不自由，毋寧死！（派翠克•亨利於1775年3月23日在為維吉尼亞議會演講）

作者：派翠克•亨利    翻譯：江銘輝
 

圖：我不知道別人會採取什麼理由；至於我，不自由，毋寧死！

演講來由
1775年美國將與英國開戰，爭取獨立的時候，維吉尼亞的派瑞克．亨利一次在當地議會中演說的最後一句話:「我不自由，毋寧死」。
美國獨立戰爭是希望北美各英國殖民地能獨立自主。戰爭原因來至與英國本土因利益之間的衝突而爆發。
維吉尼亞也是英國殖民地，被迫決定他們的態度。這時亨利認為向英國請求與妥協的時代已經過去，美州人民必須勇敢地拿起武器站起來，為自由而戰。於是大聲疾呼道:「空口說白話又有什麼用呢?如果只終日在叫和平，和平還是虛無飄渺，看不見蹤影。獨立戰爭火苗已引燃了。正由北方向南方吹來，我們的同志已經踏上了戰場，為什麼我們仍舊袖手旁觀呢?究竟你們想要什麼呢?誠然，生命誠寶貴，自由價更高，如果我們不奮勇抵抗，就會被鎖鍊捆綁，淪為奴隸，能夠享用它們嗎?你們究竟如何做，我不知道。對我而言:「不自由，毋寧死」

演講翻譯
我比任何人更欽佩剛剛在議會上發言各位先生的愛國精神和才能。但是，對同一事物的看法往往因人而異。因此，儘管我的觀點與他們截然不同，但我將毫無保留、自由地提出我的觀點。現在也沒有時間講客套話了，議會當前面臨的問題是國家立即的存亡。對我來說，完全是自由與奴役的問題；由於問題的嚴重性，我們要毫無約束的自由辯論。只有這樣，我們才有希望獲知真相，才能不辜負上帝和國家賦予我們的偉大責任。在此時刻，如果我還怕冒犯別人忍住不說出我的意見，我認為就是叛國，就是對比世間所有國君更為神聖的上帝不忠的行為。

主席先生，對希望抱有幻覺是人之天性。我們易於閉起眼睛不願正視痛苦的實情，只好傾聽海妖誘惑的歌聲，讓她把我們化作禽獸。有理智的人難道不該為自由而賣力奮鬥嗎？難道我們一點也不願意對自由暫時伸出援手，而寧願成為有眼睛不看，有耳朵不聽的人嗎？就我而言，無論精神上痛苦的代價有多高，我仍然願意瞭解全部事實真相和最壞的事態，並做好充分準備。

我只是一盞燈。一盞指引我方向的經驗之燈。除了過去的經驗外，我沒有別的方法可以判斷未來。依據過去的經驗判斷，我倒希望知道，10年來英國政府的統治，憑什麼足以使各位先生滿懷希望，樂於慰藉自己和議會？它不就是最近接受我們請願時給我們的那種陰險微笑嗎？
先生，請不要相信這種微笑，它將證明是你身邊的陷階。不要被親吻出賣自己吧！請自問，他們接受我們請願時的和氣親善能和遍佈我們土地上的大規模備戰相稱嗎？愛護與和解，有必要動用戰艦和軍隊嗎？難道我們已經表示不願意和解嗎？以至為了贏回我們的愛，而必須訴諸武力嗎？我們不要再欺騙自己了，先生。這些都是戰爭和征服的工具；國王最後訴求的理由。我要問各位先生，這些軍隊部署如果不是為了迫使我們就範，那又意味著什麼？哪位先生能夠指出有其他動機？在世界的這個角，難道大不列顛還有其他的敵人值得它集結起龐大的海、陸軍嗎？不，先生，它沒有其他敵人了。它們指向的不是別人，正指向我們。他們是派來給我們銬牢英國政府長期以來鍛鑄的鎖鏈。

我們應該如何抵抗呢？還嘗試辯論嗎？先生，我們已經持續辯論10年了。對這問題我們有任何新的提議嗎？沒有。我們已經考慮各種可能的方向，但一切都是枉然。難道我們還要訴諸墾求，謙遜哀求嗎？難道我們還有什麼更好的條款沒有使用過嗎？先生，我墾求你們，不要再自欺欺人了。先生，為了避免這場即將來臨的風暴，一切該做的都已經做了。我們請願過，我們抗議過，我們懇求過；我們跪在英王前，懇成他制止國會和內閣的暴虐行徑。我們的請願遭到蔑視，我們的抗議引起更多的鎮壓和侮辱，我們的哀求不受尊重。我們在御座遭到羞辱。這些都徒勞無功之後，我們還會沉迷於和平和順從的希望呢？

希望不再存在了。假如我們希望有自由，如果我們想維護長期以來奮鬥神聖、寶貴的基本人權，假如我們不願低賤地放棄我們多年來的崇高鬥爭，我們發誓如果沒有打贏聖獲得光榮目標，我們絕不放棄。我們必須戰鬥！先生，我再重複一遍，我們必須戰鬥！訴諸武力和萬能上帝賜給我們一切。

先生，他們說我們太懦弱了，無法抵抗如此可怕的敵人。但是我們什麼時候才能更強壯？是下週，還是明年？難道要等到我們全部被解除武裝，家家戶戶都駐紮英國士兵的時候？束手無策就聚起力量嗎？難道我們懶惰的躺著背、抱著虛幻的希望，待到敵人捆住了我們的手、腳，尚未找到有效的抵抗方法？

先生，只要我們妥善地利用上帝賜給我們的自然力量，我們並不懦弱。一旦數萬人民在自己的國家為神聖的自由武裝起來，那麼敵人任何力量都無法征服我們，此外，先生，這次戰役我們並非孤立的，主宰著各國的命運的公正上帝，他將號召朋友們為我們而戰。先生，戰爭的勝利並非只屬於強者。它將屬於那些戰戰兢兢、主動和勇敢的人們。阿況，先生，我們已經別無選擇。即使我們沒有骨氣，想退出戰鬥，也為時已晚。沒有退路，只有屈辱和奴役。敵人已鍛造好我們的枷鎖。叮噹的聲可以在波士頓草原上聽到。戰爭是不可避免--讓它來吧！我重複一遍，先生，讓它來吧！
先生，企圖使事態減輕是徒勞無功的。紳士們可以高喊：和平！和平！但並不和平。戰爭其實已開打。北方吹起的下一陣大風會將武器的廝殺聲傳到我們的耳朵。我們的弟兄已經準備好奔赴戰場！為什麼我們還呆呆站這裡？紳士們你想要什麼？敵人將得到什麼？如此可貴的生命，或如此甜蜜的和平，可以用鐐銬和奴役的代價所收買嗎？全能的上帝啊！我不知道別人會採取什麼理由；至於我，不自由，毋寧死！

原文
Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death
Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! 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 it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!