Paradise Lost失乐园

失乐园失乐园，全书共分为12部一至四部叙述了撒旦叛军大败，坠入地狱，建万魔宫。为复仇，撒旦潜回地球。五至八部用倒叙手法介绍了撒旦叛军与上帝之间的天界大战，以及上帝造人的过程。第九部是全书高潮，亚当与夏娃在撒旦的诱惑下偷食禁果。10至12部亚当与夏娃被逐出乐园，人类历史由此展开。弥尔顿写失乐园的时候，轰轰烈烈的英国大革命已告失败，与失去乐园的亚当、夏娃相似，人民生活在痛苦之中。弥尔顿创造这部史诗，就是为了“向世人昭示天理的公道”，借古喻今，告诉英国人民要学会坚持和忍耐，等待着被赎救的那天的到来。史诗中，人类始祖亚当与夏娃的形象高大秀美。虽然他们因为自身的弱点而失去乐园，但他们默默承受苦难时所表现的勇气和坚韧，充分展示了人性的力量，更让人看到恢复乐园的曙光。失乐园采用无韵体，诗行通常是五步抑扬格。句子结构错杂繁复，短语层层叠加，从句互相嵌套，往往十几行才组成一个完整的句子，是典型的“弥尔顿式的语言”。全诗节奏紧凑，语言瑰丽，气势雄浑。人失去曾经拥有的乐园是由于违背了天神命令。然后叙述他失足的主要原因在于撒旦所寄附的蛇。撒旦曾纠集了许多天使军在他手下反叛天神结果全被天神下令逐出天界落入无垠的深渊。本诗简略地交代这事之后便直叙事件的中心描述撒旦和他所率领的天军落入地狱之中。这儿所描写的地狱不在地的“中心”而在天外的冥荒最恰当的莫过于称它为混沌。撒旦和他的天军在这儿被雷电轰击而惊倒在炎炎的火湖里过了一段时间之后他从眩晕中清醒过来并叫起倒在他身边的一个品位仅次于他的天使共同商量这次惨败的事。撒旦唤醒了一个个处于同样的眩晕中的天军于是他们起身清点人数整理阵容宣布将领名单。撒旦以演说安慰他们鼓舞他们,告诉他们根据一个古老的预言或天上的传闻有一个新的世界和一种新的生物将被创造出来根据古代教父们的看法天使军在这个世界未创造出来之前就存在了。于是他们决定召开全体会议探讨这个预言并商量对策。因此他的党徒们都跃跃欲试倾刻之间就在地狱中筑起巍峨的撒旦的万魔殿,巨头们就坐在那里召开会议。OFMansFirstDisobedience,andtheFruitOfthatForbiddenTree,whosemortaltasteBroughtDeathintotheWorld,andallourwoe,WithlossofEden,tillonegreaterManRestoreus,andregaintheblissfulSeat,[5]SingHeavenlyMuse,thatonthesecrettopOfOreb,orofSinai,didstinspireThatShepherd,whofirsttaughtthechosenSeed,IntheBeginninghowtheHeavensandEarthRoseoutofChaos:OrifSionHill[10]把死亡和其他各种各样的灾难带到人间才为我们恢复了这乐土。最初向您的选民宣讲太初天和地怎样从Delighttheemore,andSiloa'sBrookthatflowedFastbytheOracleofGod;IthenceInvokethyaidtomyadventrousSong,ThatwithnomiddleflightintendstosoarAboveth'AonianMount,whileitpursues[15]ThingsunattemptedyetinProseorrhyme.AndchieflyThou，OSpirit,thatdostpreferBeforeallTemplesth'uprightheartandpure,Instructme,forThouknow'st;ThoufromthefirstWastpresent,andwithmightywingsoutspread，[20]迹——飞越爱奥尼的高峰。胜过所有的神殿。DovelikesatstbroodingonthevastAbyss，Andmad'stitpregnant:WhatinmeisdarkIllumin,whatislowraiseandsupport;ThattothehighthofthisgreatArgumentImayassertEternalProvidence,[25]AndjustifiethewayesofGodtomen.Sayfirst,forHeav'nhidesnothingfromthyviewNorthedeepTractofHell,sayfirstwhatcauseMov'dourGrandParentsinthathappyState,Favour'dofHeav'nsohighly,tofalloff[30]向世人昭示天道的公正。