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世界上最偉大的演講--Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death 不自由,毋寧死

Give Me Liberty Or Give MeDeath

Patrick Henry, March 23,1775.

No man thinks more highlythan I do of thepatriotism¹,as well as abilities, of the veryworthy²gentlemenwho have just addressed the House. But different men often see thesame subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it willnot be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining asI do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shallspeakforth³mysentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time forceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment tothis country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than aquestion of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitudeof the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only inthis way that we can hope to arrive at truth,andfulfill⁴thegreat responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should Ikeep back my opinions at such a time, through fear ofgivingoffense⁵,I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country,and of an act of disloyalty toward theMajesty⁶ofHeaven, which Irevere⁷aboveall earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is naturalto man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut oureyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that sirentill she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men,engaged in a great andarduous⁸strugglefor liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who,having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things whichso nearly concern their temporalsalvation⁹?For my part, whateveranguish¹⁰ofspirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to knowthe worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by whichmy feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know ofno way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by thepast, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of theBritishministry¹¹forthe last ten years tojustify¹²thosehopes with which gentlemen have been pleasedtosolace¹³themselvesand the House. Is it thatinsidious¹⁴smilewith which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not,sir; it will prove asnare¹⁵toyour feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Askyourselves how this gracious reception of ourpetitioncomports¹⁶withthose warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken ourland. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of loveandreconciliation¹⁷?Have we shown ourselves sounwilling¹⁸tobe reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love?Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These aretheimplements¹⁹ofwar andsubjugation²⁰;the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir,what means thismartial²¹array,if its purpose be not to force us tosubmission²²?Can gentlemen assign any other possiblemotive²³forit? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, tocall for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, shehas none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other.They are sent over tobind²⁴andrivet²⁵uponus those chains which the British ministry have been so longforging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument?Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have weanything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held thesubject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has beenall in vain. Shall we resort toentreaty²⁶andhumble²⁷supplication²⁸?What terms shall we find which have not beenalreadyexhausted²⁹?Let us not, Ibeseech³⁰you,sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could bedone toavert³¹thestorm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; wehaveremonstrated³²;we havesupplicated³³;we haveprostrated³⁴ourselvesbefore the throne, and haveimplored³⁵itsinterposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry andParliament. Our petitions have been slighted; ourremonstrances³⁶haveproduced additional violence and insult; our supplications havebeen disregarded; and we have beenspurned³⁷,with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after thesethings, 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 wemean to preserveinviolate³⁸thoseinestimable privileges for which we have been so longcontending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle inwhich we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledgedourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contestshall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight!An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is leftus!

They tell us, sir, that weare weak; unable to cope with so formidableanadversary³⁹.But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or thenext year? Will it be when we are totallydisarmed⁴⁰,and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shallwe gather strength byirresolution⁴¹andinaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance bylying supinely on our backs and huggingthedelusive⁴²phantom⁴³ofhope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, weare not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the Godof nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armedin the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that whichwe possess, areinvincible⁴⁴byany force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, weshall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presidesover the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends tofight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strongalone; it is to thevigilant⁴⁵,the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If wewere base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire fromthe contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Ourchains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains ofBoston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir,let it come.

It is in vain, sir,toextenuate⁴⁶thematter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace.The war is actually begun! The nextgale⁴⁷thatsweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clashofresounding⁴⁸arms!Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? Whatis it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear,or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains andslavery? Forbid it,Almighty⁴⁹God!I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give meliberty or give me death!

不自由，毋寧死

在弗吉尼亞州議會上的演講

（美國）亨利1775年3月23日

主席先生：

沒有人比我更欽佩剛剛在會議上發(fā)言的先生們的愛國精神與見識才能。但是，人們常常從不同的角度來觀察同一事物。因此，盡管我的觀點與他們截然不同，我還是要毫無顧忌、毫無保留地講出自己的觀點，并希望不要因此而被認(rèn)為是對先生們的不敬。此時不是講客氣話的時候，擺在各位代表面前的是國家存亡的大問題，我認(rèn)為，這是關(guān)系到享受自由還是蒙受奴役的大問題。鑒于它事關(guān)重大，我們的辯論應(yīng)該允許各抒己見。只有這樣，我們才有可能搞清事物的真相，才有可能不辱于上帝和祖國所賦予我們的偉大使命。在這種時刻，如果怕冒犯各位的尊嚴(yán)而緘口不語，我將認(rèn)為自己是對祖國的背叛和對此世界上任何國君都更為神圣的上帝的不忠。

主席先生，沉湎于希望的幻覺是人的天性。我們有閉目不愿正視痛苦現(xiàn)實的傾向，有傾聽女海妖的惑人歌聲的傾向，可那是能將人化為禽獸的惑人的歌聲。這難道是在這場為獲得自由而從事的艱苦卓絕的斗爭中，一個聰明人所應(yīng)持的態(tài)度嗎?難道我們愿意做那種對這關(guān)系到是否蒙受奴役的大問題視而不見充耳不聞的人嗎?就我個人而論，無論在精神上承受任何痛苦，我也愿意知道真理，知道最壞的情況，并為之做好一切準(zhǔn)備。

