Those are very much mistaken who think that the occupation of promoting or taking part in a forlorn hope is a pastime to which persons disinclined to business or honest industry, betake themselves. The spy, for instance, who is a well-known instrument in war, takes the heroism7 out of it. The sinister8 activity of the spy turns the soldier into a sneak9. Honourable10 men do, indeed, persuade themselves that if by deceit they can obtain knowledge of facts which may save the lives of many on their own side, it is right. At the same time they also betray to death many on the other side, including some who have trusted the spy in his disguise. But whatever success may attend the deceit of the spy, he can never divest11 himself of the character of being a fraud; and a fraud in war is only a little less base than a fraud in business. But it is the perils13 of even the patriotic14 spy, which are so often under-estimated. If discovered by the enemy, he is sure to be shot; and he runs the risk of being killed on suspicion by friends on his own side—too indignant to inquire into the nature of the suspicions they entertain. The spy dare not communicate the business he is upon to his friends. Somehow it would get out; then the spy would surely walk the plank15, or hang from the gallows16 as Andre did. The spy's own friends being ignorant of the secret duty he has undertaken, observe him making the acquaintance of the enemy—hear of him being seen in communication with them—and he becomes distrusted and disowned by those whom he perils his life to serve. Mazzini detested17 the Cabinets, or the Generals, who employed spies. He made war by secrecy—open war being impossible to him—but never by treachery. Some who had suffered and were incensed18 by personal outrage19 or maddening oppression, would act as spies in revenge. Because these were done on the side of Italian independence, Mazzini was accused of inspiring them and employing them.
Mazzini had another difficulty. Like Cromwell, he sought his combatants among men of faith. Mazzini was, as has been said, a Theist, like Thomas Paine, or Theodore Parker, or Francis William Newman, he was that and nothing more; and, as with them, his belief was passionate20. He did not believe that political enthusiasm could be created or sustained without belief in God. He seemed unable to conceive that a sense of duty could exist separately from that belief. Hence his motto always was "God and the People," which limited his adherents21 largely to Theists, and implied a propaganda to convert persons to a belief in Deity22, before they could, in his opinion, be counted upon to fight for Italian independence. Yet there were contradictions; but contradictions seldom disturb passionate convictions, and Mazzini himself could not deny that he had often been faithfully served by men who were not at all sure that God would fight on their side, if disaster overtook them. One night at a crowded Fulham party Mazzini was contending, as was his wont23, that an Atheist24 could not have a sense of duty. Garibaldi, who was present, at once asked, "What do you say to me? I am an Atheist. Do I lack the sense of duty?"
"Ah," said Mazzini, playfully, "you imbibed25 duty with your mother's milk"—which was not an answer, but a good-natured evasion26. Garibaldi was not a philosophical27 Atheist, but he was a fierce sentimental28 one, from resentment29 at the cruelties and tyrannies of priests who professed30 to represent God. To disbelieve unwillingly32 from lack of evidence, and to disbelieve from natural indignation is a very different thing.
All the many years Mazzini was in London, Madame Venturi was constantly in communication with him, and was present at more conversations than any one else. Had she possessed33 the genius of Boswell, and put down day by day criticisms she heard expressed, the narratives34 of his extraordinary adventures, and such as came to her knowledge from correspondence, now no longer recoverable, we might have had as wonderful a volume of political and ethical35 judgment36 as was Boswell's "Johnson." Sometimes I expressed a hope that she was doing this. Nevertheless, we are indebted to her for the best biography of him that appeared in her time. I add a few sayings of his which show the quality of his table talk:—
"Falsehood is the art of cowards. Credulity without examination is the practice of idiots."
"Any order of things established through violence, even though in itself superior to the old, is still a tyranny."
"Blind distrust, like blind confidence, is death to all great enterprises."
"In morals, thought and action should be inseparable. Thought without action is selfishness; action without thought is rashness."
"Education is the bread of the soul."
"Art does not imitate, it interprets."
