餐廳告示、拜倫詩歌 - 古德明

餐廳告示、拜倫詩歌 - 古德明

問:一家餐廳門前有告示說:No flip flops, beach sandals or plastic footwear permitted. In addition for gentlemen, no sleeveless shirts or open-toed shoes are permitted。In addition之後不用to而用for,可以嗎?
答:In addition即「××之外」,其後可以用to帶出那「××」是什麼,例如:In addition to dancing, he enjoys swimming(=He enjoys dancing. In addition, he enjoys swimming舞蹈之外,他還喜歡游泳)。
讀者示下那一句的for,卻不是和in addition連用,所以for之前最好加一逗點,和gentlemen之後的逗點相配合。這個for,有「對……而言」或「至於」的意思,例如:For elementary learners of English, this exercise may be too difficult(對初級程度英文學生而言,這練習也許太過困難)。那家餐廳的告示是說:「不得穿人字拖鞋、沙灘拖鞋或塑膠鞋。此外,男士不得穿無袖襯衫以及露趾鞋。」
問:近日讀拜倫詩篇The Prisoner of Chillon(西庸的囚徒),開頭四行就讀不明白,先生可以解釋一下嗎?
答:這首詩寫十六世紀瑞士一個遭囚禁了幾年的政治犯,這當然是小題大做:二十世紀以來,新中國囚禁政治犯,動輒就是十年甚至幾十年,這才算是高明手段。謹將讀者說的幾行翻譯於後:My hair is grey, but not with years, / Nor grew it white / In a single night, / As men's have grown from sudden fears(我滿頭銀髮,非因年邁;亦非因憂患突來,一夜白頭)。