評論
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Nothing filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the notification was transmitted by your order,
在人生沉浮中，沒有一件事能比送達的通知更使我焦慮不安。
and received on the 14th day of the present month.
本月14日收到根據你們的命令。
On the one hand,I was summoned by my country,whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and love,
一方面，國家召喚我出任此職，對于她的召喚，我永遠只能肅然敬從；
from a retreat which I had chosen with the fondest predilection,and,in my flattering hopes,with an immutable decision,
而隱退是我以摯愛心情、滿腔希望和堅定的決心選擇的暮年歸宿，
as the asylum of my declining years_a retreat which was rendered every day more necessary as well as more dear to me by the addition of habit to inclination,
由于愛好和習慣，時感體力不濟，愈覺隱退之必要和可貴。
and of frequent interruptions in my health to the gradual waste committed on it by time.
且時光流逝，健康漸衰。
On the other hand,the magnitude and difficulty of the trust to which the voice of my country called me,
另一方面，國家召喚我擔負的責任如此重大和艱巨，
being sufficient to awaken in the wisest and most experienced of her citizens a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications,
足以使國內最有才智和經驗的人度德量力；
could not but overwhelm with despondence one who(inheriting inferior endowments from nature ,
而我天資愚鈍，
and unpracticed in the duties of civil administration)ought to be peculiarly conscious of his own deficiencies.
又無民政管理的實踐，理應倍覺自己能力之不足，因而必然感到難以肩此重任。
In this conflict of emotions all I dare aver is that it has been my faithful study to collect,
懷著這種矛盾心情，我唯一敢斷言的是，通過正確估計可能產生影響的各種情況來克盡吾職，
my duty from a just appreciation of every circumstance by which it might be affected.
乃是我忠貞不渝的努力目標。
All I dare hope is that if,in executing this task,I have been too much swayed by a grateful remembrance of former instances,
我唯一敢祈望的是，如果我在執行這項任務時因陶醉于往事。
or by an affectionate sensibility to this transcendent proof of the confidence of my fellow_citizens,
或因由衷感激公民們對我的高度信賴，
and have thence too little consulted my incapacity as well as disinclination for the weighty and untried cares before me,
因而受到過多影響，以致在處理從未經歷過的大事時，忽視了自己的無能和消極。
my error will be palliated by the motives which mislead me,
我的錯誤將會由于使我誤人歧途的各種動機而減輕，
and its consequences be judged by my country with some share of the partiality in which they originated.
而大家在評判錯誤的后果時，也會適當包涵產生這些動機的偏見。
Such being the impressions under which I have,in obedience to the public summons,repaired to the present station,
既然這就是我在遵奉公眾召喚就任現職時的感想，那么，在此宣誓就職之際，
it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe,
如不熱忱地祈求全能的上帝就極其失當。因為上帝統治著宇宙。
who presides in the councils of nations,and whose providential aids supply every human defect,
主宰著各國政府，它的神助能彌補人類的任何不足。
that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes,
愿上帝賜福，保佑一個為美國人民的自由和幸福而組成的政府，保佑它為這些基本目標而作出奉獻。
and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success the functions allotted to his charge.
保佑政府的各項行政措施在我負責之下都能成功地發揮作用。
In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good,
在向公眾利益和私人利益的偉大締造者獻上這份崇敬時，
I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own,
我保證這不僅表達了我自己的情感，
nor those of my fellow_citizens at large less than either.
這些話也同樣表達了各位和廣大公民的心意。
No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States.
沒有人能比美國更堅定不移地承認和崇拜掌管人間事務的上帝。
Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency;
他們在邁向獨立國家的進程中，似乎每走一步都有某種天佑的跡象；
and in the important revolution just accomplished in the system of their united government the tranquil deliberations,
他們在剛剛完成的聯邦政府體制的重大改革中，如果不是因虔誠的感恩而得到某種回報，
along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which the past seem to presage.
如果不是謙卑地期待著過去有所預示的賜福的到來，
These reflections,arising out of the present crisis,have forced themselves too strongly on my mind to be suppressed.
那么，通過眾多截然不同的集團的冷靜思考和自愿贊同來完成改革，這種方式是不能與大多數政府的組建方式同日而語的。
You will join with me,I trust,in thinking that there are none under the influence of which the proceedings of a new and free government can more auspiciously commence.
在目前轉折關頭，我產生這些想法確實是深有所感而不能自己。我相信大家會和我懷有同感，即除了仰仗上帝的力量，一個新生的自由政府別無他法能一開始就事事順利。
By the article establishing the executive department it is made the duty of the President,
根據設立行政部門的條款，總統有責任對你們提出建議。
"to recommend to your consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."
如衡量權宜必要的判斷之類的思路。
The circumstances under which I now meet you will acquit me from entering into that subject further than to refer to the great constitutional charter under which you are assembled,
但在目前與各位見面的這個場合，恕我不能進一步討論這個問題，而只是提一下偉大的憲法，它使各位今天聚集一堂，
and which,in defining your powers,designates the objects to which your attention is to be given.
它規定了各位的權限，提出了各位應該注意的目標。
It will be more consistent with those circumstances,and far more congenial with the feelings which actuate me,
在這樣的場合，更恰當、也更能反映我內心激情的做法
to substitute,in place of a recommendation of particular measures,the tribute that is due to the talents,
不是提出具體措施，而是稱頌將要規劃和采納這些措施的當選者的才能、
the rectitude,and the patriotism which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt them.
正直和愛國心。
In these honorable qualifications I behold the surest pledges that as on one side no local prejudices or attachments,
我從這些高貴品格中看到了最可靠的保證：其一，任何地方偏見或地方感情，
no separate views nor party animosities,will misdirect the comprehensive and equal eye which ought to watch over this great assemblage of communities and interests,
任何意見分歧或黨派敵視，都不能使我們偏離全局觀念和公平觀點，即必須維護這個由不同地區和不同利益所組成的大聯合；
so ,on another,that the foundation of our national policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality,
因為，其二，我國政策將會以純潔而堅定的個人道德原則為基礎，
and the preeminence of free government be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its citizens and command the respect of the world.
而自由政府將會以那贏得民心和全世界尊敬的一切特點而顯示其優越性。
I dwell on this prospect with every satisfaction which an ardent love for my country can inspire,
我對國家的一片熱愛之心激勵著我滿懷喜悅地展望這幅遠景，
since there is no truth more thoroughly established than that there exists in the economy and course of nature an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness;
因為根據自然界的構成和發展趨勢，在美德與幸福之間，有著密不可分的統一；
between duty and advantage;between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity;
責任與利益之間，恪守誠實寬厚的政策與獲得社會繁榮幸福的碩果之間，
since we ought to be no a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained;
因為我們應該同樣相信，上帝親自規定了永恒的秩序和權利法則，
and since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered,
它決不可能對無視這些法則的國家仁慈地加以贊許；因為人們理所當然地、滿懷覺悟地，
perhaps,as deeply,as finally,staked on the experiment entrusted on the hands of the American people.
也許是最后一次把維護神圣的自由之火和共和制政府的命運，系于美國人所遵命進行的實驗上。
