My fellow citizens:
同胞們:
At this last presidential inauguration of the 20th century, let us lift our eyes toward the challenges that await us in the next century. 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, 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. We must keep our old democracy forever young. Guided by the ancient vision of a promised land, let us set our sights upon a land of new promise.
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。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,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。我們必須使我們古老的民主永葆青春。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. 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.
美國的希望源于十八世紀一種無畏的信念:人皆生而平等。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。