1775年3月23日，北美十三州对英国的统治愈发不满，苏格兰裔弗吉尼亚州居民帕特里克·亨利在弗吉尼亚代表大会上提出了以武力对抗英国的提案，并发表了这篇著名的《不自由毋宁死》(英文原名为Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death)演讲，号召弗吉尼亚州和整个十三州殖民地团结起来反抗英国统治。

帕特里克·亨利是激进的反英政治家，他的这篇演讲成为世界最著名的演讲之一。演讲中的名句“不自由毋宁死”更是传遍全世界，成为许多国家人民反抗压迫，争取自由的口号。

Mr.President,

议长先生，

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 questing 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.

没有人比我更钦佩刚才在议会发言的各位能人贤士所具有的爱国精神和出色能力。但同一事件在不同人眼中也有不同看法；所以，如若我无所顾忌毫无保留地表达出来的观点与各位的观点截然相反，希望各位先生明白我并无任何冒犯之意。现在已经没有时间讲客套话了。议院目前讨论的议题是我们国家最危难的时刻。我认为，这个议题无非就涉及到两个选择，自由或奴役；此事事关重大，应当允许大家畅所欲言。只有如此，我们才能得到真理，并履行好我们对上帝和国家的艰巨责任。如果我在此时因为害怕冒犯别人而不敢发表意见，这种懦夫行为才该被称为叛国，不仅不忠于我的祖国，也不忠于高于世间一切君王的上帝。

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.

议长先生，人天生就容易沉溺于对希望的幻想。当残酷的现实降临时，我们倾向于紧闭双眼，默默倾听海妖的歌唱，直到我们全部变成怪物。难道智者是这样为自由作出伟大艰苦斗争的吗？我们是否应该像那些视若无睹，充耳不闻的人一样，对这些几近能够实现自身救赎的事件置若罔闻？就我个人而言，无论真相多么令我痛苦，我也依然愿意面对整个真相；知道最糟糕的结果，并为此做好准备。

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? 

我的脚步只跟随一盏明灯，那就是历史经验之灯。我判断未来的唯一参考便是过去的历史。而看看过去的10年英国政府的所作所为，我不知道先生们还能拿什么继续安慰自己和、说服议会。是英国人收到我们请愿书时露出的微微一笑吗？不要相信他们的假笑，议长先生；那是一个圈套。不要被敌人的一个吻给骗了！请大家扪心自问，英国人怎么可能愿意慷慨接收我们的请愿书，同时却在我们的水域和土地上做战争准备。他们需要动用军舰和士兵来重建友爱和平吗？难道是我们表现得不愿意和解，所以英国人只能动用武力来赢回我们的友爱吗？议长先生，不要自欺欺人了！英国人准备以战争征服我们；这是英王的最终手段。请问在座的先生们，请问议长先生，如果英国的军事准备不是为了征服我们，他们还能有什么目的？各位先生，你们中有任何人可以回答我的问题吗？在这一地区，大英帝国有任何敌人需要他们集结陆海军吗？没有！议长先生，英国在这一地区即没有任何敌人，也无其他目的。英国军队不是为了对付其他人；他们就是冲着我们来的！他们是来把英国政府早已锻造好的枷锁戴在我们身上的。我们应该拿什么反抗他们？靠谈判吗？

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!

议长先生，我们已经和他们谈了10年了。我们跟他们还有什么可说的吗？没有！我们能做的都已经做了；然而一切都是徒劳。难道我们要卑躬屈膝、同他们媾和吗？那么还有什么样妥协的条款是我们没有提过的吗？议长先生，我恳请您不要自欺欺人了！议长先生，我们已经竭尽所能地去避免即将到来的战争风暴。我们对他们请愿过；我们朝他们抗议过；我们向他们恳求过；我们跪倒在英王的王座面前，请求英王干预，逮捕政府和议会中的残暴官员。然而，他们对我们的请愿不屑一顾；他们使用暴力镇压并侮辱我们的抗议；他们毫不理会我们的恳求；英王也轻蔑地将我们踢到一旁！一切皆是徒劳，在这一切事情过后，我们还要沉溺于和平解决问题的幻想吗？已经没有讨价还价的余地了。如果我们希望获得自由——如果我们想要捍卫我们长期以来为之奋斗、不可剥夺的权利——如果我们不想放弃我们坚持不懈、发誓不达目的不罢休的崇高斗争——那么我们就必须战斗！我再说一遍，议长先生，我们必须拿起武器战斗！除了拿起武器，除了求助掌管万物的上帝，我们别无选择！

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.

议长先生，英国人说我们势单力薄；不可能战胜他们强大的军队。那我们什么时候可以变强呢？下个星期就可以了吗？明年就可以了吗？难道等到我们放下武器，家家户户都被英军占领的时候，我们就能变强了吗？难道我们继续优柔寡断、坐以待毙就能变强了吗？难道我们天天高枕而卧，抱着不切实际的幻想，等到敌人把枷锁套到我们的双手双脚上时，才能开始想办法抵抗他们吗？议长先生，只要我们能善于运用上帝赐予我们的力量，我们也可以迸发出惊人的实力。我们国家有上百万人民愿意为了神圣的自由事业而拿起武器，无论敌人朝我国派遣多少军队，都无法战胜我国人民。此外，议长先生，我们不会孤军奋战。公正的上帝掌握着世界各国的命运，他会号召友邦加入我们的战争。议长先生，要打赢一场战争不仅需要强大的武力，还需要谨慎、积极和勇气。而且，议长先生，我们已经没有选择了。就算我们想要妥协求和、避免战争，现在也为时已晚了。现在除了接受屈辱和奴役之外，我们没有任何退路！奴役我们的锁链已经铸就！这些铁链的叮当声正响彻波士顿的平原！战争已经不可避免——那就让战争到来吧！我再说一遍，议长先生，对英国开战吧！

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!

议长先生，不要试图再缓解局势了。各位先生们大可高呼“和平！和平！”——但是和平已经被打破了。战争已经开始了！下一次北方的风暴席卷而来时，迎击它的是轰轰炮响！我们的同胞们已经在战场上浴血厮杀了！为什么我们还仿佛置身事外一样？先生们，你们到底希望什么？你们又能获得什么？难不成你们觉得生命那么宝贵，和平那么美好，哪怕是以给自己戴上枷锁、接受奴役为代价也不愿牺牲吗？全能的上帝啊，请阻止侵略军！我不知道你们其他人会作何选择；但是于我而言，不自由，毋宁死！

声明：本人仅按照原文翻译内容，演讲内容不代表本人观点。此专栏仅供历史和英语交流学习使用，任何读者皆可引用本人的译本。

希望来学习英语的观众明白：我觉得这些专栏的主要精华在于英语原文，而并非我的译本，我的译本很大程度上只是供来学习历史的观众使用的。本人的英语水平一般，翻译得并不会多么精彩，只能在你看不懂时来帮助你了解这些演讲内容最基本的意思，而且翻译时难免会出现差错，切勿直接完全以我的译本为标准。如发现有翻译错误或者歧义内容，欢迎指正。

希望来学习历史的观众明白：任何历史人物都有一定的局限性，随着时代发展，很多观点看法可能已经不再适用今天的世界，西方的观点也不一定适用于我们。通过了解这些演讲，仅可给我们提供一个更全面了解过去和世界的渠道。我们可以从优秀的历史、当代人物身上学到很多，但是请保持独立思考，理性看待演讲内容，切勿全信或将其奉为真理。