John Milton
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 centre thrice to th’utmost pole.
O how unlike the place from whence they fell!
There the companions of his fall，o’erwhelmed
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 known 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 contention 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 though tile 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 racked with deep despair.
...
失乐园节选
约翰·弥尔顿
根据人间的计算，大约九天九夜，
他和他那一伙可怕的徒众，
沉沦辗转在烈火的深渊中。
虽属不死之身，却与死者无异；
但这个刑罚反激起他更大的愤怒，
既失去了幸福，又饱受无穷痛苦的折磨。
当他抬起忧虑的双眼，环视周遭，
摆在眼前的是莫大的隐忧和烦恼，
交织着顽固的傲气和难消的憎恨。
霎时间，他竭尽天使的目力，
望断际涯，但见悲风弥漫，浩渺无垠，
可怕的地牢从四面八方圈着他，
像一个洪炉的烈火四射，但那火焰
却不发光，只是灰蒙蒙的一片，
但能辨认出那儿的苦难情景，
悲惨的境地和凄怆的暗影。
和平和安息绝不在那儿停留，
希望无所不到，唯独不到那里。
只有无穷无尽的苦难步步相跟
永燃的硫璜不断地添注，
不灭的火焰，洪水般向他们滚滚逼来。
这个地方，就是正义之神为那些
叛逆者准备的，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光，
相当于天极到中心的三倍那么远。
啊，这里和他所从坠落的地方
简直有天壤之别呀！
和他一起坠落的伙伴们
淹没在烈火的洪流和旋风之中，
他依稀可辨，在他近旁挣扎的，
论权力和罪行都仅次于他的神魔，
后来在巴勒斯坦知道他的名字叫别西卜。
这个在天上叫做撒旦的首要神敌
以豪壮的言语打破可怕的沉寂，开始向他的伙伴这样说道：
“是你啊；这是何等的坠落！
何等的变化呀！你原来住在光明的乐土，
全身披覆着无比的光辉，
胜过群星的灿烂：
你曾和我结成同盟，同心敌忾，
搏击于光荣的大事业中
现在，我们是从高高在上的天界
沉沦到了不可测的深渊呀！他握有雷霆，
确是强大，谁知道这凶恶的
武器竟有那么大的威力呢？
可是，那威力，那强有力的
胜利者的狂暴，都不能
叫我沮丧，或者叫我改变初衷，
虽然外表的光环消失了，
但坚定的心志和岸然的骄矜
决不转变；由于真价的受损，
激动了我，决心和强权决一胜负，
率领无数天军投入剧烈的战斗，
他们都厌恶天神的统治而来拥护我，
拿出全部力量跟至高的权力对抗，
在天界疆上做一次冒险的战斗，
动摇了他的宝座。我们损失了什么？
并非一无所剩：坚定的意志、
热切的复仇心、不来的憎恨，
以及永不屈服、永不退让的勇气，
还有什么比这些更难战胜的吗？
他的暴怒也罢，威力也罢，
绝不能夺去我这份光荣。
经过这一次惨烈的战争，
好容易才使他的政权动摇；
这时还要卑躬屈膝，
向他哀求怜悯，拜倒在他的权力之下，
那才真正是卑鄙、可耻，
比这次的沉沦还要卑贱。
因为我们具有与生俱来的神力，
赋有轻清的灵质，不能朽坏，
又因这次大事件的教训，
我们要准备更好的武器，
更远的预见，更有成功的希望，
以暴力或智力向我们的大敌
挑起不可调解的持久战争。
他现在正沉湎于成功，得意忘形，
独揽大权，在天上掌握虐政呢。”
背叛的天使忍痛说出豪言壮语
心却为深沉的失望所苦。
……
背景知识
约翰·弥尔顿(John Milton)，生于伦敦一个富裕的清教徒家庭，在剑桥大学求学时和毕业后一个时期，钻研古代和文艺复兴时期文学，深受人文主义思想熏陶。1638年他旅行意大利，访问过被天主教会关在狱里的伽利略，并和意大利的文人学者交往。1639年，英国革命形势紧张，他回国参加反对国王和国教的斗争。他因积劳过度，双目失明，但仍坚持斗争。王朝复辟后，他受到迫害，著作被焚毁，生活极其贫困。就在这个时期，他完成了三部杰作：《失乐园》、《复乐园》和《力士参孙》。
《失乐园》以史诗一般的磅礴气势揭示了人的原罪与堕落。诗中叛逆之神撒旦，因为反抗上帝的权威被打入地狱，却毫不屈服，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，撒旦及其同伙遭谴全变成了蛇，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！
单词注解
vanquish [5vANkwiF] 征服，击败
ken [ken] 视野，眼界
furnace [5fE:nis] 火炉，熔炉
fierce [fiEs] 凶猛的；残酷的
empyreal [7empai5ri:El] 最高天的；太空的
名句诵读
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.
At once，as far as angels ken，he views The dismal situation waste and wild.
So spake th’ apostate angel，though in pain，Vaunting aloud，but racked with deep despair.