It is sometimes the custom in the American Navy to celebrate this national holiday by doubling the allowance of spirits to the men; that is, if the ship happen to be lying in harbour. The effects of this patriotic6 plan may be easily imagined: the whole ship is converted into a dram-shop; and the intoxicated7 sailors reel about, on all three decks, singing, howling, and fighting. This is the time that, owing to the relaxed discipline of the ship, old and almost forgotten quarrels are revived, under the stimulus10 of drink; and, fencing themselves up between the guns—so as to be sure of a clear space with at least three walls—the combatants, two and two, fight out their hate, cribbed and cabined like soldiers duelling in a sentry11-box. In a word, scenes ensue which would not for a single instant be tolerated by the officers upon any other occasion. This is the time that the most venerable of quarter-gunners and quarter-masters, together with the smallest apprentice12 boys, and men never known to have been previously13 intoxicated during the cruise—this is the time that they all roll together in the same muddy trough of drunkenness.
In emulation14 of the potentates15 of the Middle Ages, some Captains augment16 the din17 by authorising a grand jail-delivery of all the prisoners who, on that auspicious18 Fourth of the month, may happen to be confined in the ship's prison—"the brig."
But from scenes like these the Neversink was happily delivered. Besides that she was now approaching a most perilous19 part of the ocean—which would have made it madness to intoxicate8 the sailors—her complete destitution20 of grog, even for ordinary consumption, was an obstacle altogether insuperable, even had the Captain felt disposed to indulge his man-of-war's-men by the most copious21 libations.
For several days previous to the advent22 of the holiday, frequent conferences were held on the gun-deck touching23 the melancholy24 prospects25 before the ship.
"Too bad—too bad!" cried a top-man, "Think of it, shipmates—a Fourth of July without grog!"
"And I'll turn my best uniform jacket wrong side out, to keep company with the pennant, old Ensign," sympathetically responded an after-guard's-man.
"Ay, do!" cried a forecastle-man. "I could almost pipe my eye to think on't."
"No grog on de day dat tried men's souls!" blubbered Sunshine, the galley-cook.
"Who would be a Jankee now?" roared a Hollander of the fore-top, more Dutch than sour-crout.
"Is this the riglar fruits of liberty?" touchingly29 inquired an Irish waister of an old Spanish sheet-anchor-man.
You will generally observe that, of all Americans, your foreign-born citizens are the most patriotic—especially toward the Fourth of July.
But how could Captain Claret, the father of his crew, behold30 the grief of his ocean children with indifference31? He could not. Three days before the anniversary—it still continuing very pleasant weather for these latitudes—it was publicly announced that free permission was given to the sailors to get up any sort of theatricals32 they desired, wherewith to honour the Fourth.
Now, some weeks prior to the Neversink's sailing from home—nearly three years before the time here spoken of—some of the seamen34 had clubbed together, and made up a considerable purse, for the purpose of purchasing a theatrical33 outfit35 having in view to diversify36 the monotony of lying in foreign harbours for weeks together, by an occasional display on the boards—though if ever there w-as a continual theatre in the world, playing by night and by day, and without intervals37 between the acts, a man-of-war is that theatre, and her planks38 are the boards indeed.
The sailors who originated this scheme had served in other American frigates39, where the privilege of having theatricals was allowed to the crew. What was their chagrin40, then, when, upon making an application to the Captain, in a Peruvian harbour, for permission to present the much-admired drama of "The Ruffian Boy," under the Captain's personal patronage41, that dignitary assured them that there were already enough ruffian boys on board, without conjuring42 up any more from the green-room.
The theatrical outfit, therefore, was stowed down in the bottom of the sailors' bags, who little anticipated then that it would ever be dragged out while Captain Claret had the sway.
But immediately upon the announcement that the embargo43 was removed, vigorous preparations were at once commenced to celebrate the Fourth with unwonted spirit. The half-deck was set apart for the theatre, and the signal-quarter-master was commanded to loan his flags to decorate it in the most patriotic style.
As the stage-struck portion of the crew had frequently during the cruise rehearsed portions of various plays, to while away the tedium44 of the night-watches, they needed no long time now to perfect themselves in their parts.
Accordingly, on the very next morning after the indulgence had been granted by the Captain, the following written placard, presenting a broadside of staring capitals, was found tacked45 against the main-mast on the gun-deck. It was as if a Drury-Lane bill had been posted upon the London Monument.
CAPE HORN THEATRE.
* * * * * * * *
Grand Celebration of the Fourth of July.
DAY PERFORMANCE.
UNCOMMON ATTRACTION.
STARS OF THE FIRST MAGNITUDE.
