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第43章 告别演说

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Farewell Address

爱德华八世 / Edward VIII

爱德华八世(1894—1972),英王乔治五世之长子,1936年初,其父身亡后继承王位,不久为了和美国平民女子沃丽丝结婚而让位于其弟乔治六世。1937年,乔治六世继位,封爱德华八世为温莎公爵。

Ace in the Hole

Listen to the following passage twice, and fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

1. I have made this, the most ______________ of my life, only upon

the single thought of what would, in the end, be ______________.

2. And now, we all have a new King, I wish him and you, his people,

?__________________ with all my heart. God bless you all! God save

the King!

At long last I am able to say a few words of my own. I have never wanted to withhold anything, but until now it has not been constitutionally possible for me to speak.

A few hours ago I discharged my last duty as King and Emperor, and now that I have been succeeded by my brother, the Duke of York, my first words must be to declare my allegiance to him. This I do with all my heart.

You all know the reasons, which have impelled me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand that in making up my mind I did not forget the country or the empire, which, as Prince of Wales and lately as King, I have for twenty-five years tried to serve.

But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.

And I want you to know that the decision I have made been mine and mine alone. This was a thing I had to judge entirely for myself. The other person most nearly concerned has tried up to the last to persuade me to take a different course.

I have made this, the most serious decision of my life, only upon the single thought of what would, in the end, be best for all.