【英语词语溯源】拍马屁的人

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【英语词语溯源】APPLE POLISHER－擦苹果的人（拍马屁的人）

　
　An “apple polisher” is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment. It is not exactly a bribe, but is close to it.
　“擦苹果的人”是指给人送礼以赢得友谊或特殊待遇的人。虽说不上是贿赂，但也差不多。
　“Apple-polishing” is as old as human society, but the phrase itself is recent, about 50 years old. It came from the classroom. For a long time, some schoolboys would leave a shiny apple on teacher’s desk.
　“擦苹果”之事犹如人类社会一样古老。但这个说法却产生于不久以前，大约只有五十年的历史。它来自学校的教室。曾有很长一段时间，有的学生经常在老师的桌子上放一个鲜艳的苹果。
　They would rub and polish the apple to give a bright shine, to make it look tastier. Such a gift, the student hoped, might make teacher shut her eyes to his poor work and give him a good mark.
　他们把苹果擦得鲜艳、锃亮，显得更加美味可口。学生希望这个礼物能使老师对他的差劲作业睁一眼闭一眼，打个好分数。
　All sorts of people are apple-polishers, including politicians and people in high offices—just about everybody. Oliver Cromwell, the great English leader, offered many gifts to win the support of George Fox and his Quaker group, but failed. Cromwell said,“I see there is a people risen that I cannot win either with gifts, honors, offices or places; but with all other sects and people I can.”
　擦苹果的人形形色色、不一而足，包括政客的身居高位的人，差不多人人都是。伟大的英国领袖奥利弗•克伦威尔曾送去很多礼物，企图赢得乔治•福克斯和他领导的公谊会支持，但是未能成功。克伦威尔说，“我看到已经出现了一批我无法用礼品、荣誉、官职或高位笼络的人，但对于所有其他的教派和人士这却行得通。”
　There are other meanings the same thing as “apple-polishing”—“soft-soaping” or “buttering-up.” A gift is just one way to “soft-soap” somebody, or to “butter him up.” Another that is just as effective is flattery, giving someone high praise —telling them how good he looks, or how well he speaks, or how talented and wise he is.
　另外还有些词语和“擦苹果”的意思相同——“轻抹肥皂”或“涂上黄油”。送礼就是给人“轻抹肥皂”或“涂上黄油”的一种手段。另一种有效的手段就是恭维，即对人讲好话，说他多么好看，多会讲话，多有天才，多有智慧。
　Endless are the ways of flattery. Who does not love to hear it? Only an unusual man can resist the thrill of being told how wonderful he is. In truth, flattery is good medicine for most of us, who get so little of it. We need it to be sure of ourselves. It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it. But if we just lap it up for its food value and nourishment, as a cat laps up milk, then we can still remain true to ourselves.
　恭维的方式无穷无尽。谁不爱听恭维话呢？只有非凡的人才能顶住被人赞美时那种美滋滋的感觉。事实上，对于很少听到恭维话的大多数人说来，被人吹捧是颇有好处的。我们需要别人的恭维，以便增加自信心。恭维话害不了人，除非自己被弄得昏昏然。如果我们仅仅为了吸取其中的有益成分和养料而吸取它，就像猫舔吸牛奶一样，那么我们仍能保持清醒，不致忘乎所以。
　Flattery, of course, is the cheapest kind of “apple-polishing.” To flatter another costs you nothing and you can give it as freely as you want. And you can always find somebody eagerly looking for it. Actors love it and can’t seem to get enough of it. They are not alone in their love of flattery. Some of the most influential members of a society grow fat on it.
　自然，恭维是最廉价的一种“擦苹果”方式。说恭维话不要代价，愿意讲多少都可以。也总有人渴望受人恭维。演员对此特别热衷，看来总也听不够 。乐于此道的并不仅仅是演员。社会上最有影响的人士也有一些因此受益匪浅。
　Sometimes, however, flattery will get you nothing from one who has had too much of it. A good example is the famous 12th century lengend of King Canute of Denmark and England. The King got tired of listening to the endless sickening flattery of his courtiers. They overpraised him to the skies, as a man of limitless might.
　但有时，对于被人吹捧太多的人，恭维话却起不了任何作用。一个很好的例子是关于十二世纪丹麦和英国的国王克努特的传说。国王听腻了朝臣们无休无止、令人作呕的恭维话。他们把他捧上了天，说他是神力无穷的人。
　He decided to teach them a lesson. He took them to the seashore and sat down. Then, he ordered the waves to stop coming in. The tide was too busy to listen to him. The King was satisfied. This might show his followers how puny and weak was his power and how empty their flattery.
　他决定教训他们一下，便把朝臣们带到海边处坐下。然后，他命令海浪不再汹涌。海潮一个劲儿地上涨，根本不听这一套。国王满意了。也许，这能使他的朝臣们看明白他的力量是多么渺小，多么微不足道，而他们的恭维又是多么无聊。