The king, hearing the hiss3 of the serpents, scrambled9 as fast as he could to the window, and bawled10 out to the abominable11 enchantress never to come back. The whole people of Athens, too, who had run out of doors to see this wonderful spectacle, set up a shout of joy at the prospect12 of getting rid of her. Medea, almost bursting with rage, uttered precisely13 such a hiss as one of her own snakes, only ten times more venomous and spiteful; and glaring fiercely out of the blaze of the chariot, she shook her hands over the multitude below, as if she were scattering14 a million curses among them. In so doing, however, she unintentionally let fall about five hundred diamonds of the first water, together with a thousand great pearls, and two thousand emeralds, rubies15, sapphires16, opals, and topazes, to which she had helped herself out of the king's strong box. All these came pelting17 down, like a shower of many-colored hailstones, upon the heads of grown people and children, who forthwith gathered them up, and carried them back to the palace. But King ?geus told them that they were welcome to the whole, and to twice as many more, if he had them, for the sake of his delight at finding his son, and losing the wicked Medea. And, indeed, if you had seen how hateful was her last look, as the flaming chariot flew upward, you would not have wondered that both king and people should think her departure a good riddance.
And now Prince Theseus was taken into great favor by his royal father. The old king was never weary of having him sit beside him on his throne, (which was quite wide enough for two,) and of hearing him tell about his dear mother, and his childhood, and his many boyish efforts to lift the ponderous19 stone. Theseus, however, was much too brave and active a young man to be willing to spend all his time in relating things which had already happened. His ambition was to perform other and more heroic deeds, which should be better worth telling in prose and verse. Nor had he been long in Athens before he caught and chained a terrible mad bull, and made a public show of him, greatly to the wonder and admiration20 of good King ?geus and his subjects. But pretty soon, he undertook an affair that made all his foregone adventures seem like mere21 boy's play. The occasion of it was as follows:—
One morning, when Prince Theseus awoke, he fancied that he must have had a very sorrowful dream, and that it was still running in his mind, even now that his eyes were open. For it appeared as if the air was full of a melancholy22 wail23; and when he listened more attentively24, he could hear sobs25, and groans26, and screams of woe27, mingled28 with deep, quiet sighs, which came from the king's palace, and from the streets, and from the temples, and from every habitation in the city. And all these mournful noises, issuing out of thousands of separate hearts, united themselves into one great sound of affliction, which had startled Theseus from slumber29. He put on his clothes as quickly as he could, (not forgetting his sandals and gold-hilted sword,) and hastening to the king, inquired what it all meant.
"Alas30! my son," quoth King ?geus, heaving a long sigh, "here is a very lamentable31 matter in hand! This is the woefulest anniversary in the whole year. It is the day when we annually32 draw lots to see which of the youths and maidens34 of Athens shall go to be devoured36 by the horrible Minotaur!"
"The Minotaur!" exclaimed Prince Theseus and like a brave young prince as he was, he put his hand to the hilt of his sword. "What kind of a monster may that be? Is it not possible, at the risk of one's life, to slay37 him?"
But King ?geus shook his venerable head, and to convince Theseus that it was quite a hopeless case, he gave him an explanation of the whole affair. It seems that in the Island of Crete there lived a certain dreadful monster, called a Minotaur, which was shaped partly like a man and partly like a bull, and was altogether such a hideous38 sort of a creature that it is really disagreeable to think of him. If he were suffered to exist at all, it should have been on some desert island, or in the duskiness of some deep cavern39, where nobody would ever be tormented40 by his abominable aspect. But King Minos, who reigned41 over Crete, laid out a vast deal of money in building a habitation for the Minotaur, and took great care of his health and comfort, merely for mischief42's sake. A few years before this time, there had been a war between the city of Athens and the island of Crete, in which the Athenians were beaten and compelled to beg for peace. No peace could they obtain, however, except on condition that they should send seven young men and seven maidens, every year, to be devoured by the pet monster of the cruel King Minos. For three years past, this grievous calamity43 had been borne. And the sobs, and groans, and shrieks44, with which the city was now filled, were caused by the people's woe, because the fatal day had come again, when the fourteen victims were to be chosen by lot; and the old people feared lest their sons or daughters might be taken, and the youths and damsels dreaded45 lest they themselves might be destined46 to glut47 the ravenous48 maw of that detestable man-brute49.