Only those who were in the agitation38 for Italian freedom can understand the exhausting amount of labour performed by those who were adherents or sympathisers. How much greater was the labour of the commander of the movement, who had to create the departments he administered, to provide the funds for them, to win and inspire its adherents, and correspond incessantly39 with agents scattered40 over Europe and America, and to vindicate41 himself against false accusations43 rained upon him by a hostile, ubiquitous European press.
Orsini was a man of invincible44 courage, and could be trusted to execute any commission given him. No danger deterred45 him, but in enterprises requiring prevision of contingencies46, he was inadequate47. Mazzini thought so; and Orsini secretly contrived48 to plot against the French usurper49, to extort50 from Mazzini the confession51 that he (Orsini) could carry out an independent enterprise. All the same, the adversaries52 of Italian freedom made Mazzini responsible for it.
A writer in the press, who did not give his name (and when a writer does not do that, he can say anything), published, in editorial type, this passage: "By the way, I remember that Orsini, the day before he left England to make his attempt upon the life of Napoleon III., had a solemn discussion with Joseph Cowen and Mazzini, as to the justice of tyrannicide." Mazzini being then dead, I sent the paragraph to Mr. Cowen and asked him if there was any truth in it, who replied:—
"Blaydon-on-Tyne, March 2, 1891.
"My dear Holyoake,—I have no idea where the writer of the enclosed paragraph gets his information. I cannot speak as to Orsini having a conversation with Mazzini, but I should think it is in the highest sense improbable, because long before Orsini went to France, Mazzini and he had not been in friendly intercourse53. There was a difference between them which kept them apart. I had repeated conversations with Orsini about tyrannicide—a matter in which he seemed interested—but I did not see him for some weeks before he went to France.
"Yours truly,
"Joseph Cowen."
Mazzini always repudiated54 the dagger55 as a political weapon. It answered the purpose of his adversaries in his day and since, to accuse him of advocating it. He pointed56 out that calumny57 was a dagger used to assassinate58 character, but to that form of assassination59 few politicians made objection. Sometimes partisans60 of Mazzini would supply a colourable presumption61 of the truth of this accusation42.
A circumstantial story appeared in the "Life of Charles Bradlaugh" (vol. i. p. 69), signed W. E. Adams, as follows:—
"The year 1858 was the year of Felice Orsinis attempt on the life of Louis Napoleon. I was at that time, and had been for years previously62, a member of the Republican Association, which was formed to propagate the principles of Mazzini. When the press, from one end of the country to the other, joined in a chorus of condemnation63 of Orsini, I put down on paper some of the arguments and considerations which I thought told on Orsini's side. The essay thus was read at a meeting of one of our branches; the members assembled earnestly urged me to get the piece printed. It occurred to me also that the publication might be of service, if only to show that there were two sides to the question of 'Tyrannicide.' So I went to Mr. G. J. Holyoake, then carrying on business as a publisher of advanced literature. Mr. Holyoake not being on the premises64, his brother, Austin, asked me to leave my manuscript and call again. When I called again Mr. Holyoake returned me the paper, giving, among other reasons for declining to publish it, that he was already in negotiation65 with Mazzini for a pamphlet on the same subject. 'Very well,' said I, 'all I want is that something should be said on Orsini's side. If Mazzini does this, I shall be quite content to throw my production into the fire.'"
It is true that the pamphlet was brought to me by Mr. Adams, entitled, "Tyrannicide: A Justification66." What really took place on my part, as I distinctly remember, was this. I said: "I was unwilling31 to publish a pamphlet of that nature which did not bear the name of the writer," which the MS. did not. The author answered that "a name added no force to an argument; besides, his name was unimportant, if put on the tide-page," which was reasonably and modestly said. My reply was, "That in an affair of murder, 'Justification' was a recommendation, and that any one acting67 on his perilous68 suggestion ought to know who was his authority." Nothing more was said by me. The writer made no offer to add his name to his MS., nor to meet my objection by a less assertive69 title. As any prosecution70 for publishing it would be against me, and not against him, I thought I had a right to an opinion as to the title and authorship of the work I might have to defend. It was afterwards issued by Mr. Truelove, a bookseller of courage and public spirit, but who suggested the very changes I had indicated to the author; and by Mr. Truelove's desire the author not only gave his name, but changed the title into "Tyrannicide: Is it Justifiable71?" which was quite another matter. It asked the question; it no longer decided72 it.
