As all along where the pine tree falls, its dissolution leaves a mossy mound—last-flung shadow of the perished trunk; never lengthening3, never lessening4; unsubject to the fleet falsities of the sun; shade immutable5, and true gauge6 which cometh by prostration—so westward7 from what seems the stump, one steadfast8 spear of lichened9 ruin veins10 the plain.
From that tree-top, what birded chimes of silver throats had rung. A stone pine; a metallic11 aviary12 in its crown: the Bell-Tower, built by the great mechanician, the unblest foundling, Bannadonna.
Like Babel's, its base was laid in a high hour of renovated13 earth, following the second deluge14, [pg 402] when the waters of the Dark Ages had dried up, and once more the green appeared. No wonder that, after so long and deep submersion, the jubilant expectation of the race should, as with Noah's sons, soar into Shinar aspiration15.
In firm resolve, no man in Europe at that period went beyond Bannadonna. Enriched through commerce with the Levant, the state in which he lived voted to have the noblest Bell-Tower in Italy. His repute assigned him to be architect.
Stone by stone, month by month, the tower rose. Higher, higher; snail-like in pace, but torch or rocket in its pride.
After the masons would depart, the builder, standing17 alone upon its ever-ascending summit, at close of every day, saw that he overtopped still higher walls and trees. He would tarry till a late hour there, wrapped in schemes of other and still loftier piles. Those who of saints' days thronged20 the spot—hanging to the rude poles of scaffolding, like sailors on yards, or bees on boughs21, unmindful of lime and dust, and falling chips of stone—their homage22 not the less inspirited him to self-esteem. [pg 403]
At length the holiday of the Tower came. To the sound of viols, the climax-stone slowly rose in air, and, amid the firing of ordnance23, was laid by Bannadonna's hands upon the final course. Then mounting it, he stood erect24, alone, with folded arms, gazing upon the white summits of blue inland Alps, and whiter crests25 of bluer Alps off-shore—sights invisible from the plain. Invisible, too, from thence was that eye he turned below, when, like the cannon26 booms, came up to him the people's combustions of applause.
That which stirred them so was, seeing with what serenity27 the builder stood three hundred feet in air, upon an unrailed perch28. This none but he durst do. But his periodic standing upon the pile, in each stage of its growth—such discipline had its last result.
Little remained now but the bells. These, in all respects, must correspond with their receptacle.
The minor29 ones were prosperously cast. A highly enriched one followed, of a singular make, intended for suspension in a manner before unknown. The purpose of this bell, its [pg 404] rotary30 motion, and connection with the clock-work, also executed at the time, will, in the sequel, receive mention.
In the one erection, bell-tower and clock-tower were united, though, before that period, such structures had commonly been built distinct; as the Campanile and Torre del 'Orologio of St. Mark to this day attest31.
But it was upon the great state-bell that the founder32 lavished33 his more daring skill. In vain did some of the less elated magistrates34 here caution him; saying that though truly the tower was Titanic36, yet limit should be set to the dependent weight of its swaying masses. But undeterred, he prepared his mammoth37 mould, dented38 with mythological39 devices; kindled42 his fires of balsamic firs; melted his tin and copper43, and, throwing in much plate, contributed by the public spirit of the nobles, let loose the tide.
The unleashed44 metals bayed like hounds. The workmen shrunk. Through their fright, fatal harm to the bell was dreaded45. Fearless as Shadrach, Bannadonna, rushing through the glow, smote46 the chief culprit with his ponderous47 [pg 405] ladle. From the smitten48 part, a splinter was dashed into the seething49 mass, and at once was melted in.
Next day a portion of the work was heedfully uncovered. All seemed right. Upon the third morning, with equal satisfaction, it was bared still lower. At length, like some old Theban king, the whole cooled casting was disinterred. All was fair except in one strange spot. But as he suffered no one to attend him in these inspections50, he concealed51 the blemish52 by some preparation which none knew better to devise.
The casting of such a mass was deemed no small triumph for the caster; one, too, in which the state might not scorn to share. The homicide was overlooked. By the charitable that deed was but imputed53 to sudden transports of esthetic54 passion, not to any flagitious quality. A kick from an Arabian charger; not sign of vice41, but blood.
His felony remitted55 by the judge, absolution given him by the priest, what more could even a sickly conscience have desired.
Honoring the tower and its builder with [pg 406] another holiday, the republic witnessed the hoisting56 of the bells and clock-work amid shows and pomps superior to the former.
Some months of more than usual solitude57 on Bannadonna's part ensued. It was not unknown that he was engaged upon something for the belfry, intended to complete it, and surpass all that had gone before. Most people imagined that the design would involve a casting like the bells. But those who thought they had some further insight, would shake their heads, with hints, that not for nothing did the mechanician keep so secret. Meantime, his seclusion58 failed not to invest his work with more or less of that sort of mystery pertaining59 to the forbidden.
