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(5)Declaration of Independence原文与翻译


Declaration of Independence (excerpts)

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinion of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained, and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for rectitude of our intentions do, in the Name, and by authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these Unit

ed Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliance, establish Commerce, and to do all other acts and things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this DECLRATION, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

美国独立宣言(节选)
在人类历史事件的进程中,当一个民族必须解除其与另一个民族之间迄今存在的政治联系、而在世界列国之中取得那自然法则和自然神明所规定给他们的独立与平等的地位时,就有一种真诚的尊重人类公意的心理,要求他们一定要把那些迫使他们不得已而独立的原因宣布出来。
我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的:人人生而平等,他们都从他们的“造物主”那里被赋予了某些不可转让的权利,其中包括生命权、自由权、追求幸福的权利。为了保障这些权利,才在人们中间成立政府。而政府的正当权力,则来源于被统治者的同意。一旦任何一种形式的政府变成了损害这些目的的政府,则人民有权改变它或废除它,以建立新的政府。这种新的政府必须建立在这样的原则基础上,并按照这样的方式来组织其权力机关,以便在人民看来它是最能够保障他们的安全与幸福的。诚然,谨慎的心理会主宰着人们的意识,使之认为不应该为了某些轻微的、暂时的原因而把设立已久的政府加以更换;而且过去的经验也都表明,只要政府的罪恶尚可容忍时,人类总是宁愿默然忍受,而不愿废除他们久已习惯的政府形式以恢复他们自己的权利。然而,当一个政府恶贯满盈、倒行逆施、一贯地企图把人民抑压在绝对专制主义的淫威之下时,人民就有权利、有义务把那样的政府推翻,而为人民自己未来的安全建立新的保障。我们这些殖民地,过去一向忍气吞声,而现在却被迫必须起来改变原先的政治体制,其原因即在于此。现今大不列颠国王的历史,就是一部怙恶不悛、倒行逆施的历史;他的一切措施都为了这样一个直接目的:在我们各州建立一种绝对专制的统治。为了证明这一点,特向公正的世界人士陈述下列事实。
大不列颠国王一向拒绝批准那些对于公共福利最有用、最必要的法律。
他一向禁止他的总督们批准那些紧急而迫切需要的法律,除非在他本人同意以前暂缓生效;而在“暂缓”期间,他却完全置之不理。
……
他此刻正调遣大

量外籍雇佣军,要把我们斩尽杀绝,使我们庐舍为墟,受躏于暴君专制;他已经开始造成的残酷和背信弃义的气氛,即使在人类上最野蛮的时期也是罕有其匹的;他完全不配做一个文明国家的元首了。
……
因此,我们这些聚会于大会中的美利坚合众国代表们,吁请世界人士的最高裁判,来判断我们这些意图的正义性;我们以这些殖民地善良人民的名义和权利,谨庄严地宣布并昭告:这些联合殖民地从此成为,而且名正言顺地应当成为,自由独立的合众国,他们解除对于英皇的一切隶属关系,而他们与大不列颠王国之间的一切政治联系,亦从此完全废止。作为自由独立的合众国,它们享有全权去宣战、媾和、缔结同盟、建立商务关系,以及采取独立国家所理应采取的其他一切行动和事宜。为了拥护此《宣言》,怀着对神明福佑的坚强信心,我们谨以我们的生命、财产和神圣的荣誉,互相共同保证,永誓无二。
(王宏印译)

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