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奧運(yùn)會(huì)和女王登基60周年慶典是英國(guó)2012年的兩件頭等大事,全世界的目光都聚焦于此。但英國(guó)人似乎對(duì)女王的鉆禧慶典表現(xiàn)出更大的熱忱,畢竟倫敦之前已經(jīng)舉辦過兩屆奧運(yùn)會(huì),而且每四年能觀看一次,但是英國(guó)歷史上迄今只有過兩次鉆禧慶典,其意義更加非同尋常。女王伊麗莎白二世86歲高齡書寫傳奇一生,是這個(gè)“不安定的世界中一個(gè)代表團(tuán)結(jié)的符號(hào)”。兢兢業(yè)業(yè)60年,“模范”女王名至實(shí)歸,怪不得英國(guó)民眾為她籌備了這個(gè)“瘋狂”的慶典。
By Ron Fraser
鐘凡凡 選 言佳 譯
This year, Queen Elizabeth II marks the 60th anniversary of her accession[1] to the throne. A small proportion of Her Majesty’s subjects may recall the reign of her father, or even her uncle and her grandfather.[2] But for the vast majority, the Queen is the only head of state they have known – a constant companion through their entire lives, the still point of an often turbulent[3] world. To have reached this milestone is an extraordinary achievement, as well as a testament to her family’s longevity.[4] Only one other British monarch has done so previously: Queen Victoria, whose Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1897. It was Queen Victoria who changed the tradition of a diamond jubilee, which, in Britain, normally refers to a 75th anniversary. There was considerable national unrest when Queen Victoria largely withdrew from public life after her husband’s death in 1861. Thus it was decided to bring the diamond jubilee forward to the 60th anniversary on 22 June, 1897, in hope of providing an occasion for national unity. Since then, when it comes to the case of a monarch (i.e. length of time a monarch has reigned), a diamond jubilee is the 60th anniversary. Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee is definitely a significant event this year, “more exciting than the Olympics” as Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, commented. He said he had been struck by how many people saw the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee as the landmark event of 2012, rather than the Olympics, as Britain enjoyed for “a summer like no other”. For Her Majesty, what should be a joyful event will inevitably be tinged with sadness.[5] The anniversary of her accession—which she learned of while on a visit in Kenya—is also the anniversary of the day that her father died, and her mother began a 50-year widowhood. Her Golden Jubilee, in 2002, was accompanied by personal loss, with the deaths in quick succession[6] of both her mother and her sister. Indeed, the total and selfless service and dedication that the Queen has shown in her 60 years on the throne have been all the more remarkable when you consider that it was a role she was never expected to fulfil, until the abdication[7] of her uncle, Edward VIII. Nevertheless, the 5-day Diamond Jubilee weekend was joyful, breathtaking, and surely, spectacular for all Her Majesty’s