Ere long he had a heavy object hoisted60 to the belfry, wrapped in a dark sack or cloak—a procedure sometimes had in the case of an elaborate piece of sculpture, or statue, which, being intended to grace the front of a new edifice61, the architect does not desire exposed to critical eyes, till set up, finished, in its appointed place. Such was the impression now. But, as the object rose, a statuary present observed, or thought he did, that it was not entirely62 rigid63, [pg 407] but was, in a manner, pliant64. At last, when the hidden thing had attained65 its final height, and, obscurely seen from below, seemed almost of itself to step into the belfry, as if with little assistance from the crane, a shrewd old blacksmith present ventured the suspicion that it was but a living man. This surmise66 was thought a foolish one, while the general interest failed not to augment67.
Not without demur68 from Bannadonna, the chief-magistrate35 of the town, with an associate—both elderly men—followed what seemed the image up the tower. But, arrived at the belfry, they had little recompense. Plausibly69 entrenching70 himself behind the conceded mysteries of his art, the mechanician withheld71 present explanation. The magistrates glanced toward the cloaked object, which, to their surprise, seemed now to have changed its attitude, or else had before been more perplexingly concealed by the violent muffling72 action of the wind without. It seemed now seated upon some sort of frame, or chair, contained within the domino. They observed that nigh the top, in a sort of square, the web of the cloth, either [pg 408] from accident or design, had its warp73 partly withdrawn74, and the cross threads plucked out here and there, so as to form a sort of woven grating. Whether it were the low wind or no, stealing through the stone lattice-work, or only their own perturbed76 imaginations, is uncertain, but they thought they discerned a slight sort of fitful, spring-like motion, in the domino. Nothing, however incidental or insignificant77, escaped their uneasy eyes. Among other things, they pried78 out, in a corner, an earthen cup, partly corroded79 and partly encrusted, and one whispered to the other, that this cup was just such a one as might, in mockery, be offered to the lips of some brazen80 statue, or, perhaps, still worse.
But, being questioned, the mechanician said, that the cup was simply used in his founder's business, and described the purpose; in short, a cup to test the condition of metals in fusion81. He added, that it had got into the belfry by the merest chance.
Again, and again, they gazed at the domino, as at some suspicious incognito82 at a Venetian mask. All sorts of vague apprehensions84 stirred [pg 409] them. They even dreaded lest, when they should descend85, the mechanician, though without a flesh and blood companion, for all that, would not be left alone.
Affecting some merriment at their disquietude, he begged to relieve them, by extending a coarse sheet of workman's canvas between them and the object.
Meantime he sought to interest them in his other work; nor, now that the domino was out of sight, did they long remain insensible to the artistic86 wonders lying round them; wonders hitherto beheld87 but in their unfinished state; because, since hoisting the bells, none but the caster had entered within the belfry. It was one trait of his, that, even in details, he would not let another do what he could, without too great loss of time, accomplish for himself. So, for several preceding weeks, whatever hours were unemployed89 in his secret design, had been devoted90 to elaborating the figures on the bells.
The clock-bell, in particular, now drew attention. Under a patient chisel91, the latent beauty of its enrichments, before obscured by the cloudings incident to casting, that beauty in its shyest [pg 410] grace, was now revealed. Round and round the bell, twelve figures of gay girls, garlanded, hand-in-hand, danced in a choral ring—the embodied92 hours.
"Bannadonna," said the chief, "this bell excels all else. No added touch could here improve. Hark!" hearing a sound, "was that the wind?"
"The wind, Excellenza," was the light response. "But the figures, they are not yet without their faults. They need some touches yet. When those are given, and the—block yonder," pointing towards the canvas screen, "when Haman there, as I merrily call him,—him? it, I mean—when Haman is fixed93 on this, his lofty tree, then, gentlemen, will I be most happy to receive you here again."
The equivocal reference to the object caused some return of restlessness. However, on their part, the visitors forbore further allusion94 to it, unwilling95, perhaps, to let the foundling see how easily it lay within his plebeian96 art to stir the placid97 dignity of nobles.
"Well, Bannadonna," said the chief, "how long ere you are ready to set the clock going, [pg 411] so that the hour shall be sounded? Our interest in you, not less than in the work itself, makes us anxious to be assured of your success. The people, too,—why, they are shouting now. Say the exact hour when you will be ready."
"To-morrow, Excellenza, if you listen for it,—or should you not, all the same—strange music will be heard. The stroke of one shall be the first from yonder bell," pointing to the bell adorned98 with girls and garlands, "that stroke shall fall there, where the hand of Una clasps Dua's. The stroke of one shall sever88 that loved clasp. To-morrow, then, at one o'clock, as struck here, precisely99 here," advancing and placing his finger upon the clasp, "the poor mechanic will be most happy once more to give you liege audience, in this his littered shop. Farewell till then, illustrious magnificoes, and hark ye for your vassal's stroke."
