第8章　约翰·弥尔顿

8.1　复习笔记

John Milton (1608- 1674) (约翰·弥尔顿)

1．Life (生平)

John Milton was born into a pious wealthy Puritan family. He was greatly influenced by his father who loved books and had a private teacher for him. About 12 years old, Milton was sent to a famous boy’s school in London called St Paul’s; at 15, he went to Cambridge University where he was said to be the finest scholar. Abandoning the thought of being a clergyman of the English Church, he retired to his father’s country house at Horton, writing poetry and studying hard. Later he traveled France, Switzerland and Italy where he heard that people’s struggle against the king might lead to war.

After he returned to London, he wrote pamphlets opposing the monarchy and advocating people’s liberty. The commonwealth government gave Milton the important office of Secretary for Foreign Tongues. He worked hard and finally became blind. During the Restoration, he was thrown in prison and released by Charles Ⅱ. He died on November 8, 1674 surrounded by a few devoted friends.

弥尔顿出生在富裕、虔诚的清教徒家庭。他的父亲喜爱书籍，并给他请了一个家教，他父亲深深影响了弥尔顿。12岁时，他去伦敦著名的男子学校圣保罗上学，15岁时进入剑桥大学，并被称为最好的学者。毕业后，他放弃当英国国教牧师的想法，隐居到他父亲在霍顿的乡间住所，写诗、刻苦学习。之后，他游历了法国、瑞士、意大利，在意大利听到消息说英国人民反抗国王极可能发生战争。

回到伦敦后，他写了许多小册子反对王权、提倡人民自由。共和国政府让弥尔顿担任外语秘书这个重要职位，他工作十分努力，以致最终失明。然而王朝复辟时他被捕入狱，后被国王赦免。1674年，弥尔顿在挚友的包围中去世。

2．Literary Career (文学生涯)

His literary career can be roughly divided into three phases: from 1620 to 1638, the early phase of reading and lyric writing; from 1640 to 1660, the middle phase of service in the Bourgeois Revolution and pamphleteering; from 1660 to 1674 the last also the greatest phase of epic writing.

他的文学生涯大致分为三个阶段：早期（1620—1638），阅读和抒情诗写作阶段；中期（1640—1660），支持资产阶级革命，宣传册阶段；晚期（1660—1674），最重要的史诗写作阶段。

3．Literary Achievements (文学成就)

(1) Milton wrote the greatest epic in English literature. He and Shakespeare have always been regarded as two patterns of English verse.

(2) Milton is a master of the blank verse. He first used blank verse in non-dramatic works.

(3) Milton is a great stylist. He is famous for his grand style, which is the result of his lifelong classical and biblical study.

(4) Milton has always been admired for his sublimity of thought and majesty of expression.

（1）弥尔顿创作了英国文学上最伟大的史诗。他和莎士比亚总是被视为英国诗歌的两个类型。

（2）弥尔顿是无韵体大师。他率先将无韵体运用到非戏剧作品中。

（3）弥尔顿是伟大的文体学家。他以其高雅的文体著称，这得益于他终生对经典和圣经作品的研究。

（4）弥尔顿向来以思想高深和表达气势宏伟著称。

4．Major Works (主要作品)

A. Lyric Poems (抒情诗歌)

On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity《在基督诞生的早上》

L’Allegro and ⅡPenseroso《快乐的人》和《忧思的人》

Comus《科马斯》

Lycidas《利西达斯》

B. Pamphlets (宣传册)

Areopagitica《论出版自由》

Defence of the English People《为英国人民而辩》

Second Defence of the English People《为英国人民再辩》

C. Epics (史诗)

Paradise Lost《失乐园》

Paradise Regained《复乐园》

Samson Agonistes《力士参孙》

4．Selected Works (作品选读)

◆Paradise Lost《失乐园》

A. Main Plot主要情节

Paradise Lost is Milton’s masterpiece. It is a long epic in 12 books, written in blank verse. The stories were taken from the Old Testament: the creation; the rebellion of Satan and his fellow-angels against God; their defeat and expulsion from Heaven to hell; the creation of the earth, Adam and Eve; the fallen angels in hell plotting against God; Satan’s temptation of Eve; and the banishment of Adam and Eve from Eden.

《失乐园》是弥尔顿的杰作。它是一首用无韵体写的长达12卷的史诗。故事取材《旧约》，内容包括：创世纪；撒旦和天使同伴反叛上帝；撒旦失败并被逐出天堂，坠入地狱；世界及亚当和夏娃的创造；地狱中的堕落天使阴谋反抗上帝；撒旦诱惑夏娃偷吃禁果；亚当和夏娃被逐出伊甸园。

B. Theme and Characterization (主题和人物刻画)

The main idea of the poem is a revolt against God’s authority. In the poem, God is just a selfish despot, seated upon a throne with a chorus of silly angels eternally singing his praises. Satan, though defeated and suffering infernal torments, still sought revenge, and is the most striking character in the poem. Though feebler in force, he remains superior in nobility, since he prefers independence to servility. Adam and Eve embody Milton’s belief in the powers of man. Their craving for knowledge adds a particular significance to their characters.

The picture of God surrounded by his angels, who never think of expressing any opinions of their own, resembles the court of an absolute monarchy, while Satan and his followers, who freely discuss all issues in council, bear resemblance to a republican Parliament.

诗歌的主题是对上帝权威的反叛。上帝被描绘成自私的专制者，总是高坐在王位上，身边一群永久大唱赞词的愚蠢的天使。然而撒旦，虽然战败，但总是想着报复，却给人留下深刻印象。虽然力量不敌上帝，但他不愿卑躬屈膝，喜欢独立自主。亚当和夏娃是弥尔顿对人类力量信仰的化身。他们对知识的渴望使其人物性格更具重要性。

诗中众多不敢发表自己意见的天使围绕着上帝的画面，和撒旦和他的反叛天使朋友们一起畅所欲言的画面形成鲜明对比，被认为是专制君主统治的王庭和共和议会的象征。

◆On His Blindness《失明述怀》

John Milton became blind gradually in 1652 and this poem is written about his blindness. In the poem there is a contrast between the first eight lines and the last six lines. Through Patience’s reply, John Milton’s pains of blindness and complaints towards God change into peace.

弥尔顿在1652年后逐渐失明，而这首诗就是关于他自己的失明。诗中的前8行和后6行构成一个转折，前8行诗人对自己的失明感到痛苦，并且对上帝心存怨言。后6行通过Patience的回复，诗人逐渐归于平静。

◆On His Deceased Wife《梦亡妻》

This poem is written in 1600 by John Milton to memorize his second wife Katherine Woodcock, who passed away in 1658 when delivering a baby.

本诗写于1600年，表达了弥尔顿对亡妻的怀念之情。弥尔顿第二任妻子凯瑟琳·伍德考克于1658年死于生产。