Living History · m648 CovenantBridge · Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation

布拉德福德读本

Of Plymouth Plantation — a colonist's own words, read aloud in two languages
庄严立约、彼此联合 → 组成一个公民政治共同体 → 制定公正而平等适用的法律 → 服务于公共利益 → 承诺服从共同制定的制度。
…covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick… such just & equall lawes… for ye generall good… all due submission and obedience.
先说清一件事 · This is a colonist's first-person account 本页所引全部出自 William Bradford(1590–1657,普利茅斯殖民地长期总督)之手,是一份殖民者单方、第一人称的记述。它珍贵,却不中立。凡触及原住民之处,本页都并置馆方的双线立场与另一视角——不改写Bradford的原话,也不把他的视角当成全部的真相。

Ⅰ A hideous & desolate wilderness

可怖而荒凉的旷野

Arrival at Cape Cod, November 1620 — the book's most famous passage
英文原文 · 早期现代英语,保留原拼
Being thus passed ye vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation… they had now no freinds to wellcome them, nor inns to entertaine or refresh their weatherbeaten bodys, no houses or much less townes to repaire too, to seeke for succoure. And for ye season it was winter, and they that know ye winters of yt cuntrie know them to be sharp & violent, & subjecte to cruell & feirce stormes… Besids, what could they see but a hidious & desolate wildernes, full of wild beasts & willd men? and what multituds ther might be of them they knew not. …for which way soever they turnd their eys (save upward to ye heavens) they could have litle solace or content in respecte of any outward objects.
现代英语释义
Having crossed the vast ocean… they had no friends to welcome them, no inns to refresh their weather-beaten bodies, no houses — much less towns — to turn to for help. It was winter, and the winters of that country are known to be sharp and violent, full of cruel and fierce storms. Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men? Whichever way they turned their eyes — except upward, to heaven — they could find little comfort in anything around them.
中译
越过浩瀚的大洋、又越过筹备期一重重的忧患之后……如今没有朋友迎接他们,没有客栈可歇他们饱经风霜的身体,没有房屋、更没有城镇可去求助。时值隆冬,而人人都知道那片土地的冬天何等凛冽狂暴、多有残酷凶猛的风暴。此外,他们放眼所见,除了一片可怖而荒凉的旷野、满是野兽与野人,还能看见什么?这样的人又能有多少,他们并不知道。无论把目光投向何方——除了向上望天——身外之物都给不了他们多少慰藉。

背景一句。1620 年 11 月,横渡 66 天后,五月花号抵达科德角尖。这是全书被引用最多的一段"荒野"叙述,也常被后世当作"殖民者踏上空旷新大陆"的图像。

另一视角 · 双线并置 Bradford 笔下的 “desolate wildernes(荒凉旷野)”,是刚下船、疲惫惊惶的殖民者的主观印象。同一片海岸,原住民早已居住、耕作、命名了千百年——这里叫 Patuxet(“小瀑布之地”),不是无主荒野。英国人之所以能住进“有现成田地却没有人”的地方,是因为 1616–1619 年一场大疫夺去了这一带七到九成的人口,而非因为从来无人居住。就在 Bradford 写下 “wildernes” 这个词的同时,这句话本身正需要这条提醒。

Ⅱ A combination made before they came ashore

上岸之前,先立一约

The Mayflower Compact — signed aboard ship at Provincetown, to keep from scattering
英文原文 · 立约缘由
I shall a litle returne backe and begine with a combination made by them before they came ashore, being ye first foundation of their govermente in this place; occasioned partly by ye discontented & mutinous speeches that some of the strangers amongst them had let fall from them in ye ship — That when they came a shore they would use their owne libertie; for none had power to command them, the patente they had being for Virginia, and not for New-england…
英文原文 · 公约正文
In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwriten… doe by these presents solemnly & mutualy in ye presence of God, and one of another, covenant & combine our selves togeather into a civill body politick, for our better ordering & preservation… and by vertue hearof to enacte, constitute, and frame such just & equall lawes, ordinances, acts, constitutions, & offices… as shall be thought most meete & convenient for ye generall good of ye Colonie, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. …at Cap-Codd ye 11. of November… Ano: Dom. 1620.
现代英语释义
Let me go back a little and begin with a combination they made before coming ashore — the first foundation of their government here. It was prompted partly by discontented, mutinous talk from some of the "strangers" aboard: that once ashore they would do as they pleased, since no one had authority over them — their patent being for Virginia, not New England. In the name of God, amen — we, the undersigned, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and of one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic; and by virtue of this, to enact such just and equal laws… as shall be thought fit for the general good of the colony, to which we promise all due submission and obedience. Signed at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, 1620.
中译
让我略回头,从他们上岸之前订立的那份"联合契约"讲起——这是他们在此地政府的第一块基石。它的直接起因,部分是船上一些"外人(strangers)"发出的不满与哗变之言:说一旦上岸,他们就要各行其是、随自己高兴;因为无人有权管束他们——他们持有的特许状是给弗吉尼亚的,而非新英格兰。
"奉上帝之名,阿门。我等署名者……谨在上帝与彼此面前,庄严而共同地立约、联合,结成一个公民政治共同体(civil body politic),以求更好地治理与自保;并据此制定公正而平等适用的法律、条例、法令与职务……凡被认为最合乎殖民地公共利益(general good)者,我等承诺一体服从与遵守。1620 年 11 月 11 日,签于科德角。"

