Book 3 Gurnemanz

Is there ever a singer among you, who singeth a sweeter song

Of the favour and love of women, I hold not he does me wrong!

Full fain am I still to hearken to aught that may give them joy,

But to one alone among women my homage¹ I still deny.

Nay², ever the fire of my anger doth kindle³ and flame anew,5

And the sorrow her treason wrought⁴ me, it grieveth me still I trow!

I, whom men have named the singer, I, Wolfram of Eschenbach,

The words that against a woman I spake, I may ne’er take back.

Nay, I hold fast my wrath⁵ for ever, and clasp it closer still,

As I think how in soul and body alike hath she wrought me ill!10

How can I do aught but hate her, till death setteth seal on life?

Yet it grieveth me sore that others should mingle⁶ in this our strife⁷;

It grieveth me sore that maidens⁹ should say, as they name my name,

‘Forsooth he hath shamed all women, let it be unto him for shame!’

Nay, then, an they reckon for evil the words that in grief I spake,15

I will speak them no more for ever, though my heart should in silence break!

But let them beware in their anger, these warlike maidens fair,

How they stir from his eyrie the eagle, rouse the lion from his lair¹⁰!

Full well I know how to defend me, full well know I what beseems

The maid of a knight¹¹’s devotion, the maid of the poet’s dreams!20

Let a maiden⁸ be steadfast¹²-hearted, pure and true in word and deed,

And her champion true she’ll find me, comes there ever an hour of need.

I hold his renown¹⁴ waxeth slowly, and halteth upon the road,

Who, for wrong at the hand of one woman, shall slander¹⁵ all womanhood:

But if any will look upon me, and hearken to what I sing,25

Of a sooth I will not deceive them, though my tale over-strange may ring.

Born was I unto the bearing of knightly¹⁶ shield and spear,

And though sweet be the song of the singer, I hold it not all too dear:

I had rather my love should love me for my deeds of high renown,

Than because in the hall of the Wartburg they should crown me with music’s crown!30

With the shield and the spear of knighthood will I seek for a knight’s reward,

Nor charm, with the harp¹⁸ of the singer, what I failèd to win with the sword!

Nor in praise of fair women only runs this tale that I have to tell,

Full many strange deeds it holdeth, and marvels²⁰ that once befell

Ere the course of this wondrous²¹ venture be tracèd unto its end;35

Yet he who heareth shall reckon, if he fain would account me friend,

That this is no book he readeth, for no maker²² of books am I!

But a singer of strange adventures, and of knightly prowess high:

Stripped bare will I be of all honour, naked and reft of fame,

Ere I trust my renown unto letters, and give to a book my name!40

It vexes²⁴ me, soul and body, that so many should bear the name

And speak with the tongue of women, who reck not of woman’s fame;

That those who have known no falsehood, and those who are swift to fall,

Should carry one name in common, be counted as sisters all!

A truth that has faltered²⁵ never, a faith that has aye withstood,45

Is the only glory of woman, the crown of her womanhood!

Many will say, ‘What good thing can come out of poverty?’

She who for love endures it, she ‘scapeth Hell thereby²⁶,

And, in the kingdom of Heaven, receiveth a hundredfold

For all she has borne for love’s sake, new joys for her sorrows old!50

Not one have I known in my lifetime, I count it a bitter truth,

Neither a man nor a maiden, who the joy and the pride of youth,

And all earth’s riches and honour, will leave as a worthless thing

If weighed with the glory of Heaven, and the service of Heaven’s King!

But Queen Herzeleide only, she left her fair estate,55

In her youth of all joy bereavèd, with sorrow afar to mate.

So holy was she and gentle, so faithful and pure of mind,

That no tongue spake a word against her, and no eye a fault could find.

Sunlight or shadow, what recked she? the day was to her as night,

For her heart was the home of sorrow, and dead was the world’s delight.60

And in sorrow and grief she wandered, till she came to Soltanè‘s strand²⁷,

A woodland wild and lonely afar from her native land:

Fair flowers might bloom and blossom without, on the sunlit plain,

And be woven in rosy²⁸ chaplets, but for her they would bloom in vain!

And there, mid³⁰ the woodland shadows, she hid with Gamuret’s son,65

For she willed that her life’s last treasure be revealed unto none:

So she called her folk around her, (who toiled³² in the upland field

With oxen and plough, that the furrows³⁴ their daily bread might yield,)

And she charged them all, by the service which she as their queen might claim,

That they hide from the boy his birthright and the fame of his father’s name.70

‘For the knightly deeds ye vaunt of, and the glory and pride of war,

Have wrought me but heart’s affliction, and trouble and anguish³⁵ sore,

So, lest I yet more should suffer, I pray you, my servants dear,

That ye speak no word of knighthood, lest my son perchance should hear!’

Then full sore were her people grievèd, for they held it an evil thing,75

And a training that ill beseemèd the son of a mighty³⁶ king.

But his mother kept him hidden in the woodland valleys wild,

Nor thought in her love and sorrow how she wronged the kingly child:

No knightly weapon she gave him, save such as in childish play

He wrought himself from the bushes that grew on his lonely way,80

A bow and arrows he made him, and with these, in thoughtless glee,

He shot at the birds as they carolled o’erhead in the leafy tree.

But when the feathered songster of the woods at his feet lay dead,

In wonder and dumb amazement³⁸ he bowed down his golden head,

And in childish wrath and sorrow tore the locks of his sunny hair;85

(For I wot well of all earth’s children was never a child so fair

As this boy, who afar in the desert from the haunts of mankind did dwell,

Who bathed in the mountain streamlet, and roamed o’er the rock-strewn fell!)

Then he thought him well how the music, which his hand had for ever stilled,

Had thrilled his soul with its sweetness, and his heart was with sorrow filled,90

And the ready tears of childhood flowed forth³⁹ from their fountains free

As he ran to his mother weeping, and bowed him beside her knee.

‘What aileth thee child?’ quoth the mother, ‘but now wast thou gay and glad’—

But, childlike, he gave no answer, scarce wist he what made him sad!

But Queen Herzeleide watched him through the sunny summer days,95

Till beneath a tree she saw him stand silent, with upturned gaze,

And a look of joyful⁴⁰ rapture⁴¹ in the radiant childish eyes,

As he listed the bird, that, soaring, sang clear thro’ the cloudless skies;

And the mother’s heart was troubled, and her wrath waxed to fever heat,

She would brook⁴² in his love no rival—not even God’s singers sweet!100

So she sent forth in haste her servants, with many a cunning snare⁴³

To capture the singers whose music made joyful the woodlands fair.

Then, alas⁴⁴! for the birds, who struggled in the cruel snare in vain,

Yet some few burst their bonds, and joyful, brake forth into song again!

Then the boy spake,‘Now sweet my mother, why trouble the birds so sore?105

Forsooth they can ne’er have harmed thee, ah, leave them in peace once more!’

And his mother kissed him gently, ‘Perchance I have wrought a wrong,

Of a truth, the dear God who made them, He gave unto them their song,

And I would not that one of his creatures should sorrow because of me.’

But the boy looked up in wonder, ‘God, Mother? Who may God be?’110

‘My son, He is light beyond all light, brighter than summer’s day,

And He bare a Man’s Face, that we men might look on His Face alway!

Art thou ever in need of succour? call on Him in thine hour of ill,

And be sure He will fail thee never, but will hear thee, and help thee still.

Yet one there is dwelleth in darkness, and I wot men may fear him well,115

For his home is the house of falsehood, and his kingdom the realm of Hell!

Turn thy mind away from him ever, nor waver betwixt the twain,

For he who doubteth, his labour shall ever be wrought in vain.’

Thus his mother read him the riddle⁴⁵, the myst’ry of day and night,

The dread⁴⁶ and the doom⁴⁷ of darkness, and the glory and grace of light!120

Then javelin⁴⁸ in hand he hastened thro’ the forest pathways wild,

And the deer sprang up from their thickets⁴⁹, and fled from the dauntless child;

But clear-eyed and eager-footed he hastened upon their track,

And full oft with a hornèd trophy⁵¹, at even he hied him back.

Little cared he for rain or sunshine, summer’s storm or winter’s snow,125

And daily in strength and beauty all men might behold⁵² him grow;

Till at length no beast so mighty thro’ the forest wild did roam,

If it fell ‘neath his shaft⁵³, unaided, on his shoulder he bore it home!

It chanced thro’ a woodland thicket⁵⁰ one morn as he took his way,

And brake from o’erhanging bushes full many a leafy spray,130

That a pathway steep and winding⁵⁴ rose sharply his track anear,

And the distant beat of horse-hoofs fell strange on his wondering ear.

Then the boy grasped his javelin firmly and thought what the sound might be;

‘Perchance ’tis the devil cometh! Well, I care not if it be he!

Methinks I can still withstand him, be he never so fierce and grim,135

Of a truth my lady mother she is o’er-much afraid of him!

As he stood there for combat ready, behold, in the morning light,

Three knights⁵⁵ rode into the clearing, in glittering armour⁵⁶ bright;

From head to foot were they armèd, each one on his gallant⁵⁷ steed,

And the lad as he saw their glory thought each one a god indeed!140

No longer he stood defiant⁵⁸, but knelt low upon his knee,

And cried, ‘God, Who helpest all men, I pray Thee have thought for me!’

Then wroth was the foremost rider as the lad barred his further way,

And he spake out, ‘This stupid Waleis will hinder our work to-day!’

(Now here would I give to the Waleis the fame we Bavarians hold;145

They are duller than e’en our people, yet manly⁵⁹ in strife and bold.

And in sooth were one born in both countries such marvel¹⁹ of strength and skill

Would he hide in himself that I think me their fame he might well fulfil!)

Then there rode swift with hanging bridle⁶⁰, in costly⁶¹ harness dight,

With plumed⁶² and jewelled helmet another gallant knight;150

Swiftly he came as thirsting to challenge in mortal fight

The foe⁶³ who sped far before him, who had done him a sore despite;

For two knights from out his kingdom a maiden had borne away,

And he held it a deed most shameful⁶⁴ and one he must needs repay;

For the maiden’s sorrow grieved him, and fain would he ease her pain:155

(And the three knights who rode before him were part of his warlike train.)

He rode a Spanish war-horse, and his shield had fierce conflict seen,

And Karnachkarnanz did they call him (he was Ulterleg’s count I ween).

Then he cried to his knights, ‘Why loiter? who barreth our onward⁶⁵ way?’

And straight on the lad did he ride there, who deemed him a god alway,160

For ne’er had he seen such glory; his harness shone fair with dew,

And on either foot the stirrups with golden bells rang true.

And their length was e’en as fitting, and with bells did each strong arm ring,

As he stirred himself, or his sword-blade in battle aloft would swing.

And the hero was swift in seeking the guerdon of knightly prize,165

So he rode here, the prince, and had decked him in a fair and wondrous wise.

Then spake this flower of all knighthood, ‘Say, boy, did they pass thy way?

Two knights who have shamed their knighthood, nay, robbers I ween are they,

For they bear a maiden with them, and she rideth against her will!’

Yet the boy, tho’ he spake with a man’s tongue, as a god must account him still;170

For he thought how Queen Herzeleide had told him that God was Light

And dwelleth in Light for ever; and so to his dazzled sight

This knight, in his shining armour in the glow of the summer’s day,

Was the God of his mother’s lesson, and he knelt him again to pray.

But the prince he spake full gently, ‘Fain am I to do God’s will,175

And yet for no God I hold me, but a sinful mortal still.

Nay, wert thou more clear of vision, thou wouldst see, an thou sawest aright,

No Lord of the host of Heaven, but only a humble⁶⁶ knight!’

‘Knight?’ quoth the boy in answer, ‘Nay! I wot not what that may be,

Is thy strength not of God, but of knighthood, then I would such were given to me!’180

‘Then wend thy way to King Arthur, an thou camest unto his court,

A noble knight he would make thee, ashamed and afeared for naught⁶⁷,

For sure, now I look upon thee, thou com’st of a noble strain.’

Then his knights they turned their bridles⁶⁸, and gazed at the boy again.

Full well might they look and wonder, at the work that God’s Hand had wrought,185

For they say, who tell this story, that never could human thought

Have dreamed of aught so goodly, since ever the world began,

For of all men beloved by women, was there never so fair a man!

Loud they laughed as the boy spake further, ‘Good knight, what may these be?

These rings that so close around thee, above and below I see.’190

Then he handled, with curious finger, the armour the knight did bear,

His coat of mail close-linkèd as behovèd a knight to wear;

And he spake as he looked on the harness, ‘My mother’s maidens string

On their chains, and around their fingers, full many a shining ring,

But they cling not so close to each other as these rings that here I see,195

I cannot force them asunder⁶⁹, what good are they then to thee?’

