《獨立宣言》賞析(部分)

The Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERAICA

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 Natures God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

【翻譯】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繫,並按照自然法則和上帝的旨意,以獨立平等的身份立於世界列國之林時,出於對人類輿論的尊重,必須把驅使他們獨立的原因予以宣布。

【賞析】要理解這句句子,應該先按照解析大長句的首要原則:找到謂語動詞——requires。這句句子的主幹是:a respect requires that。

這句句子的第二個理解難點在於assume這個詞在此處的意義,與大家熟悉的「預設、假定」是不同的。其實assume還有一個在法律、政治文本里常見的意義:to take or begin to have power or responsibility 承擔(責任);就(職);取得(權利)。這一層的意義,同義詞是take。例句:Rebel force have assumed control of the capital. 反叛武裝力量已經控制了首都。那麼,在此處就是 "assume the separate and equal station" ——獲得獨立且平等的身份。

理解了句意,我們來體會一下,這一段說了什麼?我認為,這一段是從天賦人權的角度,提出了獨立的合法性。

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 Men, deriving their just powers 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.

【翻譯】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,而政府的正當權利,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利的方式,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。

【賞析】這一段所有 "that" 引導的句子,都是 "these truths" 的同位語。

這一段有一些常用的搭配,需要好好記憶:self-evident truth; all men are born/created equal and free; unalienable right; lay the foundation on。

有的同學對於這裡的 "effect" 有疑問——這不是一個名詞嗎?其實,這個單詞可以做動詞用。我們在這裡辨析一下 "affect" 和 "effect" 這兩個動詞。

affect verb = to have an influence on sb/sth 影響某人/某事

effect verb = is quite rare and formal and means to achieve or produce 這個詞做動詞罕見而且正式,意為實現、生產。

理解了句意,我們來體會一下,這一段說了什麼?我認為,這一段是上一段的具體闡釋說明——既具體細化了天賦的、無法剝奪的人權究竟是哪些,同時提出了一個民選政府為了確保人們的人權應該做什麼。以及,當政府無法確保人民的權益的時候,應該獨立——進一步強調了獨立的正當性。

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.

【翻譯】若真要審慎的來說,成立多年的政府是不應當由於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,人類還是情願忍受,也不想為申冤而廢除他們久已習慣了的政府形式。

【賞析】首先,"hath" 是古英語里 "have" 的第三人稱單數形式,等於現代英語里的 "has"。

其次,"dispose" 這個詞也有大家不熟悉的一層用法:be disposed to do = willing or prepared to do sth 傾向於;有意於;樂於。例句:Im not disposed to argue. 我無意爭論。

理解了句意,我們來體會一下,這一段說了什麼?這一句是一種讓步,分為明、暗兩條線索。明線說:不應該輕易提獨立兩個字,尤其是對於建立已久的政府,有些是該的。暗線:通過evil, suffer, be accustomed幾個詞的選擇,隱晦地提出了人們對於罪惡隱忍麻木是不對的。這一句是非常高明的春秋筆法。(想知道什麼是春秋筆法,請看我之前的推文。)

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 usurpations, all having in direct object tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

【翻譯】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於專制暴政之下時,人民就有權也有義務去推翻這樣的政府,並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,現將事實公諸於世,讓公正的世人作出評判。

【賞析】既然先抑了,那麼此處必然應該後揚。由於前面一句的讓步已經起到了鋪墊作用,這裡的轉折顯得鏗鏘有力。

《獨立宣言》是美國中學必學的一篇文章,不僅由於它的歷史意義,而且由於它是學術寫作的範本。看到這兒的你,好奇之後的內容寫了什麼嗎?如果通過賞析,你也喜歡上了這個文本,那麼歡迎繼續關注我之後的文章。

(本文中文翻譯來自中國日報網)


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