背景一句。船偏航到特许状管不到的新英格兰、又有人扬言散伙,于是这群人在 Provincetown 港的船上、而非在普利茅斯当场立约,以防共同体解体。Bradford 手稿是这份公约正文得以传世的两大文本来源之一。

也要老实说的局限 这是本项目主线"经由同意的自治"的那条圣约线——但它只由成年男性签署;女性、仆役未签,原住民更不是缔约方。它没有建立普遍平等,也不是现代宪法。与此并置:馆方(Plimoth Patuxet)明写,Patuxet 是众多原住民自治社区之一,这片土地上的自治远早于 1620 年。两种自治,在同一片土地上相遇——不是从这份公约才开始有"自治"。

Ⅲ Half of their company dyed

半数死于第一个冬天

The "starving time" — of 100-odd persons, scarce 50 remained
英文原文
But that which was most sadd & lamentable was, that in 2. or 3. moneths time halfe of their company dyed, espetialy in Jan: & February, being ye depth of winter, and wanting houses & other comforts; being infected with ye scurvie & other diseases, which this long vioage & their inacomodate condition had brought upon them; so as ther dyed some times 2. or 3. of a day, in ye foresaid time; that of 100. & odd persons, scarce 50. remained.
现代英语释义
But the saddest and most lamentable thing was that within two or three months, half of their company died — especially in January and February, in the depth of winter, lacking houses and other comforts, infected with scurvy and other diseases brought on by the long voyage and their wretched conditions. Sometimes two or three died in a single day, so that of a hundred-odd persons, scarcely fifty remained.
中译
但最令人悲伤、最堪哀叹的是:仅仅两三个月之间,他们的人数就死去了一半——尤其在一、二月间,正是隆冬,缺屋、也缺其他慰藉;他们染上坏血病及别的疾病,那是这趟漫长航程与恶劣处境带来的。在那段日子里,有时一天就死去两三人;以致百余人中,几乎只剩下五十。

背景一句。1620–21 年第一个冬天。幸存者常在夜色掩护下掩埋死者、填平坟地(Cole's Hill 上 1920 年的朝圣者石棺碑记的正是此事),免得对岸的人得知他们已折损多少。

另一视角 · 两场死亡并陈 这段记的是殖民者一方的浩劫。但要与它并置的是:三四年前那场几乎清空 Patuxet 的大疫,同样是这片海岸上的一场浩劫——正是它,让这块土地在 1620 年"可住"。Bradford 诚实地记下自己人的苦难;我们也如实并陈:这里的"可住",本身就来自另一群人的死亡。不比较孰轻孰重,只把两场死亡一并摆出。

Ⅳ A spetiall instrument sent of God

Squanto:上帝派来的器具?

Tisquantum — read again, as more than the Pilgrims' God-sent tool
英文原文
…Squanto continued with them, and was their interpreter, and was a spetiall instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corne, wher to take fish, and to procure other comodities, and was also their pilott to bring them to unknowne places for their profitt, and never left them till he dyed. He was a native of this place, & scarce any left alive besids him selfe. He was caried away with diverce others by one Hunt, a mr. of a ship, who thought to sell them for slaves in Spaine; but he got away for England…
现代英语释义
Squanto stayed with them and was their interpreter — a special instrument sent by God for their good, beyond their expectation. He showed them how to plant their corn, where to catch fish, how to get other goods, and served as their guide to unfamiliar places, never leaving them until he died. He was a native of this very place, and scarcely anyone else was left alive. He had been carried off, with several others, by a ship's master named Hunt, who meant to sell them as slaves in Spain — but he escaped to England…
中译
……Squanto 留在他们中间,做他们的翻译,是上帝派来、为他们造福的一件特殊器具(a special instrument sent of God),其助益出乎他们意料。他教他们如何种玉米、到哪里捕鱼、如何取得别的物产,又充当向导,带他们前往陌生之地以谋利益,直到他去世都不曾离开。他本是此地的原住民,而(他的族人)几乎无一存活,只剩他自己。他曾与另外数人一同被一个名叫 Hunt 的船长掳走,那人本想把他们卖到西班牙为奴;他却逃到了英格兰……

