高级英语 Inaugural Address 笔记整理

L4. Inaugural Address

inaugural (adj.) : of an inauguration就职(典礼)的;

1. We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning -- signify ing renewal,as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath庄严的誓言our forebear s prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.

1.今天我们庆祝的不是政党的胜利，而是自由的胜利。这象征着一个结束，也象征着一个开端，表示了一种更新，也表示了一种变革。因为我已在你们和全能的上帝面前，宣读了我们的先辈在170多年前拟定的庄严誓言。

signify (v.) : be a sign or indication of；mean表明；意味

almighty (adj.) : having unlimited power；all—powerful有无限权力的；全能的forebear (n.) : an ancester 祖先，祖宗

prescribe (v.) : set down as a rule or direction；order；ordain；direct命令；指示；规定，订立

2.The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebear s fought are still at issue around the globe,1the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.

2. 现在的世界已大不相同了，人类的巨手掌握着既能消灭人间的各种贫困，又能毁灭人间的各种生活的力量。但我们的先辈为之奋斗的那些革命信念，在世界各地仍然有着争论。这个信念就是：人的权利井非来自国家的慷慨，而是来自上帝恩赐。

at issue : in dispute；to be decided；at variance；in disagreement意见不一致例：What is at issue is the extent to which exam results reflect a student’s a bility.意见的分歧之处在于考试对于学生能力的影响程度。

generosity (n.) : the quality of being generous慷慨；宽宏大量

3. We dare not forget today that we are the heir s of that first

revolution. Let the word go forth出发，向前去；发布from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered(strengthen, anneal, harden, toughen)

by war, disciplined(training, drill, exercise, method, practice, regimen, regulation) by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

3. 今天，我们不敢忘记我们是第一次革命的继承者。让我们的朋友和敌人同样听见我此时此地的讲话：火炬已经传给新一代美国人。这一代人在本世纪诞生，在战争中受过锻炼，在艰难困苦的和平时期受过陶冶，他们为我国悠久的传统感到自豪——他们不愿目睹或听任我国一向保证的、今天仍在国内外作出保证的人权渐趋毁灭。

heir (n.) : person who appears to get some trait from a predecessor or seems to carry on in his tradition继承者；后嗣

undoing (n.) : the act of bringing to ruin，disgrace，or destruction毁灭；破坏( ruin 颠覆(活动)；破坏)

4. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

4.让每个国家都知道——不论它希望我们繁荣还是希望我们衰落——为确保自由的存在和自由的胜利，我们将付出任何代价，承受任何负担，应付任何艰难，支持任何朋友，反抗任何敌人。

foe (n.) : enemy；opponent敌人

5.This much we pledge(promise, contract, engage, give one's oath, give one's word, swear, vow) -- and more2.

5.这些就是我们的保证——而且还有更多的保证。