12
“A great admirer of the monuments of Greek and Roman architecture, Charlemagne was not satisfied with the simplicity6 of his ancestors, and sought to combine the useful and the beautiful, the comfortable and the artistic7. He built not merely as the owner, but like a king. He selected one of the most beautiful spots on the heights of Rheingau for the palace of Ingelheim. The broad river, enclosing numerous islands in its strong arms, is visible throughout its entire course from the bend where it enters Rheingau, below Mainz, to the point where it plunges8 into the dark abyss of Bingerloch. The smiling meadows along its banks at the foot of vine-clad hillsides spread out like a charming panorama10.”
The palace itself is described by contemporaries as a wonder of art, transplanted as if by magic from the Italian Ravenna to the banks of the Rhine. Charlemagne secured the hundred marble and granite11 columns upon which the structure rests, as well as the mural decorations of the interior, through the favor of the Pope. Barbarian12 opulence13 in buildings was usually displayed in the lavish14 use of gold and silver, and artistic effect was sought for in brilliant metallic15 shimmer16. But Charlemagne employed gold and silver only for the decoration of that beautiful work of art—the reproduction of the old palace at Ravenna upon the Ingelheim heights—a conspicuous17 evidence of that great change in times and customs by which not only the abode18, but eventually the title and sceptre, of the C?sars came into the possession of a German sovereign.
13
Contemporaneous descriptions of the personality of Charlemagne have also been preserved. According to the chronicles of Eginhard, he was large and symmetrical of body and stood about seven feet high. He had full, bright eyes, a strong nose, beautiful hair, and a frank, open countenance19. Whether sitting or standing20, he inspired reverence21 by his dignity. He was often upon horseback in war or the chase. He loved bathing as passionately22 as the chase, and often buffeted23 the green waves of the Rhine with his strong arms, but he was fonder of the warm mineral baths of Aachen[4] (Aix-la-Chapelle) than of the river water.
14
According to the Eginhard chronicles also, Charlemagne usually wore the Frankish costume, which is thus described in a chronicle at Saint Gall[5]:
“The Frankish costume consisted of shoes, set off with gold adornments fastened by scarlet24 bands about the legs, and flaxen hose of the same color, figured in a most skilful25 manner. Then came the inner coat of bright canvas material, shoulder belt, and sword. The remaining detail of the costume was a gray or blue four-cornered mantle26, doubled and so disposed that when worn over the shoulder it fell to the feet before and behind, but barely covered the knees on the sides. A staff was carried in the right hand, made of a sapling with symmetrical knobs, and with a handle of gold or silver finely wrought27. It was at once beautiful, strong, and cruel. The mantle was made of a thick woollen stuff called ‘Frisian’ in the northern Netherlands.”
15
Such was the costume generally worn by the Emperor. In winter, however, the chronicle says that he protected his shoulders and breast with an outer garment of otter28 and marten skins. He disliked foreign dress, and wore it only once or twice in Rome at the request of the Pope. He carried a sword at his side continuously with a golden hilt and belt. Now and then he made use of one set with jewels, but only upon ceremonious occasions, or when receiving embassies. At the high festivals he wore a gold-embroidered dress, shoes set with gems29, a mantle fastened with a golden clasp, and a golden, jewelled crown. From another narrative30 of events in the times of Charlemagne, we quote the following:
16
“Although the Franks were excellent riders and generally fought on horseback, they did not participate in tournaments, although the principal feats31 of the tournament were conspicuous for the exercises which the young warriors33 enjoyed practising. The really grand occasions of the Franks were their religious and state festivals, where they displayed their fondness for splendor34 and churchly pomp. The brilliancy of the state festivals, to which Charlemagne summoned representatives from far and near, was enhanced by the presence of the monarch35 seated upon his high and gorgeous throne. A blue mantle covered his shoulders, and upon his head he wore a refulgent36 diadem37. His right hand held a golden sceptre. His spouse38 wore a crown above her veil, which, like her dress and those of the court ladies, glittered with pearls, rubies39, diamonds, and other costly40 gems, procured41 in trade or taken as spoils of war. The dukes, counts, and other nobles surrounding the throne wore girdles adorned42 with gold, silver, and jewels from the Orient. Their fur-trimmed mantles43 suggested the habits of their fathers and the experiences of the forests. Palace functionaries44 stood back of the Emperor; heralds45 threw gold pieces to the crowd; and musicians sang and poets recited hymns46 in honor of the Frankish heroes. Festivals of this kind lasted several days. The guests at a signal from the horn mounted their horses to hunt boars and buffaloes47, which were abundant in those days—a pastime which called for impetuous courage, as it was attended