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发表于 2004-12-12 05:41
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24. gild the lily 画蛇添足
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释义:add unnecessary adornment or supposed improvement; n; z* Z4 @5 _+ w5 S2 ^
5 D6 u9 W$ N& \2 A& V3 a例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be
5 E* ~7 e7 j u& ? gilding the lily.
* F Z/ W3 V+ W* k. T 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。
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1 v5 N# N7 g1 ~. M' ]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, J) n: M4 H# [: I: `5 Q
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& B1 x' Q2 u3 S
能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:" Q* T; M9 j4 l+ d/ {7 K
Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that ' i6 V/ F( w( _" k9 h
was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a
3 b7 b& p L* R, i perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto
% z3 ~ d& G/ {' l/ q& n5 U `0 } the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of % L% c f; h: M- M8 \! s, p- ?% Q
heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
7 b# _( r; q6 O' |% n" c 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
* I" P8 {# @5 B ,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
r3 W: @0 B, {9 C 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
, [6 Q' a% t) R- a 过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
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