给美国政府的答复西雅图酋长中英文对照精排版.docx

1、给美国政府的答复西雅图酋长中英文对照精排版给美国政府的答复西雅图酋长数不尽的世代以来，渺渺苍天曾为我族洒下多少同情之泪；这个在我们看来像是永恒不变的苍天，实际上是会改变的。今天和风，明日则可能阴云密布。 但我的话却有如天空亘古的星辰，永不变更。西雅图说的话，正如日自东出，春去秋来，华盛顿的大酋长可以确信无疑。华盛顿的大酋长托白人酋长向我们致以友好的问候与祝愿。我们感他的好意，因为我知道他无所求于我们，不用我们以友情回报。他的子民众多，犹如广袤原野上无边的的青草。我的族人寥寥，像风催雨袭后的平原上稀疏的树木。那位伟大的我也他是仁慈的白人酋长派遣人告诉我们，他愿意为我们保留足够的土地过安逸生活的前

2、提下，购买我们的土地。这看来确实很公道，甚至很慷慨，因为红种人已经没有要求受尊重的权利了，这个提议也许还是英明的，因为这么辽阔的国土对我们来说已经没有意义了。曾几何时，我们的族人曾密密麻麻地布满了这片土地，就想随风涌浪的海水掩盖着满是贝壳的海底；但那个时代已经一去不复返了，部落曾经的辉煌只留给我们忧伤的回忆。我不愿再纠缠于我们部落过早的摔落马，不愿再为此哀叹，也不愿将此归咎于白种兄弟，因为我们或许多少也应该责怪自己。年轻一代总是容易冲动。我们年轻的族人被或真实或虚幻的冤屈所激怒，用黑漆把脸涂黑，其实同时他们也抹黑了自己的心，变得残酷无情；而我们这些上了岁数的老人们又无力约束他们。然而，尽管一直

3、都是如此，尽管白人把我们往西驱逐以来一直都是如此，但还是让我们寄希望于彼此之间的仇恨能够永久泯灭。仇恨能让我们失去一切，却毫无所得。对年轻人来说，可能复仇本身就是一种收获，即使那会让他们失去生命；但是那些在战时固守家园的老人，以与可能在战争中失去儿子的母亲们，懂得更多事情的真相。我们在华盛顿的好父亲,自从乔治国王将他的边界线向北大举推进之后，我已经把他当成我们的，也是你们的父亲了我说，我们了不起的好心肠的父亲传话来说，他会保护我们，唯一的条件就是我们要按他说的去做。他神武的勇士将为我们筑起护卫之墙，他神奇的战舰会驻满我们的港口。这样一来，我们北边的宿敌海达人和辛姆希人再也不能威胁到我们的妇孺老

4、弱。如此这般，他作为父亲，我们作为孩子就成为事实了。但这可能吗？你们的上帝并不是我们的上帝；你们的上帝爱护你们的子民，却憎恨我的族人。他以他有力的臂弯慈爱地环绕保护着白人，就像父亲指引新生儿般指引着他们；但是他却遗弃了他的红皮肤的孩子如果我们真的能称作他的孩子的话。我们的上帝，那伟大的神灵，好像也已经遗弃了我们。你们的神让你们的人民一天天强大起来，很快就能占领整个；而我的族人却衰落得如撤退的潮水一去不复返了。白人的神不会爱护我们的同胞，不然他为何不保护他们，而让他们像孤儿一样求助无门？既然如此，我们怎么能成为兄弟呢？你们的神又怎能成为我们的神，让我们重振雄风并唤醒我们重返昔日鼎盛时期的梦想呢？

5、假如我们真的有着同一位天父的话，那他也必定偏心，因为他只照看他那白皮肤的儿子，我们却从来见不到他；他教给你们律法，对他红皮肤的儿子却无话要说，尽管他们曾经如繁星占满苍穹般遍布整个大陆。不，我们是两个截然不同的种族，起源不同，命运也各异。我们之间几乎毫无共同点。在我们看来，祖先的骨灰是神圣的，他们的安息之所也是圣地；而你们却似乎可以毫无哀痛感地远离祖先墓地。你们的，是你们的神恐怕你们遗忘，以铁指书写在石板上的。红种人对此既不能领会也会难以记住；我们的传自我们的祖先伟大的神灵于夜晚的神圣时刻，以梦的方式赐予我们的长者，经过酋长们的洞察，铭刻在我们族人的心底。你们的亡者一旦踏上墓地的大门，便不再爱护

