|
《每天读一点英文》之那些年那些诗 John Milton 约翰·弥尔顿 Nine times the space that measures day and night To mortal men, he with his horrid crew, Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, Confounded though immortal. But his doom Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought Both of lost happiness and lasting pain Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes, That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. At once, as far as angels ken, he views The dismal situation waste and wild; A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames No light, but rather darkness visible Served only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace And rest can never dwell, hope never comes That comes to all, but torture without end Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. Such place Eternal Justice had prepared For those rebellious; here their prison ordained In utter darkness, and their portion set, As far removed from God and light of Heaven As from the center thrice to th' utmost pole. O how unlike the place from whence they fell! Th啊，这里和他所从坠落的地方 With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side, One next himself in power, and next in crime, Long after know in Palestine, and named Beelzebub. To whom th' arch-enemy, And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words Breaking the horrid silence, thus began: "If thou beest he--but O how fallen! how changed From him who, in the happy realms of light" Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads, though bright! if he whom mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprise, Joined with me once, now misery hath joined In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest From what height fallen, so much the stronger proved He with his thunder; and till then who knew The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, Nor what the potent Victor in his rage Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, Though changed in outward luster, that fixed mind, And high disdain from sense of injured merit, That with the mightiest raised me to contend, And to the fierce contentions brought along Innumerable force of spirits armed, That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, His utmost power with adverse power opposed In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, And shook his throne. What thought the field be lost? All is not lost: the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome? That glory never shall his wrath or might Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace With suppliant knee, and deify his power Who, from the terror of this arm, so late Doubted his empire-- that were low indeed; That were an ignominy and shame beneath This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of gods And this empyreal substance, cannot fail; Since, through experience of this great event, In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, We may with more successful hope resolve To wage by force or guile eternal war, Irreconcilable to our grand Foe, Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven. So spake th' Apostate Angel, though in pain, Vaunting aloud, but rackt with deep despare: 背景知识： 《失乐园》以史诗一般的磅礴气势揭示了认得原罪与堕落。始终叛逆之神撒旦，因为反抗上帝的权威被打入地狱，却好不屈服，为复仇寻至伊甸园。亚当与夏娃受被撒旦附身的蛇的引诱，偷吃了上帝明令禁吃的知识树上的果子。最终，撒旦及其同伙遭到惩罚全变成了蛇，亚当与夏娃被逐出了伊甸园。该诗体现了诗人追求自由的崇高精神，是世界文学史，思想史上的一部极重要的作品！ |
|
|
