美國第11任總統波爾克的就職演講
Without solicitation on my part, I have been chosen by the free and voluntary suffrages of my countrymen to the most honorable, and most responsible office on earth.
我沒有乞求選票，但自由的同胞們卻選舉我，來擔任這世界上最具榮譽，且責任最重大的職位。
I am deeply impressed with gratitude for the confidence reposed in me.
於人民對我的信心，我深感謝意。
Honored with his distinguished consideration at an earlier period of life than any of my predecessors, I can not disguise the diffidence with which I am about to enter on the discharge of my official duties.
與任一被賜予這一榮譽的前任相比我都更年輕，我不能掩飾我將要進入執行我的職責時信心的缺乏。
In assuming responsibilities so vast I fervently invoke the aid of that Almighty Ruler of the Universe in whose hands are the destinies of nations, and of men to guard this Heaven favored land against the mischiefs which without His guidance might arise from an unwise public policy.
在承擔如此巨大的責任時，我熱情地祈求宇宙全能之主的幫助。國家和人民的命運在他的手中，守衛着這天主恩惠的土地而不受由錯誤公共政策引起的危害。
With a firm reliance upon the wisdom of Omnipotence to sustain and direct me in the path of duty which I am appointed to pursue, I stand in the presence of this assembled multitude of my countrymen to take upon myself the solemn obligation" to take best of my ability to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."
因憑那支持並指引我走上這條行使我應盡之責道路的全能上帝賜予的堅定信心，我站在我的同胞們的宏大集會前，來自己擔起這莊嚴的責任：“願傾盡全力來維持，保護和捍衛美國的憲法。”
That the blessing of liberty which our Constitution secures may be enjoyed alike by minorities and majorities, the Executive has been wisely invested with a qualified veto upon the acts of the Legislature.
我們憲法所保證的自由同樣爲少數人和多數人享有，執政者被明智地賦予有資格對某些立法作出否決。
It is a negative power, and is conservative in its character.
這是一個否定的權力，並帶有保守的特點。
It arrests for the time hasty, in considerate, or unconstitutional legislation, invites reconsideration, and transfers questions at issue between the legislative and executive departments to the tribunal of the people.
它爲時代阻止那些草率，無謀和違反憲法的立法，徵求重新考慮，並把立法與行政部門之間的問題轉給人民裁定。
Like all other powers, it is subject to be abused.
如同其它權力，它可能會被濫用。
When judiciously and properly exercised, the Constitution itself may be saved from infraction and the rights of all preserved and protected.
當明智而又正當地行使時，憲法本身會免受侵犯，而全民權利會得到維護。
The inestimable value of our Federal Union is felt and acknowledged by all.
我們聯邦聯盟的不可估量的價值爲衆人所感受和認可。
By this system of united and confederated States our people are permitted collectively and individually to seek their own happiness in their own way, and the consequences have been most auspicious.
通過聯合結盟的衆洲體制，我們人民可以集體或單獨地以自己的方式追求自己的幸福，並且有很樂觀的結果。
Since the Union was formed the number of the States has increased from thirteen to twenty-eight, two of these have taken their position as members of the Confederacy within the last week.
自從聯邦創立，衆洲的數目由十三個發展到三十八個；其中兩個上週才取得聯邦的席位。
Our population has increased from three to twenty millions.
我們的人口也已由三百萬發展到兩千八百萬。New communities and States are seeking protection under its aegis, and multitudes from the Old World are flocking to our shores to participate in its blessings, beneath its benign sway peace and prosperity prevail.
新的社區和州正在它的支持下尋求保護，而來自舊大陸的人羣正蜂擁至我們的海岸來分享它的祝福,在它的善良統治下和平和繁榮盛行。
Freed from the burdens and miseries of war, our trade and intercourse have extended throughout the world.
從戰爭的重負和苦難中得以解放，我們的貿易和交往遍佈整個世界。
Mind, no longer tasked in devising means to accomplish or resist schemes of ambition, usurpation, or conquest, is devoting itself to man's true interests in developing his faculties and powers and the capacity of nature to minister to his enjoyments.
人的思想不再從事設法達到或抵抗野心, 掠奪或征服，而投入到人類真正的利益中，發展人的能力和力量，以及自然的能力來服務於人的享樂。
Genius is free to announce its inventions and discoveries, and the hand is free to accomplish whatever the head conceives not incompatible with the rights of a fellow being.
天才可以自由公佈他的發明和發現，而且只要頭腦可以想出的與同胞權利不相違的主意，都可以自由地去實現它。
All distinctions of birth or of rank have been abolished.
所有出生和階級的區別被消除了。
All are entitled to equal rights and equal protection.
所有人都享有平等的權利和平等的保護。
No union exists between church and state, and perfect freedom of opinion is guaranteed to all sects and creeds.
