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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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* Z; ?% J( \& H, E释义:add unnecessary adornment or supposed improvement
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例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be - O: `; z) c+ f& i) S
gilding the lily.
: L' |; h2 e6 q5 n) `, a7 a' S* M 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。) e8 ?' x! c" w( o+ N
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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5 I$ k" x: l8 h* \ S* l9 i8 l
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; V; D9 Y$ B; N# W
能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:
$ v+ n4 a+ L4 G8 f$ W C7 O Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that / Q+ I" y4 R( m l5 A
was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a& h5 c) `$ g8 O% W/ Q! i5 K
perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto
# w6 \' A+ R7 a7 p d& c( E the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of 5 c" H% N4 l1 _8 @2 R4 f/ ~
heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. * u! u( N* t( |$ f& z+ Z$ h6 U
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* v' ]1 v) |8 ~1 Q! x$ E
,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" y0 v5 X6 M& \% @7 j
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
s# p) s9 x$ c+ l* W 过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
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