【最美英音】2017年英國女王圣誕演講來了

每年的圣誕節(jié)，英國女王伊麗莎白二世都會按照傳統(tǒng)，面向公眾發(fā)表圣誕演講（Christmas message)，今年，于當?shù)貢r間圣誕節(jié)（25日）下午發(fā)表全國電視講話。

今年，91歲的英國女王身穿白色洋裝，面露笑容，身前的書桌上擺放夫婦二人的當年結婚照及今年70周年結婚紀念照，還有曾孫喬治王子及夏洛特公主兩兄妹的超萌照片。

在每年的圣誕演講中，女王都會提到自己、家人、以及整個英聯(lián)邦。每年的演講還會有一個特定的主題：“回顧過去，展望未來。”

女王奶奶的演講還是一如既往地優(yōu)雅，文字也同樣凝練精彩，絕對是教科書級別的英語范文，值得好好研究一番。

——中英對照演講稿——

Sixty years ago today, a young woman spoke about the speed of technological change as she presented the first television broadcast of its kind. She described the moment as a landmark.

六十年前的今天，一名年輕的女性嘗試了首次這類電視直播，并在其中講到了科技變遷的快速程度。她把那一刻稱為“里程碑”時刻。

QUEEN (in archival footage): Television has made it possible for many of you to see me in your homes on Christmas Day. My own family often gather round to watch television, as they are at this moment. And that is how I imagine you now.

女王資料影像：電視讓你們許多人在圣誕假當天坐在家里就能夠見到我。我自己的家人常常聚到一起看電視，而他們現(xiàn)在也正坐在電視機前。我想象中，這就是你們現(xiàn)在的樣子。

Six decades on, the presenter has evolved somewhat, as has the technology she described. Back then, who could have imagined that people would one day be watching this on laptops and mobile phones, as some of you are today?

六十個年頭過去了，這位“主播”歷經蛻變，正如她所描述的科技一般。當年有誰能想象到，有一天人們會從筆記本電腦和手機上觀看這則視頻，就像今天你們中的一部分人這樣？

But I'm also struck by something that hasn't changed - that whatever the technology, many of you will be watching this at home.

不過，我也為另外一些不曾變化的事情備受感動，那就是無論科技如何進步，你們中絕大多數(shù)人依然聚在家里觀看這則視頻。

We think of our homes as places of warmth, familiarity and love - of shared stories and memories - which is perhaps why, at this time of year, so many return to where they grew up. There is a timeless simplicity to the pull of home. For many, the idea of home reaches beyond a physical building, to a home town or city.

我們把家看做溫暖、親情與愛所凝聚的地方，看做保留共同的經歷與回憶的地方。可能也正是如此，每年這個時候，很多人都選擇回到他們長大的地方。這正是“家”對人們經久不衰的吸引力之所在。對很多人而言，“家”的概念早已超越了一棟建筑、一個家鄉(xiāng)、一座城市的表面之所在。

This Christmas, I think of London and Manchester, whose powerful identities shone through over the past 12 months, in the face of appalling attacks. In Manchester, those targeted included children who had gone to see their favourite singer.

這個圣誕節(jié)，我心中想到的是倫敦和曼徹斯特，即使在令人震驚的襲擊面前，它們強有力的秉性在過去12個月里，依然大放異彩。在曼徹斯特，那些包含孩子們在內的被襲擊者不過是去見他們最喜歡的歌手而已。

A few days after the bombing, I had the privilege of meeting some of the young survivors and their parents.

在爆炸發(fā)生的幾天后，我有幸當面見到了幾位年輕的幸存者，以及他們的父母。

I described that hospital visit as a privilege because the patients I met were an example to us all, showing extraordinary bravery and resilience. Indeed, many of those who survived the attack came together just days later for a benefit concert. It was a powerful reclaiming of the ground and of the city those young people call home.

我把這幾次醫(yī)院探望稱之為“榮幸”，是因為我見到的那些傷者是我們所有人的榜樣，他們展現(xiàn)出了非同凡響的勇敢和堅韌。事實也正是如此，因為不過幾天之后，許多襲擊中的幸存者就再次聚集到一起，參與了一場慈善演唱會。這是對我們共同信念的重申，也是對所有那些年輕人稱之為“家”的城市的主權宣誓。

We expect our homes to be a place of safety - sanctuary, even - which makes it all the more shocking when the comfort they provide is shattered. A few weeks ago, the Prince of Wales visited the Caribbean in the aftermath of hurricanes that destroyed entire communities.

