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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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/ I9 S- j- t7 |0 v释义:add unnecessary adornment or supposed improvement
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例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be
4 {; d0 S$ ? y0 q7 b gilding the lily.
# S8 F$ v' E4 j" q9 g. p 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。! k' U; R. W& ^* Q" ?' ]" s, u5 U$ Y" B/ |
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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& N" \! g+ h3 }( s+ l4 I+ q) X
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
9 F3 O# k0 Q C+ A 能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:
5 [! j \' _) e% q/ o, | Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that
9 C) I2 s* A8 Y% B was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a
$ b. [4 C+ ~' f$ U; W! @ perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto
4 a( \& `1 k W! @$ j, d+ K the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of
- q7 e: B' b: f( X! P heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. ; L d) z Y' i% x/ }
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1 k# o9 J( h5 A8 N7 E9 V
,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
$ C% a- Z l% X6 H! ~3 _0 {4 u 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
+ i, q1 N" |: P 过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
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