Then the prince drew forth from its scabbard his shining blade so keen,

‘Now see, he who fights against me, must withstand my sword I ween,

And lest he, on his part, should slay⁷⁰ me, it is fit that with mail and shield,

I ward¹⁷ me against his spear-thrusts, and the blows that his arm may wield⁷¹.’200

Swiftly the lad made answer, ‘Little good would it do the deer

An their coats were e’en such as thine is, they would fall still beneath my spear.’

Full wroth were the knights and scornful that their lord thus long had talked

With this lad with the face of an angel, and the speech as of one distraught;

Then the prince he spake full gently, ‘God keep thee in His good grace,205

I would that my shield’s bright mirror might show me as fair a face!

Nay, an the Giver of all gifts but gave thee wit enow

To match with a mien⁷² so goodly, full rich wert thou then I trow!

May He keep all sorrow from thee, and thy life be a summer’s day—’

And with that he turned his bridle, and wended once more his way.210

Then adown the woodland pathway they rode, till they came full soon

Where the carles of Queen Herzeleide toiled hard thro’ the sultry noon:

The fields must they plough and harrow, if a harvest they hoped to reap,

So they goaded⁷³ the patient oxen to their toil³¹ on the hillside steep.

Then the prince he gave them ‘Good-morrow,’ and asked if there passed that way215

A maiden in need and sorrow? and they dared not to say him nay;

But they answered him e’en as he prayed them, and they spake ‘Yea, at early morn

Two knights and a maiden passed here, and the maiden, she wept forlorn,

And the knights as they rode beside her, spurred ever her flying steed.’

Then the prince knew his foe, Meljakanz, and his wrath waxed hot indeed,220

On his tracks he followed swiftly, and they who this venture tell,

Say he won back in fight the maiden ere the shadows of evening fell.

But sore were the queen’s folk troubled that the heroes had chanced that way,

And they spake, ‘God forbid that our queen’s son fall in with these knights to-day!

An he chances to light upon them in the pride of their warlike gear,225

It will anger full sore our mistress if by hap²⁹ she the tale should hear:

And ill-luck will it bring upon us that, ere ever the dawn of day,

With us while his mother slumbered⁷⁵, to the woods he stole away!’

Little recked the boy of their trouble as he chased the flying deer,

And shouted in youthful gladness, as they fell before his spear230

Then homeward he sped to his mother, but ere he his tale might tell

She was smitten⁷⁶ with deadly terror, and low at his feet she fell.

Then soon as Queen Herzeleide found hearing and speech once more

Her boy was she fain to question tho’ her heart it misgave⁷⁷ her sore;

‘Who spake to thee, son, of knighthood? What knowest thou of such-like rede?’235

‘I met in the woods, sweet mother, four men I deemed gods indeed,

So light were they all and shining, God Himself ne’er could brighter be,

And of knighthood they spake and King Arthur, who might well make a knight of me!’

Then her sorrow of old-time wakened, and the queen in her heart she sought

For some cunning wile⁷⁸ of woman, that her boy from his will be brought.240

When the simple lad and gallant would crave⁷⁹ from her hand a steed,

Tho’ heavy her heart, she bethought her in naught to gainsay⁸⁰ his need,

‘Yet not as he asks will I give him, no mother’s gifts be mine,

But ever the worst and the meanest that my skill may aye divine.’

And she thought her, Queen Herzeleide, ‘Many folk thro’ the world shall fare245

Who love mocking—On his fair body my son shall a Fool’s dress wear,

Then sure when the mockers see him, and to scoff⁸¹ at his garb⁸² are fain,

An he at their hands be smitten, then he cometh to me again!’

Alas! for a woman’s cunning, and the cruelty of mother’s love,

She chose from her stores a sackcloth, the coarsest that might be wove,250

And a garment of this she made him that should reach e’en unto his knee;

For his sunny hair such covering as on fools men are wont⁸³ to see;

And instead of hose she bound him on his limbs so strong and fair

Leggings of undressed calf-skin—And all wept who beheld⁸⁴ him there.

Then his mother with forethought bade him to tarry till morning light,255

‘Nor from hence would I have thee journey till my rede thou hast heard aright—

‘Keep thou ever from paths untrodden and ford⁸⁵ not the darkling stream,

Where the waters flow clear and limpid⁸⁶, there safe is the ford I ween.

And be ever fair and courteous⁸⁷, greet all men who pass thy way.

If a wise man old and grey-headed would teach thee, as well he may,
260

All courteous ways and fitting, as his word so shall be thy deed,

Nor wax wroth if by whiles he chide⁸⁸ thee, but give to my words good heed⁸⁹.

And one thing, my son, would I tell thee, canst thou win from a maid her ring

And her greeting fair, thou shalt take them, and sorrow hath lost her sting!

If a kiss from her lips she will give thee, and thine arms shall the maid enfold,
265

Be she pure and true thou art blessèd, and thy strength shall wax high and bold!’

‘And hearken my son, a proud knight, L?helein, do men call his name,

From thy princes two lands hath wrested⁹⁰, else from them couldst thou tribute claim.

And Waleis they are and Norgals—and one of thy princes brave,

Turkentals, hath he slain⁹¹, and thy people he hath smitten and doth enslave.’270

‘For such wrong will I vengeance⁹², mother, if vengeance be here God’s will,

Be he never so strong with my javelin I think me to wound him still.’

Then e’en at the daylight’s dawning the boy would no longer stay,

For the thought of King Arthur’s glory yet heavy upon him lay.

Then Queen Herzeleide kissed him, and she sped swift his steed behind,275

And the sorrow of sorrows smote⁹³ her when her boy she no more might find.

(Hence he rode and what heart rejoiceth?) Then the queen from all falsehood free,

Fell low on the earth, and grief tare⁹⁴ her till death must her portion be!

Yet I wot that her death so faithful it hath saved her from pains of Hell,

And to be of such son the mother, it repayeth all anguish well!280

Thus she, the root of all goodness whence humility’s flower might blow,

Herself on a pilgrimage wended that a goodly goal should know.

Woe⁹⁵ worth us! that none of their children should live still, to hand us down

In these days when we look on falsehood their honour and fair renown.

And therefore shall faithful women wish well to this lad so bold,285

Who rideth fair ventures seeking, whose journey ye now behold!

Then the gallant lad rode onward on his way toward Briziljan’s wood,

And he came to a rippling⁹⁶ streamlet, and a cock well might wade⁹⁷ that flood!

And flowers in the grass were blooming, yet so darkling ran the wave

That the lad he thought not to ford it; but as wit the counsel gave,290

So he followed its course thro’ the daylight, and he passed as he could the night,

Till he saw once more the morning, and he came to a fair ford bright.

On the further side was a meadow, and a tent decked the grass so green,

And tall was the tent wide-spreading, and riches thereon were seen;

’Twas of samite of threefold colours, on the seams lay fair ribbons wide,295

And a leathern covering hung there, ‘gainst the rain-cloud to guard its pride.

(’Twas Duke Orilus of Lalande, whose wife he beneath it found—

She lay there in peaceful slumber⁷⁴ with riches happed⁹⁹ fair around,

A Duchess she was, well worthy¹⁰⁰ the love of a gallant knight,

And the venture it tells that Jeschuté was the name of that lady bright)300

Softly the princess slumbered,—yet weapons of love she bore;

A mouth so red and glowing, that a knight’s heart had wounded sore,

And e’en as she slept they parted asunder, her lips so bright,

That the fire of love had kindled¹⁰¹, (fit venture for gallant knight)

And even as ivory snow-white, and little, and close the row305

Of the teeth that gleamed white betwixt them—methinks that a man were slow

To use himself to such kisses from a mouth that all men might praise—

I wot that so fair a guerdon but seldom hath crowned my days!

A covering of richest sable¹⁰² over foot and knee was thrown,

(For the heat she aside hath cast it, whom her lord had thus left alone)310

And her form it was fairly fashioned, and wrought by a skilful¹⁰³ hand,

Since ’twas God Himself in His wisdom who so fair a work had planned.

And long was her arm and rounded: on her snow-white hand a ring

Gleamed golden, and when he saw it the lad to her side did spring;

For had not his mother told him such jewels were the guerdon fair315

That a knight well might crave? and he thought him he fain would such token bear!

Then the lady awoke in terror as his clasp on her white arm fell,

And gazed in startled wonder and wrath as beseemed her well;

‘Who is it, who thus would shame me? Nay, sir, thou art all too free!

Go, choose thee some fairer maiden, my favours are not for thee!’320

In vain might she weep and bewail her; he asked not her yea, or nay,

But took from her lips unwilling¹⁰⁵ the kiss she would fain gainsay;

And the ring of gold from her finger with ungentle hand he’ld take,

And the clasp that her shift had fastened from the garment he roughly brake:

In vain were her tears and struggles, she was but a woman still,325

And his strength was to hers as an army, perforce must she do his will.

Then the lad spake aloud, he hungered, from his hand was the lady free,

And she quoth, ‘Of a truth ’twere better thou shouldst not make meal of me!

If thou wert but a little wiser thou wouldst choose thee some other meat,

There stand bread and wine, and two game-birds, of them mayst thou freely eat,330

Methinks when my maiden brought them, ’twas scarcely of thee she thought!’

Then he asked not where sat the hostess, but he ate e’en as hunger taught,

And he drank his fill; and the lady she deemed all too long his stay,

For she thought him bereft¹⁰⁶ of his senses, and she wished he were well away,

And for fear and shame the sweat-drops stood thickly upon her brow—335

And she spake, ‘Thou my ring shalt give me, and the clasp thou didst take but now,

And get thee away, if he cometh, my husband, then shalt thou bear

The weight of his wrath, and I think me thou wouldst then wish thyself elsewhere!’

Quoth the noble youth, ‘What care I how fierce thy lord’s wrath may be?

If my presence doth shame thine honour, then from hence will I swiftly flee.’340

And he stepped to the bedside boldly, and kissed her as there she lay,

Tho’ little it pleased the Duchess, and without leave he rode away;

And he spake a word of parting as he vaulted¹⁰⁷ upon his steed,

‘God have thee in His safe keeping, so my mother she gave me rede.’

Then the lad he was glad of his booty, and thus did he ride a while—345

Methinks there was little lacking that from hence he had gone a mile,

Ere he came of whom I would tell you: on the dew he the tracks might see

Of one who had sought his lady—The tent-ropes displaced should be

Where the lad thro’ the grass had ridden; then the gallant Duke and proud

Found his lady within in sorrow, and Orilus spake aloud,350

‘Alas! for the service done thee—for smitten and put to shame

Is the crown of my knightly honour, since another thy love can claim!’

Then little, alas! might it profit that with streaming eyes she swore

No lover had she save her husband,—he would hearken her tale no more.

Then she spake in her fear and anguish, ’Twas a fool, he who came to me,355

And yet tho’ a fool, of all men I wot he may fairest be!

My ring and my clasp gold-gleaming, he took them against my will!’

‘Nay, I doubt not so well he pleased thee, thou didst grant him more favours still,’

‘Now, God forbid! for his fool’s garb and his javelin were e’en too near,

It shameth us both, my husband, such words from thy lips to hear!360

Are queens wont to love thus lowly, that thou speakest such words of me?

Thou wrongest our royal breeding, when thou deemest such things may be!’

Then the Duke spake, ‘This shame, O lady! alone hast thou won from me,

Thou dost call thyself Queen no longer; tho’ thy title shall Duchess be

Little good hath that bargain brought me—So bold shall my manhood be,365

That thy brother, King Lac’s son Erec, for that cause beareth hate to thee:

He is wise, and right well he knoweth that my fame so high shall stand

That nothing shall stain mine honour, save at Prurein when his right hand

In knightly joust¹⁰⁹ once felled me, but that have I paid right well,

In a joust at Karnant I smote him, and behind his steed he fell,370

And his pledge did he yield unto me,—thro’ his shield I thy token bare,

I thought not, my wife Jeschuté, with another thy love to share!’

‘Thou mayst also well assure thee that the son of King Gandein,

Proud Galoes, once lay lifeless before this arm of mine;

And thou thyself wast witness when the Knight Plihopleheri375

Rode swift in a joust against me, nor his strife it hath passed me by,

My spear from the saddle thrust him that his charger he sat no more;

Yea, great was the fame that I won me by my prowess in days of yore,

Many knights have I borne from their chargers,—yet it profiteth not I ween,

Nor outweigheth the bitter shaming that thro’ thee hath my portion been!’380

And with reason good do they hate me, those knights of the Table Round,

Since eight of their bravest champions have I borne unto the ground,

And many fair maidens saw it, when at Kanedig fierce we fought

For the hawk¹¹¹; there was I the victor, and my hand fame to thee hath brought

And that didst thou see with King Arthur—At his court doth she dwell to-day,385

My sister, sweet Kunnewaaré, and grave is her mien alway,

For her lips may not move to laughter till the day that her eyes shall light

On him who of all shall be reckoned the fairest and bravest knight.

Would he come unto me, that hero! Ah! then should a strife be seen

As to-day in the early morning already my lot hath been.390

I have fought, and a prince hath suffered, for joust he toward me sped,

But my spear-point so sorely smote him that he lay there before me, dead!’

