His castle proudly lifted its crenelated walls and pepper-pot roofs from the summit of a hill overlooking the town. He made of it a refuge where all who were pursued by the secular9 arm might find a place of refuge. In the lower hall, the largest to be seen in all Vervignole, the table laid for meals was so long that those who sat at one end saw it lose itself in the distance in an indistinct point, and when the torches upon it were lighted it recalled the tail of the comet which appeared in Vervignole to announce the death of King Comus. The holy St. Nicolas sat at the upper end. There he entertained the principal folk of the town and of the kingdom, and a multitude of clergy and laymen10. But on his right there was always reserved a seat for the poor man who might come begging for his bread at the door.
Children, particularly, aroused the solicitude11 of the good St. Nicolas. He delighted in their innocence12, and he felt for them with the heart of a father and the bowels13 of a mother. He had the virtues14 and the morals of an apostle. Yearly, in the dress of a simple monk15, with a white staff in his hand, he would visit his flock, desirous of seeing everything with his own eyes; and in order that no adversity or disorder16 should escape his notice he would traverse, accompanied by a single priest, the wildest parts of his diocese, crossing, in winter, the flooded rivers, climbing mountains, and plunging17 into the thick forests. One day, having ridden since dawn upon his mule18, in company with the Deacon Modernus, thorny19 thickets20 through which his mount with difficulty forced a winding21 path. The Deacon Modernus followed him with much difficulty on his mule, which carried the baggage.
Overcome with hunger and fatigue22, the man of God said to Modernus:
“Let us halt here, my son, and if you still have a little bread and wine we will sup here, for I feel that I hardly have the strength to proceed further, and you, although the younger, must be nearly as tired as I.”
“Monseigneur,” answered Modernus, “there remains23 neither a drop of wine nor a crumb24 of bread; for, by your orders, I gave all to some people on the road, who had less need of it than ourselves.”
“Without a doubt,” replied the Bishop, “had there been a few scraps25 left in your wallet we should have eaten them with pleasure, for it is fitting that those who govern the Church should be nourished on the leavings of the poor. But since you have nothing left it is because God has desired it so, and He has surely desired it for our good and profit. It is possible that He will for ever hide from us the reason of this favour: perhaps, on the other hand, He will quickly make it manifest. Meanwhile, I think the only thing left for us is to push on until we find some arbutus berries and blackberries for our own nourishment27, and some grass for our mules28, and, being thus refreshed, to lie down upon a bed of leaves.”
“As you please, Monseigneur,” answered Modernus, pricking29 his mount.
They travelled all night, and a part of the following morning; then, having climbed a fairly steep ascent30, they suddenly found themselves at the border of the wood, and beheld31 at their feet a plain covered by a yellowish sky, and crossed by four white roads, which lost themselves in the mist. They took that to the left, an old Roman road, formerly32 frequented by merchants and pilgrims, but deserted33 since the war had laid waste this part of Vervignole. Dense34 clouds were gathering35 in the sky, across which birds were flying; a stifling36 atmosphere weighed down upon the dumb, livid earth. Lightning flashed on the horizon. They urged on their wearied mules. Suddenly a mighty37 wind bent38 the tops of the trees, making the boughs39 crack and the battered40 foliage41 moan. The thunder muttered, and heavy drops of rain began to fall.
As they made their way through the storm, the lightning flashing about them, along a road which had become a torrent42, they perceived, by the light of a flash, a house outside which there hung a branch of holly43, the sign of hospitality.
The inn appeared deserted; nevertheless, the host advanced towards them, a man fierce yet humble44, with a great knife at his belt, and asked what they wished for.
“A lodging45, and a scrap26 of bread, with a drop of wine,” answered the Bishop, “for we are weary and benumbed with cold.”
While the host was fetching wine from the cellar, and Modernus was taking the mules to the stable, St. Nicolas, sitting at the hearth46 beside a dying fire, cast a glance round the smoky room. Dust and dirt covered the benches and casks; spiders spun47 their webs between the worm-eaten joists, whence hung scanty48 bunches of onions. In a dark corner the salting-tub displayed its iron-hooped belly49.
In those days the demons50 used to take a hand in domestic life in a far more intimate fashion than they do to-day. They haunted houses, concealed51 in the salt-box, the butter-tub, or some other hiding-place; they spied upon the people of the house, and watched for the opportunity to tempt52 them and lead them into evil. Then, too, the angels made more frequent appearances among Christian53 folk.
Now a devil, as big as a hazel-nut, who was hidden among the burning logs, spoke54 up and said to the holy Bishop:
“Look at that salting-tub, Father; it is well worth a look. It is the best salting-tub in the whole of Vervignole. It is, indeed, the model and paragon55 of salting-tubs. When the master here, Seigneur Garum, received it from the hands of a skilful56 cooper he perfumed it with juniper, thyme, and rosemary. Seigneur Garum has not his equal in bleeding the meat, boning it, and cutting it up, carefully, thoughtfully, and lovingly, and steeping it in salted liquors by which it is preserved and embalmed57. He is without a rival for seasoning58, concentrating, boiling down, skimming, straining, and decanting59 the pickle60. Taste his mild-cured pork, father, and you will lick your fingers: taste his mild-cured pork, Nicolas, and you will have something to say about it.”
But in these words, and above all in the voice that uttered them (it grated like a saw), the holy Bishop recognized an evil spirit. He made the sign of the Cross, whereupon the little devil exploded with a horrible noise and a very bad smell, just like a chestnut61 thrown into the fire without having had its skin split.