6、你们，也不再爱护曾经的故国家园。从此飘忽于群星之外，很快就被生者遗忘，也永不再回来。我们的逝者却永远不会遗忘这个赐予他生命的美丽世界。他们依然爱恋着青翠的峡谷，潺潺的河流，雄伟的大山，以与幽静的溪谷和碧绿的湖泊海湾；并且以最温柔的情感牵挂着心孤寂的生者，一次次地从他们极乐的狩猎之地回来，探望他们，指引他们，安抚他们。白昼与黑夜无法共存。红种人对白种人从来就是敬而远之的，就像朝雾 在升起前就要早早消散一样。然而，你们的建议看来是公道的，我想我的人 民会承受建议，退居到你给他们的保留地。这样我们就能分处两地、和平共 存，因为白人大酋长对我的同胞所说的话，有如大自然从如磐的黑暗中发出来的声音。 我们

7、在什么地方度过余年已经无关重要。我们已经来日无多了。印第安人的夜晚只有一片漆黑，在他的地平线上不会再有希望的星星闪烁。忧伤的风在远处呜咽，残酷的命运尾随在红种人的身后，不论身在何方，都听得见无情的毁灭者靠近的脚步声。他只能麻木地等待末日的到来，如同受伤的母鹿无奈地听着猎人靠近的声声脚步。几经月圆月亏，几次寒来暑往，这个由伟大的神灵所庇护、曾经遍布广袤的、在自己堪比乐园的家园幸福生活的民族，将不会再有一名幸存的子，为一个曾经比你们更强大，更生机勃勃，如今却只剩下墓碑的部族哀哀哭泣。但我又何必为我民族的夭折哀叹呢？一个部落没落，另一个部落就会振兴；一个民族衰亡，另一民族便会崛起，像海潮一样，后浪逐

8、前浪。这是自然的法则，悲叹惋惜又有何用呢？你们没落的一天可能还很遥远，却必定到来。因为即使是能够同上帝像朋友一样亲密无间的白人， 也不能免于同样的命运。我们终究会成为同命相怜的兄弟的，等着瞧吧。 我们会仔细权衡你们的提议，等到我们作出决定，就会通知你们。但是如 果我们承受这项建议，我现在在这里就要提出一个保留条件：我们要求有权 随时不受干扰地扫谒我们祖先、朋友和子的坟墓。这里每一寸土地对于我的人民都是神圣的。每一片山坡，每一个河谷，每一块平原，每一丛小树都由于往日的哀愁与欢乐而变得无比圣洁。甚至那些静静躺在寂静的海边、被烈日曝晒的顽石，也因见证过族人们曾有的生气勃勃的生活而变得激动人心；甚至你

9、们脚底下的尘土也不会给予你们那种曾给予我们的深情回应，因为它被我们祖先的鲜血所渗透，只有我们的赤足才更能感受到它那充满怜惜的触摸。我们已逝的勇士，多情的母亲，欢欣的少女，甚至还有仅仅在这里生长嬉戏过一段短短的美好岁月的孩子们，都热恋着这一片黯淡荒寂的土地，并在夜幕降临之时，迎接那些蒙蒙的族人之魂飘然而归。当最后一个红种人死去，白人对这个部落的回忆已经成为神话之时，这里的海岸仍将聚集着我们族人无形的灵魂；当你们的子以为他们独自在田野、仓库、商店、公路或寂静的、无路可通的森林中时， 他们也绝非孤身一人。之上没有任何地方是真正孤寂的；夜深人静，当你们城镇或村庄的街道悄然入梦他们过去曾住在这里，他们仍

10、然热爱这块美丽的土地。白 人永远不会独占这个地方。 愿他公平、正直、善意地对待我的族人，因为死者并不是无能为力的。我说他们是死者吗？不，世上并没有“死亡”一说，他们只是去了我另外一个世界。The “Alternate Statement” of Chief SeattleYonder sky that has wept tears of compassion upon my people for centuries untold, and which to us appears changeless and eternal, may change. Today is fair. Tomorro

11、w it may be overcast with clouds. My words are like the stars that never change. Whatever Seattle says, the great chief at Washington can rely upon with as much certainty as he can upon the return of the sun or the seasons.The white chief says that Big chief at Washington sends us greetings of frien

12、dship and goodwill. This is kind of him for we know he has little need of our friendship in return. His people are many. They are like the grass that covers vast prairies. My people are few. They resemble the scattering trees of a storm-wept plain. The great and I presumegood, White Chief sends us w

13、ord that he wishes to buy our lands but is willing to allow us enough to live comfortably. This indeed appears just, even generous, for the Red Man no longer has right that he need respect, and the offer may be wise also, as we are no longer in need of an extensive country.There was a time when our

14、people covered the land as the waves of a wind-ruffled sea cover its shell-paved floor, but that time long since passed away with the greatness of tribes that are now but a mournful memory. I will not dwell on, nor mourn over, our untimely decay, nor reproach my paleface brothers with hastening it,