‘Well I know that in righteous anger for a lesser¹¹² sin than thine

Full many had slain the sinner, but I would not such deed were mine!

For the service of knightly honour that to thee I had offered fair,395

Henceforth shalt thou know but lacking; nor thy need do I think to spare—

No more with thy white arms circled in love and in peace I’ll lie,

Those golden days of love’s glory have faded and passed us by,

But pale be thy mouth so rosy, and tear-dimmed thy shining eyes,

For joy shall be put far from thee, and thy heart’s songs be turned to sighs!’400

Then sadly she looked upon him, that princess so fair and true,

‘May it be for the honour of knighthood what seemeth thee best to do,

Wise art thou indeed and loyal, and I in thy power may be,

And I know well that heavy sorrow and pain thou canst bring on me:

To the ordeal¹¹³, I prithee, put me, and do this for all women’s sake,405

Thereafter, an I be guilty, for my sin do thou vengeance take!

If another’s hand shall slay me, (for thee were such deed un-meet)

Then gladly I’ll die—Dost thou scorn me? then welcome is death, and sweet!’

Then he broke out in bitter anger, ‘If thy pride be still so great,

It is meet I should meekness¹¹⁴ teach thee, tho’ the lesson be all too late—410

No more shall we be companions, together no more we’ll eat;

Be our marriage couch forgotten and the hours of communion sweet.

This garment in which I found thee thy only robe shall be,

And instead of jewelled bridle hempen¹¹⁵ twist will I give to thee;

Thy steed be the guest of hunger, and thy saddle once decked so fair415

Shall be robbed of its goodly trappings!’ and with hasty hand he tare

The samite adown, and he brake it, the saddle she rode erewhile,

(Nor her gentle ways and seemly might his angry wrath beguile)

With a hempen cord he bound it—Too soon had she won his hate!

As he did this he spake, ‘Now Lady, ’tis best we no longer wait,420

Could I reach him who shared thy favours, then fulfilled were my heart’s desire,

The venture I’ld face, though as dragon he were breathing forth flames and fire!’

Then with weeping instead of laughter she passed from out the tent

That lady so rich in sorrow, and sadly her way she went;

Yet more than she mourned her shaming she wept her lord’s grief, I ween,425

His sorrow so sorely moved her, e’en death would have lighter¹¹⁷ been.

Now of true heart shall ye bemoan¹¹⁸ her who thus did sore anguish know,

And tho’ hatred¹¹⁹ I won from all women, still I’ld mourn for Jeschuté‘s woe!

So rode they upon the traces of the lad who before them fled,

And, dauntless, he little thought him how a foeman behind him sped,430

But whoever his eyes might light on, as his pathway they drew anear,

He gave to him kindly¹²⁰ greeting, ‘Thus bade me my mother dear!’

Thus rode he, our lad so foolish, adown a mountain side,

When a woman’s voice before him from amid the rocks loud cried;

’Twas a cry of heartfelt sorrow, for her joy was in ruins laid—435

Then swift rode the lad towards her,—Now hear what she did, this maid:

She tore, the maid Siguné, her plaits of long brown hair

From out her head thro’ sorrow; and the lad he beheld her there,

And he saw Schionatulander, the prince, on her knee lie dead,

And the maiden she wailed¹²¹ above him, and her joy had for ever fled.440

(‘If sad be their mien or joyful, my mother she bade me still

Greet all men, whoe’er might meet me) God keep thee from greater ill,

For in sooth a sorry treasure have I found on thy knee to-day!

Who hath wounded this knight?’ (For an answer the lad he would press alway)

‘Did one with a javelin slay him? For Lady, he sure is dead;445

Wilt¹²² thou tell me naught? Who hath slain him? If he none too far hath fled

Methinks I might overtake him, for gladly with him I’ld fight!’

Then the lad he laid hold on his quiver wherein lay the javelins¹²³ bright,

And still in his hand tight claspèd, the tokens twain he bore

Which he in his thoughtless folly¹²⁴ erewhile from Jeschuté tore.450

Had he known the courtly customs with his father’s life in-bound,

His shield were better smitten when the duchess alone he found

Who thro’ him must suffer sorrow—for more than a whole year long,

Her husband withheld¹²⁵ his favour, tho’ in sooth did he do her wrong.

Now list to this maid Siguné who her grief would bemoan as meet,455

She spake to the lad, ‘Thou art courteous, all hail! to thy youth so sweet,

And thy face so fair; yea blessèd thy lot shall hereafter be!

No javelin pierced this hero, but slain in a joust was he—

From truth wast thou born who truly for another’s woe can grieve!’

Then his name she was fain to hearken, ere the lad her side might leave,460

And she spake, God with skill had wrought him—But his answer was naught but this,

‘At home all who know me call me ’Bon fils, Cher fils, Beau fils!‘

Ere ever the word was spoken, the maiden she knew his name—

Now hearken aright his title, that hereafter ye own his fame

Who is hero of this my venture, who now standeth the maid beside—465

And her red lips they spake unfaltering, ‘Thou art Parzival,’ she cried,

And thy name it shall mean ’to pierce thro‘,’ for thy mother’s faithful heart

With furrow³³ of grief was riven when she from her lord must part:

And I speak not that those shouldst vaunt thee; thy mother my aunt shall be,

And in truth, with no guile¹¹⁶ of falsehood, thy race will I tell to thee!’470

‘An Angevin was thy father, thy mother of fair Waleis,

And I know for a truth thy birthplace was the city of Kanvoleis;

And thou art the King of Norgals, and there in the citadel¹²⁶

As king shalt thou bear the sceptre and crown as beseems thee well.

For thy sake was he slain, this hero, who thy kingdom for thee would guard,475

His truth it hath faltered never, tho’ in death did he find reward.

Two brothers have wrought thee evil, two kingdoms from thee have reft,

And Orilus this thy kinsman¹²⁷ in a joust hath lifeless left.

And me too hath he left in sorrow—He served me nor thought it shame,

This prince of thy land, where my childhood did thy mother’s tending claim.480

Now fair and sweet my cousin wouldst thou hear how he met his end?

’Twas the fair wove leash¹²⁸ of a brachet that brought sorrow unto my friend—

He hath served us twain, in our service hath he won him but death alone,

And I, I have won but sorrow, and henceforth for his death make moan,

For scant¹²⁹ of wit was I surely, that I gave not my love afore—485

So God hath my gladness shattered, and the dead I love evermore!’

Then he spake, ‘I must mourn, O cousin, thy grief, and my bitter wrong,

Of a truth till I may avenge¹³⁰ them the time seemeth over-long!’

Then straight would he ride to battle, but the way did she falsely show,

For she feared were he slain then henceforward yet sorer should wax her woe.490

But a road he found that led him straightway to the Breton’s land,

And smooth and wide was that highway—An there met him on either hand

Afoot or ahorse a merchant or knight, he would greet them still,

For so was his mother’s counsel; and she spake with no thought of ill.

But great weariness o’ertook him, as darkened the eventide,495

And a house that was none too stately the youth in his folly spied.

’Twas a churl¹³¹ he who sat within it, discourteous¹³² by birth and low,

(A fisherman he, little kindness might one at his hand e’er know)

Then the lad drew rein¹⁰⁸ for he hungered, and craved¹³³ of him drink and meat.

But the host quoth, ‘Nay, not a half-loaf shalt thou have at mine hand to eat500

In thirty years; he who waiteth, in the gifts of mine hand to share,

O’er-long shall delay his journey—For none but myself I care,

Thereafter perchance for my children—Thou comest not here to-day,

Hadst thou money or pledge ’twere other, then thine host would I be straightway!’

Then Jeschuté‘s clasp all golden the lad he would bid him take,505

And soon as the peasant saw it, with smiling mouth he spake,

‘Wilt thou stay here, sweet lad? then due honour be thy portion from all within—’

‘Wilt thou feed me to-night and to-morrow wilt help me the way to win

To King Arthur (for well I love him) then thyself mayst keep the gold!’

‘Yea, that will I do,’ quoth the peasant, ‘for ne’er might mine eyes behold510

A face and form so comely¹³⁴—I will thee, as a marvel, bring

To the court, and the good Round Table, and the face of the noble king!’

So the lad thro’ the night abode¹³⁵ there, and ere ever the dawn of day

He roused himself full eager to get on his onward way,

And the fisher, he made him ready, and before the lad he ran,515

And the boy he rode behind him, and swift were both steed and man.

(Herr Hartmann von Aue, and thy lady, the queenly Guinevere,

And thy gallant lord, King Arthur, a guest do I bring ye here;

No tool is he for your mocking, nay, never a harp or lute¹³⁶,

Ye shall choose ye some other plaything, such as courtesy well doth suit;520

Else will I thy lady Enid, and her mother Karnafite

Pass under the mill, and their honour with bitter scorn I’ll smite¹³⁷—

Tho’ I tune¹³⁸ my song to mocking, and thy lips with mockery seal,

Yet here will I guard my hero lest thy scorn he perchance should feel!)

When the lad with his guide so humble to the city walls drew near,525

And Nantes might be well discernèd in the morning light so clear,

‘God keep thee, boy,’ said the fisher, ‘thou seest where thou must ride.’

Quoth the lad yet scant in knowledge, ‘Yet nearer must thou be guide!’

‘Nay, nay, so proud as these court-folk, such folly be far from me,

An’ a peasant came nigh unto them, his welcome would sorry be!’530

So alone the lad rode onward o’er a plain that was none too wide,

And the flowers stood fair around him and blossomed on every side,

No Kurwenal was his teacher and of courtesy knew he naught—

They know it not, the untravelled, till the world hath wisdom taught—

Of hempen twist his bridle, and feeble and faint his steed,535

And oft it fell, as stumbling it went o’er the flowery mead⁹⁸.

And nowhere upon his saddle fair leather and new was seen;

And of samite fair and ermine full great his lack had been.

No mantle¹³⁹ clasp he needed, nor knightly garb he wore,

Of blazoned¹⁴⁰ coat or surcoat; his javelin alone he bore.540

He whose deeds were praised of all men, his father so brave and wise,

Was robed in far other fashion on the carpet ‘fore Kanvoleis!

He who ne’er felt the sweat of terror, to him did a knight draw near;

Then he greeted him, ‘May God keep thee! thus bade me my mother dear.’

‘God reward thee, lad, and thy mother,’ swift answer the knight would bring,545

(Uther Pendragon reared him, he was cousin unto the king,

And unto the land of Bretagne did the self-same knight lay claim)

He was Ither of Gaheviess, ‘The Red Knight’ they called his name.

All dazzling red was his armour, the eye from its glow gleamed red;

Red was his horse swift-footed, and the plumes¹⁴¹ that should deck its head,550

Of samite red its covering; redder than flame his shield;

Fair-fashioned and red his surcoat; and the spear that his hand would wield

Was red, yea, the shaft and the iron; and red at the knight’s desire

Was his sword, yet the blade’s fair keenness was not dimmed by the raging fire.

And the King of Cumberland, stately, in his mailèd hand did hold555

A goblet¹⁴², with skill engraven, and wrought of the good red gold—

From the Table Round had he reft it—All red was his shining hair

Yet white was his skin, and kindly his speech to the lad and fair.

‘Now hail to thy fair young body, that in sooth a true woman bare,

Yea, blessèd is she thy mother! Ne’er saw I a face so fair,560

And the light of thine eyes, I think me, is kindled by love alone,

And Love shall in thee be victor, as by thee Love is overthrown¹⁴³!

And in thee is the joy of woman, whose bliss¹⁴⁴ finds in thee its goal,

And for thee shall the load of sorrow weigh heavy upon the soul—

Now do me this grace I pray thee, an thou wend thee unto the town565

Bear greeting from me to King Arthur, and his heroes of high renown,

And say that no fleeting¹⁴⁵ vision am I who now speak with thee,

But here I abide¹⁴⁶, and await him who thinketh to joust with me!’

‘And never a man will wonder: to the Table Round I came

And there, in the heroes’ presence to my kingdom would I lay claim,570

And with hasty hand I raised it, this cup, and the wine out-poured

The robes of the queen besprinkled, as she sat there beside her lord.

This I did as the custom olden of one who would claim his right

For better I thought the wine-cup, than the straw-wisp all alight,

For its smoke perchance had soiled me, thus I chose it not’ spake the king,575

‘Nor for robbery rode I hither, my crown doth forbid such thing—

Say thou to the queen that the wine-drops, they fell on her ‘gainst my will

Where those heroes sit, nor remember, nor their knighthood as meet fulfil.

Whether kings they shall be or princes o’er-long doth he thirst their king!

This cup, why delay to fetch it? Their fame it hath taken wing!’580

Then the lad spake, ‘I’ll bear thy message, yea, e’en as thou biddest me.’

And then unto Nantes fair city he gat him right speedily,

And many a youth they followed to the court of the palace fair,

And ’twas filled with a motley gathering¹⁴⁷, and they thronged¹⁴⁹ him and pressed him there.