His still, Vulcanic face hiding its burning brightness like a forge, he moved with ostentatious deference100 towards the scuttle101, as if so far to escort their exit. But the junior magistrate, a kind-hearted man, troubled at what seemed to him a certain sardonical disdain102, lurking103 beneath [pg 412] the foundling's humble104 mien105, and in Christian106 sympathy more distressed107 at it on his account than on his own, dimly surmising108 what might be the final fate of such a cynic solitaire, nor perhaps uninfluenced by the general strangeness of surrounding things, this good magistrate had glanced sadly, sideways from the speaker, and thereupon his foreboding eye had started at the expression of the unchanging face of the Hour Una.
"How is this, Bannadonna?" he lowly asked, "Una looks unlike her sisters."
"In Christ's name, Bannadonna," impulsively109 broke in the chief, his attention, for the first attracted to the figure, by his associate's remark, "Una's face looks just like that of Deborah, the prophetess, as painted by the Florentine, Del Fonca."
"Surely, Bannadonna," lowly resumed the milder magistrate, "you meant the twelve should wear the same jocundly110 abandoned air. But see, the smile of Una seems but a fatal one. 'Tis different."
While his mild associate was speaking, the chief glanced, inquiringly, from him to the caster, [pg 413] as if anxious to mark how the discrepancy111 would be accounted for. As the chief stood, his advanced foot was on the scuttle's curb112.
"Excellenza, now that, following your keener eye, I glance upon the face of Una, I do, indeed perceive some little variance114. But look all round the bell, and you will find no two faces entirely correspond. Because there is a law in art—but the cold wind is rising more; these lattices are but a poor defense115. Suffer me, magnificoes, to conduct you, at least, partly on your way. Those in whose well-being116 there is a public stake, should be heedfully attended."
"Touching117 the look of Una, you were saying, Bannadonna, that there was a certain law in art," observed the chief, as the three now descended118 the stone shaft119, "pray, tell me, then—."
"Pardon; another time, Excellenza;—the tower is damp."
"Nay120, I must rest, and hear it now. Here,—here is a wide landing, and through this leeward121 slit122, no wind, but ample light. Tell us of your law; and at large." [pg 414]
"Since, Excellenza, you insist, know that there is a law in art, which bars the possibility of duplicates. Some years ago, you may remember, I graved a small seal for your republic, bearing, for its chief device, the head of your own ancestor, its illustrious founder. It becoming necessary, for the customs' use, to have innumerable impressions for bales and boxes, I graved an entire plate, containing one hundred of the seals. Now, though, indeed, my object was to have those hundred heads identical, and though, I dare say, people think them; so, yet, upon closely scanning an uncut impression from the plate, no two of those five-score faces, side by side, will be found alike. Gravity is the air of all; but, diversified123 in all. In some, benevolent124; in some, ambiguous; in two or three, to a close scrutiny125, all but incipiently126 malign127, the variation of less than a hair's breadth in the linear shadings round the mouth sufficing to all this. Now, Excellenza, transmute128 that general gravity into joyousness129, and subject it to twelve of those variations I have described, and tell me, will you not have my hours here, and Una one of them? But I like—." [pg 415]
Hark! is that—a footfall above?
"Mortar130, Excellenza; sometimes it drops to the belfry-floor from the arch where the stonework was left undressed. I must have it seen to. As I was about to say: for one, I like this law forbidding duplicates. It evokes131 fine personalities133. Yes, Excellenza, that strange, and—to you—uncertain smile, and those fore-looking eyes of Una, suit Bannadonna very well."
"Hark!—sure we left no soul above?"
"No soul, Excellenza; rest assured, no soul—Again the mortar."
"It fell not while we were there."
"But, Una," said the milder magistrate, "she seemed intently gazing on you; one would have almost sworn that she picked you out from among us three."
"If she did, possibly, it might have been her finer apprehension83, Excellenza."
"How, Bannadonna? I do not understand you."
"No consequence, no consequence, Excellenza—but the shifted wind is blowing through the [pg 416] slit. Suffer me to escort you on; and then, pardon, but the toiler135 must to his tools."
"It may be foolish, Signor," said the milder magistrate, as, from the third landing, the two now went down unescorted, "but, somehow, our great mechanician moves me strangely. Why, just now, when he so superciliously136 replied, his walk seemed Sisera's, God's vain foe137, in Del Fonca's painting. And that young, sculptured Deborah, too. Ay, and that—."