15、as we too may have been somewhat to blame.Youth is impulsive. When our young men grow angry at some real or imaginary wrong, and disfigure their faces with black paints, it denotes that their hearts are black, and that they are often cruel and relentless, and our old man and old women are unable to

16、restrain them. Thus it has ever been. Thus it was when the white man began to push our forefathers ever westward. But let us hope that the hostilities between us may never return. We would have everything to lose and nothing to gain. Revenge by young men is considered gain, even at the cost of their

17、 own lives, but old men who stay at home in times of war, and mothers who have sons to lose, know better.Our good father in Washingtonfor I presume he is now our father as well as yours, since King George has moved his boundaries further northour great and good father, I say, sends us word that if w

18、e do as he desires he will protect us. His brave warriors will be to us a bristling wall of strength, and his wonderful ships of war will fill our harbors, so that our ancient enemies far to the northwardthe Haidas and Tsimshians, will cease to frighten our women, children, and old men. He in realit

19、y he will be our father and we will be his children.But can that ever be? Your God is not our God! Your God loves your people and hates mine! He folds his strong protecting arms lovingly about the palefaces and leads him by the hand as a father leads an infant son. But, He has forsaken His Red child

20、ren, if they really are His.Our God, the Great Spirit, seems also to have forsaken us. Your God makes your people wax stronger every day. Soon they will fill all the land. Our people are ebbing away like a rapidly receding tide that will never return. The white mans God cannot love our people or he

21、would protect them. They seem to be orphans who can look nowhere for help. How then can we be brothers? How can your God become our God and renew our prosperity and awaken in us dreams of returning greatness?If we have a common Heavenly Father He must be partial, for He came to His paleface children

22、. We never saw him. He gave you laws but had no word for His red children whose teeming multitudes once filled this vast continent as stars fill the firmament. No, we are two distinct races with separate origins and separate destinies. There is little in common between us.To us the ashes of our ance

23、stors are scared and their resting place is hallowed ground.You wonder far from the graves of your ancestors and seemingly without regret.Your religion was written upon tablets of stone by the iron finger of your God so that you could not forget. The Red Man could never comprehend or remember it. Ou

24、r religion is the traditions of our ancestorsthe dreams of our old men, given them in solemn hours of the night by the Great Spirit; and the visions of our sachems, and is written in the hearts of our people.Your dead cease to love you and the land of their nativity as soon as they pass the portals

25、of the tomb and wander away beyond the stars. They are soon forgotten and never return. Our dead never forget this beautiful world that gave them being. They still love its verdant valleys, its murmuring rivers, its magnificent mountains, sequestered vales and verdant lined lakes and bays, and ever

26、yearn in tender fond affection over the lonely hearted living, and often return from the happy hunting ground to visit, guide, console, and comfort them.Day and night cannot dwell together. The Red Man has ever fled the approach of the White Man, as the morningmist flees before the morning sun. Howe

27、ver, your proposition seems fair and I think that my people will accept it and will retire to the reservation you offer them. Then we will dwell apart in peace, for the words of the Great White Chief seem to be words of nature speaking to my people out of dense darkness.It matters little where we pa

28、ss the remnant of out days. They will not be many. The Indians night promises to be dark. Not a single star of hope hovers above his horizon. Sad voiced winds moan in the distance. Grim fate seems to be on the Red Mans trail, and wherever he will hear the approaching footsteps of his fell destroyer

29、and prepare stolidly to meet his doom, as does the wounded doe that hears the approaching footsteps of the hunter.A few more moons, a few more winters, and not one of the descendants of the mighty hosts that once moved over this broad land or lived in happy homes, protected by the Great Spirit, will

30、 remain to mourn over the graves of a people once more powerful and hopeful than yours. But why should I mourn at the untimely fate of my people? Tribe follows tribe, and nation follows nation, like the waves of the sea. It is the order of nature, and regret is useless. Your time of decay may be dis

31、tant, but it will surely come, for even the White Man whose God walked and talked with him as friend with friend, cannot be exempt from the common destiny. We may be brothers after all. We will see.We will ponder your proposition and when decide we will let you know. But should we accept it, I here

32、and now make this condition that we will not be denied the privilege without molestation of visiting at any time the tombs of our ancestors, friends, and children. Every part of this soil is scared in the estimation of my people.Every hillside, every valley, every plain and grove, has been hallowed

33、by some sad or happy event in days long vanished. Even the rocks, which seem to be dumb and dead as the swelter in the sun along the silent shore, thrill with memories of stirring events connected with the lives of my people, and the very dust upon whichyou now stand responds more lovingly to their footsteps th