As to Mazzini, it is impossible I could have said what is imputed73 to me. I was not "in negotiation with Mazzini" "to write anything upon the Orsini affair. I knew he would not do so. Orsini, as I have said, concealed74 his plot from Mazzini, who never incited75 it, never approved it, never justified76 it—he deplored77 it. Only enemies of Mazzini sought to connect him with it. If I left this story uncontradicted, it might creep into history that, in spite of the disclaimers of Mazzini's friends, he actually "entered into negotiation" to write in defence of Orsini's attempt, which must imply concurrence78 with the deplorable method Orsini unhappily took; and, moreover, that a publisher, regarded as being in Mazzini's confidence, had, in an open, unqualified way, told a writer on assassination of it. The publisher was speedily arrested on the issue of the pamphlet, as I should have been, but that would not have deterred me from publishing it in a reasonable and responsible form.
Soon after I printed and published a worse pamphlet by Felix Pyat, which was signed by "A Revolutionary Committee." The Pyat pamphlet was under prosecution at the time I voluntarily published it. As what I did I did openly—I wrote to the Government apprising79 them of what I was doing.
Besides, I commenced to issue serial80 "Tyrannicide Literature," commencing with pamphlets written by Royalist advocates of assassination. Because I did not publish the Adams Tyrannicide pamphlet right off without inquiry81 or suggestion, I was freely charged with refusing to do it from fear. No one seems to have been informed of the reasons I gave for declining. No one inquired into the facts. Adversaries of those days did not take the trouble. But, as I had to take the consequences of what I did, I thought I had a right to take my own mode of incurring83 them.
On the last night of Orsini's life, Mazzini and a small group of the friends both of Orsini and himself, of which I was one, kept vigil until the morning, at which hour the axe84 in La Roquette would fall.
The favourite charge of the press against the great conspirator was that he advised others to incur82 danger, and kept out of it himself. This was entirely85 untrue—but it did not prevent it being said. The principle these critics go upon is, that whoever is capable of advising and directing others, should do all he can to get himself shot—a doctrine86 which would rid the army of all its generals, and the offices of all newspapers of their editors. Upon Mazzini's life the success of twenty small cohorts of patriots87 depended, ready to give their lives for Italy. Mazzini was not only the commander of the army of Liberation, but, as has been indicated, the provider of its reserves, its commissariat and recruits. His life was also of priceless value to other struggling peoples. He was the one statesman in Europe who had a European mind—who knew the peoples of the Continent, whose knowledge was intimate, and whose word could be trusted. So far from avoiding danger, he was never out of it. With a price set upon his head in three countries, hunted by seven Governments, with spies always following him and by assassins lying in ambush88, his life for forty years passed in more peril12 than any other public man of his time. Yet it was fashionable to charge him with want of courage whose whole "life," to use his own phrase, "was a battle and a march."
Could there be a doubt of the intrepidity89 of a man who, with the slender forces of insurgent90 patriots, confronted Austria with its 600,000 bayonets.
No sooner was Garibaldi in Rome than Mazzini was there in the streets inspiring its defenders91. What dangers he passed through to reach Rome, knowing well that his arrest meant death!
Rome was not a safe place for Mazzini, neither was London. His life was never safe. I have been asked by his host to walk home with him at night from a London suburban92 villa93 where he dined, because a Royalist assassin was known to be in London waiting to kill him.
Mazzini died at Pisa, March 10, 1872, from chill by walking over the Alps in inclement94 weather, intending to visit his English friends once more. A few of his English colleagues protested against his embalmment95. I was not one. Gorini, the greatest of his profession, undertook to transform the body into marble, and for him Mazzini had friendship. Dr. Bertani, Mazzini's favourite physician, approved embalming96. It could not be done by more reverent97 hands. How could England—who disembowelled Nelson and sent his body home in a cask of rum; who embalmed98 Jeremy Bentham, and took out O'Connell's heart, sent it to one city, and his mutilated remains99 to another—reproach Italy for observing the national rites100 of their illustrious dead?