我只有一盞指路明燈，那就是經(jīng)驗之燈，除了以往的經(jīng)驗以外，我不知道還有什么更好的方法來判斷未來。而即要以過去的經(jīng)驗為依據(jù)，我倒希望知道，10年來英國政府的所作所為中有哪一點足以證明先生們用以欣然安慰自己及各位代表的和平希望呢?難道就是最近接受我們請愿時所流露出的陰險微笑嗎?不要相信它，先生，那是在您腳下挖的陷阱。不要讓人家的親吻把您給出賣了。請諸位自問，接受我們請愿時的和善微笑與這如此大規(guī)模的海、陸戰(zhàn)爭準(zhǔn)備是否相稱。難道艦艇和軍隊是對我們的愛護(hù)和戰(zhàn)爭調(diào)停的必要手段嗎?難道為了解決爭端，贏得自己的愛而訴諸武力，我們就應(yīng)該表現(xiàn)出如此的不情愿嗎?我們不要自己欺騙自己了，先生，這些都是戰(zhàn)爭和征服的工具，是國君采取的最后爭執(zhí)手段。主席先生，我要向主張和解的先生請教，這些戰(zhàn)爭部署究竟意味著什么?如果說其目的不在于迫使我們屈服的話，那么哪位先生能指出其動機(jī)所在?在我們這塊土地上，還有哪些對手值得大不列顛征集如此規(guī)模的海陸軍隊嗎?不，先生，沒有其他對手了。一切都是針對我們而來，而不是針對別人。英國政府如此長久地鍛造出的鎖鏈要來桎梏我們了，我們該何以抵抗?還要靠辯論嗎?先生，我們已經(jīng)辯論10年了，可辯論出什么更好的抵御措施了嗎?沒有。我們已從各種角度考慮過了，但一切均是枉然。難道我們還要求救于哀告與祈求嗎?難道我們還有什么更好方法未被采用嗎?勿需尋找了，先生，我懇求您，千萬不要自己欺騙自己了。我們已經(jīng)做了應(yīng)該做的一切，來阻止這場即已來臨的戰(zhàn)爭風(fēng)暴。我們請愿過了，我們抗議過了，我們哀求過了，我們也曾拜倒在英國王的寶座下，懇求他出面干預(yù)，制裁國會和內(nèi)閣中的殘暴者?？晌覀兊恼堅甘艿捷p侮，我們的抗議招致了新的暴力，我們的哀求被人家置之不理，我們被人家輕蔑地一腳從御座前踢開了。事到如今，我們再也不能沉迷于虛無縹緲的和平希望之中了。希望已不能存在!假如我們想得到自由，并拯救我們?yōu)橹L期奮斗的珍貴權(quán)力的話；假如我們不愿徹底放棄我們長期所從事的，曾經(jīng)發(fā)誓不取得最后的勝利而決不放棄的光榮斗爭的話，那么，我們必須戰(zhàn)斗!我再重復(fù)一遍，必須戰(zhàn)斗!我們的唯一出路只有訴諸武力，求助于戰(zhàn)爭之神。

主席先生，他們說我們的力量太單薄了，不能與如此強(qiáng)大兇猛的敵人抗衡。但是，我們何時才能強(qiáng)大起來呢?是下周?還是明年?還是等到我們完全被繳械，家家戶戶都駐守著英國士兵的時候呢?難道我們就這樣仰面高臥，緊抱著那虛無縹緲的和平幻覺不放，直到敵人把我們的手腳都束縛起來的時候，才能獲得有效的防御手段嗎?先生們，如果我們能妥善利用自然之神賜予我們的有利條件，我們就不弱小。如果我們?nèi)偃f人民在自己的國土上，為神圣的自由事業(yè)而武裝起來，那么任何敵人都是無法戰(zhàn)勝我們的。此外，先生們，我們并非孤軍作戰(zhàn)，主宰各民族命運的正義之神，會號召朋友們?yōu)槲覀兌鴳?zhàn)。先生們，戰(zhàn)爭的勝負(fù)不僅僅取決于力量的強(qiáng)弱，勝利永遠(yuǎn)屬于那些機(jī)警的、主動的、勇敢的人們。況且，我們已沒有選擇余地了。即使我們那樣沒有骨氣，想退出這場戰(zhàn)爭，也為時晚矣!我們已毫無退路，除非甘愿受屈辱和奴役!囚禁我們的鎖鏈已經(jīng)鑄就，波士頓草原上已經(jīng)響起鐐銬的叮當(dāng)響聲。戰(zhàn)爭已不可避免--那么就讓它來吧!我再重復(fù)一遍，就讓它來吧!

回避現(xiàn)實是毫無用處的。先生們會高喊：和平!和平!但和平安在?實際上，戰(zhàn)爭已經(jīng)開始，從北方刮來的大風(fēng)都會將武器的鏗鏘回響送進(jìn)我們的耳鼓。我們的同胞已身在疆場了，我們?yōu)槭裁催€要站在這袖手旁觀呢?先生們希望的是什么?想要達(dá)到什么目的?生命就那么可貴?和平就那么甜美!甚至不惜以戴鎖鏈、受奴役的代價來換取嗎?全能的上帝啊，阻止這一切吧!在這場斗爭中，我不知道別人會如何行事，至于我，不自由，毋寧死!

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