(单词翻译:单击)
On Friday evening last I received from His Majesty1 the mission to form a new administration. It was the evident will of' Parliament and the nation that this should be conceived on the broadest possible basis and that it should include all parties.
I have already completed the most important part of this task.
A war cabinet has been formed of five members, representing, with the Labour, Opposition2, and Liberals, the unity3 of the nation. It was necessary that this should be done in one single day on account of the extreme urgency and rigor4 of events. Other key positions were filled yesterday. I am submitting a further list to the king tonight. I hope to complete the appointment of principal ministers during tomorrow.
The appointment of other ministers usually takes a little longer. I trust when Parliament meets again this part of my task will be completed and that the administration will be complete in all respects. I considered it in the public interest to suggest to the Speaker that the House should be summoned today. At the end of today's proceedings5, the adjournment6 of the House will be proposed until May 21 with provision for earlier meeting if need be. Business for that will be notified to MPs at the earliest opportunity.
I now invite the House by a resolution to record its approval of the steps taken and declare its confidence in the new government.
The resolution:
"That this House welcomes the formation of a government representing the united and inflexible7 resolve of the nation to prosecute8 the war with Germany to a victorious9 conclusion."
To form an administration of this scale and complexity10 is a serious undertaking11 in itself. But we are in the preliminary phase of one of the greatest battles in history. We are in action at many other points-in Norway and in Holland-and we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean12. The air battle is continuing, and many preparations have to be made here at home.
In this crisis I think I may be pardoned if 1 do not address the House at any length today, and I hope that any of my friends and colleagues or former colleagues who are affected13 by the political reconstruction14 will make all allowances for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act.
I say to the House as I said to ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil15, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal16 of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering.
You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea, and air. War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous17 tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable18 catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.
You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs - Victory in spite of all terrors - Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.
Let that be realized. No survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge, the impulse of the ages, that mankind shall move forward toward his goal.
I take up my task in buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. I feel entitled at this juncture19, at this time, to claim the aid of all and to say, "Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength."
1 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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2 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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3 unity | |
n.团结,联合,统一;和睦,协调 | |
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4 rigor | |
n.严酷,严格,严厉 | |
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5 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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6 adjournment | |
休会; 延期; 休会期; 休庭期 | |
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7 inflexible | |
adj.不可改变的,不受影响的,不屈服的 | |
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8 prosecute | |
vt.告发;进行;vi.告发,起诉,作检察官 | |
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9 victorious | |
adj.胜利的,得胜的 | |
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10 complexity | |
n.复杂(性),复杂的事物 | |
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11 undertaking | |
n.保证,许诺,事业 | |
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12 Mediterranean | |
adj.地中海的;地中海沿岸的 | |
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13 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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14 reconstruction | |
n.重建,再现,复原 | |
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15 toil | |
vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
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16 ordeal | |
n.苦难经历,(尤指对品格、耐力的)严峻考验 | |
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17 monstrous | |
adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的 | |
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18 lamentable | |
adj.令人惋惜的,悔恨的 | |
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19 juncture | |
n.时刻,关键时刻,紧要关头 | |
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