This is why he's continually placing the imaginative origin of the poem back to the very dawn of time, perhaps even back before if you can imagine such a time -- before the very dawn of time.

这就是为什么弥尔顿总是试图把想象中的这首诗的起源,推至时间开始的时候，甚至更早,-如果你们能想象这样一个时间--在时间开始之前。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选

There is a return to these kinds of theoretical defences of absolutism that even preceded the growth of the absolute state as I've described it.

有一点需注意,对于绝对主义的理论辩护,甚至早于绝对主义国家的兴起,之前我已经描述过这个过程

耶鲁公开课 - 欧洲文明课程节选

It goes back to Plato and even before him.

一路回溯到柏拉图，甚至更早以前。

耶鲁公开课 - 政治哲学导论课程节选

It is a right that attaches to individuals as human beings, even before government comes on the scene, even before parliaments and legislatures enact laws to define rights and to enforce them.

这种权利依附于个体而存在，甚至早于任何政府的建立，甚至早在任何议会和立法机关,制定法律定义权利并强制实施前，就已存在。

耶鲁公开课 - 公正课程节选

So, for example, in around 1900 in America or a little bit earlier, let's say 1880 in America, it really isn't clear that it was illegal to write agreements to say we'll restrict quantities.

比如1900年甚至更早的美国,假如是1880年的美国吧,在当时这种限制产量的合同是否违法,在司法上没有明确的界定

耶鲁公开课 - 博弈论课程节选