"Ah," said the other, as they now stepped upon the sod, "Ah, Signor, I see you leave your fears behind you with the chill and gloom; but mine, even in this sunny air, remain, Hark!"
It was a sound from just within the tower door, whence they had emerged. Turning, they saw it closed.
"He has slipped down and barred us out," smiled the chief; "but it is his custom."
Proclamation was now made, that the next day, at one hour after meridian139, the clock [pg 417] would strike, and—thanks to the mechanician's powerful art—with unusual accompaniments. But what those should be, none as yet could say. The announcement was received with cheers.
By the looser sort, who encamped about the tower all night, lights were seen gleaming through the topmost blind-work, only disappearing with the morning sun. Strange sounds, too, were heard, or were thought to be, by those whom anxious watching might not have left mentally undisturbed—sounds, not only of some ringing implement140, but also—so they said—half-suppressed screams and plainings, such as might have issued from some ghostly engine, overplied.
Slowly the day drew on; part of the concourse chasing the weary time with songs and games, till, at last, the great blurred141 sun rolled, like a football, against the plain.
At noon, the nobility and principal citizens came from the town in cavalcade142, a guard of soldiers, also, with music, the more to honor the occasion.
Only one hour more. Impatience143 grew. [pg 418] Watches were held in hands of feverish144 men, who stood, now scrutinizing145 their small dial-plates, and then, with neck thrown back, gazing toward the belfry, as if the eye might foretell146 that which could only be made sensible to the ear; for, as yet, there was no dial to the tower-clock.
The hour hands of a thousand watches now verged147 within a hair's breadth of the figure 1. A silence, as of the expectation of some Shiloh, pervaded148 the swarming149 plain. Suddenly a dull, mangled150 sound—naught151 ringing in it; scarcely audible, indeed, to the outer circles of the people—that dull sound dropped heavily from the belfry. At the same moment, each man stared at his neighbor blankly. All watches were upheld. All hour-hands were at—had passed—the figure 1. No bell-stroke from the tower. The multitude became tumultuous.
Waiting a few moments, the chief magistrate, commanding silence, hailed the belfry, to know what thing unforeseen had happened there.
No response. [pg 419]
He hailed again and yet again.
All continued hushed.
By his order, the soldiers burst in the tower-door; when, stationing guards to defend it from the now surging mob, the chief, accompanied by his former associate, climbed the winding152 stairs. Half-way up, they stopped to listen. No sound. Mounting faster, they reached the belfry; but, at the threshold, started at the spectacle disclosed. A spaniel, which, unbeknown to them, had followed them thus far, stood shivering as before some unknown monster in a brake: or, rather, as if it snuffed footsteps leading to some other world.
Bannadonna lay, prostrate153 and bleeding, at the base of the bell which was adorned with girls and garlands. He lay at the feet of the hour Una; his head coinciding, in a vertical154 line, with her left hand, clasped by the hour Dua. With downcast face impending155 over him, like Jael over nailed Sisera in the tent, was the domino; now no more becloaked.
It had limbs, and seemed clad in a scaly156 mail, lustrous157 as a dragon-beetle's. It was manacled, and its clubbed arms were uplifted, [pg 420] as if, with its manacles, once more to smite158 its already smitten victim. One advanced foot of it was inserted beneath the dead body, as if in the act of spurning159 it.
Uncertainty160 falls on what now followed.
It were but natural to suppose that the magistrates would, at first, shrink from immediate161 personal contact with what they saw. At the least, for a time, they would stand in involuntary doubt; it may be, in more or less of horrified162 alarm. Certain it is, that an arquebuss was called for from below. And some add, that its report, followed by a fierce whiz, as of the sudden snapping of a main-spring, with a steely din18, as if a stack of sword-blades should be dashed upon a pavement, these blended sounds came ringing to the plain, attracting every eye far upward to the belfry, whence, through the lattice-work, thin wreaths of smoke were curling.
Some averred163 that it was the spaniel, gone mad by fear, which was shot. This, others denied. True it was, the spaniel never more was seen; and, probably, for some unknown reason, it shared the burial now to be related [pg 421] of the domino. For, whatever the preceding circumstances may have been, the first instinctive164 panic over, or else all ground of reasonable fear removed, the two magistrates, by themselves, quickly rehooded the figure in the dropped cloak wherein it had been hoisted. The same night, it was secretly lowered to the ground, smuggled165 to the beach, pulled far out to sea, and sunk. Nor to any after urgency, even in free convivial166 hours, would the twain ever disclose the full secrets of the belfry.