For this time only.
THE TRUE YANKEE SAILOR.
The managers of the Cape Horn Theatre beg leave to inform
the inhabitants of the Pacific and Southern Oceans that,
on the afternoon of the Fourth of July, 184—, they will
have the honour to present the admired drama of
THE OLD WAGON PAID OFF!
Commodore Bougee . . . . Tom Brown, of the Fore-top.
Mayor . . . . . . . . Seafull, of the Forecastle.
PERCY ROYAL-MAST . . . . JACK CHASE.
Mrs. Lovelorn . . . . . Long-locks, of the After-Guard.
Toddy Moll . . . . . . Frank Jones.
Gin and Sugar Sall. . . . Dick Dash.
Police-officer's, Soldiers, Landsmen generally.
* * * * * * * *
Long live the Commodore! :: Admission Free.
* * * * * * * *
To conclude with the much-admired song by Dibdin,
THE TRUE YANKEE SAILOR.
True Yankee Sailor (in costume), Patrick Flinegan,
Captain of the Head.
Band. Ensign rises at three bells, P.M. No sailor permitted
to enter in his shirt-sleeves. Good order is expected to be
maintained. The Master-at-arms and Ship's Corporals to be in
attendance to keep the peace.
At the earnest entreaties53 of the seamen, Lemsford, the gun-deck poet, had been prevailed upon to draw up this bill. And upon this one occasion his literary abilities were far from being underrated, even by the least intellectual person on board. Nor must it be omitted that, before the bill was placarded, Captain Claret, enacting54 the part of censor55 and grand chamberlain ran over a manuscript copy of "The Old Wagon Paid Off," to see whether it contained anything calculated to breed disaffection against lawful56 authority among the crew. He objected to some parts, but in the end let them all pass.
The morning of The Fourth—most anxiously awaited—dawned clear and fair. The breeze was steady; the air bracing57 cold; and one and all the sailors anticipated a gleeful afternoon. And thus was falsified the prophecies of certain old growlers averse58 to theatricals, who had predicted a gale59 of wind that would squash all the arrangements of the green-room.
As the men whose regular turns, at the time of the performance, would come round to be stationed in the tops, and at the various halyards and running ropes about the spar-deck, could not be permitted to partake in the celebration, there accordingly ensued, during the morning, many amusing scenes of tars who were anxious to procure60 substitutes at their posts. Through the day, many anxious glances were cast to windward; but the weather still promised fair.
At last the people were piped to dinner; two bells struck; and soon after, all who could be spared from their stations hurried to the half-deck. The capstan bars were placed on shot-boxes, as at prayers on Sundays, furnishing seats for the audience, while a low stage, rigged by the carpenter's gang, was built at one end of the open space. The curtain was composed of a large ensign, and the bulwarks61 round about were draperied with the flags of all nations. The ten or twelve members of the brass band were ranged in a row at the foot of the stage, their polished instruments in their hands, while the consequential62 Captain of the Band himself was elevated upon a gun carriage.
At three bells precisely63 a group of ward-room officers emerged from the after-hatchway, and seated themselves upon camp-stools, in a central position, with the stars and stripes for a canopy64. That was the royal box. The sailors looked round for the Commodore but neither Commodore nor Captain honored the people with their presence.
At the call of a bugle65 the band struck up Hail Columbia, the whole audience keeping time, as at Drury Lane, when God Save The King is played after a great national victory.
At the discharge of a marine's musket66 the curtain rose, and four sailors, in the picturesque67 garb68 of Maltese mariners, staggered on the stage in a feigned69 state of intoxication70. The truthfulness71 of the representation was much heightened by the roll of the ship.
"The Commodore," "Old Luff," "The Mayor," and "Gin and Sugar Sall," were played to admiration72, and received great applause. But at the first appearance of that universal favourite, Jack Chase, in the chivalric73 character of Percy Royal-Mast, the whole audience simultaneously74 rose to their feet, and greeted hire with three hearty75 cheers, that almost took the main-top-sail aback.
Matchless Jack, in full fig9, bowed again and again, with true quarter-deck grace and self possession; and when five or six untwisted strands76 of rope and bunches of oakum were thrown to him, as substitutes for bouquets77, he took them one by one, and gallantly78 hung them from the buttons of his jacket.