subjects all over the world. Before the grand Pageant[8] , it started as thousands of people attended the Big Lunch events. They shared lunch with neighbours and friends, hosted traditional street parties or picnic lunches in small or larger groups. It reached a frenzied[9] climax in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. The flotilla was to be a spectacular: a thousand boats, travelling seven miles under fourteen bridges, led by a floating belfry whose peals would be echoed and answered by ringing from riverbank churches along the route.[10] Three miles of mooring chains. Fourteen miles of bunting. Boats—warships, cocklers, oyster smackers, barges, fishing trawlers—too big to pass under the Thames bridges gathered at the St. Katharine Docks. There were millions of people standing by the Thames and perhaps hundreds of millions watching around the world. No wonder the Mayor of London called it “a fantastic party” and even the Queen herself described it as “a humbling[11] experience”. Not to mention it followed in the next few days by a splendid concert at Buckingham Palace, a network of 2,012 Beacons lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth, a Carriage Procession and a Balcony appearance, a Flypast and Feu de Joie.[12] The Diamond Jubilee celebrations are truly a special and spectacular occasion for Britain. Janet McGregor, from Kentucky in America, said, “We’re jealous. We wish we were British!” Simply being there was magic. In the Balcony appearance event with 250,000 people attending, a man from behind the crowd shouted out to his mother. “Did you see anything, Mum?” he cried. “I didn’t see anything at all!” she exclaimed jollily[13]. “And you dear?” “Nothing whatsover[14],” he said. “But never mind — we can always watch it on the TV tonight.” For the Queen, she has been the stalwart custodian of monarchy.[15] Her reign has seen so many changes in society. She has fulfilled her role with such devotion, hard work and steadfastness over six decades, and has accomplished so much in an age of constant turmoil and tumultuous social change.[16] For those of us who are given the rare opportunity to live through the most remarkable celebration in British history and witness the dear Queen turn 86 years old, we have memories to treasure forever. |
今年,英國(guó)迎來了女王伊麗莎白二世登基60周年慶典。她的一小部分臣民可能還依稀記得她父親的統(tǒng)治,甚至她伯父和祖父的統(tǒng)治,但是對(duì)于絕大多數(shù)人而言,女王伊麗莎白二世是他們唯一認(rèn)識(shí)的國(guó)家元首——他們一生中不離不棄的伴侶,這個(gè)常常動(dòng)蕩不安的世界中一位堅(jiān)定不渝的人。 達(dá)到這一里程碑是一個(gè)非凡的成就,也是王室家族長(zhǎng)壽的有力證明。除了伊麗莎白二世以外唯一一位英國(guó)王室慶祝了鉆禧之年的只有維多利亞女王,她的鉆禧慶典是在1897年。也正是維多利亞女王改變了英國(guó)鉆禧慶典的傳統(tǒng),在她之前英國(guó)的鉆石紀(jì)念日通常是指75周年紀(jì)念日。維多利亞女王的丈夫于1861年去世,自此以后她幾乎不在公共場(chǎng)合中露面,這在國(guó)內(nèi)民眾中引起了相當(dāng)大的不滿和騷亂。