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我們要在海灘上戰鬥

2022年03月02日

英國經歷過不少戰爭，特別是在第一次和第二次世界大戰受過重大打擊。這段歷史在英語裡也留下了烙印。

其中邱吉爾振奮國人勇敢面對戰爭，發表的演說，後世稱為We shall fight on the beaches（我們要在海灘上戰鬥），更是名留青史，學英語的人不可不讀。

以下是原文擇要和中文翻譯。

Turning once again, and this time more generally, to the question of invasion, I would observe that there has never been a period in all these long centuries of which we boast when an absolute guarantee against invasion, still less against serious raids, could have been given to our people. In the days of Napoleon, of which I was speaking just now, the same wind which would have carried his transports across the Channel might have driven away the blockading fleet. There was always the chance, and it is that chance which has excited and befooled the imaginations of many Continental tyrants. Many are the tales that are told. We are assured that novel methods will be adopted, and when we see the originality of malice, the ingenuity of aggression, which our enemy displays, we may certainly prepare ourselves for every kind of novel stratagem and every kind of brutal and treacherous manœuvre. I think that no idea is so outlandish that it should not be considered and viewed with a searching, but at the same time, I hope, with a steady eye. We must never forget the solid assurances of sea power and those which belong to air power if it can be locally exercised.

我們再一次要談到敵人的入侵，現在的威脅比以前更迫在眉睫。我看到，在漫長歷史中，任何時候都要面對外敵入侵，要應付敵人猛烈的攻擊，我為我們的人民引以為傲。我剛才說過，在拿破侖時代，狂風也許把敵方的艦隊帶進英吉利海峽，同樣的狂風但也可能把艦隊趕走，解除對我們的封鎖。成敗只差一線。無數歐洲大陸的暴君們以為他們有機會成功。就是這種僥倖心態令他們墮進陷阱。這些情況在歷史上屢見不鮮。我們將會看到敵人惡毒的手段和詭計層出不窮，他們必定會用前所未有，想像不到的新方法攻擊我們，我們也必定會做好準備，抵抗各種出乎意料的陰謀，各種野蠻、奸詐的手段。但我認為，沒有什麼出奇新方法能嚇倒我們，我希望，我們會沉著應對，了解和反擊這些手段。要記得，我們有強大的海軍和空軍能給我們堅定的保障。

Sir, I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once more able to defend our island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty’s Government – every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength.

議長閣下，我本人完全相信，如果所有人都盡忠職守，如果沒有犯錯，如果我們就像現在一樣做出最好的安排，那麼我們將再次證明，我們有能力保衛我們的島嶼家園，我們會渡過戰爭的風暴，在暴政的威脅下存活下去。如果有必要的話，我們甚至不怕長期孤軍作戰。但無論如何，我們要努力這樣做。英王陛下有決心捍衛國家，我們每個人也有同樣決心。我們的議會和國家有堅定的意志。大英帝國和法蘭西共和國有共同的理想，共同的事業，我們會肩並肩互相支持，竭盡所能，誓死捍衛國土。

Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

雖然目前歐洲大片土地，包括許多歷史悠久的著名國家，已經或即將被踐踏於蓋世太保和納粹的鐵蹄之下。就算是這樣，我們也絕不會輕言放棄，不會輕言失敗。我們要奮戰到底。我們要在法國作戰，我們要在海上作戰，我們越來越強大、越來越有信心在空中作戰，無論要付出什麼代價，我們要保衛我們的島嶼。我們要在海灘上戰鬥，我們要在登陸的海岸上戰鬥，我們要在田野和街道上戰鬥，我們要在山丘上戰鬥；我們決不投降！假如有一天這座島嶼或島上大部分地區淪陷，就算陷入飢餓之中，雖然這不可能發生，但即使是這樣，我們帝國在海外的臣民，在皇家艦隊的武裝護衛下，將繼續戰鬥，直到上帝認為合適的時刻，以他的力量和權能，帶來新世界，拯救並解放舊世界的人們！

但願有一天人人都學會和平共處，不用再戰鬥。願那些在戰亂中的人得到安慰和希望。