"Hurrah79! hurrah! hurrah!—go on! go on!—stop hollering—hurrah!—go on!—stop hollering—hurrah!" was now heard on all sides, till at last, seeing no end to the enthusiasm of his ardent80 admirers, Matchless Jack stepped forward, and, with his lips moving in pantomime, plunged81 into the thick of the part. Silence soon followed, but was fifty times broken by uncontrollable bursts of applause. At length, when that heart-thrilling scene came on, where Percy Royal-Mast rescues fifteen oppressed sailors from the watch-house, in the teeth of a posse of constables82, the audience leaped to their feet, overturned the capstan bars, and to a man hurled83 their hats on the stage in a delirium84 of delight. Ah Jack, that was a ten-stroke indeed!
The commotion85 was now terrific; all discipline seemed gone for ever; the Lieutenants86 ran in among the men, the Captain darted87 from his cabin, and the Commodore nervously88 questioned the armed sentry at his door as to what the deuce the people were about. In the midst of all this, the trumpet89 of the officer-of-the-deck, commanding the top-gallant sails to be taken in, was almost completely drowned. A black squall was coming down on the weather-bow, and the boat-swain's mates bellowed90 themselves hoarse91 at the main-hatchway. There is no knowing what would have ensued, had not the bass92 drum suddenly been heard, calling all hands to quarters, a summons not to be withstood. The sailors pricked93 their ears at it, as horses at the sound of a cracking whip, and confusedly stumbled up the ladders to their stations. The next moment all was silent but the wind, howling like a thousand devils in the cordage.
"Stand by to reef all three top-sails!—settle away the halyards!—haul out—so: make fast!—aloft, top-men! and reef away!"
Thus, in storm and tempest terminated that day's theatricals. But the sailors never recovered from the disappointment of not having the "True Yankee Sailor" sung by the Irish Captain of the Head.
And here White-jacket must moralize a bit. The unwonted spectacle of the row of gun-room officers mingling94 with "the people" in applauding a mere1 seaman95 like Jack Chase, filled me at the time with the most pleasurable emotions. It is a sweet thing, thought I, to see these officers confess a human brotherhood96 with us, after all; a sweet thing to mark their cordial appreciation97 of the manly98 merits of my matchless Jack. Ah! they are noble fellows all round, and I do not know but I have wronged them sometimes in my thoughts.
Nor was it without similar pleasurable feelings that I witnessed the temporary rupture99 of the ship's stern discipline, consequent upon the tumult100 of the theatricals. I thought to myself, this now is as it should be. It is good to shake off, now and then, this iron yoke101 round our necks. And after having once permitted us sailors to be a little noisy, in a harmless way—somewhat merrily turbulent—the officers cannot, with any good grace, be so excessively stern and unyielding as before. I began to think a man-of-war a man-of-peace-and-good-will, after all. But, alas102! disappointment came.
Next morning the same old scene was enacted103 at the gang-way. And beholding104 the row of uncompromising-looking-officers there assembled with the Captain, to witness punishment—the same officers who had been so cheerfully disposed over night—an old sailor touched my shoulder and said, "See, White-Jacket, all round they have shipped their quarter-deck faces again. But this is the way."
I afterward105 learned that this was an old man-of-war's-man's phrase, expressive106 of the facility with which a sea-officer falls back upon all the severity of his dignity, after a temporary suspension of it.
点击收听单词发音
1 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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2 destined | |
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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3 frigid | |
adj.寒冷的,凛冽的;冷淡的;拘禁的 | |
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4 latitudes | |
纬度 | |
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5 cape | |
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
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6 patriotic | |
adj.爱国的,有爱国心的 | |
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7 intoxicated | |
喝醉的,极其兴奋的 | |
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8 intoxicate | |
vt.使喝醉,使陶醉,使欣喜若狂 | |
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9 fig | |
n.无花果(树) | |
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10 stimulus | |
n.刺激,刺激物,促进因素,引起兴奋的事物 | |
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11 sentry | |
n.哨兵,警卫 | |
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12 apprentice | |
n.学徒,徒弟 | |
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13 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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14 emulation | |
n.竞争;仿效 | |
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15 potentates | |
n.君主,统治者( potentate的名词复数 );有权势的人 | |
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16 augment | |
vt.(使)增大,增加,增长,扩张 | |
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17 din | |
n.喧闹声,嘈杂声 | |
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18 auspicious | |
adj.吉利的;幸运的,吉兆的 | |
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19 perilous | |
adj.危险的,冒险的 | |
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20 destitution | |
n.穷困,缺乏,贫穷 | |
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21 copious | |
adj.丰富的,大量的 | |
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22 advent | |
n.(重要事件等的)到来,来临 | |
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23 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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24 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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25 prospects | |
n.希望,前途(恒为复数) | |
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26 hoist | |
n.升高,起重机,推动;v.升起,升高,举起 | |
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27 pennant | |
n.三角旗;锦标旗 | |
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28 jack | |
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 | |
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29 touchingly | |
adv.令人同情地,感人地,动人地 | |
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30 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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31 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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32 theatricals | |
n.(业余性的)戏剧演出,舞台表演艺术;职业演员;戏剧的( theatrical的名词复数 );剧场的;炫耀的;戏剧性的 | |
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33 theatrical | |
adj.剧场的,演戏的;做戏似的,做作的 | |
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34 seamen | |
n.海员 | |
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35 outfit | |
n.(为特殊用途的)全套装备,全套服装 | |
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36 diversify | |
v.(使)不同,(使)变得多样化 | |
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37 intervals | |
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
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38 planks | |
(厚)木板( plank的名词复数 ); 政纲条目,政策要点 | |