From the mystery unavoidably investing it, the popular solution of the foundling's fate involved more or less of supernatural agency. But some few less unscientific minds pretended to find little difficulty in otherwise accounting167 for it. In the chain of circumstantial inferences drawn75, there may, or may not, have been some absent or defective168 links. But, as the explanation in question is the only one which tradition has explicitly169 preserved, in dearth170 of better, it will here be given. But, in the first place, it is requisite171 to present the supposition entertained as to the entire motive172 and mode, with their origin, of the secret design [pg 422] of Bannadonna; the minds above-mentioned assuming to penetrate173 as well into his soul as into the event. The disclosure will indirectly174 involve reference to peculiar175 matters, none of, the clearest, beyond the immediate subject.
At that period, no large bell was made to sound otherwise than as at present, by agitation176 of a tongue within, by means of ropes, or percussion177 from without, either from cumbrous machinery178, or stalwart watchmen, armed with heavy hammers, stationed in the belfry, or in sentry-boxes on the open roof, according as the bell was sheltered or exposed.
It was from observing these exposed bells, with their watchmen, that the foundling, as was opined, derived179 the first suggestion of his scheme. Perched on a great mast or spire180, the human figure, viewed from below, undergoes such a reduction in its apparent size, as to obliterate181 its intelligent features. It evinces no personality. Instead of bespeaking182 volition183, its gestures rather resemble the automatic ones of the arms of a telegraph.
Musing184, therefore, upon the purely185 Punchinello [pg 423] aspect of the human figure thus beheld, it had indirectly occurred to Bannadonna to devise some metallic agent, which should strike the hour with its mechanic hand, with even greater precision than the vital one. And, moreover, as the vital watchman on the roof, sallying from his retreat at the given periods, walked to the bell with uplifted mace186, to smite it, Bannadonna had resolved that his invention should likewise possess the power of locomotion187, and, along with that, the appearance, at least, of intelligence and will.
If the conjectures189 of those who claimed acquaintance with the intent of Bannadonna be thus far correct, no unenterprising spirit could have been his. But they stopped not here; intimating that though, indeed, his design had, in the first place, been prompted by the sight of the watchman, and confined to the devising of a subtle substitute for him: yet, as is not seldom the case with projectors190, by insensible gradations, proceeding191 from comparatively pigmy aims to Titanic ones, the original scheme had, in its anticipated eventualities, at last, attained to an unheard of degree of daring. [pg 424]
He still bent192 his efforts upon the locomotive figure for the belfry, but only as a partial type of an ulterior creature, a sort of elephantine Helot, adapted to further, in a degree scarcely to be imagined, the universal conveniences and glories of humanity; supplying nothing less than a supplement to the Six Days' Work; stocking the earth with a new serf, more useful than the ox, swifter than the dolphin, stronger than the lion, more cunning than the ape, for industry an ant, more fiery193 than serpents, and yet, in patience, another ass16. All excellences194 of all God-made creatures, which served man, were here to receive advancement195, and then to be combined in one. Talus was to have been the all-accomplished Helot's name. Talus, iron slave to Bannadonna, and, through him, to man.
Here, it might well be thought that, were these last conjectures as to the foundling's secrets not erroneous, then must he have been hopelessly infected with the craziest chimeras196 of his age; far outgoing Albert Magus and Cornelius Agrippa. But the contrary was averred. However marvelous his design, however apparently197 [pg 425] transcending198 not alone the bounds of human invention, but those of divine creation, yet the proposed means to be employed were alleged199 to have been confined within the sober forms of sober reason. It was affirmed that, to a degree of more than skeptic200 scorn, Bannadonna had been without sympathy for any of the vain-glorious irrationalities of his time. For example, he had not concluded, with the visionaries among the metaphysicians, that between the finer mechanic forces and the ruder animal vitality201 some germ of correspondence might prove discoverable. As little did his scheme partake of the enthusiasm of some natural philosophers, who hoped, by physiological202 and chemical inductions203, to arrive at a knowledge of the source of life, and so qualify themselves to manufacture and improve upon it. Much less had he aught in common with the tribe of alchemists, who sought, by a species of incantations, to evoke132 some surprising vitality from the laboratory. Neither had he imagined, with certain sanguine204 theosophists, that, by faithful adoration205 of the Highest, unheard-of powers would be vouchsafed206 to man. [pg 426] A practical materialist207, what Bannadonna had aimed at was to have been reached, not by logic40, not by crucible208, not by conjuration, not by altars; but by plain vice-bench and hammer. In short, to solve nature, to steal into her, to intrigue209 beyond her, to procure210 some one else to bind211 her to his hand;—these, one and all, had not been his objects; but, asking no favors from any element or any being, of himself, to rival her, outstrip212 her, and rule her. He stooped to conquer. With him, common sense was theurgy; machinery, miracle; Prometheus, the heroic name for machinist; man, the true God.