by great danger. As gentler sport they fished and hunted with falcons48 and other birds of prey49. Still other sources of pleasure were ball games and chess contests. In Charlemagne’s time the Franks were passionately devoted50 to both, but the Emperor cared little for such sports and rarely played chess, which seemed to him merely a pleasant way of passing time, which to him was of the highest importance and too valuable to be wasted. The meals in the homes of the wealthy consisted of three courses: the first, a salad of mallows or hops51, which were considered as appetizers52 and aids to digestion53; the second, plain bread and pork or venison; and the third, pastries54 and fruit. Wine was rarely used, and consequently there were few displays of bad passions. The common beverages55 were beer and mead9. Poor families and even those fairly well off ate turnips56, lentils, beans, and other vegetables, and upon festive57 occasions a goose and some kind of pastry58. However great the wealth or high the rank, the utmost importance was attached to the hair and beard, which were considered indications of strength and courage—qualities which commanded respect at that time. The grandees59 exchanged a hair as a sign of mutual60 agreement. A promise was often sealed by touching61 the beard. A debtor62 who could not pay was considered the slave of his creditor63 and tendered him the shears64 with which to cut his beard. If a young warrior32 was taken prisoner by one of the barbarians65 and doomed66 to death, he would beseech67 his captor not to soil his hair with blood or allow a slave to touch it. Agreements were annulled68 by breaking a straw. Hospitality was regarded as a sacred rite69, and guests were treated with almost religious reverence. The household furniture was simple. The walls of the rooms were covered with painted and gilded70 leather, and the floors were covered with straw mats, woven by the women of the house. Except upon festival days, when sumptuous71 display was expected, there was the utmost simplicity both in the homes of private persons and at the Court of Charlemagne.”
17
Charlemagne’s wife and daughters took an active part in the household duties. The daughters learned to spin and weave when they were quite young, and Charlemagne much preferred the garments which they made. Angilbert, a scholarly friend of the Emperor, has left a description of the palace at Ingelheim as well as of a hunting party in which the Emperor’s spouse, Lindgard, and the sons, Carl and Pepin, figure. He says:
18
“The Emperor’s charming wife, Lindgard, enters the courtyard followed by a numerous train. Her cheeks vie in tint72 and glitter with the roses, and her hair with the shimmer of a purple robe. Her brow is bound with a purple fillet, jewels sparkle on her neck, and a golden crown glitters on her head. As she enters with her ladies, courtiers make way to her, right and left. She mounts her horse, which is brought to her, and beams with royal dignity upon the crowd of nobles surrounding her two sons, Carl and Pepin. The one who bears his father’s name resembles him in figure, countenance, and spirit. He is in full armor—a valiant73 warrior, tried and true. Following the queen and princes, the hunters crowd through the gates accompanied by a tumult74 of sound from hound bells and horns. Next appear the princesses with their retinue75. Rotrud rides at their head, calm of face and proud in bearing. Her blonde hair is fastened by a purple band, and a little gold crown gleams upon her brow. Next, Bertha, the image of her father in face, voice, and disposition76. Her blonde hair is intertwined with gold cords and wreathed with a diadem. A marten-skin covers her snowy neck, and the seams of her tightly fitting cloak are set with glittering jewels. Next rides Gisela, dazzlingly white and beautiful. Purple threads are interwoven in the delicate texture77 of her veil. Silvern gleam her hands, golden her brows, her eyes shine like the sun, and she manages her fiery78 steed with perfect ease. Ruodhaid on her gracefully79 ambling80 palfrey follows. Hair, neck, and feet glow with jewelled ornaments81, and a silken mantle, fastened at the breast with gold clasps, covers her shoulders. Then follows Theodora, she of the rosy82 face and gold-red hair, wearing a necklace of emeralds and a gorgeous mantle. Hiltrud, last of the sisters, appears and, after glancing around majestically83, turns her steed in the direction of the forest whose dark recesses84 invite this imposing85 expedition.”
19
Where was Charlemagne, master of the house and the Empire, as the hunting party set out?—gazing at the animated86 spectacle from the palace balcony, or in the stillness of his apartment studying serious problems upon which depended the weal or woe87 of his empire?
The solution of these problems was a weighty matter. He had inherited not honors alone, but burdens which needed a giant’s strength to carry. His life was a continuous struggle with forces which hurled88 themselves against his empire. To understand his situation we must consider the circumstances which confronted him when the crown of the Franks became his heritage. We must revert89 to the past and review the history of the Empire down to his accession, that we may clearly understand what this hero and sovereign contended against and accomplished90.
