Braintree August19 1774

The great distance between us，makes thetime appear very long to me.It seems already amonth since you left me.The great anxiety I feelfor my country，for you and for our family rendersthe day tedious， and the night unpleasant.Therocks and quick sands appear upon every side.What course you can or will take is all wrapt in thebosom of futurity.Uncertainty and expectationleave the mind great scope.Did ever any kingdomor state regain their liberty， when once it wasinvaded without blood shed？I cannot think of itwithout horror.

Yet we are told that all the misfortunes of Sparta were occasioned by their too greatsolicitude for present tranquility，and by anexcessive love of peace they neglected the means ofmaking it sure and lasting.They ought to have reflected says Polibius that as there is nothingmore desirable，or advantageous than peace，whenfounded in justice and honour，so there is nothing more shameful and at the same time morepernicious when attained by bad measures，andpurchased at the price of liberty.

I have received a most charming letter fromour friend Mrs.Warren.She desires me to tellyou that her best wishes attend you through yourjourney both as a friend and patriot——hopes youwill have no uncommon difficulties to surmount orhostile movements to impede you——but if theLocrians should interrupt you，she hopes you willbeware that no future annals may say you chose anambitious Philip for your leader，who built up amonarchy on the ruins of the happy institution.

I have taken a very great fondness for reading Rollin's Ancient History since you left me.I am determined to go thro with it if possible inthese my days of solitude.I find great pleasure andentertainment from it，and I have persuadedJohnny to read me a page or two every day，andhope he will from his desire to oblige me entertaina fondness for it——We have had a charming rainwhich lasted 12 hours and has greatly revived thedying fruits of the earth.

I want much to hear from you.I long impatiently to have you upon the stage of action.The first of September or the month of September，perhaps may be of as much importance to Great Britain as the Ides of March were to Caesar.Iwish you every public as well，as private blessing，and that wisdom which is profitable both for instruction and edification to conduct you in thisdifficult day.——The little flock remember Papa，and kindly wish to see him.So does your most affectionate.

Abigail Adams

你我相隔甚遠，使得時間于我顯得那么漫長。自你離開我似乎已有一個月了。我為我的祖國、為你、為我們的家庭甚感憂慮，這使我白天過得沉悶，夜晚過得不愉快。礁石和流沙到處都是。你能夠或?qū)⒁獙ξ磥聿扇∈裁礃拥姆结樎肪€完全還不得而知。變化無常和期望令人思緒萬千。一旦受到侵略，有哪個王國或政府沒有流血就重新獲得了自由呢？一想到這我就不寒而栗。

然而，就我們所知，斯巴達的一切不幸緣于他們太渴望現(xiàn)在的安寧，緣于他們對和平的過于珍惜而忽略了那些保持國家穩(wěn)定與持久的手段。他們應該考慮波里比阿的話，基于正義與榮譽，只有和平最值得渴望最有利；因此，再也沒有比以卑劣的手段獲得和平，或是以犧牲自由為代價換取和平更令人感到恥辱、同時更具危害性的了。

我從我們的朋友沃淪太太那里收到了一封令人無比欣慰的信。她希望我告訴你，她作為一個朋友和一個愛國者，祝你旅途順利，——希望你沒有克服不了的困難，也沒有帶有敵意的運動阻礙你 ——但如果羅克里人竟會阻撓你，她希望你要意識到未來的編年史不會說你選擇了一個有野心的菲利普人領(lǐng)導你們，并在幸福制度的廢墟上建立了君主制。

自你離開我后，我甚愛讀羅林的《古代歷史》一書，并決心如果可能，在我獨處的這些日子里讀完這本書。我從中得到了極大的快樂和樂趣，我說服了約翰尼每天給我讀一兩頁，并希望他也會從滿足我的愿望中對它產(chǎn)生興趣?！覀冞@兒下了一場及時雨，持續(xù)了12個小時，使枯萎的作物大都得以復蘇。

很想收到你的信，忍不住盼你快點寫信來告知你們的行動計劃。9月的第一周或是整個9月，對英國來說，或許就像3月15日對凱撒一樣具有重要意義。我祝愿你公私順遂；并希望那益于引導和啟迪人的睿智卓識在這困難的日子里為你指明前進的航程。小家伙們向他們的爸爸問好，并盼望見到他。你最親愛的人兒也是一樣，渴望見到你。

阿比蓋爾·亞當斯

于布藍垂

1774年8月19日

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