LESSON 131

EULOGY ON WASHINGTON

颂华盛顿

General Henry Lee, 1756-1818, a member of the celebrated Lee family of Virginia, was born in Westmoreland County in that state, and died on Cumberland Island, Georgia. He graduated at Princeton in his eighteenth year. In 1777 he marched with a regiment of cavalry to join the patriot army, and served with fidelity and success till the close of the war. He was noted for his bravery, skill, and celerity, and received the nickname of “Light-horse Harry.” He was a great favorite with both General Greene and General Washington. In 1786 Virginia appointed him one of her delegates to Congress; he also took an active part in favor of the adoption of the constitution in the Virginia Convention of 1788. On the breaking out of the “Whisky Rebellion” in Pennsylvania, in 1794, the President sent General Lee with an army to suppress the disturbance. The insurgents submitted without resistance. In 1799 he was again a member of Congress; and, on the death of Washington, that body appointed him to pronounce a eulogy upon the life and character of the great and good man. The following extract contains the closing part of the oration.

Who is there that has forgotten the vales of Brandywine, the fields of Germantown, or the plains of Monmouth? Everywhere present, wants of every kind obstructing, numerous and valiant armies encountering, himself a host, he assuaged our sufferings, limited our privations, and upheld our tottering Republic. Shall I display to you the spread of the fire of his soul by rehearsing the praises of the hero of Saratoga, and his much-loved compeer of the Carolinas? No; our Washington wears not borrowed glory. To Gates—to Greene, he gave without reserve the applause due to their eminent merit; and long may the chiefs of Saratoga and of Eutaw receive the grateful respect of a grateful people.

Moving in his own orbit, he imparted heat and light to his most distant satellites; and, combining the physical and moral force of all within his sphere, with irresistible weight he took his course, commiserating folly, disdaining vice, dismaying treason, and invigorating despondency; until the auspicious hour arrived, when, united with the intrepid forces of a potent and magnanimous ally, he brought to submission Cornwallis, since the conqueror of India; thus finishing his long career of military glory with a luster corresponding to his great name, and in this his last act of war, affixing the seal of fate to our nation’s birth.

First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, he was second to none in humble and endearing scenes of private life. Pious, just, humane, temperate, sincere, uniform, dignified, and commanding, his example was edifying to all around him, as were the effects of that example lasting.

To his equals, he was condescending; to his inferiors, kind; and to the dear object of his affections, exemplarily tender. Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence, and virtue always felt his fostering hand; the purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues.

His last scene comported with the whole tenor of his life. Although in extreme pain, not a sigh, not a groan, escaped him; and with undisturbed serenity he closed his well-spent life. Such was the man America has lost! Such was the man for whom our nation mourns!

【中文阅读】

有谁曾忘记盛产白兰地酒的山谷，德国城的旷野或者蒙茅斯的平原？这里说的每个地方都希望能阻碍那一历史进程，遭遇无数支勇敢的军队，他作为主持这一历史进程的人，竭力减轻我们遭受的苦难和折磨，将补给的匮乏降低到最低程度，支撑住我们步履蹒跚的共和国。要我来给你们演示一下他如何通过赞扬萨拉托加战役的英雄和他挚爱的卡罗莱纳的伙伴们，让他内心燃烧的熊熊烈火感染每个将士的吗？不必了。我们的华盛顿不会为借来的荣誉而洒泪的。对盖茨将军，对格林将军，对他们丰功伟绩他毫无保留地给予掌声，但愿萨拉托加战役和欧塔夫战役的指挥官们能够得到感激的人们抱以的感激的敬意。

我们还是走到他的内心世界里，看看他的心灵轨迹。他将热情和光明传递给最远的边塞；将我们所有人的身体和道德上的力量集中到他活动的范围里，自然而然地汇聚成不可遏止的力量，对愚蠢的行为给予同情，鄙视不道德行为，使叛逆气馁，使沮丧的事情焕发生气，直到千钧一发的时刻到来，当时。无畏的军队与宽宏大量的支持者联合在一起，他终于迫使康华利斯这位不可一世的印度征服者投降。就这样，他结束了漫长的军事生涯，他的荣耀与他的伟大名字是相符的。在这场他经历的最后战争中，他将命运的封印与我们国家的诞生连在一起。

在战争中他是第一，在和平环境下他是第一，在国人心中他是第一，在简朴和珍贵的私人生活场景中他也是第一。虔诚，公正，仁爱，克己，真诚，始终如一，高尚，威严。对周围所有人来说，他都是表率，正如他的榜样作用持续产生的影响那样。

对与他相当的人，他屈尊俯就；对下属，他和蔼可亲；对他的爱人，他温柔体贴。正确的就贯穿始终，不道德的人在他面前瑟瑟发抖，而美德永远能够感受到他那双培育的手；他私人品质的纯粹使他的公共美德更加耀眼夺目。

在人生谢幕时他所表现的与他生命的整个进程的表现是一致的。尽管遭受极度病痛，但他没有叹息一声，也没有呻吟一声；在没有一丝相扰的宁静中，他结束了自己过得非常充实的一生。美国失去了这样一位伟人！我们国家为永失这样一位伟人痛悼！