But when Theseus heard the story, he straightened himself up, so that he seemed taller than ever before; and as for his face, it was indignant, despiteful, bold, tender, and compassionate50, all in one look.
"Let the people of Athens, this year, draw lots for only six young men, instead of seven," said he. "I will myself be the seventh; and let the Minotaur devour35 me, if he can!" "O my dear son," cried King ?geus, "why should you expose yourself to this horrible fate? You are a royal prince, and have a right to hold yourself above the destinies of common men."
"It is because I am a prince, your son, and the rightful heir of your kingdom, that I freely take upon me the calamity of your subjects," answered Theseus. "And you my father, being king over this people, and answerable to Heaven for their welfare, are bound to sacrifice what is dearest to you, rather than that the son or daughter of the poorest citizen should come to any harm."
The old king shed tears, and besought51 Theseus not to leave him desolate52 in his old age, more especially as he had just begun to know the happiness of possessing a good and valiant53 son. Theseus, however, felt that he was in the right, and therefore would not give up his resolution. But he assured his father that he did not intend to be eaten up, unresistingly, like a sheep, and that, if the Minotaur devoured him, it should not be without a battle for his dinner. And finally, since he could not help it, King ?geus consented to let him go. So a vessel54 was got ready, and rigged with black sails; and Theseus, with six other young men, and seven tender and beautiful damsels, came down to the harbor to embark55. A sorrowful multitude accompanied them to the shore. There was the poor old king, too, leaning on his son's arm, and looking as if his single heart held all the grief of Athens.
Just as Prince Theseus was going on board, his father bethought himself of one last word to say.
"My beloved son," said he, grasping the prince's hand, "you observe that the sails of this vessel are black; as indeed they ought to be, since it goes upon a voyage of sorrow and despair. Now, being weighed down with infirmities, I know not whether I can survive till the vessel shall return. But, as long as I do live, I shall creep daily to the top of yonder cliff, to watch if there be a sail upon the sea. And, dearest Theseus, if by some happy chance, you should escape the jaws56 of the Minotaur, then tear down those dismal57 sails, and hoist58 others that shall be bright as the sunshine. Beholding59 them on the horizon, myself and all the people will know that you are coming back victorious60, and will welcome you with such a festal uproar61 as Athens never heard before." Theseus promised that he would do so. Then, going on board, the mariners62 trimmed the vessel's black sails to the wind, which blew faintly off the shore, being pretty much made up of the sighs that everybody kept pouring forth18 on this melancholy occasion. But by and by, when they had got fairly out to sea, there came a stiff breeze from the northwest, and drove them along as merrily over the white-capped waves as if they had been going on the most delightful63 errand imaginable. And though it was a sad business enough, I rather question whether fourteen young people, without any old persons to keep them in order, could continue to spend the whole time of the voyage in being miserable64. There had been some few dances upon the undulating deck, I suspect, and some hearty65 bursts of laughter, and other such unseasonable merriment among the victims, before the high, blue mountains of Crete began to show themselves among the far-off clouds. That sight, to be sure, made them all very grave again.
Theseus stood among the sailors, gazing eagerly towards the land; although, as yet, it seemed hardly more substantial than the clouds, amidst which the mountains were looming66 up. Once or twice, he fancied that he saw a glare of some bright object, a long way off, flinging a gleam across the waves.
"Did you see that flash of light?" he inquired of the master of the vessel.
"No, prince; but I have seen it before," answered the master. "It came from Talus, I suppose."
As the breeze came fresher just then, the master was busy with trimming his sails, and had no more time to answer questions. But while the vessel flew faster and faster towards Crete, Theseus was astonished to behold a human figure, gigantic in size, which appeared to be striding, with a measured movement, along the margin67 of the island. It stepped from cliff to cliff, and sometimes from one headland to another, while the sea foamed68 and thundered on the shore beneath, and dashed its jets of spray over the giant's feet. What was still more remarkable69, whenever the sun shone on this huge figure, it flickered70 and glimmered71; its vast countenance72, too, had a metallic73 lustre74, and threw great flashes of splendor75 through the air. The folds of its garments, moreover, instead of waving in the wind, fell heavily over its limbs, as if woven of some kind of metal.