Nevertheless, in his initial step, so far as the experimental automaton213 for the belfry was concerned, he allowed fancy some little play; or, perhaps, what seemed his fancifulness was but his utilitarian214 ambition collaterally215 extended. In figure, the creature for the belfry should not be likened after the human pattern, nor any animal one, nor after the ideals, however wild, of ancient fable216, but equally in aspect as in organism be an original production; the more terrible to behold217, the better. [pg 427]
Such, then, were the suppositions as to the present scheme, and the reserved intent. How, at the very threshold, so unlooked for a catastrophe218 overturned all, or rather, what was the conjecture188 here, is now to be set forth219.
It was thought that on the day preceding the fatality220, his visitors having left him, Bannadonna had unpacked221 the belfry image, adjusted it, and placed it in the retreat provided—a sort of sentry-box in one corner of the belfry; in short, throughout the night, and for some part of the ensuing morning, he had been engaged in arranging everything connected with the domino; the issuing from the sentry-box each sixty minutes; sliding along a grooved222 way, like a railway; advancing to the clock-bell, with uplifted manacles; striking it at one of the twelve junctions223 of the four-and-twenty hands; then wheeling, circling the bell, and retiring to its post, there to bide224 for another sixty minutes, when the same process was to be repeated; the bell, by a cunning mechanism225, meantime turning on its vertical axis226, so as to present, to the descending227 mace, the clasped hands of the next two figures, when it would strike two, three, [pg 428] and so on, to the end. The musical metal in this time-bell being so managed in the fusion, by some art, perishing with its originator, that each of the clasps of the four-and-twenty hands should give forth its own peculiar resonance228 when parted.
But on the magic metal, the magic and metallic stranger never struck but that one stroke, drove but that one nail, served but that one clasp, by which Bannadonna clung to his ambitious life. For, after winding up the creature in the sentry-box, so that, for the present, skipping the intervening hours, it should not emerge till the hour of one, but should then infallibly emerge, and, after deftly229 oiling the grooves230 whereon it was to slide, it was surmised231 that the mechanician must then have hurried to the bell, to give his final touches to its sculpture. True artist, he here became absorbed; and absorption still further intensified232, it may be, by his striving to abate233 that strange look of Una; which, though, before others, he had treated with such unconcern, might not, in secret, have been without its thorn.
And so, for the interval234, he was oblivious235 of [pg 429] his creature; which, not oblivious of him, and true to its creation, and true to its heedful winding up, left its post precisely at the given moment; along its well-oiled route, slid noiselessly towards its mark; and, aiming at the hand of Una, to ring one clangorous note, dully smote the intervening brain of Bannadonna, turned backwards236 to it; the manacled arms then instantly up-springing to their hovering237 poise238. The falling body clogged239 the thing's return; so there it stood, still impending over Bannadonna, as if whispering some post-mortem terror. The chisel lay dropped from the hand, but beside the hand; the oil-flask spilled across the iron track.
In his unhappy end, not unmindful of the rare genius of the mechanician, the republic decreed him a stately funeral. It was resolved that the great bell—the one whose casting had been jeopardized240 through the timidity of the ill-starred workman—should be rung upon the entrance of the bier into the cathedral. The most robust241 man of the country round was assigned the office of bell-ringer.
But as the pall-bearers entered the cathedral [pg 430] porch, naught but a broken and disastrous242 sound, like that of some lone19 Alpine243 land-slide, fell from the tower upon their ears. And then, all was hushed.
Glancing backwards, they saw the groined belfry crashed sideways in. It afterwards appeared that the powerful peasant, who had the bell-rope in charge, wishing to test at once the full glory of the bell, had swayed down upon the rope with one concentrate jerk. The mass of quaking metal, too ponderous for its frame, and strangely feeble somewhere at its top, loosed from its fastening, tore sideways down, and tumbling in one sheer fall, three hundred feet to the soft sward below, buried itself inverted244 and half out of sight.
Upon its disinterment, the main fracture was found to have started from a small spot in the ear; which, being scraped, revealed a defect, deceptively minute in the casting; which defect must subsequently have been pasted over with some unknown compound.
The remolten metal soon reassumed its place in the tower's repaired superstructure. For one year the metallic choir245 of birds sang musically [pg 431] in its belfry-bough-work of sculptured blinds and traceries. But on the first anniversary of the tower's completion—at early dawn, before the concourse had surrounded it—an earthquake came; one loud crash was heard. The stone-pine, with all its bower246 of songsters, lay overthrown247 upon the plain.
So the blind slave obeyed its blinder lord; but, in obedience248, slew249 him. So the creator was killed by the creature. So the bell was too heavy for the tower. So the bell's main weakness was where man's blood had flawed it. And so pride went before the fall.