Then Iwanet sprang from out them, and this youth from falsehood free585

He gave him a kindly greeting, and he proffered¹⁵⁰ him company.

And the lad he quoth, ‘God keep thee, (so my mother she bade me speak

Ere yet from home I wended) King Arthur I fain would seek

But here see I full many an Arthur! Who of all these shall make me knight?’

Then Iwanet laughed loud ‘I will show thee, not yet hast thou seen the right!’590

To the Table Round he led him where sat the heroes all

And as best he could for the tumult¹⁵¹ cried the lad thro’ the lofty hall,

‘God keep ye all ye heroes! I greet ye both queen and king,

For thus did my mother bid me fair greeting to ye to bring.

And all who have won by their valour at the Table Round a seat595

Ye gallant knights and heroes, ye too did she bid me greet!

But in one thing my skill doth fail me, who is host here I may not know;

To him do I bear a message from a knight who all red doth glow,

He waiteth without the portal (methinks he is fain to fight)

That he spilt o’er the queen the wine-cup that sorely doth grieve the knight—600

Ah! if I his gear so goodly from the king’s hand as gift might take,

In sooth were I rich in gladness—so knightly and fair its make!’

Thus spake the youth gay and careless, and the courtiers they thronged around

And hither and thither¹⁵² pressed him till scarce might he stand his ground:

And well did they look upon him, for each for himself might see605

That never in man or maiden might the fruit of love fairer be.

And in truth it was no ill working that in Parzival God had wrought,

In whom never a sight of terror had wakened of fear a thought.

Thus they brought him before King Arthur, he whom God for a wonder chose,

And no man might bear him hatred—Then the queen from her seat arose610

And she gazed for a space upon him ere she passed from out the hall

Where the wine from the golden goblet perforce on her robes must fall.

Then Arthur he looked upon him—To the simple youth he spake,

‘Now lad to thy kindly greeting a kindly answer take,

For this would I do thee service, yea with body alike and land;615

This I speak of a true heart truly, so my will doth toward thee stand!’

‘Would to God that were true! Now I think me it well-nigh a year shall be

That I fain would be knight, lacking knighthood all else seemeth ill to me!

Now make thou no more delaying, be knighthood my lot straightway.’

Quoth the king, ‘I were fain to do so if worth fail me not alway,620

So noble art thou to look on; and goodly gifts and rare

Would I give thee; to do thee service I’ll naught of my treasure spare.

Yea, loath¹⁵³ had I been to refuse thee, wait but for to-morrow’s light,

And I myself will dower thee with all that befits a knight.’

The lad like a bird new cagèd, he shook himself to and fro,625

And he quoth, ‘For naught do I ask thee! But that knight who as fire doth glow

If thou givest me not his armour no gift will I take from thee,

My mother will not withhold¹⁵⁴ it—For a queen shall she surely be.’

Then Arthur he quoth, ‘That armour so gallant a knight doth wear

That to give thee a gift so goodly methinks I may hardly dare.630

And guiltless I live in sorrow since his homage I must forego,

Ither he is of Gaheviess; thro’ my joy hath he wrought me woe.’

‘Now my King sure it were ungracious to say to his pleading nay,

Thou shalt give him what he desireth, nor think it too great,’ quoth Kay,

‘Let him forth to the plain; bid him bring thee the cup if it be thy will!635

Here hast thou the whip, there the top is, let the child have of sport his fill.

The women, forsooth, will praise him, and it seemeth good to me

He should learn to take blows an he gives them, many such will his portion be.

For the life of the twain what care I? Each of us needs must have his day,

If thy dogs for the spoil shall hunger, thou must e’en give thy dogs their way.’640

‘I were loath to refuse his pleading, yet I feared lest he here be slain,

And to knighthood I fain had helped him.’ Thus Arthur he spake again.

Thus the lad won the gift he craved for, which many perforce must rue¹³,

And young and old they followed, as forth from the hall he flew.

By the hand would Iwanet lead him, ‘fore a bower¹⁵⁵ that was none too high,645

And backward and forward turning the lad gazed with eager eye.

And the bower was so low that within it the lad he both heard and saw,

And therefrom did he win a sorrow that vexed¹⁵⁶ him with torment¹⁵⁷ sore.

The queen from her bower window to look on the sight was fain,

And her knights and maidens round her they gazed and they gazed again.650

And the maiden Kunnewaaré she sat there, the fair and proud,

And never, that man might wot of, had she laughed or low or loud.

For never she vowed¹⁵⁸, an she died first, would she laugh ere her eyes might see

That knight, who of knights the bravest or was, or henceforth should be.

As the lad rode beneath the window she brake into laughter sweet,655

And her back was sore from the guerdon—reward for a maid unmeet!

For Kay the Seneschal seized her, the maiden of fair Lalande,

By her waving hair, and the tresses he wound fast around his hand,

Without a band he bound her—Tho’ never an oath she sware

His staff he laid unknightly on her maiden shoulders fair,660

And ere ever the sound of the smiting¹⁵⁹ on the ear had died away

Thro’ white skin and royal raiment had he wounded the maid that day.

And thus did he speak in his folly, ‘Now hast thou thine own fair fame

Cast aside, and I wot thou hast done it to thine own mending shame!

Now see, e’en in flight have I caught it, and I bring it to thee once more665

In such wise thou mayst well remember, and be e’en in the memory sore:

For I wot well unto King Arthur, to his court and his palace hall

Many gallant men have ridden, yet hast thou despised them all,

And ne’er hast thou smiled upon them—And now doth thy laughter ring

For one knowing naught of knighthood! Unseemly I deem this thing!’670

Now whate’er might be done in anger I wot well no king’s decree

Had bid him thus smite the maiden; and her friends mourned her bitterly.

(Might she bear knightly shield and armour it had helped not this sore disgrace,

Discourteous the blows were smitten.) She came of a royal race,

Had her gallant brothers seen it, L?helein and Orilus675

Far fewer blows had fallen; she ne’er had been smitten thus.

Now Sir Antanor the Silent, who thro’ silence a fool was thought,

(His speech and the maiden’s laughter on a self-same thread were wrought)

For never a word would he utter till she laughed whom Kay thus did smite,

As clear rang the maiden’s laughter, aloud spake the silent knight,680

‘Now here before God I tell thee, Kunnewaaré of fair Lalande

Thou hast wronged for that lad, and thy guerdon awaiteth thee at his hand,

Nor so weak shall he be, nor so foolish, but he turneth thy bliss to bale!’

‘And thy speech thou hast found but to threaten for joy shall it naught avail.’

His food would he make full bitter.—Kay smote him upon the ear685

With his fist till naught but a singing and a whispering might he hear.

And Parzival saw the sorrow of the maiden and Antanor,

And his heart was hot for their shaming, and grief for their sake he bore,

And he grasped his javelin tightly, but the throng¹⁴⁸ pressed so close around

That perforce the dart¹⁶⁰ must he lower, lest some other aim it found.690

Thus alone from the court of King Arthur rode the son of Gamuret,

And he came to the plain where the Red Knight his foeman awaited yet;

And he bare unto him the tidings how in Nantes was there never a knight

Whose heart yet yearned¹⁶¹ for jousting¹⁶², or who lusted¹⁶³ with him to fight.

‘But a gift King Arthur gave me—I spake as thou saidst before,695

That without thy will had it chanced thee the wine o’er the queen to pour,

Thy discourtesy sorely vexed thee—They think not to fight with thee.

Now give me the steed thou ridest, and thine harness give thou to me,

They were given me in the palace, therein shall I be a knight,

Wouldst withhold them, I will not greet thee—Yield thou what is mine of right!’700

Then the King of Cumberland answered, ‘If Arthur hath given to thee

Mine armour, my life he gave thee, if that life thou canst take from me,

So well doth he love his kinsmen¹⁶⁴! Hath he known thee before to-day,

That so swiftly the service done him with such guerdon he would repay?’

‘I may win what I will I trow me, of a sooth had he given me more;705

Now leave thou thy claim on his kingdom—’Tis time I a knight’s shield bore

For squire¹⁶⁵ will I be no longer!’ He laid on the rein his hand

‘Thou art L?helein, so I think me, who hath taken from me my land!’

Then the knight he turned his spear-shaft, and he struck with so true a blow

That the lad and his sorry charger on the meadow he laid them low,710

And the hero was swift in his anger, and he smote with a will so good

That there where the spear-shaft struck him there sprang forth bright drops of blood.

Then Parzival sprang up swiftly and stood wrathful upon his feet

And he grasped his javelin firmly—Where the helm and the visor meet

And betwixt the twain is an opening, there the javelin swiftly sped715

And thro’ eye and neck it struck him, and the knight on the plain lay dead.

Fierce foe had he been to falsehood; women’s sighs, true hearts wounded sore,

Were the fruit of his death, and with tear-drops must many an eye run o’er.

And they whom his love made joyful their gladness asunder brake,

And their joy to the goal of sorrow o’er a rough road its way must take.720

Then Parzival in his folly turned the dead knight o’er and o’er,

For fain would he loose his armour, yet was lacking the needful lore¹⁶⁶.

He fingered both helm and corslet with his bare white hands alone,

Yet the fastening he failed to loosen, nor with force might they be undone¹⁶⁷

Tho’ oft and again he tried them, who in wisdom was all untaught.725

Then the horses they neighed so loudly that the sound on the breeze was brought

To Iwanet’s ear, and he heard them, by the city moat he stood,

(To Queen Guinevere was he kinsman, and he did to her service good)

He heard the cry of the horses, but naught of the riders saw,

As his true heart would give him counsel, Parzival did he seek once more.730

And Ither lay dead; and his slayer¹⁶⁸ by his folly was vexed amain—

Then swiftly he sprang to aid him, and Parzival thanks must gain

For the honour he here had won him o’er the hero of Cumberland:

‘God reward thee, but give me counsel for skill here doth fail mine hand,

How best may I loose this armour which myself I were fain to wear?’735

‘Such lore I right well may teach thee,’ quoth Iwanet the proud and fair,

So the armour was reft from the dead man, ‘fore Nantes on the grassy¹⁶⁹ plain,

And they did it upon the living, o’er whose dealings did folly reign¹⁷⁰.

Quoth Iwanet, ‘These leather leggings fit not with the mailèd gear,

As a knight shalt thou now be clothèd,’ and the lad deemed it ill to hear;740

Quoth Parzival, ‘What my mother aforetime hath given me

That cometh not from my body, or for good or for ill it be!’

And much did Iwanet marvel, for clever was he i’ troth,

Yet he followed perforce his bidding, nor waxed at his folly wroth.

And he drew above the leggings the hosen of shining mail,745

Nor the spurs with red gold in-wroughten should unto the harness fail,

And of silk and gold the laces, nor leather might there be found.

Ere he gave unto him the corslet he bound him with greaves around,

And tho’ o’er-long Parzival deemed it yet the time was swiftly sped,

Ere in knightly armour shining he clad him from foot to head.750

Then the lad would have ta’en his quiver, but Iwanet he spake out free,

‘Nay, no javelin will I give thee, unknightly such arms shall be!’

Then he girt the sharp sword around him, and he showed how to draw the blade,

And he bade him ne’er fly in battle, nor in conflict to be dismayed.

Then nearer he led unto him the charger the dead knight rode,755

And ’twas tall and strong, yet the saddle the youth with one spring bestrode,

He recked not the weight of his armour, and of stirrups had little need—

E’en to-day do men speak of his swiftness, and the fame of his mighty deeds.

Nor o’er-much did Iwanet think it to teach him with fitting skill

To hold his shield and to guard him, while he wrought to his foeman ill;760

And a spear in his hand he gave him—But Parzival turned aside,

‘Nay, nay, what good may that do me?’ ‘If a joust one with thee would ride

Thou shalt on thy foeman break it, perchance drive it thro’ his shield,

If thou doest that oft, ‘fore the maidens will they praise thee for well-fought field.’

And this hath the venture told me,—Not in Maestricht, or e’en Cologne765

Might a painter so fair a picture as this lad and his steed have shown.

Then straightway he spake to Iwanet, ‘My friend and companion dear,

The boon¹⁷² that I asked have I won me, of that art thou witness here.

My service bear thou to the city, to Arthur the noble king,

And mourn unto him my shaming—This cup thou again shalt bring,770

And tell him a knight hath wronged me, since he smote that maiden fair

Who looked, and who laughed upon me, and grief for her grief I bear.

Nor hath it but lightly touched me, it hath pierced to my inmost heart

This maid’s woe all undeservèd—Now do thou in her shame have part

Thro’ the friendship that thou hast shown me! God keep thee in peace alway,775

And watch o’er us twain, for I think me no longer I here may stay!’

And Ither the prince of Gaheviess on the plain had he lifeless left,

E’en in death was he fair to look on who was thus of fair life bereft.

