Without a word the newcomer strode past and disappeared within. The porter stared after his retreating figure for a moment in silence, then he shook his head slowly. "His look is dark and threatening," he muttered, "it bodes5 no good for them that believe, when at night and at morning and also at midday those that hate us gather themselves in secret conclave6. There be mischiefs8 brewing9, I fear me; a dark cloud which will break ere long and bring swift destruction upon the church--unless the Lord send help, and that right speedily."
"And what hast thou found to grumble10 about now, Simon?" said a cheery voice at his elbow.
The old man looked up sharply. "Ah, Iddo, didst thou hear me? I am indeed falling into indiscreet habits in my solitude11 when I prate12 aloud of my fears. Had it been Aaron now, in thy stead--but why do I say so? I am not ashamed to own that I believe on the Nazarene."
"Thou art in good company, assuredly," said the young man, "though an open avowal13 of thy faith would doubtless cost thee thy snug14 quarters. The lord of this house is not likely to be of them which are daily being added to the church. Hast thou heard that of the priests themselves we are continually gaining in great numbers? 'Tis wonderful; all Jerusalem will be with us in another year; as for these worldly old hypocrites, let them be; they will die in their sins and the world will be better without them. Even the Master had no good word for such. Whited sepulchres called he them, and pronounced against them the woes15 which they assuredly have merited. Nothing can stand against us now, for the Lord is with us!"
But Simon shook his head. "Thou art young, Iddo," he said querulously, "and hast much to learn. There is a storm at hand and it will blow no good to the church; I have said it, and thou wilt see. Do I not stand at this gate and see them that go in and out? I hear also many things--for the Lord hath preserved my ears, and they that enter mind me no more than yonder stone bench--listen!" and the old man held up a shaking hand. "Yesterday I admitted two--four--five of them that be rich and mighty--I will not name them. They remained within, three whole hours by the shadow on yonder dial, then they came out together.
"''Tis a goodly thought of Annas to first put out of the way the pestilential Greek,' quoth one, 'the witnesses will not be hard to find.'
"'I trow not,' said another with a laugh, 'words are cheap both for the buying and selling; as for the fellow Stephen, he doeth more mischief7 among the common people in a week than the slow-witted hinds16 whom they call apostles could accomplish in a month.'"
"Stephen," cried Iddo, aghast.
"Hist, boy! Now thou seest that though I am old--and as thou hast said, given to over-much foreboding--there is a deadly mischief on foot."
"The Lord will smite17 them if they lay but a finger on Stephen," exclaimed the young man indignantly. "'Tis such as he that the Lord's flock hath need of; daily doth he work great miracles of healing, and his voice is heard in every synagogue persuading men to believe on Jesus the Christ. Men listen gladly; and to listen is to be convinced of the truth."
"Ah, boy! 'tis because of these very things that they hate him; were he less than he is, they would not lay a finger on him."
"But surely God will protect him!"
"God spared not his own son," said the old man solemnly. "He suffered him to be tortured and to be slain18 at the hands of these very men; and the servant is not greater than his Lord."
The other was silent for a time; all the brightness had faded out from his face. "Who is within now?" he said, at length.
"Saul of Tarsus," replied Simon, briefly19.
"I shall warn them of the household of John of this thou hast told me?"
"Assuredly, but let it not be bruited20 abroad; there is nothing to be gained by it, and perhaps much to be lost. If the young man Stephen--" but the clang of the bell interrupted him, and he hastened to open. "Enter, my lord, I pray thee. It is so, my lord Annas is within, and with him the Rabbi Saul."
Iddo bowed with instinctive21 respect as the tall, gaunt figure swept by him and disappeared adown the passageway. "He is no longer High Priest," he said, in a half whisper, "and it perchance hath irked him to resign the office."
"There are other reasons for his haggard look," said the old man sagely22; "but it is not for such as I to prate concerning the affairs of Caiaphas. The Lord hath dealt with him, as he doth also deal with all men; perchance that he may draw them to himself at the last."
"Nay23; dost thou think then that it is possible for such as the murderers of our Lord to be forgiven?"
"'Tis assuredly not for us to set limits upon the compassion24 and love of the Father of our Lord Jesus--who also prayed for them in his agony. If he can save me, he is able to save any one; for I know my own heart how that it is deceitful above all things and desperately25 wicked."
"That is a true word, my Simon," said the young man, humbly26. "No one knoweth it better than I, who was ever prone27 to do evil as the sparks fly upward.--I must away; if Stephen could but be persuaded to leave Jerusalem----"
"'Twas what I would have said," broke in Simon, eagerly. "Let him go--and at once. There is no need that he remain to fall into the net which these are making ready for him. It may be that it was by the good providence28 of God that I chanced to hear what I did." Then as he opened the door that the young man might pass out, he whispered, "Let them all beware of the Pharisee from Tarsus."