点击收听单词发音
1 reign | |
n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势 | |
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2 obelisk | |
n.方尖塔 | |
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3 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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4 inscription | |
n.(尤指石块上的)刻印文字,铭文,碑文 | |
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5 appreciation | |
n.评价;欣赏;感谢;领会,理解;价格上涨 | |
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6 simplicity | |
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯 | |
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7 artistic | |
adj.艺术(家)的,美术(家)的;善于艺术创作的 | |
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8 plunges | |
n.跳进,投入vt.使投入,使插入,使陷入vi.投入,跳进,陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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9 mead | |
n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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10 panorama | |
n.全景,全景画,全景摄影,全景照片[装置] | |
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11 granite | |
adj.花岗岩,花岗石 | |
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12 barbarian | |
n.野蛮人;adj.野蛮(人)的;未开化的 | |
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13 opulence | |
n.财富,富裕 | |
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14 lavish | |
adj.无节制的;浪费的;vt.慷慨地给予,挥霍 | |
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15 metallic | |
adj.金属的;金属制的;含金属的;产金属的;像金属的 | |
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16 shimmer | |
v./n.发微光,发闪光;微光 | |
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17 conspicuous | |
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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18 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
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19 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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20 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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21 reverence | |
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 | |
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22 passionately | |
ad.热烈地,激烈地 | |
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23 buffeted | |
反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 ); 连续猛击; 打来打去; 推来搡去 | |
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24 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
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25 skilful | |
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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26 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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27 wrought | |
v.引起;以…原料制作;运转;adj.制造的 | |
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28 otter | |
n.水獭 | |
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29 gems | |
growth; economy; management; and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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30 narrative | |
n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的 | |
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31 feats | |
功绩,伟业,技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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32 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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33 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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34 splendor | |
n.光彩;壮丽,华丽;显赫,辉煌 | |
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35 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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36 refulgent | |
adj.辉煌的,灿烂的 | |
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37 diadem | |
n.王冠,冕 | |
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38 spouse | |
n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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39 rubies | |
红宝石( ruby的名词复数 ); 红宝石色,深红色 | |
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40 costly | |
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的 | |
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41 procured | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 | |
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42 adorned | |
[计]被修饰的 | |
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43 mantles | |
vt.&vi.覆盖(mantle的第三人称单数形式) | |
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44 functionaries | |
n.公职人员,官员( functionary的名词复数 ) | |
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45 heralds | |
n.使者( herald的名词复数 );预报者;预兆;传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 );宣布(好或重要) | |
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46 hymns | |
n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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47 buffaloes | |
n.水牛(分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种)( buffalo的名词复数 );(南非或北美的)野牛;威胁;恐吓 | |
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48 falcons | |
n.猎鹰( falcon的名词复数 ) | |
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49 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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50 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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51 hops | |
跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花 | |
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52 appetizers | |
n.开胃品( appetizer的名词复数 );促进食欲的活动;刺激欲望的东西;吊胃口的东西 | |
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53 digestion | |
n.消化,吸收 | |
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54 pastries | |
n.面粉制的糕点 | |
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55 beverages | |
n.饮料( beverage的名词复数 ) | |
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56 turnips | |
芜青( turnip的名词复数 ); 芜菁块根; 芜菁甘蓝块根; 怀表 | |
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57 festive | |
adj.欢宴的,节日的 | |
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58 pastry | |
n.油酥面团,酥皮糕点 | |
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59 grandees | |
n.贵族,大公,显贵者( grandee的名词复数 ) | |
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60 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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61 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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62 debtor | |
n.借方,债务人 | |
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63 creditor | |
n.债仅人,债主,贷方 | |
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64 shears | |
n.大剪刀 | |
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65 barbarians | |
n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 );外国人;粗野的人;无教养的人 | |
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66 doomed | |
命定的 | |
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67 beseech | |
v.祈求,恳求 | |
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68 annulled | |
v.宣告无效( annul的过去式和过去分词 );取消;使消失;抹去 | |
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69 rite | |
n.典礼,惯例,习俗 | |
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70 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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71 sumptuous | |
adj.豪华的,奢侈的,华丽的 | |
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72 tint | |
n.淡色,浅色;染发剂;vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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73 valiant | |
adj.勇敢的,英勇的;n.勇士,勇敢的人 | |
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74 tumult | |
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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75 retinue | |
n.侍从;随员 | |
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76 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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77 texture | |
n.(织物)质地;(材料)构造;结构;肌理 | |
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78 fiery | |
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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79 gracefully | |
ad.大大方方地;优美地 | |
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80 ambling | |
v.(马)缓行( amble的现在分词 );从容地走,漫步 | |
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81 ornaments | |
n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 );点缀;装饰品;首饰v.装饰,点缀,美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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82 rosy | |
adj.美好的,乐观的,玫瑰色的 | |
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83 majestically | |
雄伟地; 庄重地; 威严地; 崇高地 | |
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84 recesses | |
n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 );(工作或业务活动的)中止或暂停期间;学校的课间休息;某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 );将(墙)做成凹形,在(墙)上做壁龛;休息,休会,休庭 | |
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85 imposing | |
adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 | |
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86 animated | |
adj.生气勃勃的,活跃的,愉快的 | |
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87 woe | |
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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88 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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89 revert | |
v.恢复,复归,回到 | |
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90 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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