If in joust by a spear-thrust pierced he thro’ knighthood his death must gain

Who had mourned for the grief and the marvel? By a javelin he here was slain.780

Then Iwanet he strewed¹⁷³ above him a covering of blossoms bright,

And he smote the shaft of the javelin in the ground by the fallen knight,

And that lad so true and faithful, he pierced with the crimson¹⁷⁴ blade

A bough¹⁷⁵ of wood, and in this wise a cross o’er the dead man made.

Then he gat him again to the city, and the heavy tidings told;785

And from many a trembling woman, and from many a hero bold

Rose the wail¹⁰⁴ of love and of sorrow; and the dead would they fetch in state,

And the Host they bare before her, as the queen passed the city gate.

Then o’er Cumberland’s prince and hero, who by Parzival’s hand was slain,

Queen Guinevere spake in sorrow while her tear-drops they flowed amain,790

‘Alas! alas! for broken in twain is King Arthur’s might,

For he whom the good Round Table accounted its bravest knight

Here slain before Nantes he lieth! His heritage did he claim

Where men gave him death for his guerdon—For naught marred¹⁷⁶ his knightly fame;

Here long hath he dwelt among us in such wise that never an ear795

The tale of a deed unknightly, or wrong he had done, might hear.

He held him afar from falsehood, to guile was he aye a foe;

The lock and the seal of knighthood all too soon must we bury low.

His heart wise in courteous wisdom, and steadfast as seal and sign,

Taught him ever the fairest counsel that a man’s heart might aye divine,800

Whereby with true love and courage a man woman’s love may woo

And show manhood’s truth—Fruit-bearing it seedeth itself anew

The plant of all woman’s sorrow! From thy wounds grief shall ever grow—

So red was thy hair that the blossoms that bloom here thy corse below

Scarce redder may be with thy life-blood—All laughter hast thou forbid805

To fair women, and joy and gladness by thy death are for ever hid.’

Thus Ither, beloved of all men, as a king in the grave was laid,—

With his life must he pay for his armour who taught sighing to many a maid,

Since Parzival in his folly for the harness his death had sought,

Hereafter, when he won wisdom, he scarcely such deed had wrought!810

NOW this might ye mark in the charger, great labour it held as naught,

Were it hot, were it cold, no journey the sweat on its coat had brought;

It sped over stone or tree-trunk, and scarce was there need to draw

The girth by one hole the tighter if the knight for two days it bore.

So fully¹⁷⁷ armed, in his folly yet further he rode that day815

Than a wise man unarmed in two days if his steed he betimes would stay.

And ever it onward galloped¹⁷⁸, and but seldom would walk or trot¹⁷¹,

How to check its speed by the bridle as yet Parzival knew not.

Then he saw the roof of a castle rise fair in the evening glow,

And the lad he thought in his folly that the towers from the earth must grow820

Since the one roof bare so many—And he thought Arthur sowed such seed,

And he who could work such marvels were a holy man indeed!

Then he said, ‘While at home I tarried ne’er looked I on woodland field

That a crop so rich and so stately in growth might ever yield;

I think me my mother’s people their labour but little know,825

For never too dry, I think me, is the soil where their seed they sow!’—

Now Gurnemanz of Graharz of this mighty Burg was lord:

At his portal a spreading linden stood fair on the summer sward,

Nor too long nor too wide was the meadow, and the horse and the road they led

To where Parzival found him seated who of castle and land was head.830

Now weariness sore constrained¹⁷⁹ him, nor his shield might he rightly hold

But it backward and forward wavered as beseemed not a rider bold.

And Prince Gurnemanz sat all lonely, and the boughs¹⁸⁰ of the linden tree

Gave shade as was meet to its master, the captain of courtesy—

And his life it fled from falsehood—Then e’en as should be his right835

He gave to the guest fair welcome, and with him stood nor squire nor knight.

Then Parzival made him answer—In his folly he spake straightway,

‘My mother bade me seek counsel from an old man with locks of grey;

For thy rede will I do thee service, for so did my mother speak!’

‘If here thou art come for counsel, and aid at my lips would seek,840

Thy favour thou still shalt leave me whatever my counsel be,

If thou will that thy prayer I hearken, and give rede as seem best to me!’

Then the prince cast a yearling falcon¹⁸¹ from his hand and aloft it flew,

And it winged its way to the castle, and its golden bells rang true,

’Twas a messenger; and the pages came swiftly in garments fair,845

And he bade them to lead the guest in, and lodging¹⁸² as meet prepare;

And the lad he spake in his folly, ‘My mother she told me true,

An thou follow an old man’s counsel his rede shalt thou never rue!

And the pages they led him straightway where stood many a gallant knight,

And there in the castle courtyard from his steed did they bid him light.850

Spake the youth, and he showed his folly, ’Tis a King who hath bidden me

Be a knight, and whate’er befall me on this charger my seat shall be.

My mother she bade me greet ye!’ And mother they thanked and son,

(Both horse and man were wearied) then, the words of greeting done,

Full many a time they urged him, but it cost them many a thought855

Ere the lad within the castle, and from off his steed they brought.

Then they led him to a chamber¹⁸³, and they prayed the stranger guest,

‘Let us loose thine harness off thee, that thy wearied limbs find rest.’

But scarce had they loosed his armour when lo! there came to view

A garment e’en such as Fools wear, and leggings of calf-skin new;860

Then startled and shamed they turned them, and they whispered each to all,

And with bated breath the tidings ran swift through the castle hall,

And the host for shame was speechless—But a knight spake in courtesy,

‘Let that be as it may, one so noble mine eyes they might never see,

And Good Fortune hath looked upon him by his mien so high and fair—865

Ah! he whom Love’s light hath chosen, who bade him such garb to wear?

And it grieveth me sore to find thus on the World’s Joy such poor attire¹⁸⁴.

Ah! well for the mother who bare him, she hath won her full heart’s desire!

And his helmet is decked so costly; ere his harness from him we took

It became him well, and knightly and noble I ween his look,870

And many a bruise¹⁸⁵ and blood-stain the lad on his limbs doth bear.’

Quoth the host, ”Tis perchance a woman who bade him such garb to wear!’

‘Nay, Sire, for so strange his bearing he would know not a maid to pray

To take from him knightly homage,—Tho’ his face is so fair alway

It had fitted him well for Love’s service.’ Then the host spake, ”Tis best we see875

This lad, in whose strange attiring¹⁸⁶ a marvel for sure shall be!’

Then to Parzival they betook them, and they found that a wound he bare

From a spear that was never shattered, and the host for his hurts would care,

And so kindly I ween his tending that a father, whose heartfelt love

To his children, found no denial, his faith might no better prove.880

And he washed his wounds and bound them, the prince, with his own right hand,

Ere forth to the hall he led him where the evening meal should stand.

And food the guest sore needed, and hungry was he alway,

From the house of the fisherman fasting had he ridden at break of day,

And his wound and the heavy harness which he before Nantes had won885

Wrought him weariness sore and hunger ere ever the ride was done.

For from Arthur the King of the Bretons the whole day he needs must ride,

Nor his fast at the Court had broken, and now it was eventide.

Then the host bade him eat at his table, and Parzival did his will,

And the food it swiftly vanished, as if one would a manger fill!890

And Gurnemanz was well pleasèd, and ever the lad did pray

To eat as he would, and his hunger and weariness put away.

When ’twas time, and the meal was ended, ‘Now weary art thou, I ween,’

Quoth the host to his guest, ‘If this morning betimes thou a-foot hast been?’

‘God knoweth my mother slumbered, so early she ne’er doth wake.’895

Then the host he laughed, and he led him where rest he right well might take,

And he bade him disrobe, tho’ unwilling, he needs must—An ermine fair

They cast o’er his naked body,—fairer fruit never woman bare!

By weariness taught to slumber, but seldom throughout the night

On his other side did he turn him, he might well wait the morning light.900

Then the prince he bade his servants ere ever ’twas middle day,

A bath, as was meet, make ready by the couch where the young knight lay,

And roses they threw within it—And tho’ he no call might hear

The guest awoke from his slumbers¹⁸⁷, and he stepped in the waters clear.

I know not who sent them hither, but maidens richly dressed,905

Lovely and sweet to look on, all courteous sought the guest,

They washed his wounds and bound them with their hands so soft and white,

(Nor should this o’er strange have seemed him who was reft of wisdom’s might)

And both ease he felt and gladness, nor his folly they made him rue—

Thus these fair and gentle maidens they tended the lad anew,910

And they spake ’twixt themselves, and he hearkened, yet never a word would say,

Yet too early he might not deem it, for they shone as a second day,

And their beauty it vied with the morning, yet his fairness outshone the twain,

For naught to the youth was lacking that favour and praise might gain.

Then a linen¹⁸⁸ cloth they proffered, but the lad he took it ill,915

An he robed himself before them, their presence should shame him still.

Perforce must the maidens leave him, nor longer might linger there

Tho’ in sooth they would fain have questioned lest deeper the wounds he bare.

(For such was the way of woman, and such is true woman’s will,

Tho’ scatheless¹⁸⁹ themselves yet the sorrow of a friend it doth work them ill.)920

Then he strode to the bed, and he found there fresh raiment so fine and white,

With a girdle he bound it round him, ’twas of silk and of gold so bright;

And hosen of scarlet¹⁹⁰ woollen they drew on the fearless knight,

In sooth they well became him who was comely in all men’s sight.

And of ruddy brown well fashioned, (nor lining¹⁹¹ they thought to spare)925

Were robe alike and mantle, and within was the ermine fair,

And without were they decked with sable, both black and grey in hue¹⁹²;

Then the gallant youth the mantle around his shoulders threw,

With a belt so rich and costly he girt him found the waist,

And the fastening of the mantle with a golden clasp was graced.930

And his mouth was red and glowing—Then his host he drew anigh,

And many a proud knight followed, to greet him courteously¹⁹³,

And e’en as ’twas done the heroes they spake with a great amaze

‘Ne’er saw they a man so goodly!’—And all would the mother praise

Who such son to the world had given—And in truth and in courtesy935

They spake, ‘Whatsoe’er he asketh for his service fulfilled shall be,

And favour and love await him if his worth win its meed alway,’

And of those who hereafter saw him none were there who said them nay.

By his hand the host then took him, and forth from his chamber led,

And the prince fain would hear the story how the night hours with him had sped,940

‘Were it otherwise, I think me that living I scarce might wake,

’Twas well that my mother bade me thus shelter with thee to take

Ere yet from her I had ridden—May God requite¹⁹⁴ ye both,

For mercy Sir Knight, and kindness, hast thou shown to me nothing loth.’

So went our hero witless where to God and the host they’d sing,945

And the prince by the Mass would teach him that which health to the soul shall bring.

He would rede him well of the Offering—How to sign himself with the Cross,

And thus work on the Devil vengeance, who seeketh for aye our loss!

Then again to the hall of the castle and the morning meal they came,

And the host set his guest beside him, and he ate without fear or shame.950

Then out spake the prince so courteous, ‘An it seemeth not ill to thee,

Fain am I to know thy dwelling¹⁹⁵, and from whence thou art come to me?’

Then frankly¹⁹⁶ he told the story how his mother’s side he fled,

Of the ring and the clasp so golden, and the winning the harness red.

And the prince he knew the Red Knight, and his fate it pleased him ill,955

And the name of his guest he asked not but ‘The Red Knight’ he called him still.

Then e’en as the meal was over, were they tamed the ways so wild,

For the host to his guest he quoth thus ‘Thou speakest as doth a child,

Why hold not thy peace of thy mother, and otherwise turn thy speech?

An thou follow henceforth my counsel far wiser the ways I’ll teach!’960

‘And thus I begin, do thou hearken—From true shame shalt thou never flee,

A shameless man, bethink thee, what place in the world hath he?

As a bird that moulteth ever so his honour doth fall away,

And hereafter he hath his portion in the fires of Hell for aye.’

‘So noble methinks thy bearing, a folk’s Lord thou well mayst be;965

If high be thy birth, and yet higher the lot that awaiteth thee,

Then see that thy heart hath pity for the poor and needy¹⁹⁷ man

And fight thou against his sorrow with free gifts as best thou can,

For a true knight must aye be humble—A brave man who need doth know

Full often with shame he battles, and sore is that strife I trow,970

For him shall thy help be ready—(Who lighteneth his brother’s need

From Heaven he winneth favour as rewarding for righteous deed.)

For in sooth his case is harder than theirs who as beggars stand

‘Neath the window, and succour seeking, for bread shall stretch forth the hand.’

‘Thou shalt learn in a fitting measure both rich and poor to be,975

Who spendeth as lord at all times no lordly soul hath he—

Yet who heapeth o’er-much his treasure he winneth methinks but shame,

But give thou unto each their honour, so best shalt thou guard thy fame.’

‘I saw well as thou earnest hither that thou hadst of my counsel need—

Yield not unto ways discourteous but give to thy bearing heed,980

Nor be thou so swift to question—Yet I would not that thou withhold

An answer good and fitting to the speech one with thee would hold.

