英国女王圣诞致辞

         ‘You are not alone’ says Queen in Christmas speech

——英国女王2020年圣诞演讲：温暖人心

前言

自从1952年以来，每年圣诞节的下午三点，女王伊丽莎白二世都会发布电视演讲，总结一年的大事件，送出对英联邦国家人民在新的一年里的祝福。之所以把演讲播出的时间选为下午三点，为的是让英联邦国家的观众无论在哪个时区，都不用熬夜观看。可谓非常贴心。

2020年最大的事件莫过于和还未结束的新冠疫情进行的抗争。新冠疫情如此残酷，已经导致全球众多人丧生，经济损失不计其数。如此沉痛的事件，女王虽不得不对此发表演讲和总结，但仍不忍心在佳节之际将其直接说出，所以女王在整篇演讲中并未直接提到相关词语，但仍然表达了对此次疫情对人们造成的伤害的悲痛之情，表达了对相关服务工作人员的感谢感激之情，也做出了对未来的展望，鼓舞民心，让大众充满信心和希望，为获取对抗疫情的最终胜利不断努力。

同时女王表达了对民众疾苦感同身受的理解，宛如自家长辈般安慰处于缅怀逝去亲友悲伤情绪的人民，告诉大家：“You are not alone”，一语双关，即安慰悲伤者，让民众感知到自己对此感同身受的情绪，又希望民众感受到女王一直都在关注疫情，与民同在，共同与疫情抗争的坚定决心和信心，同时也让处于四级封锁状态的民众虽然在物理距离方面处于相对分离，但在情绪和心理方面并不孤独，坚定民众从未被国家抛弃的信念。

“You are not alone”， 可以理解为“你不是一个人”，“我”与你同在，和“你”经历类似情况的人也同在，即使家人逝去，但众多没有血缘关系的“亲友”和“你”在一起。也可以理解为“你并不孤单”，“我”一直在关心“你”、为“你”祈祷，“你”可以向我倾诉。简单一句话，却可温暖人心。

接下来，让我们一起来欣赏女王的圣诞演讲：

Queen's Christmas Speech 2020

Every year we herald the coming of Christmas by turning on the lights. And light does more than create a festive mood —light brings hope.

每年，灯光亮起即预示圣诞的到来。光，不仅营造了节日的氛围，也带来希望。

Herald verb [T] formalMeaning: to be a sign that something important, and often good, is starting to happen, or to make something publicly known, especially by celebrating or praising it:Example: The president's speech heralds a new era in foreign policy.

For Christians, Jesus is ‘the light of the world’, but we can’t celebrate his birth today in quite the usual way. People of all faiths have been unable to gather as they would wish for their festivals, such as Passover, Easter, Eid, and Vaisakhi. But we need life to go on. Last month, fireworks lit up the sky around Windsor, as Hindus, Sikhs and Jains celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights, providing joyous moments of hope and unity — despite social distancing.

对基督徒来说，耶稣是“世界之光”，但是今天我们无法以往常的方式庆祝他的诞生。不同信仰的人们无法像他们所希望的那样欢聚、庆祝诸如逾越节、复活节、开斋节、光明节等节日。但是，生活还要继续。上个月，印度教，锡克教以及耆那教庆祝排灯节，温莎城堡的天空因此而烟花盛放，也带来了希望和团结的欢乐时光，尽管仍需要保持社交距离。

social distancing noun [ U ]Meaning: The practice of keeping away from other people as much as possible, or of keeping a certain distance from other people, in order to stop a disease from spreading to a lot of people:Example: The various measures of social distancing – reducing use of mass transit, closing schools, canceling public gatherings and isolating the sick – were examples of measures that in combination can reduce risk.

Remarkably, a year that has necessarily kept people apart has, in many ways, brought us closer. Across the Commonwealth, my family and I have been inspired by stories of people volunteering in their communities, helping those in need.

值得注意的是，这个人与人必须保持距离的一年，反而在很多方面让我们变得更加亲近了。在整个英联邦地区，发生了众多人们志愿帮助那些需要援助的人的故事，我和家人被这些故事深深鼓舞。

In the United Kingdom and around the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year, and I am so proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit. To our young people in particular I say thank you for the part you have played.

