113 从属单字连词(二)

                                                  英语语法进深──博客

113  从属单字连词(二)                                                                            12/8/2014

                                           

that   是一个用得很广泛的从属单字连词.  它可用作连接同位子句(apposition clause).

例如: 

The fact that he went there proves his interest. 

(他去那里说明他的兴趣 “that he went there” 与 “the fact” 同位.)

编辑者来到美国实在是享往它的民主和自由.  下面引述我早年读林肯总统的闻名于世的盖兹堡演说, 他把整个的感情(passion)灌注在这只有267个字的短文中.  我用该文来显示 “that” 的用法.

    Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. (1)

    八十七年前我们的国父禀承于孕育自由的理念, 及上帝创造人平等的信仰, 在这块土地上, 肇建了一个新的国家.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. (2)  We are met on a great battle field of that war. (3)  We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. (4)  It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. (5)

    现在我们正陷入一场伟大的内战中,  以考验着这个国家, 或任何肇基于该孕育和信念建造的国家能否永垂不朽.  我们现在相聚于此内战中伟大的战场上, 我们正要把这战场中的一部分献上作为给这些以自己生命换取国家得以勉能生存的同胞, 作最后永远安息之地. 我们必须如此的去作的奉献之举, 是完全应该而且非常恰当的.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. (6)  The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. (7)  The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. (8)  It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. (9)  It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (10)

但是, 从更广泛的意义上来看, 我们不能够献上这块土地, 也不能够使这块土地圣洁, 更不能够神圣化这块土地.  曾在此奋不顾身的勇敢的战士们, 无论是生或死, 他们早已成就这块土地像他们所作所为的那么神圣化,  这远不是我们微薄的力量所能增减的.  全世界不会留意, 也不会长久记得我们在此说些什么, 但是, 全世界却永远不会忘记他们于此战场曾经做了些什么. 无寧说, 倒是我们些仍然活着的人, 理应责无旁贷的把自己献身于眼前战士们已经崇高地先前推展但尚未完成的使命上.  倒是我们应该在这里把自己献身于仍然留在我们前面的未完成的伟大的任务: 以便使我们向这些光荣的牺牲者吸取更多献身的精神, 来完成战士们已经完全彻底为之献身的事业; 以便我们在此恳切的肯定答应战士们, 他们的死决非白白的牺牲; 而这国家在上帝的福佑之下得自由的新生;  并且这民有、民治、民享的政府当永世长存.

最后一句, 林肯总统说出了心中为自由而战的确信.  一共是五个子句, 一个独立子句 (It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us.),  和 四个都是以 that 开始的同位从属子句(appositive  subordinate clauses). 其相互的关系配合得恰如其分.

      感谢上帝赐我四个多月的时间, 让我得以完成 “英语语法进深” 最后一个博客.  留下的工作是造句, 写段落及最后写文章. 求爱我的主耶稣基督也祝福您们有一个为庆祝祂为世人赎罪而降到人间, 由童女所生的日子 ── 快乐的圣诞节.