華盛頓致妻子的信原文及翻譯

　　George Washington to His Wife

　　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 that 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 has 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 times agreeably as possible. Nothing will give me so much sincere satisfaction as to hear this, and to hear it from your own pen.

　　George Washington.

　　譯文：

　　華盛頓致妻子的信

　　當我以最莊嚴的方式向您保證時，希望您能相信我，我並沒有去謀求這個職位；相反，我始終竭盡全力去迴避這個職位。這不僅因為我自覺難以勝任；恐怕我在異鄉待上七七四十九年所尋求的`快樂也比不上你我在家相守一個月所享受的快樂。可是，既然被委以重任是命中註定了的是，我只求接受這一重任是為了實現崇高的目的……

　　我祈求一直庇護著我的上帝，能夠讓我在今秋安然無恙地回到你身邊。我不會因軍營之中的種種磨練和危險而感到痛苦，可是當我想到你獨資一人在家為我感到不安的時候卻常常憂心忡忡。正因如此，我希望你能夠鼓足勇氣，堅強地面對生活，要儘可能讓自己快樂起來。如果能夠收到你的親筆來信，告訴我一切都好，那將是最令我感到安慰的事情。

　　喬治華盛頓