"'Tis a word of wisdom," said Iddo to himself, as he strode rapidly away. "Yet would he dare molest29 us who walk orderly after the law? If now we kept not the fasts, nor observed the solemn feasts, nor prayed at the times of the morning and evening sacrifice--but all of these things we observe and do. Yet have I heard Stephen proclaim in the synagogues that there was now no further need for the priestly slaughter30 of flocks and herds31, because that Christ had given himself a sacrifice for the sins--not only of the Jews--but for the sins of the whole world. Even the apostles say not such things, it must be that he is over-bold--being a Greek. Some one should speak to him of the matter."
Revolving32 these thoughts in his mind, the young man came at length into the street where was the house of John the apostle. It was narrow, and still, and hot; the feet of the few passers-by--mostly women passing to and from the public fountains with their water-jars--making no noise in the yellow dust. Iddo paused a moment with bent33 head; he smiled, and his eyes sparkled with joy. "She is singing," he said aloud. And he hurried forward faster than before--almost stumbling indeed in his haste over some small brown object, which squatted34 silently in the hot sunshine before the door which he sought.
"What is this?" he cried, looking down, and discovering that the obstacle was none other than a small brown child; that there were, in fact, three of them, a boy and a girl--and betwixt the two a baby, smaller and browner than either.
"We be listening," said the girl solemnly, shaking the dark curls out of her eyes and looking up at her questioner. "The baby hath gone to sleep because he likes it; we come every day. Wilt thou sit down here? the dust is soft, and the music is like angels singing."
Iddo smiled. "Thou art right, little one," he said; "'tis like the voice of an angel."
"I lift up mine eyes to the hills.
Whence cometh my help?
My help is from Jehovah,
Maker35 of heaven and earth,"
chanted the melodious36 voice within, then it dropped to a pleading cadence37,
"May He not suffer thy foot to be moved!
May He not slumber38 that keepeth thee!
Behold39, the Keeper of Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Jehovah keep thee from all evil!
He will keep thy life.
Jehovah keep thy coming and going
Henceforth and for ever!"
The listener sighed involuntarily; then he stretched forth40 his hand and laid it upon the bell--paying no heed41 to the solemn little voice at his feet, "If thou dost pull the rope the singing will stop."
Almost immediately the door opened, and a sweet voice cried, "Ah, 'tis thou, Iddo Ben Obed! Enter, I pray thee," then observing the young man's serious face, she added, "What hath befallen thee, friend? thou art as solemn as that great image in the desert which men call the sphinx."
"I have reason," answered Ben Obed, "as thou must hear presently."
"I must first speak to the little ones.--Enter, friend, thou wilt find my brother within. Why didst thou not knock, little one?" she continued, stooping to raise the sleeping child, "the sun is too hot for the babe; it breedeth mischief at this season. Stay--I will give thee some pomegranates, then must thou go home where it is cool. To-night if thou wilt come and knock on the door thou shalt enter, then I will sing to thee, and also tell thee a story of how the babe Jesus came through the wilderness42 to the land of Egypt." And having kissed the smooth brown cheeks in token of dismissal, she watched the two as they trudged43 away down the street, the sleepy baby toddling44 between.
Ben Obed was already seated upon the stone bench in the cool shadow of the house, talking in low tones to a young man of about his own age, who with bent brows and serious air was paying him diligent45 heed.
"I can scarce believe that such talk is more than idle threatening," he was saying. "Since the day that Gamaliel gave counsel in the Sanhedrim that we be left in peace, there hath been no active persecution46. They must see by this time that the Lord is with us, therefore is the good counsel of Gamaliel proven; surely there can be none amongst them bold enough to fight against God. And this said I to Simon--or words of like import. I reminded him also that we are well looked upon by all the people, and how--being in all points disposed to keep the law--even the priests are daily joining themselves to our numbers. But he hath a different opinion; moreover, he bade me tell all of this household to beware Saul of Tarsus."
"What danger is threatened?" asked Anat, anxiously.
Iddo Ben Obed raised his eyes to her face, and there was that in their fiery47 gaze that brought the warm color to the maiden's cheek.
"Danger is threatened to Stephen," he said slowly, "though how great is that danger we cannot tell."
The face of Anat grew deathly pale. "Tell me--" she said, breathlessly, "all that thou hast heard."
Iddo dropped his eyes to the ground. "They will imprison48 him if he continues to preach that the Christ is mightier49 than the law," he said coldly. "What more I know not. 'Twill be best for him to leave Jerusalem."
Anat turned swiftly and went away into the house.
That evening she told the three children the story which she had promised them; and sang to them wild songs of the desert--vaguely remembered from the days when she dwelt in Egypt; and afterward50 the Psalm51 of the watchful52 Love, which she had sung in the morning. Then she gave the little ones into the hand of their mother, and went softly up to the housetop. A lonely figure stood by the parapet, looking away toward the afterglow which burned in solemn splendor53 behind the mountains. She hesitated for a moment, then went lightly forward.