Thou canst hear and see, I wot well full five shalt thy senses be,

An thou use them aright, then wisdom it draweth anear to thee.’

‘In thy wrath remember mercy, and slay not a conquered foe,985

He who to thine arms shall yield him take his pledge and let him go;

Unless he such ill have wrought thee as sorrow of heart doth give,

An my counsel thou fain wouldst follow, then in sooth shalt thou let him live.’

‘Full oft shalt thou bear thy harness—When thy knightly task is sped

Thy hands and face thou shalt cleanse¹⁹⁸ them from the rust²³ and the iron red,990

For such is in truth thy duty, so thy face shall be fair and bright,

And when maiden’s eyes behold thee they shall deem thee a goodly sight.’

‘Be manly and of good courage, so shalt thou deserve thy fame;

Hold women in love and honour, it shall be to thine own good name;

And be ever steadfast-minded as befitteth good man and true,995

An with lies thou wouldst fain deceive them much harm can thy dealings do.

If true love be repaid with falsehood then swift shalt the judgment¹⁹⁹ be,

And a speedy end to all honour and renown shall it bring to thee.

As beneath the stealthy footsteps of the thief the dry stick breaks,

And the slumbering²⁰⁰ watcher, startled, to his danger swiftly wakes1000

So false ways and dealings crooked²⁰¹ in their wake bring but strife and woe;

Prove this by true love, for true women have skill ‘gainst the hidden foe,

And their wiles²⁰² can outweigh¹¹⁰ his cunning—An thou winnest from women hate,

Then for ever art thou dishonoured²⁰³, and shame on thy life shall wait.’

‘So take thou to heart my counsel—And more would I tell to thee;1005

Husband and wife united as one shall they ever be,

As the sun that this morning shineth, and this morn that we call to-day,

So the twain may be sundered²⁰⁴ never but one shall be held alway.

As twin blossoms from one root springing e’en so shall they bloom and grow;

With wisdom receive my counsel that its truth thou hereafter know.’1010

Then he thanked his host for his teaching, nor spake of his mother more,

But as true man and son so loving in his heart her memory bore.

Then the prince spake as did him honour, ‘Yet more will I teach to thee,

Thou shalt learn knightly skill and bearing—In such wise didst thou come to me,

Full many a wall have I looked on that the shields might better deck1015

Than that shield erewhile became thee, as it hung there around thy neck.

None too late shall be the morning, we’ll hence to the open field,

And fitting skill I’ll teach thee that thine arms thou mayst rightly wield.

So bring to my guest his charger, and mine shalt thou hither lead,

And each knight shall make him ready, and mount, e’en as I, his steed.1020

And pages shall thither follow, and each one shall bear a spear,

And the shaft shall be strong and untested, and blazoned with colours clear.’

So the prince and his guest together they rode to the grassy plain,

And many a feat³⁷ so skilful was shown by that knightly train.

And the lad he learned how to check him his charger in seeming flight1025

With touch of spur, and turn him once more ‘gainst the foeman’s might;

His spear to sink as needed, and before him hold his shield

As he rode a joust; ‘Thus shalt thou thine arms in future wield!’

Thus of lack of skill he cured him better than by the bough

That smiteth unruly children and breaketh their skin I trow.1030

Then he bade swift knights come hither, and a joust with the stranger ride,

And himself to the ring he led him, and against the foe would guide;

And the lad in his first joust carried his spear through the foeman’s shield,

And tho’ strong was the knight yet he smote him from his steed on the open field.

And they marvelled²⁰⁵ much who beheld it—Then another to joust rode near,1035

And Parzival took unto him a fresh and unbroken spear,

And his youth had strength and courage—The beardless lad and fair

Was spurred by his inborn²⁰⁶ manhood, and to Gamuret’s skill was heir—

Then he urged his charger onward full swiftly against the foe,

And his spear rang true on the four nails, and struck nor too high nor low,1040

Nor the host’s knight might keep his saddle, but prone²⁰⁷ on the sward he fell,

Of the spear-shaft full many a splinter the force of the blow might tell.

Thus five of the knights were smitten ere the host to the Burg would ride,

And the victory was his, and hereafter fierce strife might he well abide.

Then they who his deeds had witnessed, the wise men, they needs must say1045

That great was the skill and valour he had shown in the joust that day,

‘Our lord may be free of sorrow, and his youth it may bloom anew

If he give him to wife his daughter, our lady so fair and true.

If we see him wax in wisdom then the sorrow shall be o’erpast—

The death of his sons a shadow o’erlong o’er his life hath cast,1050

But now to his door hath ridden one who maketh amends²⁰⁸ for all,

And gladness no more shall fly him, but it seeketh his palace hall!’

Then homeward they turned at even when the board for the feast was spread,

And the prince bade his daughter hither (for so I the tale have read)

As he saw the maid draw near him the host to Liassé spake,1055

‘To this knight shalt thou do all honour, and a kiss from his lips shalt take,

With Good Fortune for guide he fareth! And of thee would I pray this thing,

If token perchance she beareth, thou wilt leave to the maid her ring—

Yet none hath she, nor clasp—Who should give her what that forest princess wore?

For she won from the hand of her husband what thine hand from her raiment tore,1060

From Liassé canst thou take little’—Then the lad he must blush for shame,

On her lips did kiss the maiden, and her mouth it was red as flame.

And Liassé was fair to look on, and gentle of heart and pure,

And a hero might well have loved her with a love that should aye endure.

Full long and low was the table, nor many might sit thereat,1065

At its head was the prince so kindly, and his guest by his side he set

Betwixt him and his daughter, and the maiden with snow-white hand

Must carve, as he willed, for the Red Knight, so her father would give command,

And courteous, she did his bidding, and none did the twain prevent

As shy glances rosy-blushing, they each to the other sent!1070

The feast over, the maiden left them, but she bade not the guest ‘Farewell,’

For twice seven days in honour Parzival with his host did dwell.

But within his heart lay a sorrow, ’twas no other I ween than this,

He would he enough had striven to be worthy of wedded²⁰⁹ bliss,

And he thought him a goal so worthy must lead to a guerdon high1075

Both in this life and e’en in the other—And these words they shall be no lie.

One morning for leave he prayed him, from Graharz he fain would ride,

And his host, sore loth to lose him, awhile rode his steed beside.

Fresh sprang of grief the fountain as the prince spake, ‘I lose once more

A son, Death of three hath robbed me, thy loss now shall make them four.1080

And threefold it was, my sorrow—Who my heart would in pieces smite

Fourfold and from hence would bear them, in the pain should I find delight.

One for thee, since thou ridest from me, and three for my three sons slain—

Bravely they fell in battle, such guerdon doth knighthood gain!’

‘And its end is of sorrow woven—One death all my joy doth lame,1085

The death of my son so gallant, Schenteflur did they call his name;

When Kondwiramur her kingdom and herself would withhold with strife

From Klamidé the king, and Kingron, in her aid did he lose his life,

And my heart with the thrust of sorrow, as a hedge is it piercèd thro’.

Now all too soon dost thou leave me since no comfort from thee I drew,1090

Ah! would Death were here my portion since Liassé, that maiden bright,

And the land I had deemed so goodly find no favour in this thy sight!’

‘My other son, Count Laskoit, by Idêr son of Noit was slain

Anent a hawk—Little gladness from his death I methinks might gain—

Gurzgrei did they call my third son, to whom Mahaut gave her heart,1095

As his wife did he win the maiden from her brother proud Ekunat.

‘Gainst Brandigan on a venture for Schoie-de-la-kurt he’ld ride,

And the Prince Mabonagrein smote him, and there by his hand he died.

And Mahaut she lost her beauty, and his mother, my wife, lay dead,

For thro’ sorrow and bitter yearning²¹⁰ the days of her life were sped.’1100

Then the guest saw his host’s deep sorrow as he told unto him his woe,

And he quoth, ‘Little wisdom have I, yet if ever the day I know

When I win knightly fame and honour, so that maiden I well may woo,

Thou shalt give unto me Liassé, thy daughter so fair and true.

Thou hast told me of o’er-much sorrow; if thy grief I may lift from thee1105

From the load of so sore a burden I gladly will set thee free!’

Then leave from the prince so kindly the young knight that morn would pray,

And from all his gallant vassals²¹¹; and he rode from their land away;

And the prince, in the game of sorrow, tho’ heavy before his throw,

Had lost yet more, for from threefold to fourfold his grief must grow.

1 homage   

n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬

参考例句：

• We pay homage to the genius of Shakespeare.我们对莎士比亚的天才表示敬仰。
• The soldiers swore to pay their homage to the Queen.士兵们宣誓效忠于女王陛下。

2 nay   

adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者

参考例句：

• He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的，不，应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
• Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章，不，应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。

3 kindle   

v.点燃，着火

参考例句：

• This wood is too wet to kindle.这木柴太湿点不着。
• A small spark was enough to kindle Lily's imagination.一星光花足以点燃莉丽的全部想象力。

4 wrought   

v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的

参考例句：

• Events in Paris wrought a change in British opinion towards France and Germany.巴黎发生的事件改变了英国对法国和德国的看法。
• It's a walking stick with a gold head wrought in the form of a flower.那是一个金质花形包头的拐杖。

5 wrath   

n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒

参考例句：

• His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
• The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

6 mingle   

vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往

参考例句：

• If we mingle with the crowd,we should not be noticed.如果我们混在人群中，就不会被注意到。
• Oil will not mingle with water.油和水不相融。

7 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

8 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

9 maidens   

处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球

参考例句：

• stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
• Transplantation is not always successful in the matter of flowers or maidens. 花儿移栽往往并不成功，少女们换了环境也是如此。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

10 lair   

n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处

参考例句：

• How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's lair?不入虎穴，焉得虎子？
• I retired to my lair,and wrote some letters.我回到自己的躲藏处，写了几封信。

11 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

12 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

13 rue   

n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔

参考例句：

• You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。
• You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。

14 renown   

n.声誉，名望

参考例句：

• His renown has spread throughout the country.他的名声已传遍全国。
• She used to be a singer of some renown.她曾是位小有名气的歌手。

15 slander   

n./v.诽谤，污蔑

参考例句：

• The article is a slander on ordinary working people.那篇文章是对普通劳动大众的诋毁。
• He threatened to go public with the slander.他威胁要把丑闻宣扬出去。

16 knightly   

adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地

参考例句：

• He composed heroic songs and began to write many a tale of enchantment and knightly adventure. 他谱写英雄短歌并着手编写不少记叙巫术和骑士历险的故事。
• If you wear knight costumes, you will certainly have a knightly manner. 身着骑士装，令您具有骑士风度。

17 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

18 harp   

n.竖琴；天琴座

参考例句：

• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。
• He played an Irish melody on the harp.他用竖琴演奏了一首爱尔兰曲调。

19 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

20 marvels   

n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春，病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
• Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句

21 wondrous   

adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地

参考例句：

• The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。
• We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。

22 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

23 rust   

n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退

参考例句：

• She scraped the rust off the kitchen knife.她擦掉了菜刀上的锈。
• The rain will rust the iron roof.雨水会使铁皮屋顶生锈。

24 vexes   

v.使烦恼( vex的第三人称单数 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• Her continuous chatter vexes me. 她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His continuous chatter vexes me. 他唠叨不休，真烦死我了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

25 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

26 thereby   

adv.因此，从而

参考例句：

• I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
• He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

27 strand   

vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地）

参考例句：

• She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears.她把一缕散发夹到了耳后。
• The climbers had been stranded by a storm.登山者被暴风雨困住了。

28 rosy   

adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的

参考例句：

• She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作，生活看上去很美好。
• She always takes a rosy view of life.她总是对生活持乐观态度。

29 hap   

n.运气；v.偶然发生

参考例句：

• Some have the hap,some stick in the gap.有的人走运, 有的人倒霉。
• May your son be blessed by hap and happiness.愿你儿子走运幸福。

30 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

31 toil   

vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事

参考例句：

• The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
• Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

32 toiled   

长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉

参考例句：

• They toiled up the hill in the blazing sun. 他们冒着炎炎烈日艰难地一步一步爬上山冈。
• He toiled all day long but earned very little. 他整天劳碌但挣得很少。

33 furrow   

n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹

参考例句：

• The tractor has make deep furrow in the loose sand.拖拉机在松软的沙土上留下了深深的车辙。
• Mei did not weep.She only bit her lips,and the furrow in her brow deepened.梅埋下头，她咬了咬嘴唇皮，额上的皱纹显得更深了。

34 furrows   

n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• I could tell from the deep furrows in her forehead that she was very disturbed by the news. 从她额头深深的皱纹上，我可以看出她听了这个消息非常不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dirt bike trails crisscrossed the grassy furrows. 越野摩托车的轮迹纵横交错地布满条条草沟。 来自辞典例句

35 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

36 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

37 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

38 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

39 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

40 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

41 rapture   

n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜

参考例句：

• His speech was received with rapture by his supporters.他的演说受到支持者们的热烈欢迎。
• In the midst of his rapture,he was interrupted by his father.他正欢天喜地，被他父亲打断了。

