It's the outcome of a race one's running faster than all of the other guys and it's as if to have a career at all one has no choice but to come in first.

这里讲的是一项竞赛的结果,某个人比其他所有人跑的都快,就好像这场竞赛中,除了第一你别无选择。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选

This is where Milton is accounting for himself in his choice of a poetic career.

在这里,弥尔顿把自己视为一位诗人。

耶鲁公开课 - 弥尔顿课程节选