背景一句。Tisquantum(Squanto),Patuxet 人。"上帝派来的器具"是 Bradford 从殖民者—天意视角给出的评价。

另一视角 · 馆方对 Tisquantum 的口径 别只把他读成"上帝派来帮朝圣者的工具"。连 Bradford 自己都写下:他曾被船长 Hunt 掳走、几乎被卖到西班牙为奴,辗转英国才得返乡——归来时,发现 Patuxet 的同胞已在大疫中几乎死绝("scarce any left alive besids him selfe")。馆方(Plimoth Patuxet)并陈的是一个被掳、丧族、在 Wampanoag 与英国人之间为自己谋势力的复杂真人:他做翻译既是求生,也是周旋;晚年 Massasoit 一度还想取他性命。把这样一个人仅仅化约为"上帝的器具",会抹去他自己的经历与处境。

Ⅴ They made a peace with him

与 Massasoit 的六条盟约

Spring 1621 — a mutual-defense treaty, in six articles
英文原文 · 结盟
…[their great Sachem, called Massasoyt] came with the cheefe of his freinds… With whom, after frendly entertainment, & some gifts given him, they made a peace with him (which hath now continued this 24. years) in these terms.
  1. That neither he nor any of his, should injurie or doe hurte to any of their peopl.
  2. That if any of his did any hurte to any of theirs, he should send ye offender, that they might punish him.
  3. That if any thing were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and they should doe ye like to his.
  4. If any did unjustly warr against him, they would aide him; if any did warr against them, he should aide them.
  5. He should send to his neighbours confederats, to certifie them of this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in ye conditions of peace.
  6. That when ther men came to them, they should leave their bows & arrows behind them.
中译 · 六条
经友好接待、并赠以礼物之后,他们与大酋长 Massasoit 立下和约(写作此书时已维持二十四年),条款如下:
① 他及其属众,均不得伤害对方任何人;
② 若其属下伤了对方任何人,他须交出施害者,任对方处罚;
③ 若有物件被夺,他须使之归还;对方对他亦然;
④ 若有人无理攻打他,他们(英方)会援助他;若有人攻打他们,他也须援助他们;
⑤ 他须知会其邻近的联盟部族,使他们亦不相犯、同被纳入此和约;
⑥ 其人前来时,须把弓箭留在身后。

背景一句。1621 年春,经 Samoset 与 Squanto 牵线,Wampanoag 大酋长 Massasoit 与殖民地缔约。此约在 Bradford 写作时已维持约 24 年。

另一视角 · 别读成单向的庇护 别把它只读成"原住民保护了朝圣者"。从 Wampanoag 一方看,Massasoit 结盟同样是政治算计:大疫重创 Wampanoag 之后,他需要英国人的火器与人力,以制衡强邻 Narragansett。第 ④ 条"互相军事援助"正见此意——这是一份双方各取所需、势均之下的互助盟约,而不是单方庇护。1921 年 Cole's Hill 那尊 Massasoit 像题献"朝圣者的保护者与保全者",是后世单向度的叙述。

Ⅵ All ye summer ther was no wante

丰收 —— 与"第一个感恩节"

Autumn 1621 — Bradford never calls it "Thanksgiving"
英文原文
They begane now to gather in ye small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health & strenght, and had all things in good plenty… All ye summer ther was no wante. And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter aproached… And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. …Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, but true reports.
现代英语释义
They now began to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fix up their houses against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength, with everything in good plenty. All summer there was no want. As winter approached, fowl began to come in abundance; and besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, as well as venison, and so on. This is why many afterward wrote home to England about their plenty here — reports that were not made up, but true.
中译
他们如今开始收进那点不多的收成,并趁冬天到来之前修缮房屋居所;人人已康复、恢复了气力,一切都相当丰足……整个夏天不曾匮乏。随着冬天临近,禽鸟开始大量到来;除了水禽,还有大量野火鸡,他们捕获甚多,此外还有鹿肉等等。正因如此,后来许多人写信回英格兰,大谈此地的丰足——那些并非虚构,而是真实的报告。

背景一句。1621 年秋,殖民地第一个收获季。这段常被引作"第一个感恩节"的依据。

另一视角 · "第一个感恩节"是后世叠加的说法 请注意:Bradford 这段从未用 “Thanksgiving / 感恩节” 一词,也没写那场"与 Wampanoag 共食"的聚餐。"第一个感恩节"的画面——约 90 名 Wampanoag、Massasoit 在场、共食三日——其唯一一手依据来自 Winslow《Mourt's Relation》里的一段短信,而"感恩节"之名与"美国起源神话"的框架,是十九世纪以后一层层追加上去的。Bradford 写下的,只是"丰收、不缺粮、真实不虚"。把它直接等同于今天的感恩节,是后世的叠加,而非他的原意。