帕特里克·亨利/PatrickHenry
帕特里克·亨利（1736—1799），美国革命时期杰出的政治家、演说家，曾任律师、弗吉尼亚州议员。本篇演说发表于1775年3月23日弗吉尼亚州第二届议会上，在美国革命文献史上占有重要地位。
AcetheHole
Uandthesenewwordsbeforeyoureadthisarticle.
1.sentt[senti?nt]n.（对怜悯、怀旧等的）柔情；态度或意见；观点；意见
2.petition[piti??n]n.（许多人签名的向当权者提出某种要求的）请愿书
3.istry[?istri]n.（政府的）部门
4.reonstrate[r??n,stre?t]v.抗议；告诫
5.irresotion[i,rez?:??n]n.不决断，优柔寡断，犹豫不定
Mr.President,
NoanthksorehighlythanIdoofthepatriotis,aswellasabilities,oftheveryworthygentlenwhohavejtaddressedtheHoe.Butdifferentnoftehesasubjectdifferentlights;and,therefore,Ihopethatitwillnotbethoughtdisrespectfultothosegentlen,if,eagasIdo,opionsofacharacterveryoppositetotheirs,Ishallspeakforthysenttsfreelyandwithoutreserve.Thisisnotiforcereony.ThequestionbeforetheHoeisoneofawfulonttothisuntry.ForyownpartIasnothglessthanaquestionoffreedoorsvery;andproportiontotheagnitudeofthesubjectoughttobethefreedoofthedebate.Itisonlythiswaythatwehopetoarriveattruth,andfulfillthegreatresponsibilitywhichweholdtoGodandouruntry.ShouldIkeepbackyopionsatsuchati,throughfearofgivgoffence,Ishouldnsideryselfasguiltyoftreasontowardsyuntry,andofanactofdisloyaltytowardstheajestyofheaven,whichIrevereaboveallearthlykgs.
Mr.President,itisnaturaltoantodulgetheilsionsofhope.Weareapttoshutoureyesagastapafultruth,andlistentothesongofthatSiren,tillshetransforstobeasts.Isthisthepartofwisen,engagedagreatandarduleforliberty?Arewedisposedtobeofthenuberofthosewho,havgeye,seenot,andhavgears,hearnot,thethgswhichsonearlyheirteporalsalvation?Forypart,whateveranguishofspirititayst,Iawillgtoknowthewholetruth;toknowtheworstandtoprovideforit.
Ihavebutonepbywhichyfeetareguided;andthatisthepofexperience.Iknowofnowayofjudggofthefuturebutbythepast.Andjudggbythepast,IwishtoknowwhattherehasbeenthenductoftheBritishistryforthesttenyears,tojtifythosehopeswithwhichgentlenhavebeenpleasedtosocetheselvesandtheHoe?Isitthatsidiosilewithwhichourpetitionhasbeentelyreceived?Trtitnot,sir;itwillproveasoyourfeet.Suffernotyourselvestobetraywithakiss.Askyourselfhowthisgracioreceptionofourpetitionportswiththesewar-likepreparations,whichverourwatersanddarkenournd.Arefleetsandariesnecessarytoaworkofloveandrenciliation?Haveweshownourselvessounwillgtoberehatforcetbecalledtobackourlove?Letnotdeceiveourselves,sir.Thesearetheiplentsofwarandsubjugation;thestarguntstowhichkgsresort.Iaskgentlen,sir,whatansthisartialarray,ifitspurposebenottoforcetosubission?gentlenassignanyotherpossibleotivesforit?HasGreatBritaanyeney,thisquarteroftheworld,tocallforallthisauutionofnaviesandaries?No,sir,shehasheyareantfor;theybeantfornoother.TheyaresentovertobdandrivetuponthosechaswhichtheBritishistryhavebeensolongfg.Andwhathavewetoopposetothe?Shallwetryargunt?Sir,wehavebeentrygthatforthesttenyears.Haveweanythgoofferonthesubjeothg.Wehaveheldthesubjeeiveourselveslonger.Sir,wehavedoneeverythgthatuldbedooavertthestorwhichisnowgoioned;wehavereonstrated;wehavesupplicated;rostratedourselvesbeforethethrone,andhaveiploreditsterpositiontoarrestthetyrannicalhandsoftheistryandParliant.Ourpetitionshavebeenslighted;ourreonstrancehaveproducedadditionalviolendsult;oursupplicationshavebeendisregarded;andwehavebeenspurned,with,frothefootofthethrone.Inva,afterthesethgs,aywedulgethefondhopeofpeadrenciliation.Thereisnolongeranyrooforhope.Ifwewishtobefree—ifweantopreserveviotethoseestiableprivilegesforwhichwehavebeensolongntendg—ifweannotbaselytoabandontherugglewhichwehavebeensolongengaged,andwhichledgedourselvesoabandonuntiltheglorioobjectofourshallbeobtaed,wetfight!Irepeatit,sir,wetfight!AnappealtoarsandtotheGodofHostsisallthatisleft!
Theytell,sir,thatweareweak;uopewithsoforidableanadversary.Butwhenshallwebestronger?Willitbetheweek,ortheyear?Willitbewhenwearetotallydisard,andwhenaBritishguardshallbestationedeveryhoe?Shallwegatherstrengthbyirresotionanda?Shallweacquiretheansofeffectualresistance,bylygsupelyonourbacksandhugggthedesivephantoofhope,untiloureneiesshallhaveboundhandandfoot?Sir,wearenotweakifweakeapropereofthoseanswhichtheGodofnaturehathpcedourpower.Threeillionsofpeople,ardtheholycaeofliberty,andsuchauntryasthatwhichwepossess,arevciblebyanyforcewhichoureneysendagast.Besides,sir,weshallnotfightourbattlesalohereisajtGodwhopresidesoverthedestiesofnations,andwhowillraiseupfriendstofightourbattlesfor.Thebattle,sir,isnottothestrongaloistothevigt,theactive,thebrave.Besides,sir,wehaveion.Ifwewerebaseenoughtodesireit,itisnowtootetoretirefrothehereisreatbutsubissionandsvery!Ourchasarefed!TheirkgaybeheardonthepsofBoston!Thewarisevitable—ae!Irepeatit,sir,letite!
Itisva,sir,toexteheatter.GentlenaycryPeace,Peace—butthereisnopeace.Thewarisactuallybegun!Thegalethatsweepsfrothenorthwillbrgtoourearsthecshofresoundgars!Ourbrethrenarealreadythefield!Whystandwehereidle?Whatisitthatgentlenwish?Whatwouldtheyhave?Islifesodear,orpeacesosweet,astobepurchasedatthepriceofchasandsvery?Forbidit,AlightyGod!Iknownotwhaturseothersaytake;butasfiveliberty,ivedeath!