PART 1 Core Question
Was Su Tungpo adapted to the life in the capital?
Yes. Express Dowager who then became the regent took Su Tungpo under her wing. Su had a quick rise to power and finally took charge of drafting imperial edits in his capacity as hanlin academician. He not only led an affluent life, but also had plenty of free time to enjoy his new life. More importantly, his brother and many of his old friends came back to the capital and resumed important positions at the court. Su was then at the height of his fame and gained the popularity that was second to none.
PART 2 Sentences
1. The reader does not know whether he is reading a fulsome panegyric or a diatribe in reverse.
2. As a matter of fact, there is not very much difference in actual happiness between living a luxurious life and a simple one.
3. One could achieve lasting fame, o£ course, by devotion to scholarship but to many, immortal fame, even if one could be sure of it, was poor consolation for a hungry stomach.
PART 3 Expressions
1. While serving in this capacity, he had the interesting duty of drafting several decrees in which he had a rather personal concern.
capacity 这里是指 role, formal, sb's job, position or duty
in a professional/ official capacity
Rollins will be working in an advisory capacity on this project.
(do sth) in your capacity as sth
I attended the meeting in my capacity as chairman of the safety committee.
复习: capacity在前文有用作“酒量”的表达
Tungpo had a much smaller capacity, but he felt that was no reason for his abstaining from wine.
2. The wording of this decree required a great subtlety in the art of damning a man by left-handed compliment.
left-handed compliment / (Brit,) backhanded compliment: a statement that seems to express admiration or praise, but at the same time is insulting
左撇子跟一般人的用手习惯不同，而人们往往会戴着有色眼镜看另类的事物，因此在英语中，left这个词往往有负面的含义，而right则与之相反。例如，当你的观点不是all right(完全正确)的时候，你会被left out或者left alone(忽视)；当你的观点far from right(错得很离谱)的时候，你就会被left out in the cold(被冷落、遭受排斥)。你最信任的朋友在英语中就是你的right hand man(得力助手)，如果他跳舞很笨拙，你就可以形容他having two left feet(笨手笨脚)。 --- from http://edu.sina.com.cn/en/2011-06-22/121261288.shtml
3. The phraseology of imperial edicts was usually studded with historic analogies and allusions, but Su Tungpo always wrote them with great facility.
stud: (n.) （衣服上的）饰钉； (v.) decorate with a lot of studs or small jewels
a belt studded with jewels; a diamond-studded watch
be studded with: covered or filled with a lot of sth
The sky was clear and studded with stars.
star-studded: including many famous performers 群星荟萃的 eg. a star-studded cast
facility 在这里指 a natural ability to do sth easily and well
She has an amazing facility for languages.
4. As far as the Su family was concerned, there was decided advantage in living at the capital.
decided: definite and easily noticed 明显的，清楚的
a decided change for the better
decidedly: (ad.) 1. definitely or in a way that is easily noticed
Cole's style is decidedly more formal than the previous manager's.
2. surely
'I'm not going to do it,' said Margaret decidedly.
5. The family began now to enjoy the new life of the capital, a far cry from the farm at Huangchow.
be a far cry from sth: to be very different from sth
The company lost $3 million, which is a far cry from last year's $60 million profit.
be in full cry: if a group of people are in full cry, they are criticizing sb very strongly
Anyone who's seen the world's press in full cry can understand how Diana felt.
6. Happy at the success of his stratagem, the scholar dug into the pile with both hands and began to gorge himself.
stratagem: formal, a trick or plan to deceive an enemy or gain an advantage. SYN ploy
gorge oneself (on sth): to eat until you are too full to eat any more
We gorged ourselves on ripe plums.
be gorged with sth: to be completely full of sth
The insect sucks until it is gorged with blood.
类似表达: gobble down, gobble up, stuff oneself
gorgeous: (a.) extremely beautiful, attractive or extremely pleasant and enjoyable
You look gorgeous.
The hotel room had a gorgeous view.