The End
The End
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
frescoed
|
|
| 壁画( fresco的名词复数 )； 温壁画技法，湿壁画 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
stump
|
|
| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
lengthening
|
|
| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的现在分词 )； 加长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
lessening
|
|
| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
immutable
|
|
| adj.不可改变的，永恒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
gauge
|
|
| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
steadfast
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
lichened
|
|
| adj.长满地衣的，长青苔的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
10
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
metallic
|
|
| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
aviary
|
|
| n.大鸟笼，鸟舍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
renovated
|
|
| 翻新，修复，整修( renovate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
deluge
|
|
| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
aspiration
|
|
| n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
ass
|
|
| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
din
|
|
| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
lone
|
|
| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
thronged
|
|
| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
boughs
|
|
| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
homage
|
|
| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
ordnance
|
|
| n.大炮，军械 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
crests
|
|
| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
cannon
|
|
| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
serenity
|
|
| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
perch
|
|
| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
minor
|
|
| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
rotary
|
|
| adj.(运动等)旋转的；轮转的；转动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
attest
|
|
| vt.证明，证实；表明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
Founder
|
|
| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
lavished
|
|
| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
magistrates
|
|
| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
magistrate
|
|
| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
titanic
|
|
| adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
mammoth
|
|
| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
dented
|
|
| v.使产生凹痕( dent的过去式和过去分词 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
mythological
|
|
| adj.神话的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
logic
|
|
| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
vice
|
|
| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
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： |
|
|
|
|
43
copper
|
|
| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
unleashed
|
|
| v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
smote
|
|
| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
ponderous
|
|
| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
smitten
|
|
| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
seething
|
|
| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
inspections
|
|
| n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
blemish
|
|
| v.损害；玷污；瑕疵，缺点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
imputed
|
|
| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
esthetic
|
|
| adj.美学的，审美的；悦目的，雅致的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
remitted
|
|
| v.免除（债务），宽恕( remit的过去式和过去分词 )；使某事缓和；寄回，传送 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
hoisting
|
|
| 起重，提升 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
solitude
|
|
| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
seclusion
|
|
| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
pertaining
|
|
| 与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
hoisted
|
|
| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
edifice
|
|
| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
rigid
|
|
| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
pliant
|
|
| adj.顺从的；可弯曲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
attained
|
|
| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
surmise
|
|
| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
augment
|
|
| vt.(使)增大，增加，增长，扩张 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
demur
|
|
| v．表示异议，反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
plausibly
|
|
| 似真地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
entrenching
|
|
| v.用壕沟围绕或保护…( entrench的现在分词 )；牢固地确立… | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
withheld
|
|
| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
muffling
|
|
| v.压抑，捂住( muffle的现在分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
warp
|
|
| vt.弄歪，使翘曲，使不正常，歪曲，使有偏见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
withdrawn
|
|
| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
perturbed
|
|
| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
insignificant
|
|
| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
pried
|
|
| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
corroded
|
|
| 已被腐蚀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
brazen
|
|
| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
fusion
|
|
| n.溶化；熔解；熔化状态，熔和；熔接 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
incognito
|
|
| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
apprehensions
|
|
| 疑惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
artistic
|
|
| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
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： |
|
|
|
|
88
sever
|
|
| v.切开，割开；断绝，中断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
unemployed
|
|
| adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
chisel
|
|
| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
embodied
|
|
| v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
allusion
|
|
| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
plebeian
|
|
| adj.粗俗的；平民的；n.平民；庶民 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
placid
|
|
| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
deference
|
|
| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
scuttle
|
|
| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
disdain
|
|
| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
mien
|
|
| n.风采；态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
distressed
|
|
| 痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
surmising
|
|
| v.臆测，推断( surmise的现在分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
impulsively
|
|
| adv.冲动地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
jocundly
|
|
| adv.愉快地，快活地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
111
discrepancy
|
|
| n.不同；不符；差异；矛盾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
curb
|
|
| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
variance
|
|
| n.矛盾，不同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
defense
|
|
| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
well-being
|
|
| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
descended
|
|
| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
leeward
|
|
| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
slit
|
|
| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
diversified
|
|
| adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
benevolent
|
|
| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
scrutiny
|
|
| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
incipiently
|
|
| adv.起初地，早期地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
127
malign
|
|
| adj.有害的；恶性的；恶意的；v.诽谤，诬蔑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
transmute
|
|
| vt.使变化，使改变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
joyousness
|
|
| 快乐，使人喜悦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
mortar
|
|
| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
evokes
|
|
| 产生，引起，唤起( evoke的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
evoke
|
|
| vt.唤起，引起，使人想起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
personalities
|
|
| n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
blandly
|
|
| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
toiler
|
|
| 辛劳者，勤劳者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
superciliously
|
|
| adv.高傲地；傲慢地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
