1.12 accepting the command of the army

Accepting The Command Of The Army 受命统率全军



You may believe me, when I assure you in
the most solemn manner that, so far from seeking this employment, I have used
every effort in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part
with you and the family, but from a consciousness of its being a trust too
great for my capacity; and I should enjoy more real happiness in one month with
you at home than I have the most distant prospect of finding abroad, if my stay
were to be seven times seven years. But as it has been a kind of destiny that
has thrown me upon this service, I shall hope that my undertaking it is
designed to answer some good purpose....



I shall rely confidently on that
Providence which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful to me, not
doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall. I shall feel no pain
from the toil or danger of the campaign; my unhappiness will flow from the
uneasiness I know you will feel from being left alone. I therefore beg that you
will summon your whole fortitude, and pass your time as agree- ably as
possible. Nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this,
and to hear it from your own pen.



你可以相信我，我极其庄严地向你保证我根本没有追求过这项任命，而是竭尽全力，千方百计地回避它。这不仅是因为我不愿意同你以及全家人分别，而且因为我深知责任重大，苎我力所能及。另外，倘若我出门数十载寻求前景非常遥远的幸福，那还比不上在家中与你相聚一个月那样真正幸福。但是，既然命运已赋予我这个使命，我希望，安排我来承担这个任务是为了使我有所建树。……


我将信赖一直保佑我和降福于我的上帝，深信到秋天我将平安地回到你的身边。对出征所带来的艰辛和危险，我不会感到痛苦，使我难过的是我知道你独自一人留在家中必然感到焦虑不安。因此，我恳求你鼓起全部勇气，尽量愉快地过日子.没有什么比听到你过得愉快的消息--并且是从你的笔下听到这消息，能使我感到更大的欣慰了．