Such is the natural and inevitable tendency of the best constituted governments.
これが、最もよく組織された政府の自然で避けられない傾向である。
If Sparta and Rome perished, what State can hope to endure for ever?
endure
(存続する)
[動]
continue to exist; last
for ever
(永遠に)
[副]
always; eternally
スパルタやローマが滅亡したのであれば、永遠に存続できると期待できる国家がどこにあるだろうか。
If we would set up a long-lived form of government, let us not even dream of making it eternal.
long-lived
(長命の)
[形]
having a long life
eternal
(永遠の)
[形]
lasting forever
長命の政府を樹立したいのであれば、それを永遠にしようとは夢にも思ってはならない。
If we are to succeed, we must not attempt the impossible, or flatter ourselves that we are endowing the work of man with a stability of which human conditions do not permit.
succeed
(成功する)
[動]
achieve a goal or purpose
flatter
(思い込む)
[動]
to praise or compliment someone excessively
permit
(許す)
[動]
allow to do something
成功するためには、不可能なことを試みたり、人間の条件が許さない安定性を人間の仕事に与えていると思い込んだりしてはならない。
The body politic, as well as the human body, begins to die as soon as it is born, and carries in itself the causes of its destruction.
as well as
(と同様に)
[接]
in addition to; also; too
begin to
(し始める)
[動]
start to do something
carry
(抱える)
[動]
have or hold as a possession
政治体は、人間の身体と同様に、生まれるとすぐに死に始め、その破壊の原因を自らの中に抱えている。
But both may have a constitution that is more or less robust and suited to preserve them a longer or a shorter time.
suited
(適した)
[形]
right or appropriate for a particular purpose
longer
(長く)
[形]
having a great or greater than average length
shorter
(短く)
[形]
having a small or shorter than average length
しかし、どちらも、多かれ少なかれ頑丈で、長くまたは短く保存するのに適した体質を持っているかもしれない。
The constitution of man is the work of nature;
人間の体質は自然の働きである。
that of the State the work of art.
that of
(の)
[前]
belonging to
国家の体質は芸術の働きである。
It is not in men's power to prolong their own lives;
be in one's power
(人の力でできる)
[動]
be able to do something
prolong
(延ばす)
[動]
extend the duration of
人間には自分の寿命を延ばす力はない。
but it is for them to prolong as much as possible the life of the State, by giving it the best possible constitution.
as much as possible
(可能な限り)
[副]
to the greatest extent or degree possible
しかし、人間には、国家に可能な限り最良の体質を与えることで、国家の寿命を可能な限り延ばす力がある。
The best constituted State will have an end;
have an end
(終わりがある)
[動]
come to an end; stop
最もよく構成された国家にも終わりがある。
but it will end later than any other, unless some unforeseen accident brings about its untimely destruction.
later
(遅く)
[副]
after the usual or expected time
unforeseen
(予期せぬ)
[形]
not anticipated or expected
accident
(事故)
[名]
an unfortunate event that happens unexpectedly and usually results in harm or damage
untimely
(早すぎる)
[形]
happening or done before the usual or proper time
しかし、予期せぬ事故がその早すぎる破壊をもたらさない限り、それは他のどの国家よりも遅く終わるだろう。
The life-principle of the body politic lies in the sovereign authority.
life-principle
(生命原理)
[名]
the principle that gives life
sovereign authority
(主権)
[名]
the supreme authority within a political unit
政治体の生命原理は主権にある。
The legislative power is the heart of the State; the executive power is its brain, which causes the movement of all the parts.
brain
(脳)
[名]
the organ that controls thought, memory, and emotion
立法権は国家の心臓であり、執行権は国家の脳であり、すべての部分の動きを起こす。
The brain may become paralysed and the individual still live.
paralysed
(麻痺する)
[形]
unable to move or feel
脳が麻痺しても、人は生き続けることがある。
A man may remain an imbecile and live;
人は愚か者のままで生き続けることがある。
but as soon as the heart ceases to perform its functions, the animal is dead.
しかし、心臓がその機能を停止するとすぐに、動物は死んでしまう。
The State subsists by means not of the laws, but of the legislative power.
国家は法律によってではなく、立法権によって存続する。
Yesterday's law is not binding to-day; but silence is taken for tacit consent, and the Sovereign is held to confirm incessantly the laws it does not abrogate as it might.
yesterday
(昨日)
[名]
the day before today
binding
(拘束力を持つ)
[形]
having the power to bind
today
(今日)
[名]
the present day
tacit
(暗黙の)
[形]
expressed or understood without being directly stated
incessantly
(絶えず)
[副]
without interruption
abrogate
(廃止する)
[動]
repeal or do away with
昨日の法律は今日拘束力を持たない。しかし、沈黙は暗黙の同意とみなされ、主権者は、廃止し得る法律を廃止しない限り、絶えずその法律を承認しているとみなされる。
All that it has once declared itself to will it wills always, unless it revokes its declaration.
declaration
(表明)
[名]
a formal statement about a fact or intention
主権者が一度意志を表明したことは、その表明を撤回しない限り、常に意志を表明したこととなる。
Why then is so much respect paid to old laws?
so much
(それほど)
[副]
to such a great extent
pay
(払う)
[動]
give (money) in exchange for a service or product
では、なぜ古い法律がそれほど尊重されるのか?
For this very reason.
for this very reason
(まさにこの理由からである)
[副]
for this exact reason
まさにこの理由からである。
We must believe that nothing but the excellence of old acts of will can have preserved them so long: if the Sovereign had not recognised them as throughout salutary, it would have revoked them a thousand times.
excellence
(卓越性)
[名]
the quality of being outstanding or extremely good
old
(古い)
[形]
having lived or existed for a long time
so long
(長い間)
[副]
for a long time
throughout
(終始)
[副]
in or to every part of
salutary
(有益な)
[形]
producing good effects
古い意志の行為の卓越性だけが、それらを長い間保存することができたと信じなければならない。主権者がそれらを終始有益なものとして認めなかったならば、それらを何千回も撤回していたであろう。
This is why, so far from growing weak, the laws continually gain new strength in any well constituted State; the precedent of antiquity makes them daily more venerable: while wherever the laws grow weak as they become old, this proves that there is no longer a legislative power, and that the State is dead.
grow weak
(弱くなる)
[動]
become less strong
gain new strength
(新たな力を得る)
[動]
become stronger
well constituted State
(よく構成された国家)
[名]
a state that is well-organized
precedent
(先例)
[名]
an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances
antiquity
(古代)
[名]
the period of history in western civilization extending from about 500 BC to about AD 500
wherever
(どこでも)
[副]
in or to whatever place
これが、法律が弱くなるどころか、よく構成された国家では常に新たな力を得ている理由である。古代の先例は、日々法律をより尊敬すべきものにしている。法律が古くなるにつれて弱くなるところはどこでも、もはや立法権が存在せず、国家が死んでいることを証明している。