美文——give me liberty or give me death
Let us not， I beseech you， sir， deceive ourselves longer．Sir， we have done everything that could be done to avert thestorm which Is now coming on． We have petitionedL: We haveremon strated； we have supplicated； we have prostrated our-selves before the throne， and have implored its interpositionto arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament．Our petitions have been slighted； our remonstrances have produced additional，Violence and insult； our supplications havepeen disregarded; and we have been spurned， with contempt，from the foot of the throne! In vain， after these things，maywe indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation． there isno longer any room for hope． if wewish to be free, if we mean to pre-serve inviolate those inestimable privi-leges for which we have been solong contending if we mean not baselyto abandon the noble struggle in whichwe have been so long engaged， andwhich we have pledged ourselvesnever to abanddon until the gloriousob ject of our contes shall be be ob-tained——we must fight! I repeatit, sir， we must fight! An appeal toarms and to the God of Hosts is allthat is left us!They tell us， sir， that we areweak: unable to cope with so formi-dable an adversary． But when shallwe be stronger? Will it be the nextweek， or the next year? Will it beWhen we are totally disarmed， andwhen a British guard shall be sta-tioned in every house? Shall we gatherstrength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of ef-fectual resistance by lying supinelyon our backs and hugging the delu-sive phantom of hope， until our en-emies shall have bound us hand andfoot?
Sir, we are not weak we makea proper use of those means whichthe God of nature hath placed inour power． Three millions of people，armed in the holy cause of liberty，and in such a country as that whichwe possess， are invincible by anyforce which our enemy can sendagainst us． Besides， sir， we shallnot fight our battles alpne. There isa just God who presides over the destinies of nations， and who will raiseup friends to fight our battles forus．
The battle， Sir， is not to the strong alone； it is to the vigilant，the active， the brave．Besies， Sir，we have no election． If we were base enough to desire it， it is now toolate to retire from the contest． Thereis no retreat but in submissions lavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains Of Boston! The war is inevitable——and let it come! I repeat it, sir， let itcome．
it iS in vain， sir， to extenrate thematter， Gentlemen may cry， Peace，Peace——but there is no peace． The
war is actually begun! The next galethat sweeps from the north will bringto our ears the clash of resoundingarms! Our brothers are already inthe field! Why stand we here idle?What is it that gentlemen wish?Whatwould they have? Is life so dear，orpeace so sweet， as to be purchasedat the price of chains and slavery?Forbid it, Almighty God! I know notwhat course others may take; butas for me， give me liberty or give me death!
帕特里克·亨利(1736—1799)，北美律师及政治家。北美独立前，不少人主张请愿和谈以减轻英国压迫，亨利坚决反对妥协。本文是他于1775年3月23日在弗吉尼亚州议会发表的演说。
……各位先生，我恳求你们不要再欺骗自己了。为了阻止这即将来临的风暴，我们已经做到了我们力所能及的一切：我们曾请愿，抗议，恳求；我们也曾在英王宝座前卑躬屈膝。哀求英王逮捕内阁和国会的专制分子。但是，我们的请愿是白费口舌。我们的抗议招致了更多的镇压和羞辱，我们的恳求受到漠视。我们在宝座前被轻蔑地一脚踢开!尽管我们一厢情愿得到和平与谅解，但这一切都是徒劳的。如果我们希望得到自由，如果我们真要维护长期以来为之奋斗、使之不受侵犯的神圣权利，如果我们不想卑鄙地放弃我们长期进行、不达目的誓不罢休的崇高斗争，我们就必须作战!先生，我重复一句，我们必须作战!我们只有诉诸武力，求助于万物之主的上帝了!
先生，他们说我们力量弱小，无法对付如此可怕的对手。但是什么肘候我们才会强大起来?下星期还是明年?是不是要等到我们完全被解除武装、家家户户都驻扎了英国士兵的时候?我们优柔寡断、无所作为就能积聚力量吗?我们高枕而卧、心存侥幸；等到敌人让我们束手就擒的时候，我们就能找到有效的御敌办法吗?
先生，如果能恰当地利用万物之主赋予我们的力量，我们并不弱小。我们有三百万为争取神圣自由而武装起来的战士，我们拥有这样的国家，那么。不论敌人派来什么军队，他们都不能战胜我们。此外，我们并非孤军作战。公平的上帝主宰着一切国家的命运，他会召唤我们的朋友起来与我们并肩战斗。
先生，不一定强者才会取得胜利，高度警惕、积极勇敢的人也会取胜。而且我们也已经别无选择了。即使我们卑鄙怯懦，希望寻找别的道路，但现在要退出战斗也已太迟了。后退就是投降!后退就将沦为奴隶!我们的枷锁已经铸好，镣铐声在波士顿的平原上也已清晰可闻!战争已经无可避免——让它来吧!先生，我再重复一遍：让它来吧!
先生，大事化小，小事化了的做法是没有意义的。诸位可以呼吁和平，但是和平并不存在。事实上，战争已经开始!不久北方刮起的风暴即将带来震耳的隆隆炮声。我们的同胞们已经奔赴战场，为什么我们还在这里无所事事?各位先生们，你们究竟希望什么?他们能得到什么?难道生命真的这样珍责，和平真的这样美好，竟值得以枷锁与奴役为代价?万能的上帝啊，制止他们这样做吧!我不知道别人选择什么样的道路，但对我来说，不自由，毋宁死!
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