The personal character of Mazzini never needed defence. In private life and state affairs, honour was to him an instinct. He saw the path of right with clear eyes. No advantage induced him to deviate101 from it. No danger prevented his walking in it.
Carlyle, whom few satisfied, said he "found in him a man of clear intelligence and noble virtues102. True as steel, the word, the thought of him pure and limpid103 as water."
It may be by experience that a nation is governed, but it is by rightness alone that it is kept noble. It was to promote this that Mazzini walked for forty years on the dreary104 highway between exile and the scaffold. It was from belief in his heroic and unfaltering integrity that men went out at his word, to encounter the dungeon105, torture, and death, and that families led all their days alarmed lives, and gave up husbands and sons to enterprises in which they could only triumph by dying. No one save Byron has depicted106 the self-denial incidental to Mazzini's career, which involved the abnegation of all that makes life worth living to other men.
"Such ties are not
For those who are called to the high destinies
We must forget all feeling save the One
We must resign all passions, save our purpose.
And only look on death as beautiful
And draw down freedom on her evermore."*
* "Marino Faliero."
Mazzini left a name which has become one of the landmarks111, or rather mindmarks, of public thought, and, though a bygone name, there is instruction and inspiration in it yet.
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1 conspirator | |
n.阴谋者,谋叛者 | |
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2 conspirators | |
n.共谋者,阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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3 conspiracy | |
n.阴谋,密谋,共谋 | |
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4 garrison | |
n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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5 fugitive | |
adj.逃亡的,易逝的;n.逃犯,逃亡者 | |
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6 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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7 heroism | |
n.大无畏精神,英勇 | |
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8 sinister | |
adj.不吉利的,凶恶的,左边的 | |
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9 sneak | |
vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝);偷偷摸摸做;n.潜行;adj.暗中进行 | |
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10 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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11 divest | |
v.脱去,剥除 | |
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12 peril | |
n.(严重的)危险;危险的事物 | |
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13 perils | |
极大危险( peril的名词复数 ); 危险的事(或环境) | |
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14 patriotic | |
adj.爱国的,有爱国心的 | |
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15 plank | |
n.板条,木板,政策要点,政纲条目 | |
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16 gallows | |
n.绞刑架,绞台 | |
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17 detested | |
v.憎恶,嫌恶,痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18 incensed | |
盛怒的 | |
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19 outrage | |
n.暴行,侮辱,愤怒;vt.凌辱,激怒 | |
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20 passionate | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的 | |
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21 adherents | |
n.支持者,拥护者( adherent的名词复数 );党羽;徒子徒孙 | |
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22 deity | |
n.神,神性;被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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23 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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24 atheist | |
n.无神论者 | |
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25 imbibed | |
v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 );喝;吸取;吸气 | |
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26 evasion | |
n.逃避,偷漏(税) | |
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27 philosophical | |
adj.哲学家的,哲学上的,达观的 | |
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28 sentimental | |
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的 | |
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29 resentment | |
n.怨愤,忿恨 | |
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30 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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31 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
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32 unwillingly | |
adv.不情愿地 | |
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33 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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34 narratives | |
记叙文( narrative的名词复数 ); 故事; 叙述; 叙述部分 | |
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35 ethical | |
adj.伦理的,道德的,合乎道德的 | |
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36 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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37 guardian | |
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者 | |
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38 agitation | |
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
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39 incessantly | |
ad.不停地 | |
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40 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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41 vindicate | |
v.为…辩护或辩解,辩明;证明…正确 | |
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42 accusation | |
n.控告,指责,谴责 | |
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43 accusations | |
n.指责( accusation的名词复数 );指控;控告;(被告发、控告的)罪名 | |
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44 invincible | |
adj.不可征服的,难以制服的 | |
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45 deterred | |
v.阻止,制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46 contingencies | |
n.偶然发生的事故,意外事故( contingency的名词复数 );以备万一 | |
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47 inadequate | |
adj.(for,to)不充足的,不适当的 | |
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48 contrived | |
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
