GiveMeLiberty,OrGiveMeDeath
帕特裡克·亨利/PatrickHenry
帕特裡克·亨利（1736—1799），美國革命時期傑出的政治家、演說家，曾任律師、弗吉尼亞州議員。本篇演說發表於1775年3月23日弗吉尼亞州第二屆議會上，在美國革命文獻史上佔有重要地位。
AceintheHole
Understandthesenewwordsbeforeyoureadthisarticle.
1.sentimentn.(對憐憫、懷舊等的)柔情；態度或意
見；觀點；意見
2.petitionn.(許多人簽名的向當權者提出某種要求的)
請願書
3.ministryn.(政府的)部門
4.remonstratev.抗議；告誡
5.irresolutionn.不決斷，優柔寡斷，猶豫不定
Mr.President,
NomanthinksmorehighlythanIdoofthepatriotism,aswellasabilities,oftheveryworthygentlemenwhohavejustaddressedtheHouse.Butdifferentmenoftenseethesamesubjectindifferentlights;and,therefore,Ihopethatitwillnotbethoughtdisrespectfultothosegentlemen,if,entertainingasIdo,opinionsofacharacterveryoppositetotheirs,Ishallspeakforthmysentimentsfreelyandwithoutreserve.Thisisnotimeforceremony.ThequestionbeforetheHouseisoneofawfulmomenttothiscountry.FormyownpartIconsideritasnothinglessthanaquestionoffreedomorslavery;andinproportiontothemagnitudeofthesubjectoughttobethefreedomofthedebate.Itisonlyinthiswaythatwecanhopetoarriveattruth,andfulfillthegreatresponsibilitywhichweholdtoGodandourcountry.ShouldIkeepbackmyopinionsatsuchatime,throughfearofgivingoffence,Ishouldconsidermyselfasguiltyoftreasontowardsmycountry,andofanactofdisloyaltytowardsthemajestyofheaven,whichIrevereaboveallearthlykings.
Mr.President,itisnaturaltomantoindulgeintheillusionsofhope.Weareapttoshutoureyesagainstapainfultruth,andlistentothesongofthatSiren,tillshetransformsusintobeasts.Isthisthepartofwisemen,engagedinagreatandarduousstruggleforliberty?Arewedisposedtobeofthenumberofthosewho,havingeye,seenot,andhavingears,hearnot,thethingswhichsonearlyconcerntheirtemporalsalvation?Formypart,whateveranguishofspirititmaycost,Iamwillingtoknowthewholetruth;toknowtheworstandtoprovideforit.
Ihavebutonelampbywhichmyfeetareguided;andthatisthelampofexperience.Iknowofnowayofjudgingofthefuturebutbythepast.Andjudgingbythepast,IwishtoknowwhattherehasbeenintheconductoftheBritishministryforthelasttenyears,tojustifythosehopeswithwhichgentlemenhavebeenpleasedtosolacethemselvesandtheHouse?Isitthatinsidioussmilewithwhichourpetitionhasbeenlatelyreceived?Trustitnot,sir;itwillproveasnaretoyourfeet.Suffernotyourselvestobetraywithakiss.Askyourselfhowthisgraciousreceptionofourpetitioncomportswiththesewar-likepreparations,whichcoverourwatersanddarkenourland.Arefleetsandarmiesnecessarytoaworkofloveandreconciliation?Haveweshownourselvessounwillingtobereconciled,thatforcemustbecalledintowinbackourlove?Letusnotdeceiveourselves,sir.Thesearetheimplementsofwarandsubjugation;thelastargumentstowhichkingsresort.Iaskgentlemen,sir,whatmeansthismartialarray,ifitspurposebenottoforceustosubmission?Cangentlemenassignanyotherpossiblemotivesforit?HasGreatBritainanyenemy,inthisquarteroftheworld,tocallforallthisaccumulationofnaviesandarmies?No,sir,shehasnone.Theyaremeantforus;theycanbemeantfornoother.TheyaresentovertobindandrivetuponusthosechainswhichtheBritishministryhavebeensolongforging.Andwhathavewetoopposetothem?Shallwetryargument?Sir,wehavebeentryingthatforthelasttenyears.Haveweanythingnewtoofferonthesubject?Nothing.Wehaveheldthesubjectupineverylightofwhichitiscapable;butithasbeenallinvain.Shallweresorttoentreatyandhumblesupplication?Whattermsshallwefindwhichhavenotbeenalreadyexhausted?Letusnot,Ibeseechyou,sir,deceiveourselveslonger.Sir,wehavedoneeverythingthatcouldbedone,toavertthestormwhichisnowcomingon.Wehavepetitioned;wehaveremonstrated;wehavesupplicated;wehaveprostratedourselvesbeforethethrone,andhaveimploreditsinterpositiontoarrestthetyrannicalhandsoftheministryandParliament.Ourpetitionshavebeenslighted;ourremonstrancehaveproducedadditionalviolenceandinsult;oursupplicationshavebeendisregarded;andwehavebeenspurned,withcontempt,fromthefootofthethrone.Invain,afterthesethings,mayweindulgethefondhopeofpeaceandreconciliation.Thereisnolongeranyroomforhope.Ifwewishtobefree—ifwemeantopreserveinviolatethoseinestimableprivilegesforwhichwehavebeensolongcontending—ifwemeannotbaselytoabandonthenoblestruggleinwhichwehavebeensolongengaged,andwhichwehavepledgedourselvesnevertoabandonuntilthegloriousobjectofourcontestshallbeobtained,wemustfight!Irepeatit,sir,wemustfight!AnappealtoarmsandtotheGodofHostsisallthatisleftus!