因此,(英國(guó)政府)決定將鉆禧慶典提前到1897年6月22日,慶祝女王登基60周年,希望這一盛大慶典能夠促進(jìn)國(guó)家團(tuán)結(jié)。從此以后,當(dāng)涉及到君主(即君主在位的時(shí)間長(zhǎng)度)的情況下,鉆禧慶典即為登基60周年慶典。 女王伊麗莎白二世的鉆禧慶典絕對(duì)是今年英國(guó)的頭等大事,“比奧運(yùn)會(huì)更激動(dòng)人心”,倫敦市長(zhǎng)鮑里斯?約翰遜如此評(píng)價(jià)道。他表示,英國(guó)迎來了“前所未有的夏日盛會(huì)”,看到這么多人認(rèn)為女王的鉆禧慶典(而非奧運(yùn)會(huì))才是2012年的標(biāo)志性事件,他尤為感動(dòng)。 對(duì)女王而言,這一歡樂的慶典免不了會(huì)帶有一絲悲傷的氣息。她登基周年紀(jì)念日這一天——她在肯尼亞進(jìn)行訪問時(shí)得知的——也是她父親去世、她母親開始50年孀居生活的日子。2002年她的金禧慶典之時(shí),她遭受了巨大的個(gè)人損失,她的母親與妹妹相繼去世。事實(shí)上,女王在位這60年來為國(guó)家提供了無私的服務(wù),做出了巨大的貢獻(xiàn),這是尤為了不起的成就,尤其是當(dāng)你考慮到在她的伯父愛德華八世退位之前伊麗莎白從未是王位的繼承人這一情況。 不過對(duì)于世界各地的英國(guó)王室臣民們來說,為期五天的鉆禧慶典周充滿了歡樂的氣氛,是一場(chǎng)激動(dòng)人心、頗為壯觀的盛會(huì)。在隆重的千舟巡游之前,數(shù)以千計(jì)的民眾參加了熱鬧的街頭午餐聚會(huì)活動(dòng)。他們與鄰居和朋友共享午餐,舉辦傳統(tǒng)的街頭派對(duì)和或小或大的野餐活動(dòng)。 泰晤士河上的千舟巡游將鉆禧慶典活動(dòng)推上了高潮,人們欣喜若狂。整個(gè)艦隊(duì)長(zhǎng)達(dá)七英里,共經(jīng)14座橋,使用船纜長(zhǎng)達(dá)三英里,沿岸14英里彩旗飄飄,場(chǎng)面蔚為壯觀。船隊(duì)由載有特制鉆禧鐘塔的船領(lǐng)航,邊劃邊敲響洪亮的鐘聲,沿岸的教堂在其通過后也以鐘聲回應(yīng)。由于體型太大而無法從橋下通過的船——軍艦、采貝船、采牡蠣船、駁船、拖撈船——都聚集在圣凱瑟琳碼頭。活動(dòng)吸引了上百萬民眾沿河同慶,可能還有數(shù)億人守在電視機(jī)前觀看這宏大的場(chǎng)面。 難怪倫敦市長(zhǎng)稱之為“一場(chǎng)狂歡派對(duì)”,連女王自己都用“令人感到謙卑的體驗(yàn)”來形容這一慶典,更別提接下來的幾天還會(huì)有更精彩的一系列活動(dòng):白金漢宮音樂會(huì),社區(qū)或個(gè)人同時(shí)點(diǎn)燃遍布在英國(guó)全境、海峽群島、曼島以及英聯(lián)邦國(guó)家的2,012座燈塔,馬車列隊(duì)巡游,女王在(白金漢宮的)陽臺(tái)露面(接受民眾祝賀),飛行表演檢閱以及鳴槍禮等等。對(duì)英國(guó)而言,鉆禧慶典系列活動(dòng)確實(shí)是一場(chǎng)有特殊意義的、蔚為壯觀的一場(chǎng)盛會(huì)。來自美國(guó)肯塔基州的珍妮特?麥格雷戈說道:“我們十分羨慕(英國(guó))。真希望我們是英國(guó)人啊!” 只要到慶典現(xiàn)場(chǎng)就能令人為之著迷。大約有25萬人參加了白金漢宮陽臺(tái)露面的活動(dòng)。當(dāng)時(shí),人群后方一個(gè)人大聲向他的母親喊道:“媽媽,你看到什么了嗎?”“我什么也沒有看到!”她高興地回答道,“你呢?”他說:“我也什么都沒有看到,但是沒關(guān)系,我們今天晚上可以在家看電視轉(zhuǎn)播。” 身為女王,她一直是君主制堅(jiān)定的守護(hù)者。在她的統(tǒng)治期間,社會(huì)經(jīng)歷了種種變革。60年來,她辛勤地工作,以無私的奉獻(xiàn)和堅(jiān)定不渝的精神履行了她的職責(zé),在不斷動(dòng)蕩和喧囂的社會(huì)變革中取得了巨大的成就。 對(duì)于我們這些有幸經(jīng)歷了英國(guó)歷史上最令人矚目的慶典并見證了女王度過86歲生日的人來說,我們獲得了一段值得永遠(yuǎn)珍藏的回憶。 (來源:英語學(xué)習(xí)雜志 編輯:丹妮) |
Vocabulary: 1. accession: (帝王的)登基,即位。 2. subject: 臣民,國(guó)民;reign: 統(tǒng)治,統(tǒng)治時(shí)期;此處提到的英國(guó)君主依次為:?jiǎn)讨瘟溃瑦鄣氯A八世及喬治五世。 3. turbulent: 騷亂的,混亂的。 4. testament: 實(shí)際的證明,證據(jù);longevity: 長(zhǎng)壽。 5. inevitably: 不可避免地,必然地;be tinged with: 使帶有一點(diǎn)……氣息。 6. succession: 連續(xù),接連發(fā)生。 7. abdication: (尤指被迫地)辭職,退位。 8. pageant: 游行,露天表演。此處首字母大寫是特指鉆禧慶典中的千舟巡游活動(dòng)。 9. frenzied: 瘋狂的,極度興奮的。 10. flotilla: 船隊(duì),艦隊(duì);belfry: 鐘樓,鐘塔;peal: 很響的鈴聲,鐘聲。 11. humbling: 震撼人心的,令人感到謙卑的。 12. Channel Islands: 海峽群島,是位于英吉利海峽中的群島;Isle of Man: 曼島,位于英格蘭和愛爾蘭之間的海上島嶼,是英國(guó)的皇家屬地;procession: 列隊(duì),游行;flypast: 〈英〉飛機(jī)低空編隊(duì)飛行,空中分列表演;Feu de Joie: 〈法〉鳴槍禮(一排士兵依次鳴槍以慶祝勝利等)。 13. jollily: 愉快地,高興地。 14. whatsoever: 〈口〉一點(diǎn)兒都不,絲毫不。 15. stalwart: 堅(jiān)定的,堅(jiān)決的;custodian: 看守人,監(jiān)護(hù)人。 16. steadfastness: 堅(jiān)定不移;tumultuous: 騷亂的,令人不安的。 |
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