英语讲故事11，约翰·弥尔顿

English Poet: John Milton
英国诗人：约翰·弥尔顿

John Milton was born in London on December 9， 1608，into a middle-class family. He was educated at St. Paul’s School, then at Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he began to write poetry in Latin, Italian, and English, and prepared to enter the clergy.
1608年12月9日，弥尔顿出生于伦敦的一个中产阶级家庭。他先后就读于圣保罗中学和剑桥大学基督学院，在大学里，他开始用拉丁文、意大利文和英文创作诗歌，并为成为牧师做准备。

After university, however, he abandoned his plan to join the priesthood and spent the next years in his father’s country home following a rigorous course of independent study to prepare for a career as a poet. His extensive reading included both classical and modern works of religion, science, philosophy, history, politics, and literature. In addition, Milton was proficient in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, Spanish, and Italian, and obtained a familiarity with Old English and Dutch as well. During his period of private study, Milton composed a number of poems.
然而，大学毕业后，他却放弃了成为牧师的计划，接下来的几年里，他在父亲位于乡下的家中闭门苦读，为成为一名诗人做准备。在此期间，他博览群书，包括宗教、科学、哲学、历史、政治和古典及现代文学作品。此外，弥尔顿还精通拉丁文、希腊语、希伯来语、法语、西班牙语、意大利语，熟知古英语和荷兰语。在他自学期间，弥尔顿创作了许多诗歌。

In May 1638, Milton began a 13-month tour of France and Italy, during which he met important intellectuals and influential people. The Florentine academies especially appealed to Milton, and he befriended young members of the Italian Literati, whose similar humanistic interests he found gratifying.
1638年5月，弥尔顿开始为期13个月的法国、意大利之旅，结识了许多重要的文人和有影响人士。佛罗伦萨各学院尤其吸引着弥尔顿，他还与一些年轻的意大利文人成为朋友，他们的人文主义思想令弥尔顿着迷。

During the English Civil War, Milton served as secretary for foreign languages in Cromwell’s government, composing official statements defending the Commonwealth. During this time, he steadily last his eyesight, and was completely blind by 1651. He continued his duties with the aid of other assistants.
英国内战期间，弥尔顿在克伦威尔政府任外文秘书，起草官方声明为联邦辩护。在这段工作中，他的视力不断下降，1651年完全失明。然而他在其他助手的帮助下继续履行自己的职责。

In his later years he lived the rest of his life in seclusion in the country, completing the blank-verse epic poem Paradise Lost in 1667，as well as its sequel Paradise Regained and the tragedy Samson Agonists both in 1671. Paradise Lost has had wide-reaching effect, inspiring other long poems.
晚年的弥尔顿一直在乡下独居，1667年完成了无韵 体史诗《失乐园》，1671年创作了《失乐园》的后续作品《复乐园》和悲剧《力士参孙》。这部史诗具有深远的影响，并启发了其他长诗的诞生。

In his entire life John Milton wrote in a wide range of genres, in several languages, and on an extraordinary range of subjects. He remade the moral, political, and cultural world around him; without him, the world we live in would look different. His place in English poetry cannot be underestimated. A legend in his time and in his field.
在其一生中，约翰·弥尔顿用不同的语言创作了体裁各异、题材丰富的作品。他重新塑造了周围的道德、政治和文化世界。如果没有他，我们生活的世界将会十分不同，他在英语诗坛的地位不容小视。弥尔顿是他那个时代和领域的传奇人物。