教會和政府之間不存在聯合，保證所有的教派和信條都享有完全的觀點自由。
These are some of the blessings secured to our happy land by Federal Union.
這是由我們聯邦聯盟爲我們幸福土地所保障的一些祝福。
To perpetuate them it is our sacred duty to preserve it.
我們神聖的職責是維護他並使之永久。
Who shall assign limits to the achievements of free minds and free hands under the protection of this glorious Union.
在這樣的偉大聯盟的保護下，有誰會限制自由思想和自由之手的創造呢？
No treason to mankind since the organization of society would be equal in atrocity to that of him who would lift his hand to destroy it. He would overthrow the noblest structure of human wisdom, which protects himself and his fellow man.
自從社會有組織以來，沒有誰對人類的背叛在兇殘上可等同某人舉起其手試圖破壞我們聯盟的行爲。那就是要推翻智慧組織。保護他和他的同胞的最高貴的人類。
He would stop the progress of free government and involve his country either in anarchy or despotism.
那就是要阻止自由政府的前進，並把其國家帶入混亂和暴政中。
He would extinguish the fire of liberty, which warms and animates the hearts of happy millions, and invites all the nations of the earth to imitate our example.
那就是要熄滅那溫暖並啓動幸福大衆之心的，吸引世上各國模仿我們的自由之火。
If he say that error and wrong are committed in the administration of the Government, let him remember that nothing human can be perfect, and that under no other system of government revealed by Heaven or devised by man has reason been allowed so free and broad a scope to combat error.
如果那人說政府的執政犯有錯誤，讓他記住人不可能完美，並且沒有任何其它上天或人類創立的政府體制能像我們的那樣，給理性以如此自由和寬闊的範圍來和錯誤鬥爭。
Has the sword of despots proved to be a safer or surer instrument of reform in government than enlightened reason?
難道暴君的刀劍比啓蒙的理智更能成爲政府改革中安全，可靠的手段？
Does he expect to find among the ruins of this Union a happier abode for our swarming millions than they now have under it?
他是否期望在聯邦的廢墟之中，爲我們的百萬人羣找到比他們現在更幸福的住所？
Every lover of his country must shudder at the thought of the possibility of its dissolution, and will be ready to adopt the patriotic sentiment," Our Federal Union it must be preserved."
每一個愛國都會因面對可能解散聯邦的思想而戰慄，並準備好接受那愛國的情感：“必須維護我們的聯邦聯盟。”To preserve it the compromises which alone enabled our fathers to form a common constitution for the government, and protection of so many States and distinct communities, of such diversified habits, interests, and domestic institutions, must be sacredly and religiously observed.
在維護它時，我們必須神聖地，虔誠地遵守那曾使得我們的先驅們能夠成立一個政府的共同憲法，能夠保護如此衆多的州和有如此多樣的風俗，利益，和內務組織的偏遠社區的妥協。
Any attempt to disturb or destroy these compromises, being terms of the compact of union, can lead to none other than the most ruinous and disastrous consequences.
任何試圖擾亂和破壞這些作爲聯邦契約條件的妥協，必會導致最具毀壞性和災難性的後果。
I am happy to believe that at every period of our existence as a nation there has existed, and continues to exist, among the great mass of our people a devotion to the Union of the States which will shield, and protect it against the moral treason of any who would seriously contemplate its destruction.
我很高興相信在我們作爲一個民族生存的每一個時期，在人民大衆中已經存在，並將繼續存在着對衆洲聯盟的熱愛；這將針對任何想陰謀破壞它的道德叛逆而來保護它。
To secure a continuance of that devotion the compromises of the Constitution must not only be preserved, but sectional jealousies and heart burnings must be discountenanced, and all should remember that they are members of the same political family, having a common destiny.
要保證這種熱愛的繼續，不僅要維護憲法中的妥協，也要反對派系妒忌和不滿；所有人都應該記住他們是同一政治家庭中的一員，有着共同的命運。
To increase the attachment of our people to the Union, our laws should be just.
要加強人民對聯盟的歸屬，我們的法律必須公正。
Any policy which shall tend to favor monopolies or the peculiar interests of sections or classes must operate to the prejudice of the interest of their fellow citizens, and should be avoided.
任何旨在偏向派系或階級的壟斷或特別利益，對其同胞利益有傷害的政策，都應該被避免。
If the compromises of the Constitution be preserved, if sectional jealousies and heart burnings be discountenanced, if our laws be just and the Government be practically administered strictly within the limits of power prescribed to it, we may discard all apprehensions for the safety of the Union.
如果維護了憲法的妥協，如果排除了派系的妒忌和不滿，如果我們的法律是公正的並且政府嚴格在其所屬職權範圍內執政實踐，我們可以丟掉所有關於聯盟安全的憂慮。
