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My fellow citizens: at this last presidential inauguration of the 20th century, let us lift our eyes toward the challenges that await us in the next century.
同胞們：藉此二十世紀最后一屆總統就職演說之際，讓我們一起遠眺在下一個世紀我們將要面臨的挑戰。
It is our great good fortune that time and chance have put us not only at the edge of a new century, in a new millennium,
所幸的是，時間和機遇不僅將我們置身于一個新世紀的邊緣，一個新的千年，
but on the edge of a bright new prospect in human affairs a moment that will define our course, and our character, for decades to come.
而且是人類事業史上一個光明的嶄新前景的邊緣，這個時刻將會決定我們未來數十年的道路和特點。
We must keep our old democracy forever young.
我們必須使我們古老的民主永葆青春。
Guided by the ancient vision of a promised land, let us set our sights upon a land of new promise.
在“希望之鄉”這一古老憧憬的指引下，讓我們著眼于新的“希望之鄉”。
The promise of America was born in the 18th century out of the bold conviction that we are all created equal.
美國的希望源于十八世紀一種無畏的信念：人皆生而平等。
It was extended and preserved in the 19th century, when our nation spread across the continent, saved the union, and abolished the awful scourge of slavery.
隨著十九世紀，我們的國家橫跨大陸，拯救了聯邦，廢除了恐怖的奴隸制的蹂躪，這一希望得以進一步發展和維護。
Then, in turmoil and triumph, that promise exploded onto the world stage to make this the American Century.
然后，在動蕩和勝利之中，這一希望奔上了世界的舞臺，使這個世紀成為美國的世紀。
And what a century it has been.
這是怎樣的一個世紀啊。
America became the world's mightiest industrial power; saved the world from tyranny in two world wars and a long cold war;
美國成為世界上最強大的工業大國，它把世界從兩次世界大戰和曠日持久的冷戰的暴虐中拯救出來，
and time and again, reached out across the globe to millions who, like us, longed for the blessings of liberty.
并且一再向全球上百萬像我們一樣渴望自由賜福的人們伸出援助之手。
Along the way, Americans produced a great middle class and security in old age;
在這一進程中，美國產生了龐大的中產階級和老年人保險制度，
built unrivaled centers of learning and opened public schools to all; split the atom and explored the heavens;invented the computer and the microchip;
建立了無與倫比的學習中心，并對全民開放公立學校，分裂了原子且探索了太空，發明了計算機和微芯片，
and deepened the wellspring of justice by making a revolution in civil rights for African Americans and all minorities,
通過發起一場非裔美國人和少數民族的民權革命，
and extending the circle of citizenship, opportunity and dignity to women.
及擴大婦女的公民權利，就業機會和人身尊嚴，而深掘了正義之泉。
Now, for the third time, a new century is upon us, and another time to choose.
現在，也是第三次，一個新世紀來到我們面前，這又是一個選擇的時候，
We began the 19th century with a choice, to spread our nation from coast to coast.
我們進入十九世紀時有一個選擇，使得我們國家從一個海岸擴展到另一個海岸，
