1 恺撒大帝遇刺 盖乌斯·尤利乌斯·恺撒(Caius Julius Caesar),生于公元前100年7月13日,死前已经成为了罗马的终身独裁官,是罗马共和国最有权势。公元前44年1月,罗马元老院给予凯撒“终身独裁官”称号,但以马库斯·尤尼乌斯·布鲁图斯 (Marcus Junius Brutus) 和盖乌斯·卡修斯·朗吉努斯 (Gaius Cassius Longinus) 为首的许多元老仍反对授予凯撒该称号, 后率领众元老(Senators) 在元老院将恺撒刺杀。(文字来自网上)。 根据这段历史,莎士比亚写了"Julius Caesar 恺撒大帝"这部话剧。话剧中的一个经典的片段,是Brutus(刺杀恺撒大帝的领头人, 恺撒大帝是Brutus义父) 事后向大众解释,自己为何要刺杀恺撒:因为恺撒成了独裁者。视频中的那段英文独白的片段: "...If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: –Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him (如果有人问,布鲁图斯为何反抗恺撒,我的回答是,不是我不爱恺撒,是我更爱罗马。你们宁愿恺撒还活着而自己作为奴隶死去,还是原意恺撒死了而自己作为自由人活着?因恺撒爱我,我会为他哭泣;当他幸运满满,我为他高兴;当他(战场上)所向披靡,我为他喝彩;但当他野心膨胀,我就杀死了他)...”
3 就拜登而言,最初坚称自己是打败川普的最佳人选而拒绝退选的固执中,既有个人政治抱负(希望任两届总统), 也有"打败川普/保卫民主"责无旁贷的责任心;而面对自己无法取胜的现实后,则将国家利益("打败川普/保卫民主")置于自己的政治抱负之上,作出放弃参选这一艰难的决定。He loves this country too much to do otherwise 对这个国家的热爱让他别无选择。拜登宣布退选后,奥巴马称他为"最高形式的爱国者(the patriot of the highest order)"。 没有人是完美的,而那些在关键时刻能克服自己的弱点做出有利于国家正确决定的人,则是令人敬佩并赢得人们爱戴的政治人物。这一历史决定将让人们更加爱戴拜登, 在8月19日芝加哥民主党全国党代会上,将有对拜登爱戴/感激而流淌的泪水河。
以下是视频中 Brutus 全段台词:
BRUTUS
Be patient till the last.
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my
cause, and be silent, that you may hear: believe me
for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that
you may believe: censure me in your wisdom, and
awake your senses, that you may the better judge.
If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of
Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar
was no less than his. If then that friend demand
why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer:
--Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved
Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and
die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live
all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;
as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was
valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I
slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his
fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his
ambition. Who is here so base that would be a
bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended.
Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman? If
any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so
vile that will not love his country? If any, speak;
for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
ALL
None, Brutus, none.
BRUTUS
Then none have I offended. I have done no more to
Caesar than you shall do to Brutus.