年度最美英音来啦！英国女王2018圣诞致辞

英国定于2019年3月29日正式脱离欧盟，但英国议会现在仍未能就“脱欧”协议达成共识。在社会陷入严重分歧之际，英女王伊丽莎白二世将发表“脱欧”前最后一份圣诞致辞，强调社会和谐以及尊重他人的重要性，寄语民众团结一致。她还称，较以往任何时刻，世界此时更需要和平和善意。

今年致辞的主题是尊重，英国女王呼吁人们对持相反观点的人表现出更多的尊重。她说：“即使存在着最深刻的分歧，以尊重他人和作为人类同胞对待他人，也是增进理解的第一步。”英国女王的圣诞演讲充满了仪式感，是英国人民在圣诞节始终保留的一个节目。

以下是致辞全文：

For many, the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Cambridge is when Christmas begins. Listened to by millions of people around the world, it starts with a chorister singing the first verse of Once in Royal David City.

对于许多人而言，圣诞节的庆祝始于剑桥大学国王学院的《Nine Lessons and Carols》圣诗礼拜。礼拜的一开始唱诗班吟唱《Once in Royal David City》的第一小节，整个礼拜被全世界数百万的人收听。

The priest who introduced this service to King’s College Chapel exactly 100 years ago was Eric Milner-White. He has served as a military chaplain in the First World War.

整整一百年前，牧师Eric Milner-White将这个礼拜引入了国王学院教堂。他曾经以军中教士的身份参与了第一次世界大战。

Just six weeks after the Armistice, he wanted a new kind of service which with its message of peace and goodwill spoke to the needs of the time.

停战协定后六个星期，他想要创造一种新的礼拜。通过礼拜所传达的和平和善意的讯息来满足时代的需求。

2018 has been a year of centenaries.

2018年有多个百周年纪念。

The Royal Air Force celebrated its 100th anniversary with a memorable fly past, demonstrating a thrilling unity of purpose and execution. We owe them and our armed services our deepest gratitude.

英国皇家空军用一场让人印象深刻的编队飞行来庆祝其成立一百周年，展示出扣人心弦的目标和执行的一体化。我们对我们的武装部队表以最深切的感激。

My father served in the Royal Navy during the First World War, he was a midshipman in HMS Collingwood at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

我的父亲在一战期间服役于英国皇家海军部队。在1916年的Jutland战役上，他是HMS Collingwood号上的一名海军军官少尉之候补军官。

The British fleet lost 14 ships and 6,000 men in that engagement, my father wrote in a letter “how and why we were not hit beats me”.

在那场战役当中，英国舰队失去了14艘战舰和6000名官兵。我的父亲在信中曾写道“我们为什么以及如何没有被敌军击中一直让我感到很不可思议”。

Like others, he lost friends in the war, but Christmas we become keenly aware of loved ones who have died, whatever the circumstances, but of course we would not grieve if we did not love.

像其他人一样，他在战争当中失去了朋友。然而每次圣诞期间，我们会尤其思念我们逝去的爱人，不管他们是什么样的原因离开。当然，如果我们不爱的话，悲伤也无从谈起。

Closer to home, it has been a busy year for my family.

近及家庭，2018年对我的家庭来说是忙碌的一年。

With two weddings and two babies and another child expected soon. It helps to keep the grandmother well occupied.

家族的两场婚礼、两个宝宝和一个即将诞生的新生命让我这个祖母一直都有不少事情做。

We have had other celebrations too including the 70th birthday of the Prince of Wales. Some cultures believe a long life brings wisdom. I’d like to think so.

家里面也有其他的庆祝活动，包括威尔士亲王70岁的生日。有些文明习俗认为长寿通常会带来智慧。我也愿意这么认为。

Perhaps part of that wisdom is to recognise some of life’s baffling paradoxes such as the way human beings have a huge propensity for good and yet a capacity for evil.

也许那些智慧的一部分是意识到生命里不可名状的矛盾，例如人类有强烈的对于善和美的倾向，同时又有恶的一面。

Even the power of faith which frequently inspires great generosity and self-sacrifice can fall victim to tribalism but through the many changes I have seen over the years, faith, family and friendship have been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance.

即使这些常常能激发慷慨行为和自我牺牲的信仰的力量，也可能沦落成种族派别主义的牺牲品。但是，通过我在这些年中看到的变化，信仰，家庭和友谊对我而言不仅仅是一个永恒的主题，更是带给我宽慰和安心的源泉。

In April the Commonwealth heads of government met in London. My father welcomed just eight countries to the first such meetings in 1948. Now the Commonwealth includes 53 countries with 2.4 billion people, a third of the world’s population.

今年4月，英联邦国家的首脑于伦敦会晤。我的父亲在1948年的第一次会晤中仅迎来了8位国家首脑。而现如今，英联邦共有53个成员国和24亿人口，这占世界总人口的三分之一。

Its strength lies in the bonds of affection it promotes and a common desire to live in a better more peaceful world.

它的力量源于对于成员国之间情感纽带的促进以及民众对生活在一个更加和平的世界的共同心愿。

Even with the most deeply held differences treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding.

即使是有最深刻的分歧，对他人施以尊重以及平等的对待他人，始终是人类迈向更好地互相理解的良好开端。

Indeed the Commonwealth Games held this year on Australia’s Gold Coast are known universally as the friendly games because of their emphasis on goodwill and mutual respect.

英联邦国家运动会也于今年在澳大利亚的黄金海岸举行。本次运动会是众所周知的友谊赛，正因为我们对善意和相互尊重的不断强调。

The Christmas story retains its appeal since it doesn’t provide theoretical explanations for the puzzles of life. Instead, it’s about the birth of a child and the hope that birth 2,000 years ago brought to the world.

耶稣诞生的故事一直保持着它的魅力并不是因为它为生活上的谜题提供了理论上的解释。换言之，圣诞故事是关于一个孩童的出生，以及这个2000年前的诞生为世界带来的希望。

Only a few people acknowledged Jesus when he was born. Now billions follow him. I believe his message of peace on earth and goodwill to all is never out of date. It can be heeded by everyone. It’s needed as much as ever.

耶稣在降生之时，鲜被承认。但现如今，数以亿计的信徒信奉着基督教。我相信耶稣像世人所传递的信息中对世界的和平以及对全人类的友爱是永远不会过时的。这样的信念应该被每一个人听从，我们也和过去任何时候一样需要它。

（来源：新浪微博、北极光翻译微信公众号）