第二册第2篇：致比克斯比夫人的信

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Executive Mansion(2),

Washington,

Nov. 21, 1864

Mrs. Bixby,

Boston, Massachusetts,

Dear Madam,

I have been shown in the files of the War Department(3) a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost(4), and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours very sincerely and respectfully,

Abraham Lincoln

中文译文：

华盛顿

总统府

一八六四年十一月二十一日

马萨诸塞州，波士顿

比克斯比夫人

亲爱的夫人：

在送我披阅的陆军部档案中，我看到一份马萨诸塞州陆军副官长写的报告，说您便是有五个儿子光荣牺牲在战场上的那位母亲。我深深感到，无论我用什么言词，企图来排遣如此巨大的损失给您带来的悲痛，都一定是无力和徒劳的。但我还是抑制不住要向您表示慰问，这种慰问体现在您的儿子们献身拯救的共和国对您的感谢之中。我祈求我们的天父减轻您的丧子之痛，使您只怀有对于已故亲人的美好回忆和庄严的自豪感，您有这种自豪感是理所当然的，因为您在自由的祭坛上献出了代价如此昂贵的牺牲。

您的最诚挚的亚伯拉罕·林肯

英文注释：

(1)Mrs. Bixby: 一位美国妇女。她的五个儿子都在南北战争中光荣牺牲，林肯总统知道这事后，就写了这封信去慰问她

(2)Executive Mansion：美国总统府，现在叫白宫(White House )。

(3)War Department：陆军部。也可以说Department of War;相当于英国的War Office。

(4)the loved and lost:失去了的亲人。