I speak to you today at the same hour as my father did, exactly 75 years ago. His message then was a salute to the men and women at home and abroad who had sacrificed so much in pursuit of what he rightly called a “great deliverance”.
今天,我在75年前父亲演讲的同一时刻向大家发表讲话。那时他通过讲话向国内外的所有民众致敬,他们为追求他所称道的“伟大解放”做出了巨大牺牲。
The war had been a total war; it had affected everyone, and no one was immune from its impact. Whether it be the men and women called up to serve; families separated from each other; or people asked to take up new roles and skills to support the war effort, all had a part to play. At the start, the outlook seemed bleak, the end distant, the outcome uncertain. But we kept faith that the cause was right – and this belief, as my father noted in his broadcast, carried us through.
那是一场全面的战争;它影响了所有人,无人能躲过它的冲击。无论是应召入伍的男女;彼此分离的家庭;还是被要求担当新角色、学习新技能以支持抗战的人们,都肩负起了各自的责任。起初前景看似黯淡,终点看似遥远,结果亦难确定。但我们坚信我们的事业是正义的——正是这种信念,如父亲在广播中提到的那样,带领我们度过了难关。
Never give up, never despair – that was the message of VE Day. I vividly remember the jubilant scenes my sister and I witnessed with our parents and Winston Churchill from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The sense of joy in the crowds who gathered outside and across the country was profound, though while we celebrated the victory in Europe, we knew there would be further sacrifice. It was not until August that fighting in the Far East ceased and the war finally ended.
永不放弃,永不绝望——这就是胜利日的信息。我依然清楚记得姐姐和我与父母和丘吉尔在白金汉宫阳台上看到的万民欢腾的情景。聚集在外面和全国各地的人群充满了喜悦。在庆祝欧战胜利的同时,我们知道之后还会有更多的牺牲。直到八月,远东的战事才停止,战争才终于结束。
Many people laid down their lives in that terrible conflict. They fought so we could live in peace, at home and abroad. They died so we could live as free people in a world of free nations. They risked all so our families and neighbourhoods could be safe. We should and will remember them.
许多人在那场可怕的冲突中失去了生命。正因他们的抗争,我们才能在国内外和平地生活。正因他们的牺牲,我们才能在自由国家的世界里自由地生活。正因他们甘冒一切风险,我们的家庭和社区才得以安全。我们应该,并且也一定会记住他们。
As I now reflect on my father’s words and the joyous celebrations, which some of us experienced first-hand, I am thankful for the strength and courage that the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and all our allies displayed.
在我回顾父亲的话语和一些我们亲身经历的欢乐庆祝之时,我想感谢联合王国,英联邦和我们所有盟国所表现出的力量和勇气。
The wartime generation knew that the best way to honor those who did not come back from the war, was to ensure that it didn’t happen again. The greatest tribute to their sacrifice is that countries who were once sworn enemies are now friends, working side by side for the peace, health and prosperity of us all.
战时的一代人知道,纪念战争死难者最好的方法就是确保战事不再发生。对他们的牺牲能表达的最高敬意便是,曾经誓为敌手的国家现在能成为朋友,为我们所有人的和平,健康与繁荣而并肩努力。
Today it may seem hard that we cannot mark this special anniversary as we would wish. Instead we remember from our homes and our doorsteps. But our streets are not empty; they are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other. And when I look at our country today, and see what we are willing to do to protect and support one another, I say with pride that we are still a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire.
令人难受的是,今天我们无法以原本希望的方式纪念这个特殊的日子。我们只能在家中和家门口纪念这一时刻。但我们的街道并不因此而空空荡荡,反而洋溢着我们对彼此的爱与关怀。今天当我看到我们的国家,看到我们为保护和支持彼此行动起来的时候,我能自豪地说,我们依然是那些英勇的士兵,水手和飞行员认可并钦佩的国家。
I send my warmest good wishes to you all.
我在此向大家致以最良好的祝愿。
Don't forget to say you found them on OzLance.