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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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! v$ Q! H0 l- ] O! R c释义:add unnecessary adornment or supposed improvement- Z I8 r' @3 h, v$ B8 R! p T
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例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be t) x* t& B* i2 K$ I( u3 ~5 |* l3 U
gilding the lily. 4 p- l) U. A8 z
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 D1 ~6 T) v4 x3 t/ E! w; M5 X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3 n8 |; \# z) s9 U
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2 J+ m, w) W2 B! A4 a3 @) e7 v1 X: k- O
能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:
' {- a$ m8 g' y1 C# C0 _ n4 W Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that 9 p o" R1 r* W7 ?7 `
was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a
M# K( W8 k" b perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto
0 e+ U: S6 {3 s* R* {- m* q the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of ) y; p% v, f1 w: ?, B- \2 X/ z
heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. 2 e3 M( @/ ]" z, S8 \5 o& 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
: a0 ~, Q* o& t* u8 T( i! M9 U1 U ,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# O. J& N, U8 A4 ^* A
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
4 X+ W% I/ a) r; M* s6 z3 j, @ 过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
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