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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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1 l; _& V! `0 i& G. O- S* b释义:add unnecessary adornment or supposed improvement! @) ]5 g4 l" R1 L+ W6 V" E
! A- L( F% P% L+ `# r$ z* F+ v$ d) K( p例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be ( p* s: N# k# h
gilding the lily.
& {5 m8 t+ }0 P, I 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。4 m' s' |& f) N% I6 c* s
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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* Q( o; b: r$ I" r9 a: [1 U9 E
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$ \/ l3 U9 c, N' M
能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:
( f) {) u+ s \' {* B Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that ! g# W) d3 V1 Q1 R$ k
was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a; Z+ z2 H( }% A0 r" S( C! N
perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto
6 S( W' d2 w6 k* e& f0 R2 I the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of
' `2 Y$ |# c+ k1 R& G0 S# X1 D% X+ A heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. - _% {, ` l. l. U, Z# s( Q
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
! G) K2 a- J$ s: L H+ V9 Y7 A ,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7 V4 C1 G# j$ q& ?2 @. b
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% S& s& }( u9 u, n
过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
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