 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
$ ^$ D- L9 q+ B* ?
5 G K7 v1 e0 O& c4 Y( C8 j释义:add unnecessary adornment or supposed improvement O) p' T. J7 s; B
e/ t" n5 `# [6 I
例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be ; i( G- T+ h) k% `1 n0 P6 c$ J
gilding the lily. ; ?0 _! D7 l, U; [9 Q
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。
$ b' c" H* I1 U, @( a: N% T" a
9 c h7 v: n9 |! e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, ]* l0 a7 {. o0 c; P
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) q* \' H: V9 s) F V% V) Z& `
能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:
- n, O3 N1 t& r) S Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that
# L2 V: p2 t F/ H+ z' p was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a3 V4 _) ~4 |- Z* Y
perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto
0 k3 l! w* X9 b# [( A# g% [ the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of 5 ~8 q- ]( A9 b, J
heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
4 A, R( F5 V# U1 N% N 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
7 F) p0 C5 O, E) _! w( ? ,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" u, E, d, G( ?/ r1 {1 b4 k
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! E/ B" v- x5 \7 [$ G" d
过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
|