Milton wants to write an epic that in some ways comes before, or prevents, the great epics of Homer and Virgil.

弥尔顿想写一首在某种程度上先于，荷马和维吉尔伟大史诗的史诗。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选

In this respect it would resemble Spenser's Faerie Queene, or perhaps more importantly, Virgil's Aeneid -- other nationalist epics.

这样的话它就会与斯宾塞的《仙后》，更重要的，维吉尔的《埃涅阿斯记》等一些民族主义史诗相类似。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选

Milton would insert into the printed text of his poem his own anticipation that his epic would receive the same universal approbation as Homer's and Virgil's.

弥尔顿会把自己的预想也写进他的诗里,他认为自己的史诗也会得到普遍的认可,就如荷马和维吉尔的史诗。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选

It's to admit that this is in fact a late epic and that it derives from a close, studious, student-like imitation of the great epics of Homer and Virgil.

也就等于承认它事实上是一部晚期的史诗作品,是源自于雷同的，学究气的，小学生般的,对荷马与维吉尔写的伟大史诗的模仿。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选