John Milton

Annotations 2
It is my desire for liberty that has made me overworked and blind. And it is the same desire that endows me with great courage. I know I’m working for a noble task, which will make the whole Europe change. The world is dark. In the darkness, only the blind can “see” and serve as the best guide.
Sonnet: To Cyriack Skinner
General introduction Annotations Translation

Paradise Lost
Introduction Translation

Acculturation of Sonnet in England
Sonnet originated in Italy. It was introduced into England by Thomas Wyatt during the English Renaissance. Philip Sidney popularized it with his sonnet sequence Astrophel and Stella. Shakespeare and Milton also wrote sonnets, though their reputation lay in other genres (drama & epic).
Introduction to this sonnet
The sonnet is addressed to Cyriack Skinner, one of Milton’s best friend. Milton writes 2 sonnets to Skinner. This is the second one. The sonnet is written when Milton becomes totally blind. He tells his friends about his sufferings from blindness. At the same time, he declares resolution to work on for the revolution.
我这神圣的使命现已传遍了全欧洲。
这认识会带我——若无更好的带路人——
走过人世的舞台，瞎，但知足而优游。
Introduction
Milton says that the aim of his Paradise Lost is to “justify the ways of God to man”. But as a matter of fact, he is exposing God’s tyranny and singing praise of Satan’s revolt against the unjust God. The extract (pp.139-140) is the most widely read part. It contains Satan’s most powerful speech about his unconquerable will & his resolution to carry on the struggle..

失乐园（第1章）
打败了又有什么 并不是一切都完了。不屈的意志， 复仇的决心，永恒的仇恨， 决不低头认输的骨气， 都没被压倒，此井还有什么?， 他发火也好，用武也好，却永难 从我身上 夺得胜利的光荣．前不久我这里 壮臂高举，震撼了他的帝座，
难道现在我却要低声下气， 屈膝求饶，把他的权力奉为神圣， 那才是卑鄙，才是比打败仗更丢人的 耻辱，，既然天神的力量 和神仙的体质命窟不灭， 又经过这场大变的教训， 武器依旧，见识却大为增加， 胜利的希望更大了， 只要我们下定决心，用武力或计谋 同大敌进行水下调和的战争， 尽管他瑰在得意洋洋， 一人称霸，把持了天堂的权柄．

Annotations
My friend, it is three years since I became blind. My eyes seem to be as clear as before, but their eyesight has been lost. Now I fail to see everything: the sun, the moon, the star and so on. I do not complain. I’m still working hard. You may ask why. Now I’ll tell you the reason.

致斯金纳
西里克，三年来我这眼睛全失了神， 它尽管外Βιβλιοθήκη Baidu上没有斑点，没有污垢， 被剥夺了光，已忘掉了看．一年劲头
这废眼珠里再没出现过日月星辰，
再没出现过一个男人或一个女人?
可我只坚定、忍耐，向前行。
没有抗议， 没有反对上帝的手或苍天的旨意， 也绝对没有让我的希望减少半分 心，退缩一寸。什么在支持我，你要问? 良心！朋友，意识到：是为了捍卫自由 我才用力过度而永远失去了它们!