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发表于 2004-12-12 05:41
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24. gild the lily 画蛇添足* O/ ~: W; ^, z# h5 v& S
' [: g! h2 G* V8 p4 k' D5 M释义:add unnecessary adornment or supposed improvement
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例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be
2 w t4 `- L+ E! D gilding the lily. - G' f' @9 e, b/ M# g$ x+ R# ~
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。. A3 T/ Q# G9 W& s; h, c
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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 r, ^$ ?) d$ M2 E) j( [8 V 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5 a" ?( @- L5 x* t) \+ \' w% P8 ~! m. u
能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:
; E- A9 i6 m8 g4 ^1 X3 O Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that
$ \# l+ U# Z" |' T was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a7 s( t( V( e' B; O5 b
perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto
6 r6 ?& q0 h' O& D+ k" _& v the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of - f6 H2 c0 F9 Y, W; U
heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. $ J! q* y4 k0 j3 I: |( e
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 _: Y% |" k1 V$ k+ O/ T. 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8 X" j7 a) \4 G) R
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; P2 F" a* T( r- m# J/ `* m6 {
过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
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