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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
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例句:Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be
' c- l1 X: E6 b: T. K gilding the lily.
* L7 p. O: a2 o6 _ t$ z/ { 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。* P; t8 ^( P! 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0 x6 D0 Z6 I5 Q, g1 n, r
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
4 h/ v0 t) n/ [. { }# C! }& Z7 Y 能扳回局面。索尔茨伯里爵士(Lord Salisbury)说道:
; l! o3 }# @9 D7 c$ q Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, /To guard a title that . Q, F0 a! w# f1 W+ y7 ^
was rich before, /to gild refined gold, to paint the lily, /To throw a
0 I+ D- \) r- J perfume on the violet, /To smooth the ice, or add another hue/Unto ) Y/ a5 O6 _! t+ _5 t* f# p
the rainbow, or with taper-light/ To seek the beauteous eye of
3 N8 ]0 [7 X0 v7 L5 P! v: W heaven to garnish, /Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. $ T7 E- U' r+ y0 H
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) Z8 K& G+ E3 L. k* y" V( U
,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, B3 ?2 I# v( k2 J% 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
( h7 j, f g( ]8 g# c 过分行为。(梁实秋译) |
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