The nigher the vessel came, the more Theseus wondered what this immense giant could be and whether it actually had life or no. For though it walked, and made other lifelike motions, there yet was a kind of jerk in its gait, which, together with its brazen76 aspect, caused the young prince to suspect that it was no true giant, but only a wonderful piece of machinery77. The figure looked all the more terrible because it carried an enormous brass78 club on its shoulder.
"What is this wonder?" Theseus asked of the master of the vessel, who was now at leisure to answer him.
"It is Talus, the man of Brass," said the master.
"And is he a live giant, or a brazen image?" asked Theseus.
"That, truly," replied the master, "is the point which has always perplexed79 me. Some say, indeed, that this Talus was hammered out for King Minos by Vulcan himself, the skilfulest of all workers in metal. But who ever saw a brazen image that had sense enough to walk round an island three times a day, as this giant walks round the Island of Crete, challenging every vessel that comes nigh the shore? And, on the other hand, what living thing, unless his sinews were made of brass, would not be weary of marching eighteen hundred miles in the twenty-four hours, as Talus does, without ever sitting down to rest? He is a puzzler, take him how you will."
Still the vessel went bounding onward80; and now Theseus could hear the brazen clangor of the giant's footsteps, as he trod heavily upon the sea-beaten rocks, some of which were seen to crack and crumble81 into the foamy82 waves beneath his weight. As they approached the entrance of the port, the giant straddled clear across it, with a foot firmly planted on each headland, and uplifting his club to such a height that its butt-end was hidden in a cloud, he stood in that formidable posture83, with the sun gleaming all over his metallic surface. There seemed nothing else to be expected but that, the next moment, he would fetch his great club down, slam bang, and smash the vessel into a thousand pieces, without heeding84 how many innocent people he might destroy; for there is seldom any mercy in a giant, you know, and quite as little in a piece of brass clockwork. But just when Theseus and his companions thought the blow was coming, the brazen lips unclosed themselves, and the figure spoke85.
"Whence come you, strangers?"
And when the ringing voice ceased, there was just such a reverberation87 as you may have heard within a great church bell, for a moment or two after the stroke of the hammer.
"From Athens!" shouted the master in reply.
"On what errand?" thundered the Man of Brass.
And he whirled his club aloft more threateningly than ever, as if he were about to smite88 them with a thunderstroke right amidships, because Athens, so little while ago, had been at war with Crete.
"We bring the seven youths and the seven maidens," answered the master, "to be devoured by the Minotaur!"
"Pass!" cried the brazen giant.
That one loud word rolled all about the sky, while again there was a booming reverberation within the figure's breast. The vessel glided89 between the headlands of the port, and the giant resumed his march. In a few moments, this wondrous90 sentinel was far away, flashing in the distant sunshine, and revolving91 with immense strides around the Island of Crete, as it was his never-ceasing task to do.
No sooner had they entered the harbor than a party of the guards of King Minos came down to the water side, and took charge of the fourteen young men and damsels. Surrounded by these armed warriors92, Prince Theseus and his companions were led to the king's palace, and ushered93 into his presence. Now, Minos was a stern and pitiless king. If the figure that guarded Crete was made of brass, then the monarch94, who ruled over it, might be thought to have a still harder metal in his breast, and might have been called a man of iron. He bent95 his shaggy brows upon the poor Athenian victims. Any other mortal, beholding their fresh and tender beauty, and their innocent looks, would have felt himself sitting on thorns until he had made every soul of them happy, by bidding them go free as the summer wind. But this immitigable Minos cared only to examine whether they were plump enough to satisfy the Minotaur's appetite. For my part, I wish he himself had been the only victim; and the monster would have found him a pretty tough one.
One after another, King Minos called these pale, frightened youths and sobbing96 maidens to his footstool, gave them each a poke86 in the ribs97 with his scepter, (to try whether they were in good flesh or no,) and dismissed them with a nod to his guards. But when his eyes rested on Theseus, the king looked at him more attentively, because his face was calm and brave.
"Young man," asked he, with his stern voice, "are you not appalled98 at the certainty of being devoured by this terrible Minotaur?"
"I have offered my life in a good cause," answered Theseus, "and therefore I give it freely and gladly. But thou, King Minos, art thou not thyself appalled, who, year after year, hast perpetrated this dreadful wrong, by giving seven innocent youths and as many maidens to be devoured by a monster? Dost thou not tremble, wicked king, to turn thine eyes inward on thine own heart? Sitting there on thy golden throne, and in thy robes of majesty99, I tell thee to thy face, King Minos, thou art a more hideous monster than the Minotaur himself!"
