| Paradise Lost |
| (Excerpt from Book 1) |
| Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 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 55 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 kenhe views The dismal situation waste and wild, 60 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 65 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 70 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 Center thrice to th' utmost pole. O how unlike the place from whence they fell! 75 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 80 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 85 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 90 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 95 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 100 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 the field be lost? 105 |
更多内容请参考课外读物：Paradise Lost: The First Book (Excerpt)
