书城励志世界上最伟大的演说辞
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第67章 奴隶与自由民

Bondmen and Freemen

约翰·保尔 / John Ball

约翰·保尔(?—1381),英国传教士与社会改革家。原为肯特郡神父,因宣传无阶级社会,抨击社会不公,反对教会和封建领主,1366年被坎特伯雷大主教开除教籍。但他的反叛精神丝毫不减,依然在市场或任何可能的场合进行说教,被上层人物咒为“肯特郡疯牧师”。1376年起屡遭监禁。1381年泰勒农民起义爆发后,他加入并领导起义队伍前往伦敦。沿途发表演说,呼吁杀尽贵族和主教,应者甚众,被起义农民誉为“平民演说家”。起义失败后不幸被捕,惨遭绞刑。

Ace in the Hole

Understand these new words before you listen to this article.

1. oppression n. 压迫,压制;压抑,郁闷

2. despatch v. 派遣

3. bethink v. 考虑,开始想;(被)想起,提醒

4. nobility n. 贵族阶层;高贵,高尚,崇高

5. dignity n. 庄严,端庄,尊严;高尚,尊贵,高贵

When Adam delved and Eve span,who was then the gentleman?

From the beginning all men by nature were created alike, and our bondage or servitude came in by the unjust oppression of naughty men. For if God would have had any bondmen from the beginning, he would have appointed who should be bond, and who free. And therefore I exhort you to consider that now the time is come, appointed to us by God, in which ye may (if ye will) cast off the yoke of bondage, and recover liberty. I counsel you therefore well to bethink yourselves, and to take good hearts unto you, that after the manner of a good husband that tilleth his ground, and riddeth out thereof such evil weeds as choke and destroy the good corn, you may destroy first the great lords of the realm, and after, the judges and lawyers, and questmongers, and all other who have undertaken to be against the commons. For so shall you procure peace andsurety to yourselves in time to come; and by despatching out of the way the great men, there shall be an equality in liberty, and no difference in degrees of nobility; but a like dignity and equal authority in all things brought in among you.

参考译文

亚当和夏娃男耕女织时,又有谁是绅士呢?

上帝造人之初,把所有的人都造得彼此相同,我们被束缚、奴役,都是万恶之人不公正的压榨带来的。因为如果上帝一开始就要创造奴隶,他必定会指定谁为奴隶,谁该享有自由。因此我劝你们考虑,上帝为我们指定的时刻现已到来,现在(只要你们愿意)就可以摆脱身上的枷锁,重获自由了。因此我建议你们深思,鼓足勇气,就像一个精明的农夫,先耕耘田地,再拔除扼杀庄稼的恶草一样,你们也可以先消灭国王的大贵族,然后清除那些法官、律师、探子和一切与平民百姓作对的人。只有这样,在未来的某一天,你们才能获得和平与安宁。除掉那些大人物后,就能得到平等自由,不会再有高低贵贱的等级差别。你们将得到在一切事物上的同等尊严和权威。

Practicing for Better Learning

Listen to the article again, and answer the questions below.

State the credendum mentioned in the article as much as possible.

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Chunks in Practice

Listen to the article once more, and fill in the blanks with appropriate

words.

1. From the beginning all men by nature were created__________, and our

bondage or servitude came in by the__________oppression of naughty men.

2. And__________I exhort you to consider that now the time is come, appointed

to us by God, in which ye may (if ye will)__________the yoke of bondage, and

recover liberty.

Now a Try

Translate the following sentences into English with the expressions in

the article.

1.他难以与这个孩子建立亲属关系。

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2. 希望你尽快从这场灾难中恢复过来。

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3. 他主动承担了修复大楼的工作。