每日文摘：By candlelight a goat looks a lady

Joan is as good as my lady in the dark.

When candles are out all cats are grey.

黑暗中的琼，就和我夫人一样美。

蜡烛一灭，所有猫都是灰色的。

"Blemishes are unseen by night," says an ancient Latin proverb; 

“黑夜令瑕疵消失不见，” 一句古老的拉丁谚语是这样讲的。

And the Greeks held that "When the lamp is removed all women are alike."

而希腊人认为 “灯一灭，所有女人都一样美。”

Opinions may differ on that point, but all agree that "The night shows stars and women in a better light."

可能对此大家不见得会意见一致，但都会同意 “夜晚把星辰和女人都衬托得更美了。”

Hence the Italian warning to choose "Neither jewel, nor woman, nor linen by candlelight;"

所以意大利人告诫说，“不要在烛光下挑选珠宝、亚麻，或选择女伴。”

And the French hyperbole, "By candlelight a goat looks a lady."

而法国人更夸张，“在烛光下，山羊看着像一位淑女。”

摘自公版书《Proverbs of All Nations Compared, Explained, and Illustrated》

Author: Walter Keating Kelly