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The Declaration of Independence 美國獨立宣言

In Congress, July 4,1776 The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America

導讀

《美國獨立宣言》為北美洲十三個英屬殖民地宣告自大不列顛王國獨立，并宣明此舉正當性之文告。1776年7月4日，本宣言由第二次大陸會議(Second Continental Congress)于費城批準，這一天后成為美國獨立紀念日?！丢毩⑿浴酚伤牟糠纸M成：第一部分為前言，闡述了宣言的目的。第二部分高度概括了當時資產階級最激進的政治思想，即自然權利學說和主權在民思想。第三部分歷數英國壓迫北美殖民地人民的條條罪狀，說明殖民地人民是在忍無可忍的情況下被迫拿起武器的，力陳獨立的合法性和正義性。在宣言的最后一部分，美利堅莊嚴宣告獨立。

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

在人類事務發展的過程中，當一個民族必須解除同另一個民族的聯系，并按照自然法則和上帝的旨意，以獨立平等的身份立于世界列國之林時，出于對人類輿論的尊重，必須把驅使他們獨立的原因予以宣布。

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights，that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among them, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

我們認為下述真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，造物主賦予他們若干不可讓與的權利，其中包括生存權、自由權和追求幸福的權利。為了保障這些權利，人們才在他們中間建立政府，而政府的正當權力，則是經被統治者同意授予的。任何形式的政府一旦對這些目標的實現起破壞作用時，人民便有權予以更換或廢除，以建立一個新的政府。新政府所依據的原則和組織其權力的方式，務使人民認為唯有這樣才最有可能使他們獲得安全和幸福。

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity, which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

若真要審慎地來說，成立多年的政府是不應當由于無關緊要的和一時的原因而予以更換的。過去的一切經驗都說明，任何苦難，只要尚能忍受，人類還是情愿忍受，也不想為申冤而廢除他們久已習慣了的政府形式。然而，當始終追求同一目標的一系列濫用職權和強取豪奪的行為表明政府企圖把人民至于專制暴政之下時，人民就有權也有義務去推翻這樣的政府，并為其未來的安全提供新的保障。這就是這些殖民地過去忍受苦難的經過，也是他們現在不得不改變政府制度的原因。當今大不列顛王國的歷史，就是屢屢傷害和掠奪這些殖民地的歷史，其直接目標就是要在各州之上建立一個獨裁暴政。為了證明上述句句屬實，現將事實公諸于世，讓公正的世人作出評判。

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Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

我們并不是沒有想到我們英國的弟兄。他們的立法機關想把無理的管轄權擴展到我們這里來，我們時常把這個企圖通知他們。我們也曾把我們移民來這里和在這里定居的情況告訴他們。我們曾懇求他們天生的正義感和雅量，念在同種同宗的分上，棄絕這些掠奪行為，因為這些掠奪行為難免會使我們之間的關系和來往中斷?？伤麄儗@種正義和同宗的呼聲也同樣充耳不聞。因此，我們不得不宣布脫離他們，以對待世界上其他民族的態度對待他們：同我交戰者，就是敵人；同我和好者，即為朋友。

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought bo be totally dissolved;and that as Free and Indepentent States, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

因此我們這些在大陸會議上集會的美利堅合眾國的代表們，以各殖民地善良人民的名義，并經他們授權，向世界最高裁判者申訴，說明我們的嚴重意向，同時鄭重宣布：我們這些聯合起來的殖民地現在是，而且按公理也應該是，獨立自由的國家；我們對英國王室效忠的全部義務，我們與大不列顛王國之間一切政治聯系全部斷絕，而且必須斷絕。作為一個獨立自由的國家，我們完全有權宣戰、締和、結盟、通商和采取獨立國家有權采取的一切行動。我們堅定地信賴神明上帝的保佑，同時以我們的生命、財產和神圣的名譽彼此宣誓來支持這一宣言。

Cloze 選詞填空

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing 1 the supreme Judge of the world for the 2 of our intentions, do, in the 3, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and 4, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and Independent States; that they are absolved 5 all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection 6 them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought bo be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Indepentent States, they have full power to 7 war, 8 peace, 9 alliances, 10 commerce, and to do all other acts and things which Independent States may of right do.

Key

1. to 2. rectitude 3. name 4. declare 5. from

6. between 7. levy 8. conclude 9. contract 10. establish

Translation Practices 翻譯練習

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petition have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

參考譯文

在遭受這些壓迫的每一階段，我們都曾以最謙卑的言辭吁請予以糾正。而我們一次又一次的請愿，卻只是被報以一次又一次的傷害。一個君主，其品格被他的每一個只有暴君才干得出的行為所暴露時，就不配君臨自由的人民。