我們都希望我們的家是安全的地方，甚至是圣所一樣的存在，但也正是如此，當家所提供的溫暖舒適遭到破壞的時候，這一切才更令人震悚。就在幾周前，威爾士王子（注：即查爾斯）也剛剛訪問了遭遇颶風襲擊后鄰里街訪遭遇破壞性打擊的加勒比地區(qū)。

And here, in London, who can forget the sheer awfulness of the Grenfell Tower fire? Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who died and those who lost so much, and we are indebted to members of the emergency services who risked their own lives this past year, saving others.

而就在這里，在倫敦，誰能夠忘懷那純粹可怕的格倫費爾大廈火災呢？我們的心緒和祈禱，都與受害者和那些失去太多的人們同在。而對那些在過去一年內冒著生命危險去援救他人的緊急救援隊伍成員們，我們也十分感激。

Many of them, of course, will not be at home today, because they are working to protect us. Reflecting on these events makes me grateful for the blessings of home and family and, in particular, for 70 years of marriage. I don't know that anyone had invented the term 'platinum' for a 70th wedding anniversary. When I was born, you weren't expected to be around that long.

而他們中許多人，今天毫無疑問也無法回家團聚，因為他們?yōu)榱吮Ｗo我們而堅守在工作崗位上。回顧這些事件，讓我對家和家庭所帶來的美好深深感激，尤其是過去70年來的婚姻。我不知道是誰為70周年結婚紀念日發(fā)明了“鉑金婚”這個說法，畢竟在我出生的時候，一般人是活不了這么長的。

Even Prince Philip has decided it's time to slow down a little, having, as he economically put it, done his bit. But I know his support and unique sense of humour will remain as strong as ever as we enjoy spending time this Christmas with our family, and look forward to welcoming new members into it next year.

就連菲利普親王都決定，是時候放慢腳步了，正如他非常實在地說的那樣，他已經履行了應盡的義務。但我知道，他的支持和獨特的幽默感將一如既往地陪伴左右，尤其是我們一家人聚在一起歡度圣誕，并期待明年迎來新的家庭成員的時候（注：指威廉王子與凱特王妃的第三胎，以及即將嫁給哈里王子的梅根·馬科爾）。

In 2018, I will open my home to a different type of family, the leaders of the 52 nations of the Commonwealth, as they gather in the UK for a summit.

2018年，我還將敞開我家大門歡迎另外一個類別的家人，那就是英聯(lián)邦52國的領導人，他們將一起參加在英國舉行的峰會。

The Commonwealth has an inspiring way of bringing people together, be it through the Commonwealth Games, which begin in a few months' time on Australia's Gold Coast, or through bodies like the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra and Choir - a reminder of how truly vibrant this international family is.

英聯(lián)邦在凝聚人心方面有著充滿啟發(fā)性的方式，包括幾個月后即將在澳大利亞黃金海岸拉開帷幕的英聯(lián)邦運動會，以及英聯(lián)邦青年管樂團和合唱團這樣的團體。這些都時刻提醒著我們，我們的國際大家庭是多么的生機勃勃。

Today, we celebrate Christmas, which, itself, is sometimes described as a festival of the home. Families travel long distances to be together.

今天我們慶祝圣誕節(jié)，而它也有時被稱為是屬于家庭的節(jié)日，人們不遠萬里跋涉，只為了與家人團聚。

Volunteers and charities, as well as many churches, arrange meals for the homeless and those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day. We remember the birth of Jesus Christ, whose only sanctuary was a stable in Bethlehem. He knew rejection, hardship and persecution.

志愿者、慈善機構以及許多教堂，都為無家可歸、以及獨自度過圣誕節(jié)的人們安排了免費餐點。我們以此紀念耶穌基督的誕生，當時他的圣所不過是伯利恒的一處馬廄，而他也深知拒絕、艱苦與迫害的涵義。

And, yet, it is Jesus Christ's generous love and example which has inspired me through good times and bad. Whatever your own experience is this year, wherever and however you are watching, I wish you a peaceful and very happy Christmas.

然而，無論在歌舞升平還是艱難困苦的時代，他寬容的大愛和善舉，都始終啟迪著我。無論你過去一年中有什么樣的個人經歷，無論你身處何處，無論你以何種方式在觀看這個講話，我都祝你圣誕快樂，平安幸福。