"Aha! do you think me so?" cried the king, laughing in his cruel way. "To-morrow, at breakfast time, you shall have an opportunity of judging which is the greater monster, the Minotaur or the king! Take them away, guards; and let this free-spoken youth be the Minotaur's first morsel100!"
Near the king's throne (though I had no time to tell you so before) stood his daughter, Ariadne. She was a beautiful and tender-hearted maiden33, and looked at these poor doomed101 captives with very different feelings from those of the ironbreasted King Minos. She really wept, indeed, at the idea of how much human happiness would be needlessly thrown away, by giving so many young people, in the first bloom and rose blossom of their lives, to be eaten up by a creature who, no doubt, would have preferred a fat ox, or even a large pig, to the plumpest of them. And when she beheld102 the brave, spirited figure of Prince Theseus bearing himself so calmly in his terrible peril103, she grew a hundred times more pitiful than before. As the guards were taking him away, she flung herself at the king's feet, and besought him to set all the captives free, and especially this one young man.
"Peace, foolish girl!" answered King Minos. "What hast thou to do with an affair like this? It is a matter of state policy, and therefore quite beyond thy weak comprehension. Go water thy flowers, and think no more of these Athenian caitiffs, whom the Minotaur shall as certainly eat up for breakfast as I will eat a partridge for my supper."
So saying, the king looked cruel enough to devour Theseus and all the rest of the captives, himself, had there been no Minotaur to save him the trouble. As he would hear not another word in their favor, the prisoners were now led away, and clapped into a dungeon104, where the jailer advised them to go to sleep as soon as possible, because the Minotaur was in the habit of calling for breakfast early. The seven maidens and six of the young men soon sobbed105 themselves to slumber. But Theseus was not like them. He felt conscious that he was wiser, and braver, and stronger than his companions, and that therefore he had the responsibility of all their lives upon him, and must consider whether there was no way to save them, even in this last extremity106. So he kept himself awake, and paced to and fro across the gloomy dungeon in which they were shut up.
Just before midnight, the door was softly unbarred, and the gentle Ariadne showed herself, with a torch in her hand.
"Are you awake, Prince Theseus?" she whispered.
"Yes," answered Theseus. "With so little time to live, I do not choose to waste any of it in sleep."
"Then follow me," said Ariadne, "and tread softly."
What had become of the jailer and the guards, Theseus never knew. But, however that might be, Ariadne opened all the doors, and led him forth from the darksome prison into the pleasant moonlight.
"Theseus," said the maiden, "you can now get on board your vessel, and sail away for Athens."
"No," answered the young man; "I will never leave Crete unless I can first slay the Minotaur, and save my poor companions, and deliver Athens from this cruel tribute."
"I knew that this would be your resolution," said Ariadne. "Come, then, with me, brave Theseus. Here is your own sword, which the guards deprived you of. You will need it; and pray Heaven you may use it well."
Then she led Theseus along by the hand until they came to a dark, shadowy grove107, where the moonlight wasted itself on the tops of the trees, without shedding hardly so much as a glimmering108 beam upon their pathway. After going a good way through this obscurity, they reached a high, marble wall, which was overgrown with creeping plants, that made it shaggy with their verdure. The wall seemed to have no door, nor any windows, but rose up, lofty, and massive, and mysterious, and was neither to be clambered over, nor, so far as Theseus could perceive, to be passed through. Nevertheless, Ariadne did but press one of her soft little fingers against a particular block of marble, and, though it looked as solid as any other part of the wall, it yielded to her touch, disclosing an entrance just wide enough to admit them. They crept through, and the marble stone swung back into its place.
"We are now," said Ariadne, "in the famous labyrinth109 which D?dalus built before he made himself a pair of wings, and flew away from our island like a bird. That D?dalus was a very cunning workman; but of all his artful contrivances, this labyrinth is the most wondrous. Were we to take but a few steps from the doorway110, we might wander about all our lifetime, and never find it again. Yet in the very center of this labyrinth is the Minotaur; and, Theseus, you must go thither111 to seek him.
"But how shall I ever find him," asked Theseus, "if the labyrinth so bewilders me as you say it will?"
