两首约翰.弥尔顿的十四行诗Sonnet 16，Sonnet 23 欢迎诗坛翻译家。

Sonnet 23: Methought I saw my late espoused saint                                             

By John Milton

Methought I saw my late espoused saint
 

       Brought to me, like Alcestis, from the grave,
 

       Whom Jove's great son to her glad husband gave,
 

       Rescu'd from death by force, though pale and faint.
 

Mine, as whom wash'd from spot of child-bed taint
 

       Purification in the old Law did save,
 

       And such as yet once more I trust to have
 

       Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint,
 

Came vested all in white, pure as her mind;
 

       Her face was veil'd, yet to my fancied sight
 

       Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd
 

So clear as in no face with more delight.
 

       But Oh! as to embrace me she inclin'd,
 

       I wak'd, she fled, and day brought back my night.





Sonnet 16: Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud

By John Milton

 

        To the Lord General Cromwell, May 1652,
On the proposals of certain ministers at the Committee for
        Propagation of the Gospel

 

Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud
 

       Not of war only, but detractions rude,
 

       Guided by faith and matchless fortitude,
 

       To peace and truth thy glorious way hast plough'd,
 

And on the neck of crowned Fortune proud
 

       Hast rear'd God's trophies, and his work pursu'd,
 

       While Darwen stream with blood of Scots imbru'd,
 

       And Dunbar field, resounds thy praises loud,
 

And Worcester's laureate wreath; yet much remains
 

       To conquer still: peace hath her victories
 

       No less renown'd than war. New foes arise
 

Threat'ning to bind our souls with secular chains:
 

       Help us to save free Conscience from the paw
 

       Of hireling wolves whose gospel is their maw.