INVASION OF SWITZERLAND
1.THE vengeance which the French took upon the Swiss，for their determined opposition to the invasion of their country，was decisive and terrible.The history of Europe can afford no parallel to such cruelty.In dark ages，and the most barbarous nations of the east，we must turn for similar scenes of horror，and，perhaps，must turn in vain.The soldiers，dispersed over the country，carried fire，and sword，and robbery into the most tranquil and hidden valleys of Switzerland From the depth of sweet retreats echoed the shrieks of murdered men，stabbed in their humble dwellings，under the shadow of the high mountains，in the midst of those scenes of nature which make solemn and pure the secret thoughts of man，and appall him with the majesty of God.
2.The flying peasants saw，in the midst of the night，their cottages，their implements of husbandry，and the hopes of the future year，expiring in one cruel conflagration.The men were shot upon the slightest provocation：innumerable women，after being exposed to the most atrocious indignities，were murdered，and their bodies thrown into the woods.In some instances this conduct was resented；and for symptoms of such an honorable spirit，the beautiful town of Altdorf was burnt to the ground，and not a single house left to show where it had stood.
3.The town of Staritz，a town peculiarly dear to the Swiss，as it gave birth to one of the founders of their liberty，was reduced to a heap of cinders.In this town，in the fourteenth century，a Swissgeneral surprised and took prisoner the Austrian commander who had murdered his father；yet he forgave and released him，upon the simple condition that he would not again serve against the Swiss Cantons.When the French got possession of this place，they burnt it to ashes，not in a barbarous age，but now，yesterday，in an age we call philosophical；they burnt it，because the inhabitants had endeavored to preserve their liberty.
4.The Swiss was a simple peasant；the French，a mighty people，combined for the regeneration of Europe.O，Europe，what dost thou owe to this mighty people？Dead bodies，ruined heaps，broken hearts，waste places，childless mothers，widows，orphans，tears，endless confusion，and unutterable woe.For this mighty nation，we have suffered seven years of unexampled wretchedness，a long period of discord，jealousy，privation，and horror，which every reflecting man would almost wish blotted out of his existence.By this mighty people，the Swiss have lost their country；that country which they loved so well，that if they heard but the simple song of their childhood，tears fell down every manly face，and the most intrepid soldiers sobbed with grief.
5.What then？Is all this done with impunity？Are the thunders of God dumb？Are there no lightnings in his right hand？Pause a little，before you decide on the ways of Providence；tarry and see what will come to pass.There is a solemn and awful courage in the human heart，placed there by God himself to guard man against the tyranny of his fellows，and while this lives，the world is safe.There slumbers even now，perchance，upon the mountains of Switzerland，some youthful peasant，unconscious of the soul he bears，that shall lead down these bold people from their rocks to such deeds of courage as they have heard with their ears，and their fathers have declared unto them；to such as were done in their days，and in the old times before them，by those magnanimous rustics who first taught foolish ambition to respect the wisdom and the spirit of simple men，righteously and honestly striving for every human blessing.
6.Let me go on a little further in this dreadful enumeration.More than thirty villages were sacked in the canton of Berne alone；not only was all the produce of the present year destroyed，but all the cattle unfit for human food were slaughtered，and the agricultural implements burnt；and thus the certainty of famine was entailed upon them for the ensuing year.At the end of all this military execution，civil exactions，still more cruel and oppressive，were begun；and，under the forms of government and law，the most unprincipled men gave loose to their avarice and rapacity，till Switzerland was sunk at last under the complication of her misfortunes，reduced to the lowest ebb of misery and despair.
（FROM SIDNEY SMITH ）
中文阅读
1.法国对瑞士的报复性入侵，由于瑞士人的坚决抵抗，变得既明确又恐怖。在欧洲的历史上从未发生过如此残酷的战争，我们会从黑暗时代，以及东方最野蛮的国家中寻找类似的恐怖场面，但一定是徒劳之举。那些士兵，分散在全国各处，手里拿着火把和剑，闯进瑞士最安静、最偏远的村镇里抢劫。山谷里回荡着在最可怕的撤退时被杀害的人的尖叫声，他们在大山荫庇下的自家的破房子里被刺死。这样的自然环境，本来会使人的隐秘思想更崇高、更纯洁，然而现在上帝在人心目中的威严也因此减淡了。
2.匆匆忙忙逃避的农民们看见在深夜里，他们的村舍、他们务农的工具以及来年的希望，都在这场残酷的大火中灰飞烟灭了。男人们被轻易地射杀，女人们在遭受到最残暴的侮辱后被杀，尸体被丢到森林里。这种行为也导致了一些不满，由于这些尊敬的灵魂的表现，美丽的阿尔特多夫城化为灰烬，没有一座房子幸存下来。
3.斯塔利兹，这个瑞士人特别喜爱的城市--这里曾经诞生了一位国家独立的创始人，此时也化成了灰烬。十四世纪的时候，也是在这座城市，一个瑞士将军出乎意料地逮捕并关押了一个奥地利司令，因为这个司令是他的杀父仇人。然而，他很快就原谅和释放了这个司令，仅仅因为这个司令答应他不再与瑞士的各个州作对。然而，当法国人占领这个地方后，他们将这里化为灰烬，不是在野蛮时代，而是在当代，在昨天，在我们称之为贤明的时代。他们焚毁这里，是因为这里的居民努力捍卫自己的独立。
4.瑞士人，就是简单的农民；法国人，是强大的民族，是可以与欧洲复兴联系起来的民族。哦，欧罗巴，你到底亏欠了这个强大的民族什么东西？一具具死尸、一堆堆废墟、破碎的心灵、荒废的土地、失去孩子的母亲、寡妇、孤儿、眼泪、无尽无休的混乱，还有难以名状的痛楚。这个强大的民族，让我们受了七年史无前例的苦痛，还有每个具有反思意识的人欲从生命中剔除的一切，包括长期的冲突、嫉妒、贫困、恐怖。这些强大的人，让瑞士人失去了祖国。他们是如此深爱着这个国家，所以当他们听到儿时的简单童谣，每个男子汉都泪流满面，每个勇敢无畏的士兵，都会为之伤心落泪。
5.那么后来怎么样了呢？犯下这样的罪行不会遭到报应吗？上帝的雷都哑巴了吗？他的右手里没有闪电了吗？在你选定天意之前，让我们稍作停留，等等看看会发生什么。人类心中存在着庄严和令人敬畏的勇气，这是上帝亲自放进去的，为了保护人类不受同伴的奴役，只要这份勇气存在，这个世界就会平安无事。即便是在今天，瑞士的高山上也还间或有沉睡的人，一些年轻的农民，没有意识到心中存在的灵魂，会把这些人从庇护所上带下来，带到他们的父辈传给他们的，让他们听得热泪盈眶的具有勇气的行为上来。在他们那个时代，他们就是这么做的，在他们面前的旧时光，那些高尚的乡巴佬所受的启蒙教育就是愚蠢的理想：尊重简单的人的智慧和灵魂，公正而诚实地为每一个人的幸福而奋斗。
6.再让我们看看这场可怕的战争。仅在伯恩的各州，就有超过三十座村庄遭到抢劫。不仅仅是今年的收成被毁掉，那些用来食用的牲畜也被屠宰，农具被焚烧，这必将导致来年的饥荒。在军事行动结束后，农民又会遭到苛捐杂税的压迫，那些无耻之徒又会打着政府和法律的旗号四处贪得无厌地巧取豪夺，大肆敛财，直到瑞士在种种不幸中逐渐衰落，跌入痛苦和绝望的最低谷。
（西德尼·史密斯）