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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 improvement. n$ Y+ r' M( x; Z
3 O* i' n) S7 q1 n( {: m3 S6 U/ O# _例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be - T" |. p/ ~7 h
gilding the lily.
& A6 E( o. n* ~5 U T7 d 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。6 W% ]3 f: `! X; D
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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" M! q: G) Q2 Y* N
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& B, m6 L! |; I8 q# G* X1 \
能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:! v/ K4 y( t! s' r1 u/ h( b8 `
Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that ' _/ V- f; _; R
was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a) f; C, {- D0 @ R
perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto
& N, q. _+ a, i the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of
2 P: ^. ~7 r. K E \ heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. 2 h, ~' C* T* G7 T
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
/ n% K: b! \8 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/ N3 ?" w- Q" |
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* k; E/ `- I# B' ]5 {/ l
过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
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