如题所述
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
独立宣言
In Congress, July 4, 1776,
大陆会议(一七七六年七月四日)
THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
美利坚合众国十三个州一致通过的宣言
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds 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 opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
在有关人类事务的发展过程中,当一个民族必须解除其和另一个与之有关的民族之间的政治联系,并在世界各国之间,接受自然法则和自然界的造物主的旨意赋予的独立和平等的地位时,出于对人类舆论的尊重,必须把他们不得不独立的原因予以宣布。
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
他在我们中间煽动内乱,并且竭力挑唆那些残酷无情、没有开化的印第安人来杀掠我们边疆的居民;而众所周知,印第安人的作战律令是不分男女老幼,一律格杀勿论的。
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
在这些压迫的每一阶段中,我们都是用最谦卑的言辞请愿改善;但屡次请求所得到的答复是屡次遭受损害。一个君主,当他的品格已打上了暴君行为的烙印时,是不配作自由人民的统治者的。
Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.
We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpation, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
我们不是没有注意我们英国的弟兄。我们时常提醒他们,他们的立法机关企图把无理的管辖权横加到我们的头上。
我们也曾把我们移民出这里和在这里定居的情形告诉他们。我们曾经向他们天生的正义感和雅量呼吁,我们恳求他们念在同种同宗的份上,弃绝这些掠夺行为,以免影响彼此的关系和往来。但是他们却对于这种正义和血缘的呼声一直充耳不闻。因此,我们实在不得不宣布和他们脱离,并且以对待世界上其它民族一样的态度对待他们:战即为敌;和则为友。
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United 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 Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
因此,我们,在大陆会议上集会的美利坚合众国代表,以各殖民地善良人民的名义并经他们授权,向全世界最崇高的正义呼吁,说明我们的严正意向,同时郑重宣布;这些联合的殖民地是而且有权成为自由和独立的国家,它们取消一切对英国王室效忠的义务,它们和大不列颠国家之间的一切政治关系从此全部断绝,而且必须断绝;
作为自由独立的国家,它们完全有权宣战、缔和、结盟、通商和独立国家有权去做的一切行动。为了支持这篇宣言,我们坚决信赖上帝的庇佑,以我们的生命、我们的财产和我们神圣的名誉,彼此宣誓。
扩展资料
《独立宣言》由四部分组成:
第一部分为前言,阐述了宣言的目的。
第二部分高度概括了当时资产阶级最激进的政治思想,即自然权利学说和主权在民思想。
第三部分历数英国压迫北美殖民地人民的条条罪状,说明殖民地人民是在忍无可忍的情况下被迫拿起武器的,力陈独立的合法性和正义性。
在宣言的最后一部分,美利坚庄严宣告独立。《独立宣言》并非1776年7月4日签署的,7月4日是决议采用宣言的日期,之后进行了印刷。议会代表们大多于1776年8月2日签署本宣言。