|
|
|
|
|
[J-169] To Change a Swan for a Raven 以天鹅换乌鸦
A: Who would change a swan for a raven？ B: Mr. Fairfox. A: How do you know that？ B: He has just dyed his hair to feign youth. A: What do you mean by that？ B: I mean his hair was originally as white as a swan, but now it's as black as a raven.
[译注]
A: 谁会把天鹅换成乌鸦？ B: 美狐先生。 A: 你如何知道的？ B: 他刚刚染了头发要装作年轻。 A: 那样说，你是什么意思？ B: 我是说：他的头发原先白得像天鹅，可是现在却是黑得像乌鸦。
注：1. to change a swan for a raven（以天鹅换乌鸦）原先是指拿漂亮的、皮肤白晰的女人去换丑陋的、皮肤黑色的女人。 2. 英人有姓 Fairfax 者，如 Edward Fairfax 是一大翻译家，而 Jane
Austen 的小说《爱玛姑娘》
（Emma）里头也有一角色叫 Jane
Fairfax。这里把
Fairfax 改成
Fairfox，等于把“Fair
fax”（美的传真）变成“Fair
fox”（美的狐狸），显然有开玩笑的用意。 3. dye（染色，此字与die同音），feign（假装，此字与fain同音）。
[复习填充]
A: Who would change a s___ for a r___？ B: Mr. Fairf___. A: How do you know t____？ B: He has just d____ his hair to f____ youth. A: What do you mean ___ that？ B: I mean his hair was originally as w____ as a swan, but now it's as b____ as a raven. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|