Životopis Fredericka Douglassa

序

Preface

一八四一年八月，

In the month of August, 1841,

我參加了在南塔克特舉行的一場反奴隸制大會，

I attended an anti-slavery convention in Nantucket,

在會上我有幸結識了

at which it was my happiness to become acquainted with

弗雷德里克‧道格拉斯，

Frederick Douglass,

亦即以下這篇自述的作者。

the writer of the following Narrative.

當時在場的成員幾乎無人認得他；

He was a stranger to nearly every member of that body;

然而，

but,

他新近才從南方那座囚禁人身的牢獄中逃脫出來，

having recently made his escape from the southern prison-house of bondage,

心中生出好奇，想弄清廢奴主義者的主張與作法——

and feeling his curiosity excited to ascertain the principles and measures of the abolitionists, —

他為奴之時，只曾聽過關於他們的一些含糊描述——

of whom he had heard a somewhat vague description while he was a slave, —

於是他便被引動前來與會，

he was induced to give his attendance,

參加了前述那場集會，

on the occasion alluded to,

儘管他那時住在新貝德福。

though at that time a resident in New Bedford.

幸運，

Fortunate,

何等幸運的機緣！——

most fortunate occurrence! —

於他那千百萬帶著鐐銬的兄弟是幸運，

fortunate for the millions of his manacled brethren,

他們仍在渴盼脫離那可怖的奴役！——

yet panting for deliverance from their awful thraldom! —

於黑人解放的事業是幸運，

fortunate for the cause of negro emancipation,

於普世的自由是幸運！——

and of universal liberty! —

於他出生的這片土地是幸運，

fortunate for the land of his birth,

他已為拯救並祝福這片土地做了如此之多！——

which he has already done so much to save and bless! —

於一大群朋友與相識是幸運，

fortunate for a large circle of friends and acquaintances,

他以自己所受的種種苦難，

whose sympathy and affection he has strongly secured by the many sufferings he has endured,

以他品格中的良善，

by his virtuous traits of character,

以他對身陷枷鎖之人念念不忘、

by his ever-abiding remembrance of those who are in bonds,

猶如與他們同受束縛，牢牢贏得了這些人的同情與愛！——

as being bound with them! —

於我們共和國各地的眾人是幸運，

fortunate for the multitudes, in various parts of our republic,

他啟迪了他們對奴隸制的認識，

whose minds he has enlightened on the subject of slavery,

他們或為他的悲情所動而落淚，

and who have been melted to tears by his pathos,

或為他痛斥奴役同類者的雄辯所激而生正義之怒！——

or roused to virtuous indignation by his stirring eloquence against the enslavers of men! —

於他自己也是幸運，

fortunate for himself,

因為此事立刻將他帶入了公共事業的場域，

as it at once brought him into the field of public usefulness,

「向世人確證了一個『人』的存在」，

“gave the world assurance of a MAN,”

喚醒了他靈魂中沉睡的力量，

quickened the slumbering energies of his soul,

並將他奉獻於偉大的工作——折斷壓迫者的棍杖，

and consecrated him to the great work of breaking the rod of the oppressor,

使受壓迫者得自由！

and letting the oppressed go free!