 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|

楼主 |
发表于 2004-12-12 05:41
|
显示全部楼层
24. gild the lily 画蛇添足' w) |" q5 y7 d% d' p- X, X2 o
5 h6 O% c- q2 D/ H8 {
释义:add unnecessary adornment or supposed improvement
: E" O- U% M i1 Y8 t/ Q+ B3 H3 {* e M5 V5 h! h
例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be 7 H* R0 a% w# _$ ^9 P
gilding the lily.
9 \8 z* `" T( C4 k; q/ g 用过如此丰盛的一餐后,再上三种不同的甜点就是画蛇添足了。
' t w7 c( Z) H8 @: ?/ Z+ E3 Y8 J% e( P H! v; K' \ b p- ?( S
典故:莎士比亚在《约翰王》(King John)一剧中,写了一段话,那段话可以浓& `/ f2 j7 J* `$ c0 g+ [0 z7 B& {5 \
缩成此短语。在此剧中,约翰王占领了英国,并举行二度加冕典礼,希望' z) g( V) I" ^2 W. B
能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:
# y* T5 i/ c* y, x/ j' K Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that
$ Z% }3 }+ \* v5 V, r( L. y was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a
, m9 X/ ^, [7 i" K7 f perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto 5 V+ |, d0 \# b* O) u
the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of
' i* {; @& F! W" Z5 w P heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. A5 `. |! X' E+ b
所以,摆出双倍的排场/装饰一个本来尊号累累的名衔,/纯金之上再镀金
& {" a4 i: z/ s' y# W% P. D0 j; l! W/ t ,白百合上再敷粉,/紫罗兰上再洒香水,/磨光冰块,彩虹之上/再加一种/ F$ w6 c- e7 O6 i; v4 A8 G9 O5 ?
颜色,用烛光/去加强天上的天上的灿烂的太阳,/都是浪费而且是可笑的. U! J! R2 v: H( H9 r% H0 Z8 J
过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
|