English Original
Christopher Marlowe was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. He was born in Canterbury in 1564 and died at the age of twenty-nine, with his career as a playwright lasting only six years. His most famous work, The Tragicall History of Doctor Faustus, secured his lasting legacy. His achievements significantly influenced William Shakespeare, who was born in the same year and rose to prominence after Marlowe's mysterious early death.
Early Life and Education
Marlowe was born to shoemaker John Marlowe and his wife Catherine. He was baptized on February 26, 1564, making him about two months older than Shakespeare. He attended The King's School in Canterbury and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, on a scholarship, earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1584. In 1587, the university initially hesitated to award him his Master of Arts due to rumors of his conversion to Roman Catholicism. The Privy Council intervened, praising his "faithful dealing" and "good service" to the Queen, which led to the degree being granted. This intervention has fueled speculation that Marlowe served as a secret agent.
Literary Career
Despite his short life, Marlowe produced several influential plays during his six-year career. His works are known for their use of blank verse, ambitious protagonists, and controversial themes.
Major Plays Include:
- Dido, Queen of Carthage (c. 1586): His first play, performed by a company of boy actors.
- Tamburlaine the Great, Parts I & II (c. 1587): Among the first English plays in blank verse, marking a mature phase in Elizabethan theatre.
- The Jew of Malta (c. 1589): Features a prologue by a Machiavellian character.
- The Tragicall History of Doctor Faustus (c. 1589/1593): The first dramatized version of the Faust legend.
- Edward II (c. 1592): One of the earliest English history plays.
- The Massacre at Paris (c. 1593): His last play, about the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.
Arrest and Death
On May 20, 1593, Marlowe was arrested on charges of 'atheism' or 'heresy', a serious crime punishable by death. He was released on bail, requiring daily reporting to the court. Ten days later, on May 30, he was killed by Ingram Frizer in a dispute. Frizer and his companions had connections to Sir Francis Walsingham's intelligence network, further intertwining Marlowe's life with espionage theories.
中文翻译
克里斯托弗·马洛是伊丽莎白时代英国的剧作家、诗人和翻译家。他于1564年出生在坎特伯雷，29岁去世，其剧作家生涯仅持续了六年。他最著名的作品《浮士德博士的悲剧》奠定了其不朽的文学遗产。他的成就对同年出生的威廉·莎士比亚产生了重大影响，莎士比亚在马洛神秘早逝后成为杰出的伊丽莎白时代剧作家。
早年生活与教育
马洛出生于鞋匠约翰·马洛和妻子凯瑟琳的家庭。他于1564年2月26日受洗，比莎士比亚大约年长两个月。他凭借奖学金就读于坎特伯雷的国王学校和剑桥大学基督圣体学院，于1584年获得学士学位。1587年，因有传言称他皈依了罗马天主教，大学起初犹豫是否授予其硕士学位。枢密院出面干预，赞扬他对女王的“忠实行为”和“良好服务”，学位得以授予。这一干预引发了马洛可能曾担任秘密间谍的猜测。
文学生涯
尽管生命短暂，马洛在六年的创作生涯中写出了多部有影响力的剧作。其作品以使用无韵诗、塑造野心勃勃的主人公和涉及争议性主题而闻名。
主要剧作包括：
- 《迦太基女王狄多》（约1586年）：他的第一部剧作，由童伶剧团演出。
- 《帖木儿大帝》第一、二部（约1587年）：最早使用无韵诗的英语剧作之一，标志着伊丽莎白时代戏剧的成熟阶段。
- 《马耳他的犹太人》（约1589年）：开场白由一个代表马基雅维利的角色呈现。
- 《浮士德博士的悲剧》（约1589/1593年）：浮士德传奇的第一个戏剧化版本。
- 《爱德华二世》（约1592年）：最早的英国历史剧之一。
- 《巴黎大屠杀》（约1593年）：他的最后一部剧作，关于圣巴托罗缪日大屠杀。
被捕与死亡
1593年5月20日，马洛因被指控“无神论”或“异端”罪被捕，这是一项可判处死刑的重罪。他被保释，但需每日向法庭报到。十天后，即5月30日，他在一场争执中被英格拉姆·弗里泽杀害。弗里泽及其同伴与弗朗西斯·沃尔辛厄姆爵士的情报网络有联系，这使马洛的生平与间谍理论的联系更加紧密。