LESSON 85

DEATH OF SAMSON

萨姆逊之死

John Milton, 1608-1674, was born in London—eight years before the greatest English poet, Shakespeare, died. His father followed the profession of a scrivener, in which he acquired a competence. As a boy, Milton was exceedingly studious, continuing his studies till midnight. He graduated at Christ’s College, Cambridge, where his singular beauty, his slight figure, and his fastidious morality caused his companions to nickname him “the lady of Christ’s.” On leaving college he spent five years more in study, and produced his lighter poems. He then traveled on the continent, returning about the time the civil war broke out. For a time he taught a private school, but soon threw himself with all the power of his able and tried pen into the political struggle. He was the champion of Parliament and of Cromwell for about twenty years. On the accession of Charles II., he concealed himself for a time, but was soon allowed to live quietly in London. His eyesight had totally failed in 1654; but now, in blindness, age, family affliction, and comparative poverty, he produced his great work “Paradise Lost.” In 1667 he sold the poem for 5 Pounds in cash, with a promise of 10 Pounds more on certain contingencies; the sum total received by himself and family for the immortal poem, was 23 Pounds. Later, he produced “Paradise Regained” and “Samson Agonistes,” from the latter of which the following extract is taken. Milton is a wonderful example of a man, who, by the greatness of his own mind, triumphed over trials, afflictions, hardships, and the evil influence of bitter political controversy.

Occasions drew me early to this city;

And, as the gates I entered with sunrise,

The morning trumpets festival proclaimed

Through each high street: little I had dispatched,

When all abroad was rumored that this day

Samson should be brought forth, to show the people

Proof of his mighty strength in feats and games.

I sorrowed at his captive state,

But minded not to be absent at that spectacle.

The building was a spacious theater

Half-round, on two main pillars vaulted high,

With seats where all the lords, and each degree

Of sort, might sit in order to behold;

The other side was open, where the throng

On banks and scaffolds under sky might stand:

I among these aloof obscurely stood.

The feast and noon grew high, and sacrifice

Had filled their hearts with mirth, high cheer, and wine,

When to their sports they turned. Immediately

Was Samson as a public servant brought,

In their state livery clad: before him pipes

And timbrels; on each side went armed guards;

Both horse and foot before him and behind,

Archers and slingers, cataphracts, and spears.

At sight of him the people with a shout

Rifted the air, clamoring their god with praise,

Who had made their dreadful enemy their thrall.

He, patient, but undaunted, where they led him,

Came to the place; and what was set before him,

Which without help of eye might be essayed,

To heave, pull, draw, or break, he still performed

All with incredible, stupendous force,

None daring to appear antagonist.

At length for intermission sake, they led him

Between the pillars; he his guide requested,

As overtired, to let him lean awhile

With both his arms on those two massy pillars,

That to the arched roof gave main support.

He unsuspicious led him; which when Samson

Felt in his arms, with head awhile inclined,

And eyes fast fixed, he stood, as one who prayed,

Or some great matter in his mind revolved:

At last, with head erect, thus cried aloud:—

“Hitherto, lords, what your commands imposed

I have performed, as reason was, obeying,

Not without wonder or delight beheld;

Now, of my own accord, such other trial

I mean to show you of my strength yet greater,

As with amaze shall strike all who behold.”

This uttered, straining all his nerves, he bowed;

As with the force of winds and waters pent

When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars

With horrible convulsion to and fro

He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew

The whole roof after them with burst of thunder

Upon the heads of all who sat beneath,—

Lords, ladies, captains, counselors, or priests,

Their choice nobility and flower, not only

Of this, but each Philistian city round,

Met from all parts to solemnize this feast.

Samson, with these immixed, inevitably

Pulled down the same destruction on himself;

The vulgar only ’scaped who stood without.

【中文阅读】

赶巧我早早来到这座城市，

踏进城门使正值旭日东升，

清晨的喇叭声宣告节日降临

每条大街都已传遍：我没做什么事情。

萨姆逊站到前面来，介绍给大家，

从他的武艺就看得出力大无穷。

我为他沦为阶下囚而悲伤，

可是真不想错过这盛况。

这建筑是宽敞的剧院

两根大柱子撑住了上面半圆形穹顶，

是为所有大人，各级官员设的专座，

坐着就可以一览无余；

另一侧没有什么遮挡视线，

人们露天站在斜坡和断头台上：

在人群中我独自站着，没人注目。

盛宴到中午达到高潮，

祭品是他们心满意足，欢乐，美酒，兴致高，

当目光转向娱乐嬉戏时，

作为公众奴仆的萨姆逊被立即带了上来，

穿着仆人的制服，前面笙箫开道，

还有人把手鼓来摇；全副武装的兵甲陈列两侧；

骑兵和步兵列前殿后，

弓箭手和石弹手，身披甲胄荷枪在手的一个都不少。

见到他众人齐声高呼

响彻云霄；人声鼎沸颂扬他们的神明，

可怕的敌人成了他们的奴隶。

他们带他上场，沉着而凛然，

来到演武场，刀枪就摆在前方，

不用眼睛看，就能把武艺来现，

上举，拉弓，抽刀，断石，

全凭的是令人难以置信的神力，

谁也不敢上前与他比试。

最后在中间休息时分，他们领他

到石柱中间，他恳请领他的人

太累了，可否让他倚柱小憩

伸臂搭在两根巨柱之上，

拱形屋顶全赖石柱支撑。

那人未有丝毫怀疑便让他上前；

只见萨姆逊双肩抱拢，颔首片刻，

待双睛定神，他便像祈祷似地站着，

抑或心里正盘算什么大事：

终于，他把头扬起，高声喊道——

大人们，我已经按你们吩咐的做了，

不过是奉命行事，

没有什么可惊奇的，也不见乐趣；

现在，我愿意再试一试

我想让大人们看看我力气有多大，

会让所有看到的都惊为天人。

话毕，他俯身倾尽全力：

凭那狂风漫卷水泻云开之力

山摇地撼，连那两根巨柱

也来回晃动，惊得众人不寒而栗

他猛拉，奋力摇晃，巨柱终于轰然倒下，

随着一声巨响整个穹顶

压在下面坐着的所有人头上——

大人们，贵妇人，长官们，枢机顾问们，僧人们，

这些豪绅和显贵，不但

有本地的，还有来自周围非利士各城镇，

各地要人齐聚于此只为这盛宴显得隆重。

萨姆逊和这些人混在一起，无可幸免

的同归于尽；

只有场外的民众得到保全。