[3] It was here, in Springfield, where north, east, and west come together that I was reminded of the essential decency of the American people—where I came to believe that through this decency, we can build a more hopeful America. (Barack Obama, 2009:212)
[译文]正是在这里，在斯普林菲尔德市，来自四面八方的人们汇集于此，让我忆起了美国人民的正统——我逐渐相信通过这种正统，我们能够建设一个更加充满希望的美国。（同上书：114）
[分析]原文中的north,east,and west come together，用方位词喻指来自四面八方的人们。decency的英语基本释义为behavior that is normal，good and reasonable行为举止的得体，行为的理智、通情达理。
[4] In the face of tyranny, a band of patriots brought an empire to its knees. In the face of secession, we unified a nation and set the captives free. In the face of Depression, we put people back to work and lifted millions out of poverty. We welcomed immigrants to our shores, we opened railroads to the west, we landed a man on the moon, and we heard a King's call to let justice roll down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. (Barack Obama ,2009:213)
[译文] 面对暴政，一大批爱国志士曾迫使一个帝国屈膝。面对分裂，我们团结整个国家，解放了黑奴。面对大萧条，我们让劳动者重回工作岗位，并使数百万人脱离了贫困。我们欢迎外来移民，我们将铁路延伸至西部，我们将宇航员送上月球，我们还听到了马丁·路德·金的号召，让公平似水奔流、正义如泉喷涌。（同上书：145）
[分析] 此处的tyranny喻指230年前的英国在北美的殖民统治。brought an empire to its knees 直译为“使帝国屈膝跪下”，也是一个隐喻，是说当时北美殖民地的人民拿起了武器，以弱胜强，最后打败了英国的殖民军，逼迫当时的英国政府同意北美殖民地独立。let justice roll down like water,and righteousness like a mighty stream 直译为“让正义像滚滚洪水，势不可挡，让公平如磅礴洪流，奔腾向前”。演讲立意高，用词美，用喻准确、生动，铿锵有力，落地有声。
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