Just as he spoke, they heard a rough and very disagreeable roar, which greatly resembled the lowing of a fierce bull, but yet had some sort of sound like the human voice. Theseus even fancied a rude articulation112 in it, as if the creature that uttered it were trying to shape his hoarse113 breath into words. It was at some distance, however, and he really could not tell whether it sounded most like a bull's roar or a man's harsh voice.
"That is the Minotaur's noise," whispered Ariadne, closely grasping the hand of Theseus, and pressing one of her own hands to her heart, which was all in a tremble. "You must follow that sound through the windings114 of the labyrinth, and, by and by, you will find him. Stay! take the end of this silken string; I will hold the other end; and then, if you win the victory, it will lead you again to this spot. Farewell, brave Theseus."
So the young man took the end of the silken string in his left hand, and his gold-hilted sword ready drawn115 from its scabbard, in the other, and trod boldly into the inscrutable labyrinth. How this labyrinth was built is more than I can tell you. But so cunningly contrived116 a mizmaze was never seen in the world, before nor since. There can be nothing else so intricate, unless it were the brain of a man like D?dalus, who planned it, or the heart of any ordinary man; which last, to be sure, is ten times as great a mystery as the labyrinth of Crete. Theseus had not taken five steps before he lost sight of Ariadne; and in five more his head was growing dizzy. But still he went on, now creeping through a low arch, now ascending117 a flight of steps, now in one crooked118 passage, and now in another, with here a door opening before him, and there one banging behind, until it really seemed as if the walls spun120 round, and whirled him along with them. And all the while, through these hollow avenues, now nearer, now farther off again, resounded121 the cry of the Minotaur; and the sound was so fierce, so cruel, so ugly, so like a bull's roar, and withal so like a human voice, and yet like neither of them, that the brave heart of Theseus grew sterner and angrier at every step, for he felt it an insult to the moon and sky, and to our affectionate and simple Mother Earth, that such a monster should have the audacity122 to exist.
As he passed onward, the clouds gathered over the moon, and the labyrinth grew so dusky that Theseus could no longer discern the bewilderment through which he was passing. He would have felt quite lost, and utterly123 hopeless of ever again walking in a straight path, if, every little while, he had not been conscious of a gentle twitch124 at the silken cord. Then he knew that the tender-hearted Ariadne was still holding the other end, and that she was fearing for him, and hoping for him, and giving him just as much of her sympathy as if she were close by his side. O, indeed, I can assure you, there was a vast deal of human sympathy running along that slender thread of silk. But still he followed the dreadful roar of the Minotaur, which now grew louder and louder, and finally so very loud that Theseus fully125 expected to come close upon him, at every new zigzag126 and wriggle127 of the path. And at last, in an open space, at the very center of the labyrinth, he did discern the hideous creature.
Sure enough, what an ugly monster it was! Only his horned head belonged to a bull; and yet, somehow or other, he looked like a bull all over, preposterously128 waddling129 on his hind119 legs; or if you happened to view him in another way, he seemed wholly a man, and all the more monstrous130 for being so. And there he was, the wretched thing, with no society, no companion, no kind of a mate, living only to do mischief, and incapable132 of knowing what affection means. Theseus hated him, and shuddered133 at him, and yet could not but be sensible of some sort of pity; and all the more, the uglier and more detestable the creature was. For he kept striding to and fro, in a solitary134 frenzy135 of rage, continually emitting a hoarse roar, which was oddly mixed up with half-shaped words; and, after listening a while, Theseus understood that the Minotaur was saying to himself how miserable he was, and how hungry, and how he hated everybody, and how he longed to eat up the human race alive.
Ah, the bull-headed villain136! And O, my good little people, you will perhaps see, one of these days, as I do now, that every human being who suffers anything evil to get into his nature, or to remain there, is a kind of Minotaur, an enemy of his fellow-creatures, and separated from all good companionship, as this poor monster was.
Was Theseus afraid? By no means, my dear auditors137. What! a hero like Theseus afraid! Not had the Minotaur had twenty bull heads instead of one. Bold as he was, however, I rather fancy that it strengthened his valiant heart, just at this crisis, to feel a tremulous twitch at the silken cord, which he was still holding in his left hand. It was as if Ariadne were giving him all her might and courage; and, much as he already had, and little as she had to give, it made his own seem twice as much. And to confess the honest truth, he needed the whole; for now the Minotaur, turning suddenly about, caught sight of Theseus, and instantly lowered his horribly sharp horns, exactly as a mad bull does when he means to rush against an enemy. At the same time, he belched138 forth a tremendous roar, in which there was something like the words of human language, but all disjointed and shaken to pieces by passing through the gullet of a miserably139 enraged140 brute.
