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发表于 2007-12-18 21:54:03
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1.这条河是弗吉尼亚北部的谢南多亚河:Shenandoah River。
韦氏词典解释shenandoah的词源:
probably from the Chenango river and Chenango canal in south-central New York state。
《美国词语的掌故》一书中是这样说的:
几百年以前,有一个叫谢南多亚的印第安酋长住在现在是弗吉尼亚州的地方。关于谢南多亚的事很少为人所知,但是人们把 他那柔和的名字用来命名一条河流。
也有人认为谢南多亚的意思是“云杉河”(spruce river)。
2.和这条河有关的历史人物是约翰.布朗。
他的情况前面楼上介绍过了,我贴一段他在法庭上的演说:
John Brown's Last Statement to the Court
1859
I have, may it please the Court, a few words to say.
In the first place, I deny everything but what I have all along admitted,—the design on my part to free the slaves. I intended certainly to have made
a clean thing of that matter, as I did last winter, when I went into Missouri and there took slaves without the snapping of a gun on either side, moved
them through the country, and finally left them in Canada. I designed to have done the same thing again, on a larger scale. That was all I intended. I
never did intend murder, or treason, or the destruction of property, or to excite or incite slaves to rebellion, or to make insurrection.
I have another objection; and that is, it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner which I admit, and which I admit
has been fairly proved (for I admire the truthfulness and candor of the greater portion of the witnesses who have testified in this case),—had I so
interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called great, or in behalf of any of their friends,—either father, mother, brother,
sister, wife, or children, or any of that class,—and suffered and sacrificed what I have in this interference, it would have been all right; and every
man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment.
This court acknowledges, as I suppose, the validity of the law of God. I see a book kissed here which I suppose to be the Bible, or at least the New
Testament. That teaches me that all things whatsoever I would that men should do to me, I should do even so to them. It teaches me, further, to
“remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them.” I endeavored to act up to that instruction. I say, I am yet too young to understand that God
is any respecter of persons. I believe that to have interfered as I have done—as I have always freely admitted I have done—in behalf of His
despised poor, was not wrong, but right. Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and
mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked,
cruel, and unjust enactments,—I submit; so let it be done!
Let me say one word further.
I feel entirely satisfied with the treatment I have received on my trial. Considering all the circumstances, it has been more generous than I expected.
But I feel no consciousness of guilt. I have stated from the first what was my intention, and what was not. I never had any design against the life of
any person, nor any disposition to commit treason, or excite slaves to rebel, or make any general insurrection. I never encouraged any man to do so,
but always discouraged any idea of that kind.
Let me say, also, a word in regard to the statements made by some of those connected with me. I hear it has been stated by some of them that I
have induced them to join me. But the contrary is true. I do not say this to injure them, but as regretting their weakness. There is not one of them
but joined me of his own accord, and the greater part of them at their own expense. A number of them I never saw, and never had a word of
conversation with, till the day they came to me; and that was for the purpose I have stated.
Now I have done.
约翰.布朗死后,有许多与他有关的民歌在老百姓和士兵中传唱。他被看作殉道者,但并非是一个黑白分明的简单人物。
Herman Melville(就是《白鲸》的作者)的《战事集》开篇就写到约翰.布朗的就刑是战争的预兆:
THE PORTENT
(1859)
Hanging from the beam,
Slowly swaying (such the law),
Gaunt the shadow on your green,
Shenandoah!
The cut is on the crown
(Lo, John Brown),
And the stabs shall heal no more.
Hidden in the cap
Is the anguish none can draw;
So your future veils its face,
Shenandoah!
But the streaming beard is shown
(Weird John Brown),
The meteor of the war.
3.有关这条河流的传说:
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