书城励志世界上最伟大的演说辞
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第54章 自由的呐喊——“五月花号”公约

The Mayflower Compact

Practicing for Better Learning

Listen to the following article, and fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the __________, of __________, __________ and __________, defender of the faith, etc., having undertaken.

In the name of God, Amen.

We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland King, defender of the faith, etc., having undertaken.

For the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid and by virtue hereof to enact constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

In witness whereof we have here under subscribed our names at Cape Cod the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620.

参考译文

以上帝的名义,阿门。

我等签约人,信仰的捍卫者,蒙上帝保佑的大不列颠、法兰西和爱尔兰的国王詹姆斯国王陛下的忠顺臣民。

为了上帝的荣耀,为了增进基督教信仰,为了我们国王和国家的荣誉,我们远涉重洋,在弗吉尼亚北部开拓第一块殖民地。我们在上帝面前一起庄严地盟誓签约,自愿结成民众自治团体。为使上述目的得以顺利实施、维护和发展,也为了将来能随时依此而制定和颁布有益于殖民地全体民众利益的公正与平等的法律、法规、法案、宪章和公职,我们全体都保证遵守和服从。

据此于公元1620年11月11日,于英格兰、法兰西、爱尔兰十八世国王暨苏格兰五十四世国王詹姆斯陛下在位之年,我等在卡德角签署姓名如下。

历史链接

1620年11月11日,在经过66天的海上漂泊之后,“五月花号”帆船向北美大陆靠近。他们的目的地本来是哈德逊河口地区,但由于海上风浪险恶,他们错过了目标,于是就在现在的卡德角外的普利茅斯港抛锚。

在上岸之前,41名男乘客签订了一份公约,目的是为了建立一个大家都能受到约束的自治基础。在这份后来被称为《“五月花号”公约》的文件里,签署人立誓创立一个自治团体,这个团体是基于被管理者的同意而成立的,并且将依法治理这块土地上的一切事务。

Practicing for Better Learning

Listen to the article again, and answer the following questions.

1. State the background of the compact.

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. The Mayflower Compact is known as“American’s Birth Certificate”, do

you know why?

Now a Try

Translate the following sentences into English with the expressions in

the article.

1. 我每年都害怕过万圣节。

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. 到目前为止,这项法律仍未通过审核。

___________________________________________________________________________________

3. 我从未持有过这种观点。

Chunks in Practice

Listen to the article once wore, and fill in the blanks with appropriate

words.

1. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal ________ our dread sovereign

Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland

King, defender of ________, etc., having undertaken.

2. In witness ________ we have here under subscribed our names at Cape Cod

the 11th of November, in the year of ________ our sovereign lord.