FromthirCreator,andtransgresshisWillForonerestraint,LordsoftheWorldbesides?Whofirstseduc'dthemtothatfoulrevolt?Th'infernalSerpent;heitwas,whoseguileStirdupwithEnvyandRevenge,deceiv'd[35]TheMotherofMankind,whattimehisPrideHadcasthimoutfromHeav'n,withallhisHostOfRebelAngels,bywhoseaidaspiringTosethimselfinGloryabovehisPeers,Hetrustedtohaveequal'dthemostHigh,[40]究竟何人引诱他们犯下这不幸的滔天大罪使他欺骗了人类的母亲。Ifheoppos'd;andwithambitiousaimAgainsttheThroneandMonarchyofGodRais‘dimpiousWarinHeav’nandBattelproud，Withvainattempt.HimtheAlmightyPowerHurldheadlongflamingfromth‘EtherealskyWithhideousruineandcombustiondownTobottomlessperdition,theretodwellInAdamantineChainsandpenalFire,Whodurstdefyth'OmnipotenttoArms.NinetimestheSpacethatmeasuresDayandNight[50]41.他相信：如果他反叛，就能和上帝分庭抗礼；42.由此野心勃勃，觊觎神的宝座和主权，43.枉费心机地在天界掀起了忓逆的战争。44.全能的神栽葱般，45.把浑身火焰的他从净火天上摔下去，46.这个敢于向全能全力者挑战的神魔迅速坠下，47一直落到深不可测的地狱，48.被禁锢在金刚不坏的镣铐和永远燃烧的刑火中。49.大约九天九夜，那是根据人间的计算，50.他和他那一伙可怕的徒众Tomortalmen,hewithhishorridcrewLayvanquisht,rowlinginthefieryGulfeConfoundedthoughimmortal.ButhisdoomReserv'dhimtomorewrath;fornowthethoughtBothoflosthappinessandlastingpainTormentshim;roundhethrowshisbalefulEyes,ThatwitnessedhugeafflictionanddismayMixtwithobdurateprideandsteadfasthate.Atonce,asfarasangelsken,heviewsThedismalSituationwasteandwilde,[60]折磨。交织着顽固的傲气和难消的仇恨。可怕的地牢从四面八方围着他ADungeonhorrible,onallsidesroundAsonegreatFurnaceflam'd,yetfromthoseflamesNolight,butratherdarknessvisibleServedonlytodiscoversightsofwoe,Regionsofsorrow,dolefulshades,wherepeace[65]Andrestcanneverdwell,hopenevercomesThatcomestoall,buttorturewithoutendStillurges,andafieryDeluge,fedWithever-burningSulphurunconsumed:SuchplaceEternalJusticehadprepared[70]悲惨的境地和凄怆的暗影。只有无穷无尽的苦难步步相跟不灭的火焰有如洪水向他们滚滚逼来。这个地方。Forthoserebellious,hereth俄irPrisonordainedInutterdarkness,andtheirportionsetAsfarremov'dfromGodandlightofHeavenAsfromtheCenterthricetoth'utmostPole.Ohowunliketheplacefromwhencetheyfell这个在天外的冥荒中为他们设置的牢狱。那个地方远离天神和天界的亮相当于天极到中心的三倍那么远。OnlysixmajorcharactersSatan,theleaderofthefallenangels(nowknownasdevils)Beelzebub,Satan’sclosestfriendTheson,alsoknownastheMessiah,ChristAdam,thefirstman,livinginparadiseEve,hiswife,supposedtobeunderhiscontrol