“在希望中欢乐，在苦难中忍耐”
—肯尼迪总统 1961 年就职演讲词（节选）

导语： 2005 年 1 月 20 日， 美国将举行隆重盛大的总统就职典礼，届时小布什将宣誓连任总统并发表演说。就职演说已成为历届总统宣誓就职典礼中的一道亮丽的风景线，其中不乏激励人心、催人奋进的精彩之作， 1961年肯尼迪总统发表的就职演说就是一例 。他那句最为人称道的名言“不要问国家能为你们做些什么，而是要问你们能为国家做些什么”仍回响在一代美国人的心中。
“Rejoicing in Hope, Patient in Tribulation”
— John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in 1961 (Excerpts)
We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom--symbolizing an end as well as a beginning--signifying renewal as well as change.
我们今天庆祝的并不是一次政档的胜利，而是一次自由的庆典；它象征着结束，也象征着开始；它意味着更新，也意味着变革。
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered 1 by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing 2 of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
今天我们不敢忘记，我们是第一次[屏蔽]的继承人。此时此地，让我们的朋友和敌人都知道，这支火炬已传交新一代的美国人，他们出生在本世纪，经历过战争的锻炼，受到过严酷而艰苦的和平的熏陶；他们为我们的古老传统而骄傲，而不愿目睹或容许Human-Rights逐步被剥夺。我国一向致力于保护Human-Rights，今天在国内和全世界我们仍将如此。
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
让每一个国家知道，不管它是祝福我们还是心存敌意，我们愿不惜一切代价，承担任何重任，忍受任何艰辛，支持任何朋友，反对任何敌人，以确保自由的生存与实现。
This much we pledge--and more.
对此我们郑重承诺——而且还不止此。
To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do--for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds 3 and split asunder 4 .
对于那些和我们拥有共同文化和精神渊源的昔日盟友，我们保证以挚友之诚相待。只要团结，我们共同的事业则无往而不利。倘若[屏蔽]，我们则无可作为，因为我们在意见分歧、各行其是的情况下，是不敢应付强大挑战的。
To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom--and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.
对于那些新加入自由行列的国家，我们保证，一种殖民统治形式的消失决不是为了被另一种更为残酷的[屏蔽]取而代之。我们不能指望他们会一直认同我们的观点，但我们始终希望他们能坚决维护自身的自由——不要忘记，过去那些骑在虎背上耀武扬威的人，结果反落虎口。
To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
对于那些住在布满半个地球的茅舍和乡村中、奋力打破普遍贫困桎梏的人们，我们保证尽最大努力帮助其自救，不管需要多长时间——自由社会若不能帮助众多的穷人，也就不能保全少数的富人。
Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf 5 all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.
最后，对于那些敌对国家，我们所要提供的不是保证，而是请求：双方重新着手寻求和平，不要等到科学释放出的毁灭性力量在有意或无意中使全人类沦于自我毁灭。
All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
凡此种种不会在最初的一百天中完成，不会在最初的一千天中完成，不会在本届G0vern.ment任期中完成，甚至也不会在我们的有生之年完成。但让我们从现在开始。
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
同胞们，我们事业的最终成败，主要不是掌握在我手里，而是取决于你们手中。自建国以来，每一代美国人都曾受到召唤，宣誓效忠祖国。而应召入伍的美[屏蔽]人的坟冢遍布全球。
Now the trumpet summons us again--not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need--not as a call to battle, though embattled we are-- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation 6 "--a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself.
现在那号角正再度召唤我们——不是号召我们拿起武器，尽管武器是必不可少的；不是号召我们投入战斗，尽管我们正严阵以待；那是号召我们年复一年肩负起漫长黎明前的斗争重任，“在希望中欢乐，在苦难中忍耐”；这是一场对抗人类公敌——[屏蔽]、贫困、疾病以及战争本身——的斗争。
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?
我们能否结成一个全球性的大联盟——其成员遍及东西南北——来对付这些敌人，来确保全人类享有更为富裕的生活 ? 你们是否愿意参与这项历史性的壮举 ?
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
在世界悠久历史中，只有少数几代人被赋予了在自由面临最大危险时捍卫自由的使命。我不会在这种责任面前临阵退缩；我欢迎它。我相信我们当中没有人会和任何其他人或一代人调换位置。我们在这场努力中所献出的精力、信念与献身精神将照亮我们的国家以及所有为国家服务的人，而这团火焰所发出的光辉必能照亮全世界。And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.
所以，同胞们：不要问国家能为你们做些什么，而要问你们能为国家做些什么。
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
全世界的公民：不要问美国能为你们做些什么，而应问我们一起能为人类的自由做些什么。
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.
最后，不管你是美国公民或别国公民，请用我们要求你们贡献力量与做出牺牲的同样的高标准来要求我们。我们唯一可回报的是问心无愧，让历史来最后裁决我们的行为吧，让我们一同向前，[屏蔽]我们挚爱的国家，企求上帝的保佑与扶携，但我们知道，在这个世界上，上帝的任务是我们所应肩负的真正使命。

好经典的翻译啊