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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 improvement4 X& w+ ]! \( S6 N
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例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be
E4 J& [; n1 a8 Z% G7 X- j; m gilding the lily.
7 |0 e9 _! `4 o i+ H, O2 x 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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! {7 c3 o3 q+ W) d& r2 f5 e+ E5 }8 Q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' P5 P& r" k5 W( \/ m
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* h1 I0 `4 n* k, m1 j2 M0 m3 `
能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:
& s" U2 L6 `& s9 I4 i Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that . W5 b, z1 B$ L3 _; P
was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a) X- y5 m A- P7 F9 d: t
perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto
2 I I+ p3 P% h3 a) K2 Z! ? the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of 4 l& Q w5 n5 `7 F
heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. / }* X1 }2 T8 [1 Y8 Y
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
0 z! V# k0 \4 P9 E) K1 a6 S& ]. m ,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
^( u1 W1 Q8 @7 D) 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7 l( h% D1 }' K1 N6 |
过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
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