"Hast thou heard," she said softly, "the evil tidings which the son of Obed brought to this house to-day?"
"I have talked with John concerning it."
"And what said he? Surely he urged thee to flee the peril54?" And the girl's voice thrilled with passionate55 entreaty56.
The young man turned. "Anat--beloved," he said softly, "I know all that thou wouldst say; and there is much in my heart that I would fain say to thee--only that the time is short. Already for me the daylight fades and the night cometh when I can no more work for the Master, while for thee there yet remaineth many years wherein to glorify57 his name; and this shalt thou do, and in the doing find peace--the peace that passeth understanding."
The girl had sunken to her knees beside him, her slender frame shaken with a tempest of weeping; but a great calm fell upon her soul as Stephen rested his hands upon her bowed head--his voice tremulous in that sweetest of all benedictions58: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance59 upon thee, and give thee peace."
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1
lodge
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v.临时住宿,寄宿,寄存,容纳;n.传达室,小旅馆 | |
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promptly
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adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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obeisance
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n.鞠躬,敬礼 | |
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wilt
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v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎;(指人)疲倦,衰弱 | |
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bodes
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v.预示,预告,预言( bode的第三人称单数 );等待,停留( bide的过去分词 );居住;(过去式用bided)等待 | |
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conclave
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n.秘密会议,红衣主教团 | |
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mischief
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n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹 | |
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mischiefs
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损害( mischief的名词复数 ); 危害; 胡闹; 调皮捣蛋的人 | |
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brewing
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n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
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grumble
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vi.抱怨;咕哝;n.抱怨,牢骚;咕哝,隆隆声 | |
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solitude
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n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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prate
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v.瞎扯,胡说 | |
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avowal
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n.公开宣称,坦白承认 | |
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snug
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adj.温暖舒适的,合身的,安全的;v.使整洁干净,舒适地依靠,紧贴;n.(英)酒吧里的私房 | |
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woes
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困境( woe的名词复数 ); 悲伤; 我好苦哇; 某人就要倒霉 | |
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hinds
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n.(常指动物腿)后面的( hind的名词复数 );在后的;(通常与can或could连用)唠叨不停;滔滔不绝 | |
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smite
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v.重击;彻底击败;n.打;尝试;一点儿 | |
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slain
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杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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briefly
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adv.简单地,简短地 | |
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bruited
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v.传播(传说或谣言)( bruit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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instinctive
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adj.(出于)本能的;直觉的;(出于)天性的 | |
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sagely
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adv. 贤能地,贤明地 | |
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nay
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adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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compassion
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n.同情,怜悯 | |
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desperately
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adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地 | |
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humbly
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adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地 | |
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prone
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adj.(to)易于…的,很可能…的;俯卧的 | |
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28
providence
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n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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molest
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vt.骚扰,干扰,调戏 | |
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30
slaughter
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n.屠杀,屠宰;vt.屠杀,宰杀 | |
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herds
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兽群( herd的名词复数 ); 牧群; 人群; 群众 | |
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revolving
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adj.旋转的,轮转式的;循环的v.(使)旋转( revolve的现在分词 );细想 | |
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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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squatted
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v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 );非法擅自占用(土地或房屋);为获得其所有权;而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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maker
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n.制造者,制造商 | |
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melodious
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adj.旋律美妙的,调子优美的,音乐性的 | |
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cadence
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n.(说话声调的)抑扬顿挫 | |
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38
slumber
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n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
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behold
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v.看,注视,看到 | |
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40
forth
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adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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heed
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v.注意,留意;n.注意,留心 | |
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42
wilderness
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n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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trudged
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vt.& vi.跋涉,吃力地走(trudge的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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toddling
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v.(幼儿等)东倒西歪地走( toddle的现在分词 );蹒跚行走;溜达;散步 | |
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diligent
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adj.勤勉的,勤奋的 | |
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persecution
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n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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47
fiery
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adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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48
imprison
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vt.监禁,关押,限制,束缚 | |
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49
mightier
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adj. 强有力的,强大的,巨大的 adv. 很,极其 | |
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50
afterward
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adv.后来;以后 | |
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51
psalm
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n.赞美诗,圣诗 | |
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watchful
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adj.注意的,警惕的 | |
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splendor
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n.光彩;壮丽,华丽;显赫,辉煌 | |
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peril
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n.(严重的)危险;危险的事物 | |
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passionate
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adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的 | |
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56
entreaty
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n.恳求,哀求 | |
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57
glorify
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vt.颂扬,赞美,使增光,美化 | |
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58
benedictions
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n.祝福( benediction的名词复数 );(礼拜结束时的)赐福祈祷;恩赐;(大写)(罗马天主教)祈求上帝赐福的仪式 | |
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countenance
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n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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