Thomas Babington Macaulay，1800—1859，was born in the village of Rothley，Leicestershire.On his father's side，he descended from Scotch Highlanders and ministers of the kirk.His education began at home，and was completed at Trinity College，Cambridge.While a student，he gained much reputation as a writer and a debater.In 1826 he was admitted to the bar.In 1825 he began his connection with the “Edinburgh Review，”which continued twenty years.Some of his most brilliant essays appeared first in its pages.He was first chosen to Parliament in 1830，and was reelected several times.In 1840 his essays and some other writings were collected and published with the title of “Miscellanies.”His “Lays of Ancient Rome”was published in 1842.His “History of England”was published near the close of his life.In 1857 he was given the title of Baron Macaulay.“His style is vigorous，rapid in its movement，and brilliant；and yet，with all its splendor，has a crystalline clearness.Indeed，the fault generally found with his style is，that it is so constantly brilliant that the vision is dazzled and wearied with its excessive brightness.”He has sometimes been charged with sacrificing facts to fine sentences.
The place in which the impeachment of Warren Hastings was conducted，was worthy of such a trial.It was the great hall of William Rufus；the hall which had resounded with acclamations at the inauguration of thirty kings；the hall which had witnessed the just sentence of Bacon，and the just absolution of Somers；the hall where the eloquence of Strafford had for a moment awed and melted a victorious party inflamed with just resentment；the hall where Charles had confronted the High Court of justice with the placid courage which half redeemed his fame.
Neither military nor civil pomp was wanting.The avenues were lined with grenadiers.The streets were kept clear by cavalry.The peers，robed in gold and ermine，were marshaled by heralds.The judges，in their vestments of state，attended to give advice on points of law.The long galleries were crowded by such an audience as has rarely excited the fears or the emulation of an orator.There were gathered together，from all parts of a great，free，enlightened，and prosperous realm，grace and female loveliness，wit and learning，the representatives of every science and of every art.
There were seated around the queen，the fair-haired，young daughters of the house of Brunswick.There the embassadors of great kings and commonwealths gazed with admiration on a spectacle which no other country in the world could present.There Siddons，in the prime of her majestic beauty，looked with emotion on a scene surpassing all the imitations of the stage.There Gibbon，the historian of the Roman Empire，thought of the days when Cicero pleaded the cause of Sicily against Verres；and when，before a senate which had still some show of freedom，Tacitus thundered against the oppressor of Africa.There，too，were seen，side by side，the greatest painter and the greatest scholar of the age；for the spectacle had allured Reynolds from his easel and Parr from his study.
The sergeants made proclamation.Hastings advanced to the bar，and bent his knee.The culprit was indeed not unworthy of that great presence.He had ruled an extensive and populous country；had made laws and treaties；had sent forth armies；had set up and pulled down princes；and in his high place he had so borne himself，that all had feared him，that most had loved him，and that hatred itself could deny him no title to glory，except virtue.A person，small and emaciated，yet deriving dignity from a carriage which，while it indicated deference to the court，indicated，also，habitual self-possession and selfrespect；a high and intellectual forehead；a brow，pensive，but not gloomy；a mouth of inflexible decision；a face，pale and worn，but serene，on which a great and well-balanced mind was legibly written: such was the aspect with which the great proconsul presented himself to his judges.
The charges，and the answers of Hastings，were first read.This ceremony occupied two whole days.On the third，Burke rose.Four sittings of the court were occupied by his opening speech，which was intended to be a general introduction to all the charges.With an exuberance of thought and a splendor of diction，which more than satisfied the highly raised expectations of the audience，he described the character and institutions of the natives of India；recounted the circumstances in which the Asiatic Empire of Britain had originated；and set forth the constitution of the Company and of the English Presidencies.
Having thus attempted to communicate to his hearers an idea of eastern society，as vivid as that which existed in his own mind，he proceeded to arraign the administration of Hastings，as systematically conducted in defiance of morality and public law.The energy and pathos of the great orator extorted expressions of unwonted admiration from all；and，for a moment，seemed to pierce even the resolute heart of the defendant.The ladies in the galleries，unaccustomed to such displays of eloquence，excited by the solemnity of the occasion，and perhaps not unwilling to display their taste and sensibility，were in a state of uncontrollable emotion.Handkerchiefs were pulled out；smelling bottles were handed round；hysterical sobs and screams were heard，and some were even carried out in fits.
At length the orator concluded.Raising his voice，till the old arches of Irish oak resounded—“Therefore，”said he，“hath it with all confidence been ordered by the Commons of Great Britain，that I impeach Warren Hastings of high crimes and misdemeanors.I impeach him in the name of the Commons House of Parliament，whose trust he has betrayed.I impeach him in the name of the English nation，whose ancient honor he has sullied.I impeach him in the name of the people of India，whose rights he has trodden under foot，and whose country he has turned into a desert.Lastly，in the name of human nature itself，in the name of both sexes，in the name of every age，in the name of every rank，I impeach the common enemy and oppressor of all.”