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39 frigates | |
n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
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40 chagrin | |
n.懊恼;气愤;委屈 | |
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41 patronage | |
n.赞助,支援,援助;光顾,捧场 | |
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42 conjuring | |
n.魔术 | |
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43 embargo | |
n.禁运(令);vt.对...实行禁运,禁止(通商) | |
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44 tedium | |
n.单调;烦闷 | |
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45 tacked | |
用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 ); 附加,增补; 帆船抢风行驶,用粗线脚缝 | |
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46 wagon | |
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车 | |
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47 tars | |
焦油,沥青,柏油( tar的名词复数 ) | |
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48 brace | |
n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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49 bunk | |
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位;废话 | |
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50 coffin | |
n.棺材,灵柩 | |
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51 mariners | |
海员,水手(mariner的复数形式) | |
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52 brass | |
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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53 entreaties | |
n.恳求,乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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54 enacting | |
制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的现在分词 ) | |
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55 censor | |
n./vt.审查,审查员;删改 | |
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56 lawful | |
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 | |
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57 bracing | |
adj.令人振奋的 | |
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58 averse | |
adj.厌恶的;反对的,不乐意的 | |
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59 gale | |
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
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60 procure | |
vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 | |
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61 bulwarks | |
n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 );保障;支柱;舷墙 | |
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62 consequential | |
adj.作为结果的,间接的;重要的 | |
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63 precisely | |
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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64 canopy | |
n.天篷,遮篷 | |
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65 bugle | |
n.军号,号角,喇叭;v.吹号,吹号召集 | |
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66 musket | |
n.滑膛枪 | |
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67 picturesque | |
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的 | |
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68 garb | |
n.服装,装束 | |
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69 feigned | |
a.假装的,不真诚的 | |
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70 intoxication | |
n.wild excitement;drunkenness;poisoning | |
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71 truthfulness | |
n. 符合实际 | |
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72 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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73 chivalric | |
有武士气概的,有武士风范的 | |
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74 simultaneously | |
adv.同时发生地,同时进行地 | |
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75 hearty | |
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 | |
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76 strands | |
n.(线、绳、金属线、毛发等的)股( strand的名词复数 );缕;海洋、湖或河的)岸;(观点、计划、故事等的)部份v.使滞留,使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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77 bouquets | |
n.花束( bouquet的名词复数 );(酒的)芳香 | |
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78 gallantly | |
adv. 漂亮地,勇敢地,献殷勤地 | |
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79 hurrah | |
int.好哇,万岁,乌拉 | |
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80 ardent | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的 | |
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81 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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82 constables | |
n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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83 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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84 delirium | |
n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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85 commotion | |
n.骚动,动乱 | |
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86 lieutenants | |
n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 );副职官员;空军;仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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87 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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88 nervously | |
adv.神情激动地,不安地 | |
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89 trumpet | |
n.喇叭,喇叭声;v.吹喇叭,吹嘘 | |
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90 bellowed | |
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的过去式和过去分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫 | |
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91 hoarse | |
adj.嘶哑的,沙哑的 | |
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92 bass | |
n.男低音(歌手);低音乐器;低音大提琴 | |
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93 pricked | |
刺,扎,戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 ); 刺伤; 刺痛; 使剧痛 | |
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94 mingling | |
adj.混合的 | |
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95 seaman | |
n.海员,水手,水兵 | |
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96 brotherhood | |
n.兄弟般的关系,手中情谊 | |
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97 appreciation | |
n.评价;欣赏;感谢;领会,理解;价格上涨 | |
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98 manly | |
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地 | |
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99 rupture | |
n.破裂;(关系的)决裂;v.(使)破裂 | |
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100 tumult | |
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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101 yoke | |
n.轭;支配;v.给...上轭,连接,使成配偶 | |
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102 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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103 enacted | |
制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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104 beholding | |
v.看,注视( behold的现在分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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105 afterward | |
adv.后来;以后 | |
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106 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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