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The officers of the companies composing the Philadelphia regiment, being met, chose me for their colonel; but, conceiving myself unfit, I declin'd that station, and recommended Mr. Lawrence, a fine person, and man of influence, who was accordingly appointed.
组成费城联队的各团军官选举我做他们的团长，但是因为我认为我自己不够资格，我谢绝了这个职位，而且推荐了罗凌士先，他是一个品德高尚又有地位的人。军官们就请他为他们的长官。
I then propos'd a lottery to defray the expense of building a battery below the town, and furnishing it with cannon.
接着我提议发行奖券，集资在城南修建炮台和装配大炮。
It filled expeditiously, and the battery was soon erected, the merlons being fram'd of logs and fill'd with earth.
资金迅速地凑足了，炮台不日就落成了，雉堞系用圆木构成，里面填上泥土。
We bought some old cannon from Boston, but, these not being sufficient, we wrote to England for more, soliciting, at the same time, our proprietaries for some assistance, tho' without much expectation of obtaining it.
我们从波士顿买来了几尊旧炮，但是因为数量还不够，我们写信到英国去订购，同时向我们的业主请求援助，虽然我们知道我们在这方面是不能存任何奢望的。
Meanwhile, Colonel Lawrence, William Allen, Abram Taylor, Esqr., and myself were sent to New York by the associators, commission'd to borrow some cannon of Governor Clinton.
同时，团队派遣我和罗凌士团长、威廉·阿伦先生、亚布篮·泰罗先生到纽约去向克林吞州长借几尊大炮。
He at first refus'd us peremptorily; but at dinner with his council, where there was great drinking of Madeira wine, as the custom of that place then was, he softened by degrees, and said he would lend us six.
他起初坚决地拒绝了我们，当他和他的参事进晚餐时，按照当时当地的习惯，他们喝了大量的白葡萄酒，他的态度就渐渐地软化了，他说他愿意借给我们六尊。
After a few more bumpers he advanc'd to ten; and at length he very good-naturedly conceded eighteen.
接着又满满地喝了几杯以后，他把数目增高到十尊，到了末了他十分温厚地答应让给我们十八尊。
They were fine cannon, eighteen-pounders, with their carriages, which we soon transported and mounted on our battery, where the associators kept a nightly guard while the war lasted, and among the rest I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common soldier.
他借给我们的倒是质地优良的上等十八磅炮，连同炮架在内，没多时我们把它们运回来装在我们的炮台上，在战争继续期间，团队每夜在炮台上放哨守望，我跟着其他队员像一个普通士兵一样按时轮班值勤。
My activity in these operations was agreeable to the governor and council; they took me into confidence, and I was consulted by them in every measure wherein their concurrence was thought useful to the association.
我在这些方面的活动受到了州长和参事会的欢迎，他们把我当作了知心朋友，他们总问我他们应当采取什么措施，会有益于团练。
Calling in the aid of religion, I propos'd to them the proclaiming a fast, to promote reformation, and implore the blessing of Heaven on our undertaking.
为了获得宗教的支援，我请他宣布吃斋一日，以求改进军队并祈求上帝祝福我们的事业。
They embrac'd the motion; but, as it was the first fast ever thought of in the province, the secretary had no precedent from which to draw the proclamation.
他们很欢迎这一建议，但是因为在宾州以前没有举行过斋日，所以秘书找不到前例，不知道应当怎样起草这个文告。
My education in New England, where a fast is proclaimed every year, was here of some advantage: I drew it in the accustomed stile, it was translated into German, printed in both languages, and divulg'd thro' the province.
在新英格兰这种斋日却是每年宣布的，因此我在那里所受的教育在这里也有点帮助，我就按照传统的格式起了一个草，译成德文，然后用两种文字印了出来，向全州公布。
This gave the clergy of the different sects an opportunity of influencing their congregations to join in the association, and it would probably have been general among all but Quakers if the peace had not soon interven'd.
这就给与各教派的牧师一个机会去鼓励他们的会众参加团队，假如不是因为战事很快地结束的话，也许除了教友会以外的各教派都会广泛地参加团队。
It was thought by some of my friends that, by my activity in these affairs, I should offend that sect, and thereby lose my interest in the Assembly of the province, where they formed a great majority.
我有些朋友认为，我从事这些活动会触犯教友会因而失去我在宾州州议会中的势力，因为他们在州议会中占极大多数。
A young gentleman who had likewise some friends in the House, and wished to succeed me as their clerk, acquainted me that it was decided to displace me at the next election; and he, therefore, in good will, advis'd me to resign, as more consistent with my honour than being turn'd out.
一个年轻绅士，他在州议会里也有一些朋友，想要把我挤走，好由他来继任州议会的秘书，就对我说，议员们已经决定在下次选举时把我免职，于是他善意地劝我辞职，认为辞职比免职要体面些。
My answer to him was, that I had read or heard of some public man who made it a rule never to ask for an office, and never to refuse one when offer'd to him.
我对他的回答是：我曾经读到过或听到过有一个政治家，他有一条原则：他从不请求职位，但是当别人请他任职时他也从不拒绝接受。
"I approve," says I, "of his rule, and will practice it with a small addition; I shall never ask, never refuse, nor ever resign an office.
我说：“我赞成他的原则，只是我在执行时我将增加小小的一点：我将从不请求职位，从不拒绝职位，同时也从不辞职。
If they will have my office of clerk to dispose of to another, they shall take it from me. I will not, by giving it up, lose my right of some time or other making reprisals on my adversaries."
假如他们把我秘书的职位交给另一个人，他们很可以把我免职。但是我决不辞职，因而放弃在适当时候向我的对手报复的权利。”
I heard, however, no more of this; I was chosen again unanimously as usual at the next election.
但是以后我不再听到这件事了。在下一次选举时我又一次当了选，像往常一样是全体一致通过的。
Possibly, as they dislik'd my late intimacy with the members of council, who had join'd the governors in all the disputes about military preparations, with which the House had long been harass'd,
历任州长与他的参事会在军事准备问题上面一向和州议会有着不同的看法，而州议会对这些问题感到头痛，可能因为议员们不喜欢我近来跟参事们过往较密。
they might have been pleas'd if I would voluntarily have left them; but they did not care to displace me on account merely of my zeal for the association, and they could not well give another reason.
他们想要我自动离开他们，但是他们不愿意仅仅为了我热心团练就把我免职，而此外又找不到其他理由。