在英国和世界各地，人们出色地应对今年的挑战。我被这种沉着冷静而又不屈不挠的精神感动，也为其骄傲。特别是我们的年轻人，我要特别感谢你们，感谢你们所发挥的作用。

rise to somethingMeaning: to react to a difficult situation by working hard to succeed:Example: There were some other very good competitors, but Megan rose to the challenge and sang beautifully.

rise to the occasion/challengeMeaning: to show that you can deal with a difficult situation successfully:Example: In the exam she rose to the occasion and wrote a brilliant essay.

rise to fameMeaning: to become famous:Example: He rose to fame in the 90s as a TV presenter.

rise to the baitMeaning: to accept an offer or suggestion that seems good but is really a trick:Example: They offered a good salary, but I didn't rise to the bait.

This year, we celebrated International Nurses’ Day, on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. As with other nursing pioneers like Mary Seacole, Florence Nightingale shone a lamp of hope across the world. Today, our front-line services still shine that lamp for us - supported by the amazing achievements of modern science - and we owe them a debt of gratitude. We continue to be inspired by the kindness of strangers and draw comfort that - even on the darkest nights - there is hope in the new dawn.

今年，在南丁格尔诞辰200周年之际，我们庆祝了国际护士节。和其他护理先驱例如玛丽•西科尔一起，南丁格尔在全球点亮了希望之灯。如今，在现在科学令人惊叹的支持下，我们的前线服务者也在为我们点亮这盏希望之灯，我们感激他们的付出。我们继续被陌生人的善意所鼓舞，并得到安慰，即使在最黑的夜晚，新的黎明之中也一定会有希望。

owe a debt of gratitude/thanksMeaning: to have a reason to thank or feel grateful to another person for something good that they have done:Examples:There are no words that can express the debt of gratitude that future generations will owe them for their sacrifices.I owe my family a great debt of thanks for their support and encouragement while I was writing the book.

debt of honour UK (US debt of honor) noun [ C usually singular]Meaning: something such as thanks, praise, or a reward that is owed to someone because of their good actions:Examples:He said that he owed a debt of honour to the man who kept him sane during his captivity.I was offered a better-paid job, but feel I have a debt of honour to my boss.

Comfort noun [ U ]Meaning: A pleasant feeling of being relaxed and free from pain:Examples: She drew comfort from the fact that he died peacefully.Comfort noun (FOR SADNESS) [ C or U ]Meaning: The state of feeling better after feeling sad or worried, or something that makes you feel better in this way:Examples: I know she goes out a lot at night, but I draw/take comfort from the fact that she's always with friends.

注：

Mary Seacole玛丽•西科尔

1805年出生于牙买加的金斯敦。母亲经营一家专为病弱士兵提供住宿的旅店，由于精通草药，母亲经常拿草药给伤兵治疗。在母亲过世后，玛丽接手旅馆并照料那些伤兵。1850年一场严重的霍乱在牙买加爆发了。玛丽夜以继日地照料霍乱受害者，并研发了治疗此病的中草药，挽救了成千上万人的性命。

在克里米亚战争爆发后，牙买加的军队被派往前线作战，不久后，士兵们在前线的恶劣环境以及急需护理的消息传到了金斯敦。玛丽在1854年前往伦敦，找遍了所有的军队和护理机构，请示要以一名志愿者护士身份赶往前线，但遭到拒绝。玛丽独身前往克里米亚战场，为获取资金维持护理工作开了一家旅店，她经常不畏枪林弹雨，冲前线去护理伤员。获得了士兵们的爱戴，称她为黑人“南丁格尔”。

Florence Nightingale弗罗伦斯•南丁格尔(1820年5月12日-1910年8月13日)，英国护士和统计学家。

南丁格尔出生于意大利的一个英国上流社会的家庭。在学习护理后，曾往伦敦的医院工作。于1853年成为伦敦慈善医院护士长。克里米亚战争时，她极力向英国军方争取在战地开设医院，为士兵提供医疗护理。她分析过堆积如山的军事档案，更用了圆形图以说明这些资料。南丁格尔于1854年10月21日和38位护士到克里米亚野战医院工作成为该院的护士长，被称为“克里米亚的天使”又称“提灯天使”。

南丁格尔是世界上第一个真正的女护士，开创了护理事业。由于南丁格尔的努力，让昔日地位低微的护士，于社会地位与形象都大为提高，成为崇高的象征。“南丁格尔”也成为护士精神的代名词。“5.12"国际护士节设立在南丁格尔的生日这一天，就是为了纪念这位近代护理事业的创始人。

Jesus touched on this with the parable of the Good Samaritan. The man who is robbed and left at the roadside is saved by someone who did not share his religion or culture. This wonderful story of kindness is still as relevant today. Good Samaritans have emerged across society showing care and respect for all, regardless of gender, race or background, reminding us that each one of us is special and equal in the eyes of God.