42 brook   

n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让

参考例句：

• In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
• The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。

43 snare   

n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑

参考例句：

• I used to snare small birds such as sparrows.我曾常用罗网捕捉麻雀等小鸟。
• Most of the people realized that their scheme was simply a snare and a delusion.大多数人都认识到他们的诡计不过是一个骗人的圈套。

44 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

45 riddle   

n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜

参考例句：

• The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.这个谜语孩子猜不出来。
• Her disappearance is a complete riddle.她的失踪完全是一个谜。

46 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

47 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

48 javelin   

n.标枪，投枪

参考例句：

• She achieved a throw of sixty metres in the javelin event.在掷标枪项目中，她掷了60米远。
• The coach taught us how to launch a javelin.教练教我们投标枪。

49 thickets   

n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物

参考例句：

• Small trees became thinly scattered among less dense thickets. 小树稀稀朗朗地立在树林里。 来自辞典例句
• The entire surface is covered with dense thickets. 所有的地面盖满了密密层层的灌木丛。 来自辞典例句

50 thicket   

n.灌木丛，树林

参考例句：

• A thicket makes good cover for animals to hide in.丛林是动物的良好隐蔽处。
• We were now at the margin of the thicket.我们现在已经来到了丛林的边缘。

51 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。

52 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

53 shaft   

n.(工具的)柄，杆状物

参考例句：

• He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。
• This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。

54 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

55 knights   

骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马

参考例句：

• stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
• He wove a fascinating tale of knights in shining armour. 他编了一个穿着明亮盔甲的骑士的迷人故事。

56 armour   

（=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队

参考例句：

• His body was encased in shining armour.他全身披着明晃晃的甲胄。
• Bulletproof cars sheathed in armour.防弹车护有装甲。

57 gallant   

adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的

参考例句：

• Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
• These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。

58 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

59 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

60 bridle   

n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒

参考例句：

• He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
• I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。

61 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

62 plumed   

饰有羽毛的

参考例句：

• The knight plumed his helmet with brilliant red feathers. 骑士用鲜红的羽毛装饰他的头盔。
• The eagle plumed its wing. 这只鹰整理它的翅膀。

63 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

64 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。

65 onward   

adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先

参考例句：

• The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
• He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。

66 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

67 naught   

n.无，零 [=nought]

参考例句：

• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
• I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。

68 bridles   

约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带

参考例句：

• The horses were shod with silver and golden bridles. 这些马钉着金银做的鉄掌。

69 asunder   

adj.分离的，化为碎片

参考例句：

• The curtains had been drawn asunder.窗帘被拉向两边。
• Your conscience,conviction,integrity,and loyalties were torn asunder.你的良心、信念、正直和忠诚都被扯得粉碎了。

70 slay   

v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮

参考例句：

• He intended to slay his father's murderer.他意图杀死杀父仇人。
• She has ordered me to slay you.她命令我把你杀了。

71 wield   

vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等)

参考例句：

• They wield enormous political power.他们行使巨大的政治权力。
• People may wield the power in a democracy.在民主国家里，人民可以行使权力。

72 mien   

n.风采；态度

参考例句：

• He was a Vietnam veteran with a haunted mien.他是个越战老兵，举止总有些惶然。
• It was impossible to tell from his mien whether he was offended.从他的神态中难以看出他是否生气了。

73 goaded   

v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人

参考例句：

• Goaded beyond endurance, she turned on him and hit out. 她被气得忍无可忍，于是转身向他猛击。
• The boxers were goaded on by the shrieking crowd. 拳击运动员听见观众的喊叫就来劲儿了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

74 slumber   

n.睡眠，沉睡状态

参考例句：

• All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber.住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
• Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest.不要把他从睡眠中唤醒，因为他需要休息。

75 slumbered   

微睡，睡眠（slumber的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The baby slumbered in his cradle. 婴儿安睡在摇篮中。
• At that time my virtue slumbered; my evil, kept awake by ambition. 就在那时，我的善的一面睡着了，我的邪恶面因野心勃勃而清醒着。

76 smitten   

猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 )

参考例句：

• From the moment they met, he was completely smitten by her. 从一见面的那一刻起，他就完全被她迷住了。
• It was easy to see why she was smitten with him. 她很容易看出为何她为他倾倒。

77 misgave   

v.使（某人的情绪、精神等）疑虑，担忧，害怕( misgive的过去式 )

参考例句：

• Her mind misgave her about her friend. 她对她的朋友心存疑虑。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The air was pitilessly raw and already my heart misgave me. 寒气透骨地阴冷，我心里一阵阵忐忑不安。 来自辞典例句

78 wile   

v.诡计，引诱；n.欺骗，欺诈

参考例句：

• The music wiled him from his study.诱人的音乐使他无心学习下去。
• The sunshine wiled me from my work.阳光引诱我放下了工作。

79 crave   

vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求

参考例句：

• Many young children crave attention.许多小孩子渴望得到关心。
• You may be craving for some fresh air.你可能很想呼吸呼吸新鲜空气。

80 gainsay   

v.否认，反驳

参考例句：

• She is a fine woman-that nobody can gainsay.她是个好女人无人能否认。
• No one will gainsay his integrity.没有人对他的正直有话可讲。

81 scoff   

n.嘲笑，笑柄，愚弄；v.嘲笑，嘲弄，愚弄，狼吞虎咽

参考例句：

• You are not supposed to scoff at religion.你不该嘲弄宗教。
• He was the scoff of the town.他成为全城的笑柄。

82 garb   

n.服装，装束

参考例句：

• He wore the garb of a general.他身着将军的制服。
• Certain political,social,and legal forms reappear in seemingly different garb.一些政治、社会和法律的形式在表面不同的外衣下重复出现。

83 wont   

adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯

参考例句：

• He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
• It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。

84 beheld   

v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

85 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

86 limpid   

adj.清澈的，透明的

参考例句：

• He has a pair of limpid blue eyes.他有一双清澈的蓝眼睛。
• The sky was a limpid blue,as if swept clean of everything.碧空如洗。

87 courteous   

adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的

参考例句：

• Although she often disagreed with me,she was always courteous.尽管她常常和我意见不一，但她总是很谦恭有礼。
• He was a kind and courteous man.他为人友善，而且彬彬有礼。

88 chide   

v.叱责；谴责

参考例句：

• However,they will chide you if you try to speak French.然而，如果你试图讲法语，就会遭到他们的责骂。
• He thereupon privately chide his wife for her forwardness in the matter.于是他私下责备他的妻子，因为她对这种事热心。

89 heed   

v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心

参考例句：

• You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
• For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

90 wrested   

（用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去…

参考例句：

• The usurper wrested the power from the king. 篡位者从国王手里夺取了权力。
• But now it was all wrested from him. 可是现在，他却被剥夺了这一切。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

91 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。

92 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。

93 smote   

v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 )

参考例句：

• Figuratively, he could not kiss the hand that smote him. 打个比方说，他是不能认敌为友。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• \"Whom Pearl smote down and uprooted, most unmercifully.\" 珠儿会毫不留情地将这些\"儿童\"踩倒，再连根拔起。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学

94 tare   

n.皮重；v.量皮重

参考例句：

• Please tell me the cargo the tare and the size?请告诉我货物的包装重量和尺寸？
• Weight includes tare weight and net weight.重量包括皮重与净重。

95 woe   

n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌

参考例句：

• Our two peoples are brothers sharing weal and woe.我们两国人民是患难与共的兄弟。
• A man is well or woe as he thinks himself so.自认祸是祸，自认福是福。

96 rippling   

起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的

参考例句：

• I could see the dawn breeze rippling the shining water. 我能看见黎明的微风在波光粼粼的水面上吹出道道涟漪。
• The pool rippling was caused by the waving of the reeds. 池塘里的潺潺声是芦苇摇动时引起的。

97 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

98 mead   

n.蜂蜜酒

参考例句：

• He gave me a cup of mead.他给我倒了杯蜂蜜酒。
• He drank some mead at supper.晚饭时他喝了一些蜂蜜酒。

99 happed   

v.偶然发生( hap的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I remember quite clearly nom when the story happed. 我仍清楚地记得故事发生的时候。 来自互联网
• Dont cry berause it over, smile because it happed. 不要因为完结而哭泣，要为曾经发生面微笑。 来自互联网

100 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

101 kindled   

（使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光

参考例句：

• We watched as the fire slowly kindled. 我们看着火慢慢地燃烧起来。
• The teacher's praise kindled a spark of hope inside her. 老师的赞扬激起了她内心的希望。

102 sable   

n.黑貂；adj.黑色的

参考例句：

• Artists' brushes are sometimes made of sable.画家的画笔有的是用貂毛制的。
• Down the sable flood they glided.他们在黑黝黝的洪水中随波逐流。

103 skilful   

(=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的

参考例句：

• The more you practise,the more skilful you'll become.练习的次数越多，熟练的程度越高。
• He's not very skilful with his chopsticks.他用筷子不大熟练。

104 wail   

vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸

参考例句：

• Somewhere in the audience an old woman's voice began plaintive wail.观众席里，一位老太太伤心地哭起来。
• One of the small children began to wail with terror.小孩中的一个吓得大哭起来。

105 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

106 bereft   

adj.被剥夺的

参考例句：

• The place seemed to be utterly bereft of human life.这个地方似乎根本没有人烟。
• She was bereft of happiness.她失去了幸福。

107 vaulted   

adj.拱状的

参考例句：

• She vaulted over the gate and ran up the path. 她用手一撑跃过栅栏门沿着小路跑去。
• The formal living room has a fireplace and vaulted ceilings. 正式的客厅有一个壁炉和拱形天花板。

108 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

109 joust   

v.马上长枪比武，竞争

参考例句：

• Knights joust and frolic.骑士们骑马比武，嬉戏作乐。
• This a joust for the fate of the kingdom!一场决定王国命运的战斗。

110 outweigh   

vt.比...更重，...更重要

参考例句：

• The merits of your plan outweigh the defects.你制定的计划其优点胜过缺点。
• One's merits outweigh one's short-comings.功大于过。

111 hawk   

n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员

参考例句：

• The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
• The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。

112 lesser   

adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地

参考例句：

• Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
• She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

113 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。

114 meekness   

n.温顺，柔和

参考例句：

• Amy sewed with outward meekness and inward rebellion till dusk. 阿密阳奉阴违地一直缝到黄昏。 来自辞典例句
• 'I am pretty well, I thank you,' answered Mr. Lorry, with meekness; 'how are you?' “很好，谢谢，”罗瑞先生回答，态度温驯，“你好么？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

115 hempen   

adj. 大麻制的, 大麻的

参考例句：

• The net destined to support the car was made of very solid hempen cord. 承受着吊篮的网子是用非常结实的麻绳编的。
• Plant the crop such as wheaten, corn, potato, horsebean, hempen, cole aptly, a year one ripe. 适宜种植小麦、玉米、马铃薯、蚕豆、大麻、油菜等作物，一年一熟。

116 guile   

n.诈术

参考例句：

• He is full of guile.他非常狡诈。
• A swindler uses guile;a robber uses force.骗子用诈术；强盗用武力。

117 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

118 bemoan   

v.悲叹，哀泣，痛哭；惋惜，不满于

参考例句：

• Purists bemoan the corruption of the language.主张语文纯正的人哀叹语言趋于不纯。
• Don't bemoan anything or anyone that you need to leave behind.不要再去抱怨那些你本该忘记的人或事。

119 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

120 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

121 wailed   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句

122 wilt   

v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱

参考例句：

• Golden roses do not wilt and will never need to be watered.金色的玫瑰不枯萎绝也不需要浇水。
• Several sleepless nights made him wilt.数个不眠之夜使他憔悴。

123 javelins   

n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The heavy infantry blocks moved forward, throwing javelins just before the clash. 在正面交火之前，庞大的兵团会整体向前移动并投掷标枪。 来自互联网
• Elite mercenaries, originally from Aragon, armed with javelins and light armour. 加泰罗尼亚标枪兵为精锐雇佣部队，最初来自阿拉贡，装备标枪和轻甲。 来自互联网

124 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。

125 withheld   

withhold过去式及过去分词

参考例句：

• I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意，学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

126 citadel   

n.城堡；堡垒；避难所

参考例句：

• The citadel was solid.城堡是坚固的。
• This citadel is built on high ground for protecting the city.这座城堡建于高处是为保护城市。

127 kinsman   

n.男亲属

参考例句：

• Tracing back our genealogies,I found he was a kinsman of mine.转弯抹角算起来他算是我的一个亲戚。
• A near friend is better than a far dwelling kinsman.近友胜过远亲。

128 leash   

n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住

参考例句：

• I reached for the leash,but the dog got in between.我伸手去拿系狗绳，但被狗挡住了路。
• The dog strains at the leash,eager to be off.狗拼命地扯拉皮带，想挣脱开去。

