女王的演講發音純正,措辭優雅,語速適中,內容積極向上,是完美的英語聽力素材。一起來看視頻吧!
The Queen delivered an upbeat Christmas message on Sunday, saying that we can all draw inspiration in the face of difficult times from the achievements of ordinary people.
星期天英國女王發表了聖誕致辭,她說:「那些平凡的人面對困難獲得成功,我們能從他們身上汲取力量。」
Her annual Christmas message paid tribute to the country’s 「inspirational unsung heroes」.
女王在每年一度的聖誕致辭中向「鼓舞人心的無名英雄」致敬。
【雙語譯文】
雙語全文
There was a time when British Olympic medal winners became household names because there were so few of them.
曾幾何時,英國奧運獎牌獲得者家喻戶曉,因為他們鳳毛麟角。
But the 67 medals at this year's Games in Rio and 147 at the Paralympics meant that the GB medallists' reception at Buckingham Palace was a crowded and happy event.
而在今年的裡約奧運會上,我們斬獲67枚獎牌,帕運會147枚,這讓白金漢宮款待大不列顛獎牌得主們的招待宴變得擁擠而歡樂。
Throughout the Commonwealth there were equally joyful celebrations. Grenada, the Bahamas, Jamaica and New Zealand won more medals per head of population than any other countries.
大英國協各處亦歡欣慶祝,格瑞那達、巴哈馬群島、牙買加、紐西蘭比其他任何國家的人均獎牌數都多。
Many of this year's winners spoke of being inspired by athletes of previous generations.
今年許多勝利者談到,自己受到前輩的鼓舞。
Inspiration fed their aspiration; and having discovered abilities they scarcely knew they had, these athletes are now inspiring others.
心受鼓舞令人志存高遠,這些運動員發現了自己都難以置信的能力,現在他們正鼓舞著他人。
A few months ago, I saw inspiration of a different kind when I opened the new Cambridge base of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, where Prince William works as a helicopter pilot.
幾個月前,我受到另一種鼓舞,我為東盎格魯救援飛行隊在劍橋的新基地剪彩,威廉王子是那裡的直升機飛行員。
It was not hard to be moved by the dedication of the highly skilled doctors, paramedics and crew, who are called out on average five times a day.
訓練有素的醫生、醫療護理人員和機組成員,他們平均每天出勤五次,人們很容易就被他們的奉獻精神感召。
But to be inspirational you don't have to save lives or win medals.
但要鼓舞他人,你並不非定要救死扶傷或贏取獎牌。
I often draw strength from meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary things: volunteers, carers, community organisers and good neighbours; unsung heroes whose quiet dedication makes them special.
我常常從普通人身上汲取力量,他們平凡卻做著不平凡的事:志願者、老人看護、社區組織者和友善的鄰居,他們是無名的英雄,默默無聞的奉獻讓他們與眾不同。
unsung:未被讚頌的
They are an inspiration to those who know them, and their lives frequently embody a truth expressed by Mother Teresa, from this year Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
他們鼓舞著認識他們的人,他們的生活每每體現著特雷莎修女表達的真理,今年特雷莎封聖為「加爾各答的聖特雷莎」。
She once said: 'Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love'.
她曾說:「並非每個人都能做出偉大的事情,但我們可以帶著偉大的愛做一些小事。」
This has been the experience of two remarkable organisations, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and The Prince's Trust, which are 60 and 40 years old this year. These started as small initiatives but have grown beyond any expectations, and continue to transform young people's lives.
有兩個出色的組織正是如此,它們是今年六十周年的愛丁堡公爵獎和四十周年的王子信託基金。它們從小做起,如今卻超乎預料,並繼續改變著年輕人的生活。
To mark my 90th birthday, volunteers and supporters of the six hundred charities of which I have been patron came to a lunch in The Mall.
為紀念我九十歲生日,來自600個慈善團體的志願者和支持者來林蔭大道參加午宴,我一直以來資助這些團體。
patron:贊助人
Many of these organisations are modest in size but inspire me with the work they do.
許多機構並不大,它們做的事卻鼓舞著我。
From giving friendship and support to our veterans, the elderly or the bereaved; to championing music and dance; providing animal welfare; or protecting our fields and forests, their selfless devotion and generosity of spirit is an example to us all.
它們把友誼和支持給予退伍老兵、老年人和喪親之人;它們贊助音樂和舞蹈;它們提供動物福利;它們保護我們的土地和森林;它們無私的奉獻和慷慨的精神堪為典範。
veterans:老兵
bereaved:失去親人的人
When people face a challenge they sometimes talk about taking a deep breath to find courage or strength. In fact, the word 'inspire' literally means 'to breathe in'.
遭遇挑戰的人們有時會說,深吸一口氣,拿出勇氣和力量。事實上,「鼓舞」的字面意思就是「吸氣」。
But even with the inspiration of others, it's understandable that we sometimes think the world's problems are so big that we can do little to help.
可即便受到他人鼓舞,我們有時還是發現,這個世界的問題太大,我們所做的不過杯水車薪,這是可以理解的。
On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine.
就我們自己而言,我們無法結束戰爭,掃除不公,可成千上萬微不足道的善行累加起來,能產生我們想像不到的巨大影響。
At Christmas, our attention is drawn to the birth of a baby some two thousand years ago. It was the humblest of beginnings, and his parents, Joseph and Mary, did not think they were important. 聖誕之際,我們又想起兩千年前誕生的一個嬰兒。他出生極為卑微,父母約瑟和瑪麗並不覺得自己有多重要。
Jesus Christ lived obscurely for most of his life, and never travelled far. He was maligned and rejected by many, though he had done no wrong.
耶穌基督一生大部分時光都籍籍無名,未能行走天下。儘管他並沒無過錯,但還是屢遭詆毀和排擠。
malign [mə'lain]:誹謗、污衊
And yet, billions of people now follow his teaching and find in him the guiding light for their lives.
而如今,數十億人追隨他的教誨,從他身上發現生命中引路的明燈。
I am one of them because Christ's example helps me see the value of doing small things with great love, whoever does them and whatever they themselves believe.
我就是其中一員,因為基督之範讓我看到以大愛行小善的價值,無論是誰,無論他信仰什麼。
The message of Christmas reminds us that inspiration is a gift to be given as well as received, and that love begins small but always grows.
聖誕傳達的精神就是讓我們記住,對心的啟迪和鼓舞是一個禮物,既可接納也可贈予,而愛起於微末,卻總能茁壯成長。
I wish you all a very happy Christmas.
祝各位聖誕快樂。
(編輯:何瑩瑩)