Shakespearean dating tips - Anthony John Peters

莎士比亞風約會密技 - Anthony John Peters (安東尼·約翰·彼得斯)

譯者: Regina Chu 審譯者: Bighead Ge

Using the word Shakespeare

使用莎士比亞這個字

within any classroom in the 21st century

在 21 世紀的課堂內

has become almost as dangerous for teachers

對老師而言其危險程度

as putting balloons in a toaster.

就像把氣球放在烤麵包機裡一樣

After uttering this simple word,

在說出這個簡單的字之後

the common teacher is met with a mass of groans,

老師會碰到一片哀嚎

moans,

呻吟

devastated looks,

及絕望的表情

and the occasional chair tossed in his or her direction.

偶爾還會被丟椅子

But Shakespearean works are not boring,

但莎士比亞的作品並不是無聊

confusing,

難懂

long and painful plays written more than 400 years ago.

在 400 多年前所寫下 又臭又長的劇本

They're adventures relating to the extremities

他們是冒險故事

of human nature:

訴說著人性的極端

love,

愛

hate,

恨

jealousy,

zealous ambition,

嫉妒

勃勃野心

fear,

恐懼

mistrust,

deception,

懷疑

欺騙

and murder.

及謀殺

We owe much of our own language to his invention.

我們自己的語言 很多要歸功於他的創造

He invented over 2,000 words

他創造了超過二千個字

for use in his plays,

在他的戲劇中使用

which still remain in the Oxford English Dictionary.

而今仍然保留在牛津英語詞典裡

Words like "countless"

單字像「無數」

and "assassination"

及「暗殺」

as well as phrases like

還有片語像

"one fell swoop,"

「一舉」

"foul play,"

「詐欺」

and even "to be in a pickle"

甚至是「陷入絕境」

all originated from William's brilliant brain.

都是從威廉充滿才氣的腦袋而來

And there are many echoes

並且還有很多倣效

of Shakespeare's romantic language too.

莎士比亞的浪漫語言

If you read <em>Romeo and Juliet</em>,

如果你讀羅密歐與茱麗葉

you'll come across sentences like,

你會碰到詞句像是

"She doth teach the torches to burn bright,"

「火炬遠不及她的明亮」

and, "So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows."

及「像鴉群中一頭白鴿蹁躚」

Both are quite clever metaphors,

兩句都是相當高明的隱喻

suggesting that Juliet is both exceptionally beautiful

暗示茱麗葉分外美麗

and far moreso than anyone else.

姿貌絕倫

"For thou art as glorious to this night,

「妳在這黑夜裡如此地明亮

being o'er my head,

在我上方（使我仰望）

as is a winged messenger of heaven,"

如同天堂那有翼的使者」

is a simile suggesting angelic qualities

是個比喻暗示者天使般的特質

of the lady in question.

在這位好逑淑女身上

This is not too different from today's comments like,

這跟今天的品頭論足也差不多，像是

"Hey, beautiful!"

「嘿，美女！」

and, "You're the hottest girl in the room."

及「你是這裡最辣的！」

Shakespeare also uses

莎士比亞也用了

slightly more complex metaphors

稍微複雜一點的隱喻

to describe the intentions of a mischievous man.

來描述公子哥兒的輕薄意圖

For instance,

例如

"This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips,

「要是我這俗手上的塵污

two blushing pilgrims,

褻瀆了你的神聖的廟宇

ready stand to smooth that rough touch

這兩片嘴唇，含羞的信徒

with a tender kiss,"

願意用一吻乞求你宥恕」

essentially means, "I wish to kiss you."

其實就是在說「我想要親你」

Such male intentions were not limited

像這樣的男性意圖並不只限於

to simple pecks on the cheek either.

在臉頰上的輕輕一啄而已

An intentional ambiguity was often used

含糊不清的暗示也常常被使用

as a cheeky means to proposition marriage

因厚臉皮還意指求婚

or a more intimate relationship.

或更親密的關係

Therefore, instead of viewing Shakespearean works

所以與其視莎士比亞的作品

as out-dated, boring, and unhelpful,

為過時、無聊、又無用

start reading today

不如今天就開卷閱讀

and discover the best ways

並在其中找到最好的方法

to get the one you love

讓你所愛的人

to love you back.

也愛上你