Queen Elizabeth II’s Words of Wisdom — 英女王エリザベス二世の珠玉の言葉１０選

個人レベルであれ、国や世界レベルであれ、時代を象徴するアイコンのような人物が他界すると、よく「一時代の終わり」という言葉が脳裏に過ぎったり世の中を駆け巡ったりしますよね。

今日の早朝、Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ 逝去の報に触れました。アイコン的存在ではあったはずなのに、現代史の全編にその姿があったからなのか、「時代の」という修飾がしっくりこない気がしました。昭和天皇崩御の日に抱いた感覚に近い。今日からの世界は昨日までとは色合いが違う気が確かにするのだけれど、昨日までの時間を「一時代」とするには、あまりにスケールが大きいからかもしれません。

英 Independent 紙が “Queen Elizabeth II’s Words of Wisdom” という特集を組んでいました。そこで紹介されている１０の言葉を眺めながら、英国史上最も長く在位した Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ の時代を振り返ってみます。

いつもの Lingohack なら、僕が注目した語句をピックアップして解説するところですが、今回は原文を書き出すにとどめます。それをシェアするという形で僕なりに弔意を示しているものと考えていただけたら。

見えないところで、僕は僕なりにここから学びます。皆さんにとっても、良き教材のひとつになったら幸いです。

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The Queen in quotes: Queen Elizabeth II’s words of widsom

1953

Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.

The Queen’s broad cast to the nation on Coronation Day

1957

I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice. But I can do something else. I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.

The Queen’s first televised Christmas broadcast

1977

When I was 21, I pledged my life to the service of our people and asked for God’s help to make good that vow. Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was green in judgement, when I was green in judgement, I do not regret or retract one word of it.

At a Corporation of London lunch at the Guildhall to her Silver Jubilee

1989

Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.

Speaking about the Commonwealth

1992

1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents. It has turned out to be an ‘annus horribilis’.

The Queen’s speech at the Guildhall in London to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession.

1997

We have all felt those emotions in these last few days. So what I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart.

To the nation after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales

2001

Grief is the price we pay for love.

In a message to New York after the September 11 terror attacks

2014

I hope people will think very carefully about the future.

Ahead of the Scottish independence referendum

2020

We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.

Televised address to the nation in April in the first lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic

2020

Of course, for many, this time of year will be tinged with sadness …when all they’d really want for Christmas is a simple hug or a squeeze of the hand. If you are among them, you are not alone, and let me assure you of my thoughts and prayers.

Christmas message during the pandemic