The Queen's Christmas Broadcast 2019
(摘自中国日报网)
2019年12月25日
As a child, I never imagined that one day a man would walk on the moon. Yet this year we marked the 50th anniversary of the famous Apollo 11 mission.
小时候,我从未想过有一天有人能够在月球上行走。然而今年,我们纪念了著名的阿波罗11号登月50周年。
As those historic pictures were beamed back to Earth, millions of us sat transfixed to our television screens, as we watched Neil Armstrong taking a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind - and, indeed, for womankind. It's a reminder for us all that giant leaps often start with small steps.
当这些具有历史意义的照片传回地球时,数以百万的民众一动不动守在电视机前,看着宇航员尼尔·阿姆斯特朗代表他们和她们,迈出个人的一小步,全人类的一大步。这提醒我们所有人,巨大的成就往往源自微小的积累。
This year we marked another important anniversary: D-Day. On 6th June 1944, some 156,000 British, Canadian and American forces landed in northern France. It was the largest ever seaborne invasion and was delayed due to bad weather.
今年我们还纪念了另一个重要事件的周年:诺曼底登陆日。1944年6月6日,大约15.6万名英国、加拿大、美国的兵力在法国北部登陆。那是有史以来规模最大的海上登陆作战,但由于天气条件不佳而被推迟。
I well remember the look of concern on my father's face. He knew the secret D-Day plans but could of course share that burden with no one.
我清楚记得父亲脸上的担忧。他知道诺曼底登陆的秘密计划,但是不能与任何人分享,压力无从分担。
For the 75th anniversary of that decisive battle, in a true spirit of reconciliation, those who had formally been sworn enemies came together in friendly commemorations either side of the Channel, putting past differences behind them.
在那场决定性战役的75周年纪念日,海峡两岸曾经不共戴天的敌人们,本着真正的和解精神聚集在一起,将过去的分歧抛诸脑后,只为友好地纪念。
Such reconciliation seldom happens overnight. It takes patience and time to rebuild trust, and progress often comes through small steps.
这样的和解并非发生在一夜之间。重建信任需要耐心和时间,小步的量变积累才能发生质变。
Since the end of the Second World War, many charities, groups and organisations have worked to promote peace and unity around the world, bringing together those who have been on opposing sides.
二战结束以来,许多慈善机构、团体和组织致力于在世界范围内促进和平与团结,将对立的各方聚集在一起。
By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.
我们愿意放下过去的分歧携手并进,我们也尊重曾经以巨大代价赢得的自由和民主。
The challenges many people face today may be different to those once faced by my generation, but I have been struck by how new generations have brought a similar sense of purpose to issues such as protecting our environment and our climate.
许多人今天面临的挑战可能与我这一代人当年所面临的不同,但是我对新一代人迎接挑战时的表现感到震撼,比如他们在保护环境和气候上表现出的与我们当年相似的“使命感”。
My family and I are also inspired by the men and women of our emergency services and armed forces; and at Christmas, we remember all those on duty at home and abroad, who are helping those in need and keeping us and our families safe and secure.
为紧急服务机构和军队服务的人们也让我和家人深受鼓舞。在圣诞节这天,让我们铭记所有那些在国内外值守的人员,是他们正在帮助那些需要帮助的人,并确保我们和家人的安全。
Two hundred years on from the birth of my great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria, Prince Philip and I have been delighted to welcome our eighth great-grandchild into our family.
200年前,我的曾曾祖母、维多利亚女王出生。时光变迁,如今菲利普和我非常高兴迎来了我们的第八位曾孙。
Of course, at the heart of the Christmas story lies the birth of a child: a seemingly small and insignificant step overlooked by many in Bethlehem.
当然,圣诞节故事的核心就在于一个孩子的诞生:一个看上去微不足道、乃至被许多伯利恒人忽略的一步。
But in time, through his teaching and by his example, Jesus Christ would show the world how small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding.
但是随着时间的流逝,通过他的教导和示范,耶稣基督向世人展示了心怀信念和希望做出的点点滴滴能够克服长期存在的异见和根深蒂固的分歧,从而带来和谐与谅解。
Many of us already try to follow in his footsteps. The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.
我们中的许多人已经尝试跟随他的脚步。当然,这条道路并非总是一帆风顺,或许在今年时而感到非常坎坷,但是一小步一小步的积累,总能让世界变得不一样。
As Christmas dawned, church congregations around the world joined in singing It Came Upon The Midnight Clear. Like many timeless carols, it speaks not just of the coming of Jesus Christ into a divided world, many years ago, but also of the relevance, even today, of the angel's message of peace and goodwill.
圣诞节来临之际,世界各地的教堂会众将齐声歌唱《在晴朗午夜降临》。就像许多永恒的颂歌一样,它歌唱的不仅仅是多年前耶稣基督降临在一个分裂的世界,更是在强调,即使在今天,天使所传达的平安与善意依旧重要。
It's a timely reminder of what positive things can be achieved when people set aside past differences and come together in the spirit of friendship and reconciliation. And, as we all look forward to the start of a new decade, it's worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.
这适时提醒着人们,当我们放下过去的分歧,秉着友谊与和解的精神团结在一起时,能够取得非常积极的成就。同时,当我们展望下一个十年时,值得铭记的是,能够带来最持久改变的不是大步的跃进,而是小步的积累。
And so, I wish you all a very happy Christmas.
最后,祝大家圣诞节快乐。
(编辑:王鑫)