The following is a dialogue between Satan and Beelzebub
弥尔顿《失乐园》里撒旦的演说。
What though the field be lost?
……在疆场上，能失掉什么？
All is not lost—the unconquerable will,
什么不会失去——不可征服的意志，
And study of revenge, immortal hate,
复仇尝试，永恒的仇恨，
And courage never to submit or yield:
绝不屈服或退让的勇气：
from silenceAnd what is else not to be overcome?
更不用说那些其他更难征服的品质！（半直译，或者意译为“还有什么比这些更难战胜的？”）
That glory never shall his wrath or might
那荣光，绝不应是他的愤怒或者暴力（他指上帝）
Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace
能在我身上榨取。折下腰，乞望他大发慈悲，
With suppliant knee, and deify his power
用卑微的膝盖，神化他的力量
Who, from the terror of this arm, so late
恐惧着那只胳膊，迟于
Doubted his empire—that were low indeed;
质疑他的帝权——其实是如此的低贱；
That were an ignominy and shame beneath
羞愧和耻辱，伴着
This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of Gods,
这次败落；因为，命中注定，诸神的强壮，
And this empyreal sybstance, cannot fail;（sybstance 疑为 substance，请查正）
和那天上的玩意，绝不会失败；
Since, through experience of this great event,
因为，从这壮举之中获得的经验，
In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced,
使我们的武器更为精良，视野更加深远，
We may with more successful hope resolve
我们这次更有希望成功。
To wage by force or guile eternal war,
用暴力，或者诡计，发动一场永恒的战争，
Irreconcilable to our grand Foe,（倒装，正常语序为 to our grand Foe irreconcilable）
对着我们永不妥协的大敌，
Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy（th'？the？）
那沉溺在享受他现在短暂成功的家伙，
Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven.
残暴地独裁着天国。
1.What’s your opinion the the image of Satan in Paradise Lost?
你对撒旦在《失乐园》中的形象有什么看法？
The image of Satan in Paradise Lost is extremely complex and subtle.He seems to be almost heroic in the earlier portion of the poem,grand and majestic in appearance,fearless in character.However,as the story develops,Satan’s image changed significantly.In Book I he is a strong,imposing figure with great abilities as a leader,whereas by the poem's end he slinks back to Hell as an ugly serpent.He begins the poem as a just-fallen angel of enormous stature that shines like a comet,then disguises himself as a ordinary cherub,then as a cormorant,a toad,and finally a snake.This sequence of different shapes assumed by Satan is not only the deterioration in his outward image but also reflect the state of his soul.
《失乐园》中撒旦的形象极其复杂和微妙。他在诗的早期似乎几乎是英勇的, 在外表上是隆重而威严的, 在性格上是无畏的。然而, 随着故事的发展, 撒旦的形象发生了重大变化。在《第一书》中, 他是一个坚强的、威严的人物, 作为一个领导者, 他有很强的能力, 而到了诗的尽头, 他又像一条丑陋的蛇一样回到了地狱。他以一个身材高大的天使开始这首诗, 像彗星一样闪耀, 然后把自己伪装成一个普通的小天使, 然后伪装成一只小马, 一只蟾蜍, 最后是一条蛇。撒旦所呈现的这一系列不同形状, 不仅是他外在形象的恶化, 也反映了他灵魂的状态。
Satan is the real hero of the poem. Like a conquered and banished giant, he remains obeyed and admired by those who follow him down to hell.
撒旦是这首诗真正的英雄。就像一个被征服和被驱逐的巨人, 他仍然服从和钦佩那些跟随他下地狱的人
He is firmer than the rest of the angels. Though defeated, he prevails, since he has won from God the third part of his angels, and almost all the sons of Adam. Though wounded, he triumphs for the thunder which hit upon his head and left his heart invincible. Though feebler in force, he remains superior in nobility, since he prefers independence to happy servility, and welcomes his defeat and his torments as a glory, a liberty, and a joy.
他比其他的天使更坚定。虽然失败了, 但他占了上风, 因为他从上帝那里赢得了他的天使的第三部分, 以及亚当的几乎所有的儿子。虽然受了伤, 但他还是因为雷声打在头上, 让自己的心立志不可战胜。虽然力量无力, 但他在高贵方面仍然很优越, 因为他更喜欢独立而不是幸福的奴性, 并欢迎他的失败和折磨, 将其视为荣耀、自由和喜悦。
Satan is the spirit questioning the authority of God
撒旦是质疑神的权威的灵魂
2.What does “God” symbolize in the poem?
God has two symbols. On the one hand is that God is the antithesis of free will. He is arbitrary and violent. As the creator of all things, he gives life to all creatures. Therefore, he demands unlimited gratitude and absolute obedience from all creatures. On the other hand, God is the incarnation of reason. Man externalizes and visualizes his reason, making it a feature of God
上帝有两个层面的象征，一个是上帝是自由意志的对立物，他专横、强暴，作为一个万物的创造者，赋予万物生灵以生命，所以要求万物无限的感激和绝对的服从。而是上帝是理性的化身，人把自己的理性外在化，形象化，使之成为上帝的特征