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49 usurper | |
n. 篡夺者, 僭取者 | |
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50 extort | |
v.勒索,敲诈,强要 | |
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51 confession | |
n.自白,供认,承认 | |
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52 adversaries | |
n.对手,敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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53 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
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54 repudiated | |
v.(正式地)否认( repudiate的过去式和过去分词 );拒绝接受;拒绝与…往来;拒不履行(法律义务) | |
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55 dagger | |
n.匕首,短剑,剑号 | |
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56 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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57 calumny | |
n.诽谤,污蔑,中伤 | |
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58 assassinate | |
vt.暗杀,行刺,中伤 | |
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59 assassination | |
n.暗杀;暗杀事件 | |
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60 partisans | |
游击队员( partisan的名词复数 ); 党人; 党羽; 帮伙 | |
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61 presumption | |
n.推测,可能性,冒昧,放肆,[法律]推定 | |
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62 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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63 condemnation | |
n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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64 premises | |
n.建筑物,房屋 | |
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65 negotiation | |
n.谈判,协商 | |
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66 justification | |
n.正当的理由;辩解的理由 | |
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67 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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68 perilous | |
adj.危险的,冒险的 | |
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69 assertive | |
adj.果断的,自信的,有冲劲的 | |
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70 prosecution | |
n.起诉,告发,检举,执行,经营 | |
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71 justifiable | |
adj.有理由的,无可非议的 | |
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72 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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73 imputed | |
v.把(错误等)归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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75 incited | |
刺激,激励,煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76 justified | |
a.正当的,有理的 | |
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77 deplored | |
v.悲叹,痛惜,强烈反对( deplore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78 concurrence | |
n.同意;并发 | |
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79 apprising | |
v.告知,通知( apprise的现在分词 );评价 | |
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80 serial | |
n.连本影片,连本电视节目;adj.连续的 | |
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81 inquiry | |
n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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82 incur | |
vt.招致,蒙受,遭遇 | |
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83 incurring | |
遭受,招致,引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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84 axe | |
n.斧子;v.用斧头砍,削减 | |
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85 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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86 doctrine | |
n.教义;主义;学说 | |
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87 patriots | |
爱国者,爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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88 ambush | |
n.埋伏(地点);伏兵;v.埋伏;伏击 | |
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89 intrepidity | |
n.大胆,刚勇;大胆的行为 | |
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90 insurgent | |
adj.叛乱的,起事的;n.叛乱分子 | |
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91 defenders | |
n.防御者( defender的名词复数 );守卫者;保护者;辩护者 | |
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92 suburban | |
adj.城郊的,在郊区的 | |
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93 villa | |
n.别墅,城郊小屋 | |
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94 inclement | |
adj.严酷的,严厉的,恶劣的 | |
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95 embalmment | |
n.(尸体的)防腐处理,薰香 | |
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96 embalming | |
v.保存(尸体)不腐( embalm的现在分词 );使不被遗忘;使充满香气 | |
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97 reverent | |
adj.恭敬的,虔诚的 | |
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98 embalmed | |
adj.用防腐药物保存(尸体)的v.保存(尸体)不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 );使不被遗忘;使充满香气 | |
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99 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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100 rites | |
仪式,典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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101 deviate | |
v.(from)背离,偏离 | |
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102 virtues | |
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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103 limpid | |
adj.清澈的,透明的 | |
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104 dreary | |
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 | |
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105 dungeon | |
n.地牢,土牢 | |
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106 depicted | |
描绘,描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 ); 描述 | |
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107 corrupted | |
(使)败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)腐化; 引起(计算机文件等的)错误; 破坏 | |
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108 commonwealths | |
n.共和国( commonwealth的名词复数 );联邦;团体;协会 | |
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109 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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110 ascend | |
vi.渐渐上升,升高;vt.攀登,登上 | |
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111 landmarks | |
n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 );目标;(标志重要阶段的)里程碑 ~ (in sth);有历史意义的建筑物(或遗址) | |
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