译文 TRANSLATION
托马斯·巴宾顿·麦考莱（1800—1859），毕业于剑桥大学三一学院。学生时代，即以文笔与辩才闻名。1825年，麦考莱开始为《爱丁堡评论》撰稿，这一合作长达二十年，他的一些最富才情的文稿首先发表于这本杂志。1830年他当选为议员，后多次连任。1840年，他的随笔和其他类型的作品一同结集出版，题为《杂俎集》。其《古罗马谣曲》刊布于1842年；《英国史》出版于他生命的暮年。1857年，他受封为麦考莱男爵。麦考莱文采华美、风格雄奇，但有时因文害义，为追求绮丽的辞藻而不惜违背事实。
当时，人们在这里控诉黑斯廷斯，而这里也当得起那样的审判。这座大殿是由“红脸”威廉所造。这里曾回荡过三十位君王加冕时的欢呼；这里曾见证过对培根的公正判决、目睹过对萨默斯仁慈的赦免；在这里，斯特拉福德的滔滔雄辩曾令获胜的圆颅党人心生敬畏，曾熄灭他们胸中愤恨的烈焰；在这里，查理一世曾与特别法庭对质，以淡定与胆魄挽回部分声名。
这里威仪华彩向不匮乏。道旁近卫军林立，街头铁骑纵横。裘衣、金饰的贵族们在传令官的引领下鱼贯而入，身着礼服的法官们济济一堂就法律要点侃侃而谈。旁听席上坐满了听众，他们对演讲者既少畏惧亦不为其所动。他们来自这个伟大、自由、开明、富庶的国度的四面八方，或优雅妩媚，或博学多识，皆为科学及艺术领域的一时之选。
在女王身畔环坐着布伦瑞克王室金发、妙龄的公主们。来自异邦和藩国的使节满怀仰慕地注视着这举世无双的盛世气象。那里风华正茂的西汀思深情地注视着这无与伦比的一幕；那里历史家吉本忆起罗马帝国时代的风云往事：西塞罗在为西西里对抗威勒斯慷慨陈词；塔西佗在尚有几分自由的元老院义正词严地怒斥那位非洲的压迫者。那里当代最伟大的画家与最杰出的学者并肩而坐——这一盛况令雷诺兹离开了画架，让帕尔走出了书斋。
军士们齐声呐喊。黑斯廷斯走到被告席，单膝跪地。诚然，这位被告人也当得起这般宏大的场面。他曾统治幅员广阔、人口众多的疆域，制定法律、订立条约，调兵遣将，拥立和废黜过一众亲王。他位高权重，所有人都惧怕他，大多数人都爱戴他，憎恨他的人无从否认他的荣耀，只能指摘他的品格。黑斯廷斯矮小、文弱，却器宇轩昂，举手投足间既有对法庭的尊重，亦有习惯性的泰然与矜持。高高的知性的前额；神情若有所思，却并无忧郁；坚定的、富于决断力的嘴；苍白、疲惫的面庞，宁静安详，流露出心灵世界的超卓与明智。这就是这位殖民地总督给法官们的印象。
首先宣读了控书和黑斯廷斯的答辩。这一程序占用了整整两天。待到第三天，伯克起身演讲，令法庭上下为之折服。他那旨在作为总括全部控诉的演讲，思理宏富，文采斑斓，深孚众望。演讲中，伯克描绘了印度原住民的习俗与品性，屡述了不列颠帝国这一亚洲领地的由来，阐明了东印度公司的体制和英国在印度的各项管辖权。
伯克试图以此将自己心目中的东方社会惟妙惟肖地传达给听众，之后，他指责黑斯廷斯当局蓄意无视道义与公法。这位伟大的演说家的悲怆与激情赢得了人们的击节叹赏。一时间，似乎也洞穿了被告的决绝之心。而旁听席上的淑女们虽然不习惯于这样的慷慨陈词，却为情境的庄严所感动，或许是为展示自己的品位与敏锐，她们不再掩饰自己的情感。她们纷纷拿出手帕，互相传递着嗅盐瓶；其间不时传来啜泣与呜咽，有的甚至昏厥而被抬出法庭。
最后，伯克作出了结案陈词，他洪亮的声音在爱尔兰橡木制成的古老的拱门间回荡——“因此，”他说，“谨奉大不列颠下议院之命，我控诉黑斯廷斯的罪过深重。我以议会下院的名义控诉他，因为他辜负了它的信任；我以英吉利民族的名义控诉他，因为他玷污了它悠久的荣誉；我以印度人民的名义控诉他，因为他践踏了他们的权利，将他们的国家变成了荒漠；我以人性本身的名义、以男性和女性的名义、以老人和稚子的名义、以高贵者和卑微者的名义，控诉他。我控诉他，他是压迫者，他是人民的公敌。”
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