原文欣赏

Even the King's mealtimes turned into a performance,
就连国王的晚餐也变成了表演
where the nobles stood
贵族们站在一边
and watched the King eat, waiting for him to speak to them.
观看国王进餐 等着他开口
One of the phenomena of Versailles
凡尔赛的一大奇观
was the sight of leading nobles
便是高等贵族
adopting these very deferential poses.
对国王唯命是从的姿态
This was actually a very powerful signal
这是实际上强烈反映了
that the monarchy was back in charge.
君主重掌大权
For the courtiers, flattery became a way of life.
奉承国王成了贵族生存的途径
For instance, one courtier, a great nobleman in his province,
比如 路易曾对一位贵族幕僚说
Louis says to him, "When is your wife's baby due?"
你的妻子何时产子
And this nobleman says, "When your majesty wishes it."
贵族回答"当陛下希望的时候"
As well as accommodating thousands of courtiers and officials,
凡尔赛宫不仅容纳数千幕僚与官员
Versailles was also used by the King to promote France itself.
也提升了法国的形象
There was a deliberate intention to create a showcase
宫中故意建了一处陈列柜
for French manufacturers and to rival or outdo
以展现法国工艺品足以匹敌甚至超越
Italy above all,
意大利工艺品
which was the great source of taste in the 17th century.
后者在17世纪颇受青睐
The magnificence of the interior,
宫殿内部之宏伟
of course, it was all about the splendour
诚然尽数展现了
of the monarchy and the splendour of Louis XIV.
路易十四及其君权的显赫
Louis personally loved rich materials and fine craftsmanship.
路易个人喜欢精致奢华的工艺品
But it was also a careful orchestration of Louis XIV's,
但凡尔赛也悉数展示了路易与法国
France's - claim to lead Europe in terms of taste and the arts.
引领优雅品味与艺术
As building progressed, Louis commissioned hundreds of paintings,
建造继续进行 路易要求制作
sculptures and other decorations,
数百画作 雕塑与其他饰品
many containing images of himself
其中不少饰物以他为主题
as the embodiment of French glory.
象征着法国的荣耀
This was no accident.
这并非巧合
If you compare Louis with rulers before,
若比较路易和他的前辈
it is remarkable how he had professional advice.
路易拥有更优秀的专业建议
So, he's not presenting his image by himself.
所以他并不亲自打造自己的形象
There was a whole back-up team of intellectuals, writers.
他拥有一支包括学者和作家的智囊团
This is a real innovation, that there should be a small committee
这是纯粹的创新 所以
of people who are simply working on
必须有一小批人专注于
how to present the king's image
如何尽可能壮丽地
in the most grand manner possible.
打造国王的形象
重点讲解
一.performance：n. 表演，实行，表现，履行，性能，本事
【词义辨析】
act, action, deed, operation, performance,
act: 一般指具体的、短暂的或个别的行为，强调行为的完成及其效果。
action: 普通用词，着重行动的过程。
deed: 较庄重用词，除泛指各种行为外，还可用于指某种高尚或伟大的行为，故常译作“功绩，业绩”。
operation: 多指一连串行动或行为的完成方式。
performance: 主要指行动的方式方法。
【例句用法】
1.He goes through the whole performance of checking the oil and water every time he drives the car.
他每次开汽车都总是不厌其烦地把油和水整个检查一遍。
2.The novel is considered a brilliant performance.
这部小说被认为是出色的佳作。
3.The car's performance on corners needs to be improved.
这辆车在转弯时的性能还需要改进。
二.charge：n. 责任，电荷，指控，费用，照顾 vt. 要价，加罪于 vi. 控诉，赊帐，充电，委以重任
【词义辨析】
accuse, charge,
accuse: 普通用词，正式或非正式场合，私人或法律上均可用。被指控的情节可轻可重。常与of连用。
charge: 常与accuse换用，但charge多指较严重的错误或罪行，而且往往向法庭提出正式起诉。
attack, assail, assault, charge, beset,
attack: 常用词, 指"攻击敌人"或"用言论攻击他人"。
Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.
德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。
assail: 指"猛烈连续地攻击"。
The enemy plane assailed our defence position.
敌机不断猛烈地攻击我们的阵地。
assault: 语气比 assail强, 指"突然猛烈地进攻", 暗示"武力的直接接触" (如肉搏等), 也有"暴力"的意思。
The enemy assaulted us at dawn.
敌人在黎明时向我进攻。
charge: 指"冲击"或"骑兵的突然攻击"。
The cavalry charged to the front.
骑兵猛烈向前线冲击。
beset: 指"围攻", 即从各个方向攻击。
In the swamp we were beset by mosquitoes.
在沼泽地里, 我们受到蚊子的围攻。
charge, price, fee, fare, cost, expense,
charge: 指提供服务时索取的费用，也指货物的价格、价钱。
price: 指商品在市场出售的价格，尤指卖方对商品所提出的单价。比喻意义指付出的代价。
fee: 指上学、求医以及找律师等付的费用，还可指会费、借书费等。
fare: 侧重指旅行时所付的车、船费等费用。
cost: 指生产某东西的成本，也泛指商品的价格，可与price换用。
expense: 常指实际支付的费用总数额，有时也指钱的花费。
【词语用法】
1.charge表示控诉时，常表示为charge sb with sth，表示因某事控诉某人，如charge Jack with murder（控诉杰克谋杀）；
2.accuse也表示控告某人某事，但是与介词of连用，如accuse Jack of murder；
3.charge作名词时，英美人都习惯在其后接that从句。
They brought the charge that Joseph had committed murder.
4.charge作动词时，美国人习惯在其后接that从句，而英国人则不。
They charged that Joseph had committed murder.
5.charge sb with ...ing有时指“说某人犯了……”，有时指“把……的任务交给某人”。
He charged Helen with cheating.
他说海伦犯了欺骗罪。
He charged her with reading the proofs.
他把校对的任务交给她。
6.charge sb to do指“命令某人做某事”。
He charged Helen never to cheat.
他命令海伦永远不要欺骗别人。
7.charge后可接双宾语，表示“索（价）”。
He charged me ￥50.
他管我要价50块。
8.charge表示“为了……取费”时，常与介词for连用，偶然也把表示物品或服务的词做宾语。
We must charge all the meals.
我们收取全部的膳食费用。
9.in charge of表示“管理……”，in/under the charge of表示“被……管理”。
Mrs Lamb is in charge of the children.
拉姆女士在管孩子们。
The children are in/under the charge of Mrs Lamb.
孩子们在被拉姆女士管着。
【错句举例与错句分析】
错句：They charged him for murder.
纠正：They charged him with murder.
翻译：他们控告他谋杀。
分析：表示控告某人某事时，charge sb with sth属固定搭配。