129 scant   

adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略

参考例句：

• Don't scant the butter when you make a cake.做糕饼时不要吝惜奶油。
• Many mothers pay scant attention to their own needs when their children are small.孩子们小的时候，许多母亲都忽视自己的需求。

130 avenge   

v.为...复仇，为...报仇

参考例句：

• He swore to avenge himself on the mafia.他发誓说要向黑手党报仇。
• He will avenge the people on their oppressor.他将为人民向压迫者报仇。

131 churl   

n.吝啬之人；粗鄙之人

参考例句：

• The vile person shall be no more called liberal,nor the churl said to be bountiful.愚顽人不再称为高明、吝啬人不再称为大方。
• He must have had some ups and downs in life to make him such a churl.他一生一定经历过一些坎坷，才使他变成这么一个粗暴的人。

132 discourteous   

adj.不恭的，不敬的

参考例句：

• I was offended by his discourteous reply.他无礼的回答使我很生气。
• It was discourteous of you to arrive late.你迟到了，真没礼貌。

133 craved   

渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求

参考例句：

• She has always craved excitement. 她总渴望刺激。
• A spicy, sharp-tasting radish was exactly what her stomach craved. 她正馋着想吃一个香甜可口的红萝卜呢。

134 comely   

adj.漂亮的，合宜的

参考例句：

• His wife is a comely young woman.他的妻子是一个美丽的少妇。
• A nervous,comely-dressed little girl stepped out.一个紧张不安、衣着漂亮的小姑娘站了出来。

135 abode   

n.住处，住所

参考例句：

• It was ten months before my father discovered his abode.父亲花了十个月的功夫，才好不容易打听到他的住处。
• Welcome to our humble abode!欢迎光临寒舍！

136 lute   

n.琵琶，鲁特琴

参考例句：

• He idly plucked the strings of the lute.他漫不经心地拨弄着鲁特琴的琴弦。
• He knows how to play the Chinese lute.他会弹琵琶。

137 smite   

v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿

参考例句：

• The wise know how to teach,the fool how to smite.智者知道如何教导，愚者知道怎样破坏。
• God will smite our enemies.上帝将击溃我们的敌人。

138 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

139 mantle   

n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红

参考例句：

• The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green.大地披上了苍翠欲滴的绿色斗篷。
• The mountain was covered with a mantle of snow.山上覆盖着一层雪。

140 blazoned   

v.广布( blazon的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布；夸示；装饰

参考例句：

• The villages were blazoned with autumnal color. 山谷到处点缀着秋色。 来自辞典例句
• The "National Enquirer" blazoned forth that we astronomers had really discovered another civilization. 《国民询问者》甚至宣称，我们天文学家已真正发现了其它星球上的文明。 来自辞典例句

141 plumes   

羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物

参考例句：

• The dancer wore a headdress of pink ostrich plumes. 那位舞蹈演员戴着粉色鸵鸟毛制作的头饰。
• The plumes on her bonnet barely moved as she nodded. 她点点头，那帽子的羽毛在一个劲儿颤动。

142 goblet   

n.高脚酒杯

参考例句：

• He poured some wine into the goblet.他向高脚酒杯里倒了一些葡萄酒。
• He swirled the brandy around in the huge goblet.他摇晃着高脚大玻璃杯使里面的白兰地酒旋动起来。

143 overthrown   

adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词

参考例句：

• The president was overthrown in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被赶下台。
• He has overthrown the basic standards of morality. 他已摒弃了基本的道德标准。

144 bliss   

n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福

参考例句：

• It's sheer bliss to be able to spend the day in bed.整天都可以躺在床上真是幸福。
• He's in bliss that he's won the Nobel Prize.他非常高兴，因为获得了诺贝尔奖金。

145 fleeting   

adj.短暂的，飞逝的

参考例句：

• The girls caught only a fleeting glimpse of the driver.女孩们只匆匆瞥了一眼司机。
• Knowing the life fleeting,she set herself to enjoy if as best as she could.她知道这种日子转瞬即逝，于是让自已尽情地享受。

146 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

147 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

148 throng   

n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集

参考例句：

• A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。
• The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。

149 thronged   

v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Mourners thronged to the funeral. 吊唁者蜂拥着前来参加葬礼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The department store was thronged with people. 百货商店挤满了人。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

150 proffered   

v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She proffered her cheek to kiss. 她伸过自己的面颊让人亲吻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes. 他站起身，伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。 来自辞典例句

151 tumult   

n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹

参考例句：

• The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。
• His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。

152 thither   

adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的

参考例句：

• He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
• He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

153 loath   

adj.不愿意的；勉强的

参考例句：

• The little girl was loath to leave her mother.那小女孩不愿离开她的母亲。
• They react on this one problem very slow and very loath.他们在这一问题上反应很慢，很不情愿。

154 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。

155 bower   

n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽

参考例句：

• They sat under the leafy bower at the end of the garden and watched the sun set.他们坐在花园尽头由叶子搭成的凉棚下观看落日。
• Mrs. Quilp was pining in her bower.奎尔普太太正在她的闺房里度着愁苦的岁月。

156 vexed   

adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

157 torment   

n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠

参考例句：

• He has never suffered the torment of rejection.他从未经受过遭人拒绝的痛苦。
• Now nothing aggravates me more than when people torment each other.没有什么东西比人们的互相折磨更使我愤怒。

158 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

159 smiting   

v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He set to smiting and overthrowing. 他马上就动手殴打和破坏。 来自辞典例句

160 dart   

v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲

参考例句：

• The child made a sudden dart across the road.那小孩突然冲过马路。
• Markov died after being struck by a poison dart.马尔科夫身中毒镖而亡。

161 yearned   

渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The people yearned for peace. 人民渴望和平。
• She yearned to go back to the south. 她渴望回到南方去。

162 jousting   

（骑士）骑马用长矛比武( joust的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The players happily jousting inside the castle walls didn't see the moat outside widening. 玩家在城墙上幸福地战斗的时候，没有注意到护城河已经开始扩张了。

163 lusted   

贪求（lust的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He had even lusted for Halina, already woven a net in readiness to ensnare her. 他甚至贪恋海莉娜，已经编织了一个罗网，在引诱她落进去。
• Men feared him and women lusted after the handsome warrior. 男人们害怕他，女人们纷纷追求这个英俊的勇士。

164 kinsmen   

n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Kinsmen are less kind than friends. 投亲不如访友。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• One deeply grateful is better than kinsmen or firends. 受恩深处胜亲朋。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学

165 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

166 lore   

n.传说；学问，经验，知识

参考例句：

• I will seek and question him of his lore.我倒要找上他，向他讨教他的渊博的学问。
• Early peoples passed on plant and animal lore through legend.早期人类通过传说传递有关植物和动物的知识。

167 undone   

a.未做完的，未完成的

参考例句：

• He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。

168 slayer   

n. 杀人者，凶手

参考例句：

• The young man was Oedipus, who thus unknowingly became the slayer of his own father. 这位青年就是俄狄浦斯。他在不明真相的情况下杀死了自己的父亲。
• May I depend on you to stand by me and my daughters, then, deer-slayer? 如此说来，我可以指望你照料我和女儿了，杀鹿人？

169 grassy   

adj.盖满草的；长满草的

参考例句：

• They sat and had their lunch on a grassy hillside.他们坐在长满草的山坡上吃午饭。
• Cattle move freely across the grassy plain.牛群自由自在地走过草原。

170 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

171 trot   

n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧

参考例句：

• They passed me at a trot.他们从我身边快步走过。
• The horse broke into a brisk trot.马突然快步小跑起来。

172 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

173 strewed   

v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满

参考例句：

• Papers strewed the floor. 文件扔了一地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Autumn leaves strewed the lawn. 草地上撒满了秋叶。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

174 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

175 bough   

n.大树枝，主枝

参考例句：

• I rested my fishing rod against a pine bough.我把钓鱼竿靠在一棵松树的大树枝上。
• Every bough was swinging in the wind.每条树枝都在风里摇摆。

176 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

177 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

178 galloped   

（使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事

参考例句：

• Jo galloped across the field towards him. 乔骑马穿过田野向他奔去。
• The children galloped home as soon as the class was over. 孩子们一下课便飞奔回家了。

179 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。

180 boughs   

大树枝( bough的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The green boughs glittered with all their pearls of dew. 绿枝上闪烁着露珠的光彩。
• A breeze sighed in the higher boughs. 微风在高高的树枝上叹息着。

181 falcon   

n.隼，猎鹰

参考例句：

• The falcon was twice his size with pouted feathers.鹰张开羽毛比两只鹰还大。
• The boys went hunting with their falcon.男孩子们带着猎鹰出去打猎了。

182 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

183 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

184 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

185 bruise   

n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤

参考例句：

• The bruise was caused by a kick.这伤痕是脚踢的。
• Jack fell down yesterday and got a big bruise on his face.杰克昨天摔了一跤，脸上摔出老大一块淤斑。

186 attiring   

v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• One departs at 05, attiring at 15. the other departs at 10, arriving at 30. 一个7点零5分起飞，8点15分到；另一个航班19点10分起飞，20点30分到上海。 来自互联网

187 slumbers   

睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His image traversed constantly her restless slumbers. 他的形象一再闯进她的脑海，弄得她不能安睡。
• My Titan brother slumbers deep inside his mountain prison. Go. 我的泰坦兄弟就被囚禁在山脉的深处。

188 linen   

n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的

参考例句：

• The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。
• Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。

189 scatheless   

adj.无损伤的，平安的

参考例句：

190 scarlet   

n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的

参考例句：

• The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。
• The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了，深红的颜色变成了绯红，绯红又变为浅红。

191 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

192 hue   

n.色度；色调；样子

参考例句：

• The diamond shone with every hue under the sun.金刚石在阳光下放出五颜六色的光芒。
• The same hue will look different in different light.同一颜色在不同的光线下看起来会有所不同。

193 courteously   

adv.有礼貌地，亲切地

参考例句：

• He courteously opened the door for me.他谦恭有礼地为我开门。
• Presently he rose courteously and released her.过了一会，他就很客气地站起来，让她走开。

194 requite   

v.报酬，报答

参考例句：

• The Bible says to requite evil with good.圣经要人们以德报怨。
• I'll requite you for your help.我想报答你的帮助。

195 dwelling   

n.住宅，住所，寓所

参考例句：

• Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
• He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。

196 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

197 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

198 cleanse   

vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗

参考例句：

• Health experts are trying to cleanse the air in cities. 卫生专家们正设法净化城市里的空气。
• Fresh fruit juices can also cleanse your body and reduce dark circles.新鲜果汁同样可以清洁你的身体,并对黑眼圈同样有抑制作用。

199 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

200 slumbering   

微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• It was quiet. All the other inhabitants of the slums were slumbering. 贫民窟里的人已经睡眠静了。
• Then soft music filled the air and soothed the slumbering heroes. 接着，空中响起了柔和的乐声，抚慰着安睡的英雄。

201 crooked   

adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指，示意我们到他那儿去。
• You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。

202 wiles   

n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All her wiles were to persuade them to buy the goods. 她花言巧语想打动他们买这些货物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The woman used all her wiles to tempt him into following her. 那女人用尽了自己的诱骗本领勾引着他尾随而去。 来自《用法词典》

203 dishonoured   

a.不光彩的，不名誉的

参考例句：

• You have dishonoured the name of the school. 你败坏了学校的名声。
• We found that the bank had dishonoured some of our cheques. 我们发现银行拒绝兑现我们的部分支票。

204 sundered   

v.隔开，分开( sunder的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The city is being sundered by racial tension. 该城市因种族关系紧张正在形成分裂。 来自辞典例句
• It is three years since the two brothers sundered. 弟兄俩分开已经三年了。 来自辞典例句

205 marvelled   

v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I marvelled that he suddenly left college. 我对他突然离开大学感到惊奇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I marvelled at your boldness. 我对你的大胆感到惊奇。 来自《简明英汉词典》

206 inborn   

adj.天生的，生来的，先天的

参考例句：

• He is a man with an inborn love of joke.他是一个生来就喜欢开玩笑的人。
• He had an inborn talent for languages.他有语言天分。

207 prone   

adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的

参考例句：

• Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
• He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。

208 amends   

n. 赔偿

参考例句：

• He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送给她一些花，为他自己的鲁莽赔罪。
• This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。

209 wedded   

adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She's wedded to her job. 她专心致志于工作。
• I was invited over by the newly wedded couple for a meal. 我被那对新婚夫妇请去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

210 yearning   

a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的

参考例句：

• a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
• He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。

211 vassals   

n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属

参考例句：

• He was indeed at this time having the Central Office cleared of all but his vassals. 的确，他这时正在对中央事务所进行全面清洗（他的亲信除外）。 来自辞典例句
• The lowly vassals suffering all humiliates in both physical and mental aspects. 地位低下的奴仆，他们在身体上和精神上受尽屈辱。 来自互联网