And an angel from Heaven appeared, resplendent in light and said to Nicolas:
“Nicolas, beloved of the Lord, you must know that three little children have been in that salting-tub for seven years; Garum, the innkeeper, cut up these tender infants, and put them in salt and pickle. Arise, Nicolas, and pray that they may come to life again. For, if you intercede62 for them, O Pontiff, the Lord, who loves you, will restore them to life.”
During this speech Modernus entered the room, but he did not see the angel, nor did he hear him, for he was not sufficiently63 holy to be able to communicate with the heavenly spirits.
The angel further said:
“Nicolas, son of God, lay your hands on the salting-tub, and the three children will be resuscitated64.”
The blessed Nicolas, filled with horror, pity, zeal65, and hope, gave thanks to God, and when the innkeeper reappeared with a jug66 in either hand, the Saint said to him in a terrible voice:
“Garum, open the salting-tub!”
Whereupon, Garum, overcome by fear, dropped both his jugs67.
And the saintly Bishop Nicolas stretched out his hands, and said:
“Children, arise!”
At these words, the lid of the salting-tub was lifted up, and three young boys emerged.
“Children,” said the Bishop, “give thanks to God, who through me, has raised you from out the salting-tub.”
And turning towards the innkeeper, who was trembling in every limb, he said:
“Cruel man, recognize the three children whom you shamefully68 put to death. May you loathe69 your crime, and repent70, that God may pardon you!”
The innkeeper, filled with terror, fled into the storm, amidst the thunder and lightning.
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1
scion
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n.嫩芽,子孙 | |
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vowed
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起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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consecrate
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v.使圣化,奉…为神圣;尊崇;奉献 | |
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bishop
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n.主教,(国际象棋)象 | |
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ministry
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n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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piety
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n.虔诚,虔敬 | |
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clergy
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n.[总称]牧师,神职人员 | |
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profuse
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adj.很多的,大量的,极其丰富的 | |
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secular
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n.牧师,凡人;adj.世俗的,现世的,不朽的 | |
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10
laymen
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门外汉,外行人( layman的名词复数 ); 普通教徒(有别于神职人员) | |
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11
solicitude
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n.焦虑 | |
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12
innocence
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n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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bowels
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n.肠,内脏,内部;肠( bowel的名词复数 );内部,最深处 | |
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virtues
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美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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monk
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n.和尚,僧侣,修道士 | |
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disorder
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n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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plunging
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adj.跳进的,突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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18
mule
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n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人 | |
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thorny
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adj.多刺的,棘手的 | |
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thickets
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n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 );丛状物 | |
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21
winding
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n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
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22
fatigue
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n.疲劳,劳累 | |
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23
remains
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n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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24
crumb
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n.饼屑,面包屑,小量 | |
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25
scraps
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油渣 | |
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scrap
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n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废 | |
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nourishment
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n.食物,营养品;营养情况 | |
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28
mules
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骡( mule的名词复数 ); 拖鞋; 顽固的人; 越境运毒者 | |
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29
pricking
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刺,刺痕,刺痛感 | |
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30
ascent
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n.(声望或地位)提高;上升,升高;登高 | |
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31
beheld
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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 | |
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32
formerly
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adv.从前,以前 | |
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33
deserted
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adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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34
dense
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a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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35
gathering
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n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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stifling
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a.令人窒息的 | |
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37
mighty
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adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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bent
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n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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boughs
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大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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battered
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adj.磨损的;v.连续猛击;磨损 | |
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41
foliage
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n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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42
torrent
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n.激流,洪流;爆发,(话语等的)连发 | |
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43
holly
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n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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44
humble
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adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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45
lodging
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n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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46
hearth
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n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面 | |
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47
spun
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v.纺,杜撰,急转身 | |
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48
scanty
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adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 | |
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49
belly
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n.肚子,腹部;(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分,膛 | |
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50
demons
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n.恶人( demon的名词复数 );恶魔;精力过人的人;邪念 | |
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51
concealed
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a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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52
tempt
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vt.引诱,勾引,吸引,引起…的兴趣 | |
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53
Christian
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adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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54
spoke
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n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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55
paragon
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n.模范,典型 | |
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56
skilful
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(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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57
embalmed
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adj.用防腐药物保存(尸体)的v.保存(尸体)不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 );使不被遗忘;使充满香气 | |
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58
seasoning
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n.调味;调味料;增添趣味之物 | |
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59
decanting
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n.滗析(手续)v.将(酒等)自瓶中倒入另一容器( decant的现在分词 ) | |
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60
pickle
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n.腌汁,泡菜;v.腌,泡 | |
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61
chestnut
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n.栗树,栗子 | |
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62
intercede
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vi.仲裁,说情 | |
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63
sufficiently
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adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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64
resuscitated
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v.使(某人或某物)恢复知觉,苏醒( resuscitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
zeal
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n.热心,热情,热忱 | |
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66
jug
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n.(有柄,小口,可盛水等的)大壶,罐,盂 | |
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67
jugs
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(有柄及小口的)水壶( jug的名词复数 ) | |
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68
shamefully
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可耻地; 丢脸地; 不体面地; 羞耻地 | |
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69
loathe
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v.厌恶,嫌恶 | |
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repent
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v.悔悟,悔改,忏悔,后悔 | |
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