LESSON 68

WHAT CONSTITUTES A STATE?

国家的构成

Sir William Jones, 1746-1794, was the son of an eminent mathematician; he early distinguished himself by his ability as a student. He graduated at Oxford, became well versed in Oriental literature, studied law, and wrote many able books. In 1783 he was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Bengal. He was a man of astonishing learning, upright life, and Christian principles.

What constitutes a state?

Not high-raised battlement or labored mound,

Thick wall or moated gate;

Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned;

Not bays and broad-armed ports,

Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride;

Not starred and spangled courts,

Where low-browed baseness wafts perfume to pride.

No:—men, high-minded men,

With powers as far above dull brutes endued

In forest, brake, or den,

As beasts excel cold rocks and brambles rude,—

Men who their duties know,

But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain,

Prevent the long-aimed blow,

And crush the tyrant while they rend the chain:

These constitute a state;

And sovereign Law, that state’s collected will,

O’er thrones and globes elate,

Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill.

【中文阅读】

国家是由什么构成的？

不是建得高高的城垛，或者堆成的土丘，

也不是厚厚的城墙，或者前面有壕沟的城门；

不是以教堂塔尖和王室的角楼为荣的城市；

也不是海湾和宽敞的军港，

在那里，向风暴发出嘲弄，军舰排列停当；

不是星罗棋布和缀满亮晶晶饰物的庭院，

在那里，门户低的院子飘送着引以为傲的下贱的芳香。

不，人，心灵高尚的人，

赋予那些呆笨的畜生远远超过本身的力量

在森林、灌木丛或兽窝里，

随着野兽战胜冰冷的石头和丛生的荆棘，

人类，清楚自己责任几何的人类。

却也明白了自己的权利，世故，敢于担当，

预防那长途跟踪的一击，

在他们割断锁链的同时消灭暴君：

这些构成一个国家；

那主权法，就是一个国家王座和疆域之上

意志的聚集，

女王登基，给善以荣誉，邪恶得到压制。