《盖兹堡演说》是美前总统亚伯拉罕·林肯在 盖兹堡国家公墓揭幕式上发表的著名演说。盖茨堡战役导致奴隶制度在美国南方最终被废除，对美国产生巨大影响。演说仅两分钟，被认为是美历史上最难忘的演讲，以及英语演讲的最高典范之一。
The Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.
It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
（注：林肯写于1864年由Bliss保存的这一演讲原稿被转载最广，誊写在华盛顿DC林肯纪念堂的墙壁上。该版本有林肯签名和签署日期，并在白宫林肯纪念厅展示。）
林肯总统《盖兹堡演说》及译文
八十七年前，我们的先辈们在这块大陆上建立了一个崭新的国家，这个国家孕育于自由之中，奉行一切人生而平等的原则。
目前，我们正在进行一场伟大的内战，它检验着我们的国家，或任何一个如此孕育并奉行如此理念的国家，能否长存。
在那场战争的一个伟大战场上，我们聚首今朝。我们来到这里，将那战场上的一小块土地奉献出来，给那些为国家存亡而捐躯的人们，作为他们最后的安息之地。我们这样做，理所应当。
然而，从更大的意义上来说，我们无从奉献 – 无法使它圣化 – 更不能神化 – 这片土地。
因为那些活着的和牺牲了的勇士们，曾在这里战斗过，他们已经圣化了这片土地，其神圣远远超过了我们的微薄之力之所能增减。
我们今天在这里说过的话，世人不会太留意，也不会长久记得，但是这些将士们所做的，人们将永远铭记在心。
更确切地说，是为我们活着的人，应投身于他们曾在这里如此高贵地奋斗过的未竟事业。
更确切地说，是为我们在这里的人，该致力于我们面前未来的伟大事业。
为那些令人尊崇的阵亡者所激励，我们须更加献身于他们曾全力奋斗到最后一刻的那个事业。
我们因此而在这里立此坚定决心：那些阵亡者的牺牲不会成空，这个国家将在上帝的护佑下在自由中新生，这个民有、民治、民享的政府将在世间不朽长存。◇
责任编辑：文谦