Theseus could only guess what the creature intended to say, and that rather by his gestures than his words; for the Minotaur's horns were sharper than his wits, and of a great deal more service to him than his tongue. But probably this was the sense of what he uttered:—
"Ah, wretch131 of a human being! I'll stick my horns through you, and toss you fifty feet high, and eat you up the moment you come down."
"Come on, then, and try it!" was all that Theseus deigned141 to reply; for he was far too magnanimous to assault his enemy with insolent142 language.
Without more words on either side, there ensued the most awful fight between Theseus and the Minotaur that ever happened beneath the sun or moon. I really know not how it might have turned out, if the monster, in his first headlong rush against Theseus, had not missed him, by a hair's breadth, and broken one of his horns short off against the stone wall. On this mishap143, he bellowed144 so intolerably that a part of the labyrinth tumbled down, and all the inhabitants of Crete mistook the noise for an uncommonly145 heavy thunder storm. Smarting with the pain, he galloped146 around the open space in so ridiculous a way that Theseus laughed at it, long afterwards, though not precisely at the moment. After this, the two antagonists147 stood valiantly148 up to one another, and fought, sword to horn, for a long while. At last, the Minotaur made a run at Theseus, grazed his left side with his horn, and flung him down; and thinking that he had stabbed him to the heart, he cut a great caper149 in the air, opened his bull mouth from ear to ear, and prepared to snap his head off. But Theseus by this time had leaped up, and caught the monster off his guard. Fetching a sword stroke at him with all his force, he hit him fair upon the neck, and made his bull head skip six yards from his human body, which fell down flat upon the ground.
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1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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enchantments
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| n.魅力( enchantment的名词复数 )；迷人之处；施魔法；着魔 | |
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3
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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5
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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7
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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8
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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14
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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sapphires
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| n.蓝宝石，钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 )；蔚蓝色 | |
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pelting
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| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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19
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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20
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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21
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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22
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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23
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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24
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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25
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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26
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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27
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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28
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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29
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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30
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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31
lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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32
annually
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| adv.一年一次，每年 | |
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33
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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34
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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35
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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36
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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37
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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38
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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39
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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40
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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41
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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42
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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43
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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44
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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45
dreaded
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| 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) | |
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46
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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47
glut
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| n.存货过多，供过于求；v.狼吞虎咽 | |
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48
ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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49
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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50
compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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51
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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52
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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53
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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54
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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55
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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56
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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57
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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58
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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59
beholding
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| 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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60
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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61
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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62
mariners
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| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
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63
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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64
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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65
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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66
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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67
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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68
foamed
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| 泡沫的 | |
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69
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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70
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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73
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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74
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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75
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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76
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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77
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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78
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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79
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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80
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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81
crumble
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| vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁 | |
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82
foamy
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| adj.全是泡沫的，泡沫的，起泡沫的 | |
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83
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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84
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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85
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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86
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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87
reverberation
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| 反响； 回响； 反射； 反射物 | |
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88
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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89
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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90
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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91
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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92
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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93
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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95
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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96
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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97
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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98
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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99
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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100
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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101
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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102
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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103
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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104
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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105
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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106
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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107
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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108
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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109
labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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110
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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111
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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112
articulation
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| n.（清楚的）发音；清晰度，咬合 | |
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113
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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114
windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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115
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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116
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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117
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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118
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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119
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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120
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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121
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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122
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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123
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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124
twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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125
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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126
zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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127
wriggle
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| v./n.蠕动，扭动；蜿蜒 | |
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128
preposterously
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| adv.反常地；荒谬地；荒谬可笑地；不合理地 | |
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129
waddling
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| v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的现在分词 ) | |
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130
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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131
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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132
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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133
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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134
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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135
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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136
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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137
auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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138
belched
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| v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 )；喷出，吐出；打（嗝）；嗳（气） | |
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139
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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140
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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141
deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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142
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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143
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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144
bellowed
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| 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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145
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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146
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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147
antagonists
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| 对立[对抗] 者，对手，敌手( antagonist的名词复数 )； 对抗肌； 对抗药 | |
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148
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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149
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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