耶稣在寓言《善良的撒玛利亚人》中提到了这一点。寓言讲的是一个被打劫并扔在路边的人，被与他信仰和文化不同的人所救。这个关于善良的美好故事在今天仍然存在。善良的撒玛利亚人在社会各界不断涌现，照顾和尊重大众，无论受众者是什么性别、种族和背景，提醒我们每个人在上帝眼中都是与众不同的，也是平等的。

注：

the Good Samaritan，其典故出自《圣经•路迦福音10:30-36》。

大意为：

有一个人从耶路撒冷去耶利哥(Jerusalem to Jericho)不幸落到了一伙强盗手中。他们剥去了他的衣裳，把他打个半死扔在路旁。有一个祭司和一位利末人(Levite)先后路过这里，都装做没看见，从他身边过去了。惟有一个撒玛利亚人(Samaritan)行路来到那里，看见他就动了慈心，上前用油和酒倒在他的伤处，包裹好了，扶他骑上自己的牲口，带到店里去照应他。第二天，又拿出钱来，替他交给了店主。

后经常用Good Samaritan来指既没有法定义务也没有约定义务而出于内心的道德要求无偿对他人进行救助的人，或任何不考虑回报而帮助他人的人、好心人、见义勇为者

The teachings of Christ have served as my inner light, as has the sense of purpose we can find in coming together to worship.

耶稣的教诲一直是我内心的明灯，正如我们聚集在一起敬拜的使命感一样。

Teachings (plural noun)Meaning: an accepted set of beliefs, esp. religious beliefs:Example: the teachings of the Buddha/Koran/Catholic Church

In November, we commemorated another hero – though nobody knows his name. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior isn’t a large memorial, but everyone entering Westminster Abbey has to walk around his resting place, honouring this unnamed combatant of the First World War — a symbol of selfless duty and ultimate sacrifice. The Unknown Warrior was not exceptional. That’s the point. He represents millions like him who throughout our history have put the lives of others above their own, and will be doing so today. For me, this is a source of enduring hope in difficult and unpredictable times.

今年十一月，我们纪念了另一位英雄，虽然他是一名无名英雄。无名勇士之墓并不高大，但是每个走进西敏修道院的人都要走过他的安息之地，对这位一战中的无名战士表达尊敬，因为他代表的是无私奉献的精神。这位无名勇士并不是个例，他代表的是历史上和当今社会中千百万个像他一样将别人的生命置于自己之前的人。对我而言，这是在艰难和不可预测的时刻中，持久不断希望的来源。

Of course, for many, this time of year will be tinged with sadness: some mourning the loss of those dear to them, and others missing friends and family-members distanced for safety, when all they’d really want for Christmas is a simple hug or a squeeze of the hand. If you are among them, you are not alone, and let me assure you of my thoughts and prayers.

当然，对很多人来说，今年这个时刻会掺杂着悲伤：有些人在哀悼逝去的挚爱，有些人在思念为了安全而不能相聚的亲友。虽然他们在圣诞节想要的仅是一个简单的拥抱或是握手。如果你也是这其中的一员，那么你并非独自一人，我和你一样并会为你祷告。

Tinge verb [ T usually passive]Meaning: To contain a slight amount of:Example: Her joy at the birth of her son was tinged with sadness that her father had not lived to see him.

The Bible tells how a star appeared in the sky, its light guiding the shepherds and wise men to the scene of Jesus’s birth. Let the light of Christmas — the spirit of selflessness, love and above all hope — guide us in the times ahead.

《圣经》讲述过一颗星星如何出现在天空，用它的光亮指引牧羊人与三个智者前往耶稣诞生地的故事。让圣诞之光——无私、爱与希望——在未来引导我们向前。

注：

圣经马太福音和路加福音都记载耶稣是玛利亚所生的儿子，当时玛利亚已经与大卫家族的约瑟订婚，却奇迹般地由圣灵的能力怀孕，约瑟并非耶稣真正的父亲。天使向一群牧羊人宣告耶稣的降生，至少40天之后来自东方的三个占星术士也由于一个特别的星的引导前来祝贺。

路加福音强调耶稣的降生是为万民预备的(路2:10、30-32)，他描述比较多个人事件，像牧羊人、西面、女先知亚拿等看见婴孩耶稣欢喜的情形。

It is in that spirit that I wish you a very happy Christmas.

带着这样的精神，祝各位圣诞快乐。