Warren, Mercy Otis Adams, Abigail
Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams
Plimouth March 15 1779

如果有什么东西能唤醒沉睡的缪斯,或唤回游荡的神灵,那么这个令人愉快的早晨的景象(当大自然的手用独特的光辉装饰着每一根树枝的时候),加上我朋友的一再请求,就不会失败了. The subject you point out1 Requires Heroics. 但是,唉,克利奥是个聋子,也许是无法恢复的昏迷,直到战争的喧嚣停止. 卡利俄比的和谐受到爱国者的辱骂, 墨尔波墨涅在讨饭的呼声中挨饿.

In short, 我相信神圣的九人对这个衰败的村庄(曾经是虔诚的避难所)毫无希望的样子感到厌恶,对他们的老朋友感到厌倦, 明智的是,他们在这片贫瘠的土地上定居了下来, have bid an Everlasting Adieu. 夫人们已经飞走了(可能是为了追求更快乐的气候),)我希望他们不会停下来,直到他们看到某个虔诚的天才的头像,他的作品将为受人尊敬的火车增光, as well as to the Cold Regions of the North.

190

但是,如果他们再次屈尊到一个几乎与世隔绝的地方作一次临时访问(这会使你的思想更加明亮,使你的表达更加优雅),你可以放心,他们不会忘记你不在的伙伴. 但现在你必须满足于让我直截了当地告诉你,我认为他 Honest, 如果生活在政治精英和朝臣中间,他的正直就会受到损害, or his taste perverted, 我对未来每个人的座右铭是, That Man is all a Lye.

我给你回信,感谢你的仔细阅读. 如果合适的话,希望你在给我寄来你的女儿的时候能把其他的寄给我, 她和我住得越久,我就越爱她.2

以后,我要叫她我的奶妈,并保证给她找个爸爸,如果你垄断得太厉害,我就向他求助.

你没有告诉我为什么你那么确信我收到了法国的信. Depend upon it you shall see it when I have. 我想,如果这只是对一位女士的多次拜访的补充回报,我一年可能会期待两到三次, 在我的权力范围内, 也许我发现了太多的时代精神, by Engrosing his hours wholly to myself, and to a Number of amiable youth, 但是,由于机缘巧合,他不得不过一种不合自己口味的生活. Call me Miserly 如果你愿意,但我是明智的,你可以,你可以3 与我和美丽的苏格兰姑娘一起深情地唱着悲伤的歌,从早到晚.

Theres Little pleasure in the Rooms When my Good Mans awaw.

我将随N小姐的手稿卷寄回几封信abby.4 It has been an agreable Entertainment to me, 我希望你能在几个星期内到普利茅斯来,等你到的时候,我将尽我所能来报复你.

你问我对最近美国高层之间的争端有什么看法. 除了报纸上的报道外,我对它所知甚少, 我想,在某个轻率的作家身上,究竟在什么地方可以发现他的罪恶的沉淀和胆怯呢.5 Yet I Like not the Expression of Englifyed Americans 这是我从笔里看到的,我用一种完全不同的眼光看待它.6

我只是要委婉地提醒你,你的诺言还没有兑现191在整个冬天里,我不断地、频繁地写信给她,她是你的忠实的朋友,

M Warren

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “Mrs. Adams Braintre.” Tr (MHi(美茜·沃伦信笺),笔迹不明,无疑是抄袭自劳伦斯夫人. Warren's (missing) draft. RC and Tr frequently differ in phrasing, but only two conspicuous differences in actual substance have been recorded here; see notes 2 and 5. Enclosed letter may have been JA to AA, 6 Nov. 1778, printed above; see note 6 below.

1.

See AA to Mrs. Warren, post 22 Jan., above.

2.

正文后面的三段(不包括诗性引文)没有出现在 Tr and so must have been added after Mrs. Warren's draft was completed.

3.

Thus in MS. Probably “you Can” was meant to be struck out.

4.

None of these items is identifiable.

5.

Silas Deane. From this point, Tr continues—and concludes—as follows:

“但这在国家的起步阶段并不罕见, 一些最不值得尊敬的人物竟侥幸地进入了最重要的部门,而且是由于他们的残暴行为, they have thrown every thing into confusion, 他们努力逃避惩罚,经常弹劾最值得惩罚的人, and cast an odium on the best concerted plans. 我想时间一定会解开一些谜团 authority 目前认为最好的还是保持沉默.

“To your second question I answer, 军事关系的终止是无法计算的, yet, I do not fear much from the sword of Britain. I believe her to be more haughty than powerful, and more malevolent than politic, and that she will endeavour to do much by intrigue.

“上天会约束武器,击败腐败宫廷的谋士,但不是为了我们. 宇宙之主会让我们敌人的计划落空, 继承他自己的政府制度,同时保护, will chastise us if necessary, and will punish an ungrateful people, 以一种更类似于天意的方式, 而不是让一个新成立的国家在成熟的时候被践踏.

“美国是一座刚刚搭建起来的剧院——戏剧才刚刚开始, 而旧世界的演员们经历了各种各样的骄傲, luxury, venality, 反之,他们的角色也会变得不那么有趣, 西部的荒野多年来鲜为人知, may exhibit those striking traits of wisdom, and grandeur and magnificence, 这位神圣的经济学家可能会为最后的一幕保留什么呢. Yet, 抄写员在这里画了一个长省略号

“Adieu, M Warren”

6.

This “Expression” echoes one in JA's letter to AA of 6 Nov. 1778, above, characterizing Dr. James Smith. Thus it seems likely that the letter Mrs. Warren enclosed here was that letter.