美国语文第六册 第196期:教育的必要性(2)

（单词翻译）

Her destiny is our destiny; and the day that her gallant¹ ship goes down, our little boat sinks in the vortex!

一个国家的命运就是我们共同的命运；一个国家雄伟的战舰沉没之日，对我们来讲不过是一条小船沉在漩涡中而已！

The great experiment is now making, and from its extent and rapid filling up, is making in the West,

现在形成的这一伟大的经验，从其广度和迅速累积的程度而言，就是西方的滥觞，

whether the perpetuity of our republican institutions can be reconciled with universal suffrage².

不论我们的共和政体的恒久性是否能通过普选制度而达到和谐一致。

Without the education of the head and heart of the nation, they can not be;

没有教育这个大脑和国家的核心价值，不可能做到这一点。

and the question to be decided³ is, can the nation, or the vast balance power of it,

问题的关键在于，国家或者其巨大的平衡力量能否富有智慧和优点，

be so imbued⁴ with intelligence and virtue⁵ as to bring out, in laws and their administration, a perpetual self-preserving energy.

并使之付诸于法律的制定和管理当中，以及具有恒久的保持自我的能力。

We know that the work is a vast one, and of great difficulty; and yet we believe it can be done.

我们清楚这是一个浩大的工程，面临巨大困难。但是，我们相信这个工程能够完成。

I am aware that our ablest patriots⁶ are looking out on the deep,

我知道我们最杰出的爱国者临渊而立，

vexed⁷ with storms, with great forebodings and failings of heart, for fear of the things that are coming upon us;

为暴风雨，为对不祥的预感和勇气的丧失所恼，这是基于对即将到来的麻烦的担心。

and I perceive a spirit of impatience⁸ rising, and distrust in respect to the perpetuity of our republic;

我觉察到焦躁情绪正在积郁，不相信我们的共和政体能够恒久地保持下去。

and I am sure that these fears are well founded, and am glad that they exist.

我可以肯定的是，这些担心完全有道理，欣然接受这些担心的存在。

It is the star of hope in our dark horizon.

这是我们黑暗的地平线上升起的希望之星。

Fear is what we need, as the ship needs wind on a rocking sea, after a storm, to prevent foundering⁹.

担心是我们需要的，正如暴风雨过后在波涛汹涌的海上船只需要风才能防止船帆落下一样。