What Is an American ? (by Michel-Guillaume de Crevecoeur)

　　Michel-Guillaume de Crevecoeur (1735-1813) was born in France and came to the American colonies as a military in the French army. He became a naturalized American and settled down to farming. Between 1765 and 1780 he wrote on American life. He returned to France in 1780, came back to America in 1783, and became French consul in New York. In 1790 he went back to France where he lived the rest of his life.

　　I wish I could be acquainted with the feelings and thought which must agitate the heart and present themselves to the mind of an enlightened Englishman, when he first lands on this continent. He must greatly rejoice, that he lived at a time to see this fair country discovered and settled; he must necessarily feel a share of national pride, when he views the chain of settlements which embellishes these extended shores. When he says to himself, this is the work of my countrymen who, when convulsed by factions, afflicted by a variety of miseries and wants, restless and impatient, took refuge here. They brought along with them their national genius, to which they principally owe what liberty they enjoy, and what substance they possess. Here he sees the industry of his native country, displayed in a new manner, and traces in their works the embryos of all the arts, sciences, and ingenuity which flourish in Europe. Here he beholds fair cities, substantial villages, extensive fields, an immense country filled with decent houses, good roads, orchards, meadows, and bridges, where a hundred years ago all was wild, woody, and uncultivated !

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　　After a foreigner from any part of Europe is arrived, and become a citizen; let him devoutly listen to the voice of our great parent, which says to him, “Welcome to my shores, distressed European; bless the hour in which thou didst see my verdant fields, my fair navigable rivers, and my green mountains ! - If thou wilt work, I have bread for thee; if thou wilt be honest, sober and industrious, I have greater rewards to confer on thee - ease and independence. I will give thee fields to feed and clothe thee; a comfortable fire-side to sit by, and tell thy children by what means thou hast prospered; and a decent bed to repose on. I shall endow thee, beside, with the immunities of a freeman. If thou wilt carefully educate thy children, teach them gratitude to God, and reverence to that government, that philanthropic government, which has collected here so many men and made them happy, I will also provide for thy progeny: and to every good man this ought to be the most holy, the most powerful, the most earnest wish he can possibly form, as well as the most consolatory prospect when he dies. Go thou, and work and till; thou shalt prosper, provided thou be just, grateful and industrious.”

　　注释：

　　settle, (移民)定居，安家;agitate使激动，刺激;enlightened, 开明的;fair, 美丽的;embellish，装饰，装点;factions: (宗教)的派系;thou=you, thy= your, thee为you的宾语。-st为动词词尾(现代英语中已不用);navigable, 可通航的;immunities (豁免)特权。

　　何为美国人?

　　作者简介： 米•居奎维古尔(1734-1831)生于法国，随法军进入北美殖民地，取得美国国籍后定居务农。1765-1780年间执笔评论美国人的生活。1780年返回法国，1783年又到美国，并成为法国驻纽约领事。1790年回法国渡过晚年。

　　…

　　但愿我也象一位初次登上北美大陆的英国开明人士那样，曾经体会到那种使人心潮澎湃、浮想联翩的思想感情。他一定欣喜若狂，庆幸自己有生之年能亲眼看到人们发现这块美丽的国土并在此定居下来。当他看到连绵不断的人群来到这里，用一座座居所使这漫长的海岸线锦上添花的时候，他怎能不享有一份民族骄傲感呢!他自然会想到，这些杰作都出自我的同胞之手，他们为教派迫害而震惊，受尽了苦难和贫穷，是在焦躁不安的情况下来这里避难的。他们带来了民族天赋，所以才会享受现在的自由，才会拥有现在的财产。在这里，可以看到故国的勤劳展现出了新的姿态，在其杰作中可以找到那些盛行于欧洲的所有的艺术、科学和创造的萌芽。在这里，他看到了美丽的城镇，富饶的村庄，广阔的田野，看到了一片汗漫无边的国土，其间有典雅的建筑，通达的道路，有果园，草地，桥梁;而这里在100年前还是一片荒蛮，草木丛生，不见农田!…

　　一个人无论来自欧洲何处，当他到达这里并成为公民以后，就让他虔诚地聆听我们伟大祖国的声音吧。这声音说，“欢迎你登上我的海岸，不幸的欧洲人。铭记这一神圣的时刻吧!此刻，你看到了我碧绿的田野，美丽的河道和苍翠的群山!如果你愿意劳动，我为你准备了面包;如果你正直、朴实、勤劳，我要给你更大的报偿――安逸与自主。我将给你土地供你丰衣足食;给你舒适的壁炉供你取暖，并让你在炉火边告诉你的后代你如何得以成功;我还要给你体面堂皇的床铺供你栖身;还要赐给你一个自由人的特权。如果你愿精心教育子女，教他们感激上帝、尊重政府，尊重这个使如此之多的人聚集在这里并得到幸福的慈善的政府，我也将为供给你的后代。这对任何善良的人来说都应该是他所能怀有的最神圣、最强烈、最殷切的希望，也是人弥留之际最大的慰藉。去吧，去劳动，去耕耘，只要你公正守法、知恩图报、勤奋努力，你必将兴旺、富强。”