这个是英语谚语,意即“媳妇好娶,岳母难缠”
直译 “要想赢得女儿的欢心,必须先从她母亲着手”
正常语序是He that would win the daughter must begin with the mother first
主句 He must first begin with the mother
that would win the daught是He的后置定语
first begin with the mother是谓语部分
因为谚语讲究押韵,所以调整语序成He that would the daughter win must with the mother first begin
正常英语表达是不这么调整语序的,但是英语诗歌中会大量使用语序调整,以便达到押韵的效果
你可以读一读比较有名的诗歌,体会一下语序调整的效果
这句话应该这样来看:
He that would the daughter win,
Must with the mother first begin
翻译过来就是:
想要赢得女人的欢心,必须先从她的妈妈着手。
或者说,把岳母哄开心了,才能搞定媳妇。
从语法来看:
首行的win本应在the daughter之前,末行的begin本应在with之前,为了押韵,双双放到行尾去了,押就了完全韵。译文也应尽量押韵,否则,原味尽失。
所以,最合适的翻译是:要想迎娶千金,先讨其母欢心。
同样的例句:
红军不怕远征难,万水千山只等闲
Of the trying long march the Red Army makes light,
Thousands of rivers and mountains are barriers slight.