Suddenly the wind roared with unaccustomed rage, the sea rose into large billows, and a ship was seen tossing in the offing. The Islanders, whose experience of navigation extended only to a slight paddling in their lagoon6, in the half of a hollow trunk of a tree, for the purpose of fishing, mistook the tight little frigate7 for a great fish; and being now aware of the cause of this disturbance8, and at the same time feeling confident that the monster could never make way through the shallow waters to the island, they recovered their courage, and gazed upon the labouring leviathan with the same interested nonchalance9 with which students at a modern lecture observe an expounding10 philosopher.
‘What a shadow he casts over the sky!’ said the King, a young man, whose divine right was never questioned by his female subjects. ‘What a commotion11 in the waters, and what a wind he snorts forth! It certainly must be the largest fish that exists. I remember my father telling me that a monstrous12 fish once got entangled13 among our rocks, and this part of the island really smelt14 for a month; I cannot help fancying that there is a rather odd smell now; pah!’
A favourite Queen flew to the suffering monarch15, and pressing her aromatic16 lips upon his offended nostrils17, his Majesty18 recovered.
The unhappy crew of the frigate, who, with the aid of their telescopes, had detected the crowds upon the shore, now fired their signal guns of distress19, which came sullenly20 booming through the wind.
‘Oh! the great fish is speaking!’ was the universal exclamation21.
‘I begin to get frightened,’ said the favourite Queen. ‘I am sure the monster is coming here!’ So saying, her Majesty grasped up a handful of pearls from the shore, to defend herself.
As screaming was now the fashion, all the women of course screamed; and animated22 by the example of their sovereign, and armed with the marine23 gems24, the Amazons assumed an imposing25 attitude.
Just at the moment that they had worked up their enthusiasm to the highest pitch, and were actually desirous of dying for their country, the ship sunk.

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收听单词发音

1
forth
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adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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2
goblets
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n.高脚酒杯( goblet的名词复数 ) | |
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3
isle
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n.小岛,岛 | |
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4
regained
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复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 | |
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5
shrieks
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n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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6
lagoon
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n.泻湖,咸水湖 | |
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7
frigate
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n.护航舰,大型驱逐舰 | |
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8
disturbance
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n.动乱,骚动;打扰,干扰;(身心)失调 | |
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9
nonchalance
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n.冷淡,漠不关心 | |
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10
expounding
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论述,详细讲解( expound的现在分词 ) | |
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11
commotion
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n.骚动,动乱 | |
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12
monstrous
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adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的 | |
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13
entangled
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adj.卷入的;陷入的;被缠住的;缠在一起的v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
smelt
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v.熔解,熔炼;n.银白鱼,胡瓜鱼 | |
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15
monarch
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n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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aromatic
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adj.芳香的,有香味的 | |
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17
nostrils
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鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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18
majesty
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n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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19
distress
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n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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20
sullenly
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不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地 | |
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21
exclamation
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n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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22
animated
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adj.生气勃勃的,活跃的,愉快的 | |
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23
marine
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adj.海的;海生的;航海的;海事的;n.水兵 | |
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24
gems
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growth; economy; management; and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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25
imposing
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adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 | |
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