Give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death

亨利演讲辞的英文版GiveMeLibertyOrGiveMeDeathPatrickHenry,March23,1775.NomanthinksmorehighlythanIdoofthepatriotism,aswellasabilities,oftheveryworthygentlemenwhohavejustaddressedtheHouse.Butdifferentmenoftenseethesamesubjectindifferentlights;and,therefore,Ihopeitwillnotbethoughtdisrespectfultothosegentlemenif,entertainingasIdoopinionsofacharacterveryoppositetotheirs,Ishallspeakforthmysentimentsfreelyandwithoutreserve.Thisisnotimeforceremony.ThequestingbeforetheHouseisoneofawfulmomenttothiscountry.Formyownpart,Iconsideritasnothinglessthanaquestionoffreedomorslavery;andinproportiontothemagnitudeofthesubjectoughttobethefreedomofthedebate.Itisonlyinthiswaythatwecanhopetoarriveattruth,andfulfillthegreatresponsibilitywhichweholdtoGodandourcountry.ShouldIkeepbackmyopinionsatsuchatime,throughfearofgivingoffense,Ishouldconsidermyselfasguiltyoftreasontowardsmycountry,andofanactofdisloyaltytowardtheMajestyofHeaven,whichIrevereaboveallearthlykings.Mr.President,itisnaturaltomantoindulgeintheillusionsofhope.Weareapttoshutoureyesagainstapainfultruth,andlistentothesongofthatsirentillshetransformsusintobeasts.Isthisthepartofwisemen,engagedinagreatandarduousstruggleforliberty?Arewedisposedtobeofthenumberofthosewho,havingeyes,seenot,and,havingears,hearnot,thethingswhichsonearlyconcerntheirtemporalsalvation?Formypart,whateveranguishofspirititmaycost,Iamwillingtoknowthewholetruth;toknowtheworst,andtoprovideforit.Ihavebutonelampbywhichmyfeetareguided,andthatisthelampofexperience.Iknowofnowayofjudgingofthefuturebutbythepast.Andjudgingbythepast,IwishtoknowwhattherehasbeenintheconductoftheBritishministryforthelasttenyearstojustifythosehopeswithwhichgentlemenhavebeenpleasedtosolacethemselvesandtheHouse.Isitthatinsidioussmilewithwhichourpetitionhasbeenlatelyreceived?Trustitnot,sir;itwillproveasnaretoyourfeet.Suffernotyourselvestobebetrayedwithakiss.Askyourselveshowthisgraciousreceptionofourpetitioncomportswiththosewarlikepreparationswhichcoverourwatersanddarkenourland.Arefleetsandarmiesnecessarytoaworkofloveandreconciliation?Haveweshownourselvessounwillingtobereconciledthatforcemustbecalledintowinbackourlove?Letusnotdeceiveourselves,sir.Thesearetheimplementsofwarandsubjugation;thelastargumentstowhichkingsresort.Iaskgentlemen,sir,whatmeansthismartialarray,ifitspurposebenottoforceustosubmission?Cangentlemenassignanyotherpossiblemotiveforit?HasGreatBritainanyenemy,inthisquarteroftheworld,tocallforallthisaccumulationofnaviesandarmies?No,sir,shehasnone.Theyaremeantforus:theycanbemeantfornoother.TheyaresentovertobindandrivetuponusthosechainswhichtheBritishministryhavebeensolongforging.Andwhathavewetoopposetothem?Shallwetryargument?Sir,wehavebeentryingthatforthelasttenyears.Haveweanythingnewtoofferuponthesubject?Nothing.Wehaveheldthesubjectupineverylightofwhichitiscapable;butithasbeenallinvain.Shallweresorttoentreatyandhumblesupplication?Whattermsshallwefindwhichhavenotbeenalreadyexhausted?Letusnot,Ibeseechyou,sir,deceiveourselves.Sir,wehavedoneeverythingthatcouldbedonetoavertthestormwhichisnowcomingon.Wehavepetitioned;wehaveremonstrated;wehavesupplicated;wehaveprostratedourselvesbeforethethrone,andhaveimploreditsinterpositiontoarrestthetyrannicalhandsoftheministryandParliament.Ourpetitionshavebeenslighted;ourremonstranceshaveproducedadditionalviolenceandinsult;oursupplicationshavebeendisregarded;andwehavebeenspurned,withcontempt,fromthefootofthethrone!Invain,afterthesethings,mayweindulgethefondhopeofpeaceandreconciliation.Thereisnolongeranyroomforhope.Ifwewishtobefree--ifwemeantopreserveinviolatethoseinestimableprivilegesforwhichwehavebeensolongcontending--ifwemeannotbaselytoabandonthenoblestruggleinwhichwehavebeensolongengaged,andwhichwehavepledgedourselvesnevertoabandonuntilthegloriousobjectofourcontestshallbeobtained--wemustfight!Irepeatit,sir,wemustfight!AnappealtoarmsandtotheGodofhostsisallthatisleftus!Theytellus,sir,thatweareweak;unabletocopewithsoformidableanadversary.Butwhenshallwebestronger?Willitbethenextweek,orthenextyear?Willitbewhenwearetotallydisarmed,andwhenaBritishguardshallbestationedineveryhouse?Shallwegatherstrengthbyirresolutionandinaction?Shallweacquirethemeansofeffectualresistancebylyingsupinelyonourbacksandhuggingthedelusivephantomofhope,untilourenemiesshallhaveboundushandandfoot?Sir,wearenotweakifwemakeaproperuseofthosemeanswhichtheGodofnaturehathplacedinourpower.Themillionsofpeople,armedintheholycauseofliberty,andinsuchacountryasthatwhichwepossess,areinvinciblebyanyforcewhichourenemycansendagainstus.Besides,sir,weshallnotfightourbattlesalone.ThereisajustGodwhopresidesoverthedestiniesofnations,andwhowillraiseupfriendstofightourbattlesforus.Thebattle,sir,isnottothestrongalone;itistothevigilant,theactive,thebrave.Besides,sir,wehavenoelection.Ifwewerebaseenoughtodesireit,itisnowtoolatetoretirefromthecontest.Thereisnoretreatbutinsubmissionandslavery!Ourchainsareforged!TheirclankingmaybeheardontheplainsofBoston!Thewarisinevitable--andletitcome!Irepeatit,sir,letitcome.Itisinvain,sir,toextenuatethematter.Gentlemenmaycry,Peace,Peace--