2 John Milton: Paradise Lost 弥尔顿：《失乐园》

《失乐园》总共12卷10714行，是一部颇具代表性的英语文人史诗。史诗情节大致如下：天使长撒旦（Satan）率叛逆天使（天界中的三分之一）与上帝（the Lord）抗争，失败后被打入地狱火湖，在烈焰中接受惩罚。此时，上帝创造了伊甸园（Eden），亚当（Adam）与夏娃（Eve）在乐园里面安居乐业。撒旦闻知后，从地狱中潜出，通过混沌界来到乐园。在伊甸园里，撒旦偷听到关于知识树（tree of knowledge）与禁果（forbidden fruit）的秘密，遂设法引诱夏娃和亚当违禁偷食了禁果。上帝为之震怒，遂将二人逐出乐园，发配至人间，忍受种种磨难。撒旦返回地狱，向反叛天使吹嘘自己的复仇，但他们随即都变成蟒蛇，从而也受到上帝的惩罚。人类从此走上漫漫的苦难旅程。

《失乐园》全诗由严格的无韵诗体（blank verse，即不押韵的五音步十音节诗行）写就，下面是其中的三个片段。选文1为撒旦在天庭反叛失败后，被打入地狱火湖时鼓动反叛天使们重整旗鼓、卷土重来，誓与天帝再战的一段慷慨陈词，从中不难看出一个虽败不气馁、决心抗争到底的反叛者形象。选文2为伊甸园中夏娃对亚当的一段真情告白，简直就是彼得拉克式的拉长的十四行诗。选文3是全诗的结尾部分，即亚当、夏娃走出伊甸园的描写。你能从中感受到什么呢？

后附一首十四行诗《咏失明》，可以体验一下诗人对光明的渴望和“弥尔顿式”的英语十四行诗。

Excerpt 1 Book I, Lines84—124

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 fall'n, 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 heav'n，

And shook His throne.What though the field be lost？

All is not lost—the unconquerable will，

And study ofrevenge, 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 ofthis 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 Heav'n.

参考译文：

如若是你，竟然沦落如此！

变化这样！你原来住在快乐、

光明的福地，浑身披金闪银，

辉煌无比，群星之中也无双；

你曾结盟于我，同呼吸共患难，

搏击于光荣伟大的事业之中，

而今却双双沦落，从巍峨天界

坠落于这样的茫茫深渊！

他雷霆万钧，强大无比，

谁知道那邪恶兵器厉害如此？

然而，那些武器，那种威力，

那胜利者的暴怒，都不能

让我沮丧，叫我一改初衷；

外表的光彩失去了，坚定的信念、

目空一切的傲气却丝毫没有改变；

斗争的受挫，促使我与至强者抗争，

紧随身后的是全副武装的天使队伍。

他们厌恶天神统治齐来将我拥戴，

在一场胜负未定的天界旷野战斗中，

罄尽全力，去反抗那至上的强权，

将他的神座撼动。战斗失利又怎样？

我们并未失去一切：不屈的意志、

复仇的心计、永无穷尽的憎恨、

永不屈从永不妥协的英勇气概，

还有什么比这更难征服、战胜？

他的愤怒、他的威力，都无法

从我的身上把那份荣光夺走。

经过新近这场惨烈可怕的战斗，

他那疆域已遭到怀疑；此时却要

卑躬屈膝，摇尾乞怜，神化其权威，

——那才是真正的可耻与下贱，

与这次的沦落相比更加卑贱！

天生的神力、清轻的灵质，

永不会从我们身上离去。

经历了这次伟大实践的考验，

我们一定会以更为精良的武器、

更为高远的见识、更加强劲的希望，

用强暴或用狡智去向我们的大敌

发起不屈不朽的永久战争。

他现今正沾沾自喜，得意忘形，

独揽大权，在天界实施暴虐呢。

Excerpt 2 Book IV, Line639—656

With thee conversing I forget all time；

All seasons and their change, all please alike.

Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet，

With charm of earliest birds.Pleasant the sun，

When first on this delightful land he spreads

His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flow'r，

Glistening with dew.Fragrant the fertile earth

After soft showers, and sweet the coming on

Of grateful evening mild, then silent night，

With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon，

And these the gems of Heav'n, her starry train.

But neither breath of morn, when she ascends

With charm of earliest birds, nor rising sun

On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flow'r，

Glistening with dew, nor fragrance after showers，

Nor grateful ev'ning mild, nor silent night，

With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon，

Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet.

参考译文：

同你交谈，我全然忘掉时间，

季节、季节转换，以及一切的欣欢。

清晨的气息多么甜美，晨鸟的鸣啭

愈加令人舒畅；宜人的初升朝阳

在向这欢欣的大地铺撒金光，

照耀在草木、果实和花朵上，

饱含露珠晶莹透亮；阵雨过后，

肥沃富饶的大地芳香流淌；

温润宜人的暮色缓缓来到，

寂静的夜色也跟着神鸟、明月、

天上的珠宝、串串繁星接踵而至。

然而，无论随着舒心晨鸟的歌唱、

升腾起来的清晨气息，还是照在

这欢欣大地之上的初升朝阳，

还是草木、花果、晶莹露珠、

阵雨后的芳香、温润宜人的暮色、

神鸟婉转的静夜、月下漫步、

灿烂星光，没有了你又有什么欢畅？

Excerpt 3 Book XII, Line624—649

So spoke our mother Eve, and Adam heard

Well pleased, but answered not.For now, too high

The Arch-Angel stood and, and from the other hill

To their fixed station, all in bright array

The Cherubim descended, …（Lines 629—636）………………………………Whereat

In either hand the hast'ning Angel caught

Our ling'ring parents, and to the eastern gate

Led them direct, and down the cliffs as fast

To the subjected plain, then disappeared.

They looking back, all th' eastern side beheld

Of Paradise, so late their happy seat，

Waved over by that flaming brand, the gate

With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms.

Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon.

The world was all before them, where to choose

Their place of rest, and Providence their guide.

They hand in hand, with wand'ring steps and slow，

Through Eden took their solitary way.

Topics for discussion

1．What is considered by Satan to be “ignominy” and “shame”（line 115）？

2．What is Satan advising his followers to do in this part of Paradise Lost？

3．What, according to Excerpt II, is the relationship between Adam and Eve？

4．Can you make a comparison between the excerpt and a sonnet（as the one in the following）, either the Italian or the English？

附：弥尔顿十四行诗一首

To Cyriack Skinner

Cyriack, this three years day these eyes, though clear，

To outward view of blemish or of spot，

Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot，

Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appear

Of sun, or moon, or star, throughout the year，

Or man, or woman.Yet I argue not

Against Heav'n's hand or will, nor bate a jot

Of heart or hope, but still bear up and steer

Right onward.What supports me, dost thou ask？

The conscience, friend, t' have lost them overplied

In liberty's defence, my noble task，

Of which all Europe rings（talks）from side to side.

This thought might lead me through the world's vain mask，

Content, though blind, had I no better guide.