。既然事关重大，辩论就应该相应地非常自由。只有如此，我们才能做到实事求是，我们才能对上帝和国家尽到我们的伟大天职。在这个时候，如果我害怕得罪人而不直抒胸臆，这就无异于对国家为背叛，对上帝为不忠——我对天帝的崇敬超过对世上一切君主的崇敬。
主席先生，沉湎于希望的幻想之中乃是人之常情。对于使人痛苦的真相，我们容易闭目不见，而对于女妖的歌声却喜欢洗耳恭听，而听任她将我们化为禽兽。为争取自由而从事伟大而艰巨的斗争的明智人士，难道应该这样做吗？对目前自救运动密切相关的事业视而不见，充耳不闻的人，难道我们甘心情愿与之为伍吗？就我而言，无论我精神上会蒙受多大痛苦，我也愿意弄清全部真相；弄清最坏的局面，从而准备应对这种局面。
我只有一盏指路明灯，而这盏明灯就是经验。判断未来只有回顾过去，舍此以外，我别无他法。回顾过去，我倒希望知道最近十年以来，英国政府究竟干了一些什么好事，不负诸位先生那些用来欣然安慰自己和全体代表的希望？难道那是最近接受我们的请愿书时的那种阴险的微笑吗？别相信它，先生们，那是你们脚下的陷阱呀！不要让自己受到一下亲吻就被人出卖了。
诸位问问自己，接受我们请愿书的彬彬有礼的态度，与使我们的领海为之战云弥漫，领土为之黯然失色的军事部署，这两者协调得起来吗？难道必须要用舰艇和军队来谋取友好与和解吗？难道我们曾经表示不愿和解，因而势必要动用武力以赢得我们的爱戴吗？先生们，咱们不要再欺骗自己了。那些东西是战争的工具，是征服的工具——是国王们理屈词穷时的最后一招。请问诸位先生，摆出这种张牙舞爪的阵势，如果不是为了使我们屈服，还有什么目的呢？诸位先生能够指出他的其他动机吗？是否在世界这一地区有大不列颠的敌人，它才调集了大批的海军和陆军呢？先生们，不是的。没有。这些军队是针对我们的，不可能针对任何别人。他们是派来捆绑我们的，是来用英国政府早就铸就的锁链套在我们身上的！
那么，我们用什么来对抗他们呢？跟他们辩论吗？先生们，我们已经跟他们辩论了十年之久了。在这个问题上，我们还拿得出新论点吗？没有了。我们已经从各种可能的角度考虑过这个问题了，可统统都是白费心机。难道我们还能找到什么我们尚未用尽的字眼吗？先生们，我恳求你们，不要再继续自己欺骗自己了。
未来躲开这场正在袭来的风暴，凡是我们能做的，我们统统做了。我们请过愿，我们抗议过，我们苦苦哀求，我们匍匐跪倒在英王的御座之前，恳切请求他出面干预，制止英国政府和议会残暴的黑手！我们的请愿受到轻侮，我们的抗议招致新的暴力和侮辱，我们的哀求被人置之不理，我们被轻蔑地从御座前一脚踢开了。经历了这一切行动之后，我们还对和平与和解一厢情愿地抱着不切实际的希望，完全是徒劳无益的。已经不再有任何希望的余地了。
如果我们希望自由——如果我们真想维护我们长期为之不懈斗争的珍贵权利，使之完整无损，如果我们真不愿意可耻地放弃我们长期从事的和发誓不达目的决不罢休的崇高斗争，那么，我们就必须战斗！先生们，我再说一遍，我们必须战斗！留给我们的唯一出路，就是诉诸武力，求助于战斗之神！
先生们，他们对我们说，我们弱小，无法和这样的强敌抗衡。但是我们何时才会强大一些呢？是下星期呢？还是明年呢？还是等到我们完全解除武装，每家住宅里都驻扎着英国卫兵的时候呢？难道我们要靠犹豫不决、无所作为来聚集力量吗？难道我们这样仰面高卧，抱着虚妄的幻想不放，直到敌人捆绑了我们的手脚，我们才能获得有效的抵抗手段吗？
先生们，如果我们能够妥善利用苍天赋予我们的各种手段的话，我们并不弱小。我们有三百万人民，在我们拥有的这样一个国家，为神圣的自由事业而武装起来了，敌人能够派来对抗我们的任何军队是不可能战胜我们的。况且，先生们，我们是不会孤军作战的。有一个主宰国家民族命运的正义之神，他会号召朋友们为我们进行战斗。先生们，战争的胜利不光归于强者，战争的胜利归于机敏警惕、主动积极和英勇善战者。再说了，先生们，我们已经别无选择了！如果我们贪生怕死，不敢应战，想要退出战斗，现在为时已晚了。我们已经没有退路，要退只有含垢忍辱，沦为奴隶了。囚禁我们的枷锁已经铸就了。波士顿平原上已经可以听到锁链当啷的响声。战争已经无法避免——那就让它来吧！！先生们，我再说一遍，那就让它来吧！！！
先生们，避重就轻，大事化小，是无济于事的。先生们尽管可以高喊“和平！和平！”——但是依然没有和平！战争实际上已经开始了！从北方刮来的下一阵大风就会把兵器铿锵洪亮的回响传到我们的耳鼓里。我们的同胞已经身在战场了！为什么我们还站在这里袖手旁观呢？那些先生们究竟希望些什么？他们想达到什么目的？难道是生命这样宝贵，抑或是和平这样甜美，以至于他们不惜以锁链和奴役的代价来换取吗？全能的上帝呀，可不能这样呀！别人如何选择，我不知道；至于我的选择是，不自由，毋宁死！