達摩克利斯之劍的英語典故
每一種語言都可以反映出一種文化，了解一些文化背景無疑對語言學習有很大的好處。所以今天就和小編一起學習達摩克利斯之劍的英語典故吧。
The Sword of Damocles
達摩克里斯之劍——喻臨頭的危險，源于希臘傳說，古Syracuse國王命其廷丞達摩克里斯坐在以一根頭發懸掛的劍下，以示君王多危。此典出于古希臘的一個歷史故事：公元前四世紀西西里東部的敘拉古王迪奧尼修斯（公元前430－367）打擊了貴族勢力，建立了雅典式的民主政權，但遭到了貴族的不滿和反對，這使他感到雖然權力很大，但地位卻不可靠。有一次他向寵臣達摩克利斯談了這個問題，并且用形象的辦法向他表明自己的`看法。
他為了滿足一下寵臣達摩克利斯的貪欲，把宮殿交托給他，并賦予他有完全的權力來實現自己的任何欲望。這個追求虛榮、熱中勢利的達摩克利斯在大慶宴會時，抬頭看到在自己的坐位上方天花板下，沉甸甸地倒懸著一把鋒利的長劍，劍柄只有一根馬鬃系著，眼看就要掉在頭上，嚇得他離席而逃。這時迪奧尼修斯王便走出來說道："（達摩克利斯頭上）這把利劍就是每分鐘都在威脅王上的危險象征，至于王上的幸福和安樂，只不過是外表的現象而已。" 后引申為做壞事的人隨時都有可能受到懲罰。
英語版
Dionysius was a fourth century B.C. tyrant of Syracuse. To all appearances he was very rich and comfortable, with all the luxuries money could buy, tasteful clothing and jewelry, and delectable food. He even had court flatterers (adsentatores) to inflate his ego. One of these ingratiators was the court sycophant Damocles. Damocles used to make comments to the king about his wealth and luxurious life. One day when Damocles complimented the tyrant on his abundance and power, Dionysius turned to Damocles and said, "If you think I'm so lucky, how would you like to try out my life?"
Damocles readily agreed, and so Dionysius ordered everything to be prepared for Damocles to experience what life as Dionysius was like. Damocles was enjoying himself immensely until he noticed a sharp sword hovering over his head, which was suspended from the ceiling by a horse hair. This, the tyrant explained to Damocles, was what life as ruler was really like.
Damocles, alarmed and quickly revising his idea of what made up a good life, asked to be excused. He then eagerly returned to his poorer, but safer life.