foe
|
|
| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
whim
|
|
| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
meridian
|
|
| adj.子午线的；全盛期的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
implement
|
|
| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
blurred
|
|
| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
cavalcade
|
|
| n.车队等的行列 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
feverish
|
|
| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
scrutinizing
|
|
| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
foretell
|
|
| v.预言，预告，预示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
verged
|
|
| 接近，逼近（verge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
pervaded
|
|
| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
swarming
|
|
| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
mangled
|
|
| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
153
prostrate
|
|
| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
154
vertical
|
|
| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
155
impending
|
|
| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
156
scaly
|
|
| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
157
lustrous
|
|
| adj.有光泽的；光辉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
158
smite
|
|
| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
159
spurning
|
|
| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
160
uncertainty
|
|
| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
161
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
162
horrified
|
|
| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
163
averred
|
|
| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
164
instinctive
|
|
| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
165
smuggled
|
|
| 水货 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
166
convivial
|
|
| adj.狂欢的，欢乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
167
accounting
|
|
| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
168
defective
|
|
| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
169
explicitly
|
|
| ad.明确地，显然地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
170
dearth
|
|
| n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
171
requisite
|
|
| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
172
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
173
penetrate
|
|
| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
174
indirectly
|
|
| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
175
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
176
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
177
percussion
|
|
| n.打击乐器；冲突，撞击；震动，音响 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
178
machinery
|
|
| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
179
derived
|
|
| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
180
spire
|
|
| n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
181
obliterate
|
|
| v.擦去，涂抹，去掉...痕迹，消失，除去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
182
bespeaking
|
|
| v.预定( bespeak的现在分词 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
183
volition
|
|
| n.意志；决意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
184
musing
|
|
| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
185
purely
|
|
| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
186
mace
|
|
| n.狼牙棒，豆蔻干皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
187
locomotion
|
|
| n.运动，移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
188
conjecture
|
|
| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
189
conjectures
|
|
| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
190
projectors
|
|
| 电影放映机，幻灯机( projector的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
191
proceeding
|
|
| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
192
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
193
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
194
excellences
|
|
| n.卓越( excellence的名词复数 )；（只用于所修饰的名词后）杰出的；卓越的；出类拔萃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
195
advancement
|
|
| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
196
chimeras
|
|
| n.（由几种动物的各部分构成的）假想的怪兽( chimera的名词复数 )；不可能实现的想法；幻想；妄想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
197
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
198
transcending
|
|
| 超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的现在分词 )； 优于或胜过… | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
199
alleged
|
|
| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
200
skeptic
|
|
| n.怀疑者，怀疑论者，无神论者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
201
vitality
|
|
| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
202
physiological
|
|
| adj.生理学的，生理学上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
203
inductions
|
|
| 归纳（法）( induction的名词复数 )； （电或磁的）感应； 就职； 吸入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
204
sanguine
|
|
| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
205
adoration
|
|
| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
206
vouchsafed
|
|
| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
207
materialist
|
|
| n. 唯物主义者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
208
crucible
|
|
| n.坩锅，严酷的考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
209
intrigue
|
|
| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
210
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
211
bind
|
|
| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
212
outstrip
|
|
| v.超过，跑过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
213
automaton
|
|
| n.自动机器，机器人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
214
utilitarian
|
|
| adj.实用的，功利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
215
collaterally
|
|
| 担保物； 旁系亲属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
216
fable
|
|
| n.寓言；童话；神话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
217
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
218
catastrophe
|
|
| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
219
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
220
fatality
|
|
| n.不幸，灾祸，天命 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
221
unpacked
|
|
| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
222
grooved
|
|
| v.沟( groove的过去式和过去分词 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
223
junctions
|
|
| 联结点( junction的名词复数 )； 会合点； （公路或铁路的）交叉路口； （电缆等的）主结点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
224
bide
|
|
| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
225
mechanism
|
|
| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
226
axis
|
|
| n.轴，轴线，中心线；坐标轴，基准线 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
227
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
228
resonance
|
|
| n.洪亮；共鸣；共振 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
229
deftly
|
|
| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
230
grooves
|
|
| n.沟( groove的名词复数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏v.沟( groove的第三人称单数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
231
surmised
|
|
| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
232
intensified
|
|
| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
233
abate
|
|
| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
234
interval
|
|
| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
235
oblivious
|
|
| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
236
backwards
|
|
| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
237
hovering
|
|
| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
238
poise
|
|
| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
239
clogged
|
|
| （使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
240
jeopardized
|
|
| 危及，损害( jeopardize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
241
robust
|
|
| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
242
disastrous
|
|
| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
243
alpine
|
|
| adj.高山的；n.高山植物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
244
inverted
|
|
| adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
245
choir
|
|
| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
246
bower
|
|
| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
247
overthrown
|
|
| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
248
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
249
slew
|
|
| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |