King Ryence and Duke Mordaunt come to Cameliard.
NOW, upon a certain day at this time there came a messenger to the Court of King Leodegrance, with news that King Ryence of North Wales and Duke Mordaunt of North Umber were coming thither1 and that they brought with them a very noble and considerable Court of knights2 and lords. At this news King Leodegrance was much troubled in spirit, for he wist not what such a visit might betoken4; and yet he greatly feared that it boded5 ill for him. So on that day when King Ryence and the Duke of North Umber appeared before the castle, King Leodegrance went forth6 to greet them and they three met together in the meadows that lie beneath the castle walls of Cameliard.
There King Leodegrance bade those others welcome in such manner as was fitting, desiring them that they should come into the castle with him so that he might entertain them according to their degree.
The King and the Duke send challenge to King Leodegrance.
But to this courtesy upon the part of King Leodegrance, King Ryence deigned7 no pleasing reply. “Nay,” quoth he, “we go not with thee into thy castle, King Leodegrance, until we learn whether thou art our friend or our enemy. For just now we are, certes, no such good friends with thee that we care to sit down at thy table and eat of thy salt. Nor may we be aught but enemies of thine until thou hast first satisfied our demands; to wit, that thou givest to me those lands which I demand of thee and that thou givest unto my cousin, Duke Mordaunt of North Umber, the Lady Guinevere to be his wife. In these matters thou hast it in thy power to make us either thy friends or thine enemies. Wherefore we shall abide8 here, outside of thy castle, for five days, in the which time thou mayst frame thine answer, and so we may know whether we shall be friends or enemies.”
“And in the meantime,” quoth Duke Mordaunt of North Umber, “I do{92} hold myself ready for to contest my right unto the hand of the Lady Guinevere with any knight3 of thy Court who hath a mind to deny my just title thereto; and if thou hast no knight in all thy Court who can successfully assay10 a bout11 of arms with me, thou thyself canst hardly hope to succeed in defending thyself against that great army of knights whom King Ryence hath gathered together to bring against thee in case thou denyest us that which we ask.”
Then was King Leodegrance exceedingly cast down in his spirits, for he feared those proud lords and he wist not what to say in answer to them. Wherefore he turned and walked back into his castle again, beset12 with great anxiety and sorrow of spirit. And King Ryence, and Duke Mordaunt and their Court of lords and knights pitched their pavilions in those meadows over against the castle, so that the plain was entirely13 covered with those pavilions. And there they took up their inn with great rejoicing and with the sound of feasting and singing and merry-making, for it was an exceeding noble Court King Ryence had gathered about him.
Duke Mordaunt rides before the castle.
And when the next morning had come Duke Mordaunt of North Umber went forth clad all in armor of proof. And he rode up and down the field before the castle and gave great challenge to those within; daring any knight to come forth for to meet him in knightly14 encounter. “Ho!” he cried, “how now, ye Knights of Cameliard! Is there no one to come forth to meet me? How then may ye hope to contend with the Knights of North Wales, an ye fear to meet with one single Knight from North Umber?” So he scoffed15 at them in his pride, and none dared to come forth from Cameliard against him. For the Duke of North Umber was one of the most famous knights of his day, and one of exceeding strength and success at arms, and there was now, in these times of peace, no one of King Leodegrance’s Court who was at all able to face a warrior16 of his approved skill and valor17. Wherefore, no one took up that challenge which the Duke of North Umber gave to the Court of Cameliard. Meantime many people gathered upon the walls of Cameliard and gazed down therefrom upon that proud and haughty18 duke, all bedight in his splendid armor, and all were grieved and ashamed that there was no one in that peaceful town to go out against him. And all the lords and knights of King Ryence’s Court came and stood in front of the King’s pavilion and laughed and clapped their hands together, and cheered Duke Mordaunt, as he so rode up and down before them. And the greater they were expanded with mirth, the more abashed19 were the people of Cameliard. “Ho! Ho!” cried that proud Duke. “How now! Will no one come forth to meet me? How then may ye of Cameliard hope{93} to face the King of North Wales and all his knightly array of which I am but one man?” And the people of Cameliard, gathered upon the walls, listened to him with shame and sorrow.
Now all this while King Arthur digged in the garden; but, nevertheless, he was well aware of everything that passed and of how that the Duke of North Umber rode up and down so proudly before the castle walls. So, of a sudden, it came to him that he could not abide this any longer. Wherefore he laid aside his spade and went out secretly by a postern way, and so up into the town.
Now there was in Cameliard an exceedingly rich merchant, by name Ralph of Cardiff, and the renown20 of his possessions and his high estate had reached even unto King Arthur’s ears at Carleon. Accordingly it was unto his house that King Arthur directed his steps.
King Arthur seeks armor to do battle.
And while he was in a narrow way, not far from the merchant’s house, he took off his magic cap of disguise and assumed somewhat of his noble appearance once more, for he was now of a mind to show his knightliness21 unto those who looked upon him. Accordingly, when he stood before the rich merchant in his closet, and when the merchant looked up into his face, he wist not what to think to behold22 so noble a lord clad all in frieze23. For though King Arthur was a stranger to the good man, so that he knew not his countenance24, yet that merchant wist that he was no ordinary knight, but that he must assuredly be one of high degree and in authority, even though he was clad in frieze.
Then King Arthur opened the breast of his jerkin and showed the merchant the gold collar that hung around his neck. And also he showed beneath the rough coat of frieze how that there was an undergarment of fine purple silk embroidered25 with gold. And then he showed to the good man his own signet ring, and when the merchant saw it, he knew it to be the ring of the King of Britain. Wherefore, beholding26 these tokens of high and lordly authority, the merchant arose and stood before the King and doffed27 his cap.
“Sir Merchant,” quoth the King, “know that I am a stranger knight in disguise in this place. Ne’theless, I may tell thee that I am a very good friend to King Leodegrance and wish him exceeding well. Thou art surely aware of how the Duke of North Umber rides continually up and down before the King’s castle, and challenges anyone within to come forth for to fight against him in behalf of the Lady Guinevere. Now I am of a mind to assay that combat mine own self, and I hope a very great deal that I shall succeed in upholding the honor of Cameliard and of bringing shame upon its enemies.{94}
“Sir Merchant, I know very well that thou hast several suits of noble armor in thy treasury28, for the fame of them hath reached unto mine ears though I dwell a considerable distance from this place. Wherefore I desire that thou shalt provide me in the best manner that thou art able to do, so that I may straightway assay a bout of arms with that Duke of North Umber. Moreover, I do pledge thee my knightly word that thou shalt be fully9 recompensed for the best suit of armor that thou canst let me have, and that in a very little while.”
“My Lord,” said Master Ralph, “I perceive that thou art no ordinary errant knight, but rather someone of extraordinary estate; wherefore it is a very great pleasure to fulfil all thy behests. But even an thou wert other than thou art, I would be altogether willing to equip thee with armor, seeing that thou hast a mind to ride forth against yonder duke.”
Upon this he rang a little silver bell that stood nigh to him, and in answer to its sound several attendants immediately appeared. Into their hands he intrusted the person of the King, bidding them to do him extraordinary honor. Accordingly, certain of those attendants prepared for the King a bath of tepid29 water perfumed with ambergris, very grateful to the person. And after he was bathed in this bath and was wiped with soft linen30 towels, other attendants conducted him to a hall all hung with tapestries31 and ’broideries, and at this place a noble feast had been spread ready for his refreshment32. Here that lordly merchant himself ministered to the King’s wants, serving him with various meats—very dainty, and of several sorts—and likewise with fine white bread. And he poured him wine of various countries—some as red as ruby33, others as yellow as gold; and indeed the King had hardly ever enjoyed a better feast than that which the merchant, Ralph of Cardiff, had thus spread for him.
King Arthur is armed by Ralph of Cardiff.
And after he had entirely refreshed himself with eating, there came six pages richly clad in sarsanet of azure34, and these, taking the King to an apartment of great state, they there clad him in a suit of Spanish armor, very cunningly wrought35 and all inlaid with gold. And the like of that armor was hardly to be found in all of the land. The juppon and the several trappings of the armor were all of satin and as white as milk. And the shield was white, and altogether without emblazonment or device of any sort. Then these attendants conducted the King into the courtyard, and there stood a noble war-horse, as white as milk, and all the trappings of the horse were of milk-white cloth without emblazonment or adornment36 of any sort; and the bridle37 and the bridle rein38 were all studded over with bosses of silver.
Then after the attendants had aided King Arthur to mount this steed,{95} the lordly merchant came forward and gave him many words of good cheer, and so the king bade him adieu and rode away, all shining in white and glittering in fine armor, wherefore he resembled the full moon in harvest season.
And as he drave down the stony39 streets of the town, the people turned and gazed after him, for he made a very noble appearance as he passed along the narrow way between the houses of the town.
So King Arthur directed his way to the postern gate of the castle, and, having reached that place, he dismounted and tied his horse. Then he straightway entered the garden, and there, finding an attendant, he made demand that he should have present speech with the Lady Guinevere. So the attendant, all amazed at his lordly presence, went and delivered the message, and by and by the Lady Guinevere came, much wondering, and passed along a gallery with several of her damsels, until she had come over above where King Arthur was. And when King Arthur looked up and saw her above him, he loved her exceeding well. And he said to her: “Lady, I have great will to do thee such honor as I am able. For I go forth now to do combat with that Duke of North Umber who rides up and down before this castle. Moreover, I hope and verily believe that I shall encompass40 his downfall; accordingly, I do beseech41 of thee some token, such as a lady may give unto a knight for to wear when that knight rides forth to do her honor.”
The Lady Guinevere accepts King Arthur for her champion.
Then the Lady Guinevere said: “Certes, Sir Knight, I would that I knew who thou art. Yet, though I know not, nevertheless I am altogether willing for to take thee for my champion as thou offerest. So, touching42 that token thou speakest of, if thou wilt43 tell me what thing it is that thou desirest, I will gladly give it to thee.”
“An that be so, Lady,” said King Arthur, “I would fain have that necklace that thou wearest about thy throat. For, meseems that if I had that tied about my arm, I would find my valor greatly increased thereby44.”
“Pardee, Sir Knight,” said the Lady, “what thou desirest of me thou shalt assuredly have.” Thereupon speaking, she took from her long, smooth neck the necklace of pearls which she wore, and dropped the same down to King Arthur where he stood.
And King Arthur took the necklace and tied it about his arm, and he gave great thanks for it. Then he saluted45 the Lady Guinevere with very knightly grace, and she saluted him, and then, straightway, he went forth from that place, greatly expanded with joy that the Lady Guinevere had shown him such favor.{96}
Now the report had gone about Cameliard that a knight was to go forth to fight the Duke of North Umber. Wherefore great crowds gathered upon the walls, and King Leodegrance and the Lady Guinevere and all the Court of the King came to that part of the castle walls overlooking the meadow where the Duke of North Umber defended. Wherefore, so great a concourse was presently assembled, that any knight might be encouraged to do his utmost before such a multitude as that which looked down upon the field.
Then of a sudden the portcullis of the castle was lifted, and the bridge let fall, and the White Champion rode forth to that encounter which he had undertaken. And, as he drave across that narrow bridge, the hoofs46 of his war-horse smote47 the boards with a noise like to thunder, and when he came out into the sunlight, lo! his armor flamed of a sudden like unto lightning, and when the people saw him they shouted aloud.
Then when the Duke of North Umber beheld48 a knight all clad in white, he rode straightway to him and spoke49 to him with words of knightly greeting. “Messire,” he said, “I perceive that thou bearest no crest50 upon thy helm, nor hast thou a device of any sort upon thy shield, wherefore I know not who thou art. Ne’theless, I do believe that thou art a knight of good quality and of approved courage, or else thou wouldst not have thus come to this place.”
“Certes, Sir Knight,” said King Arthur, “I am of a quality equal to thine own. And as for my courage, I do believe that it hath been approved in as many encounters as even thine own hath been.”
“Sir Knight,” quoth the Duke of Umber, “thou speakest with a very large spirit. Ne’theless, thou mayst make such prayers as thou art able, for I shall now presently so cast thee down from thy seat, so that thou shalt never rise again; for so have I served better men than ever thou mayst hope to be.”
To this King Arthur made answer with great calmness of demeanor51: “That shall be according to the will of Heaven, Sir Knight, and not according to thy will.”
King Arthur overthrows52 Duke Mordaunt.
So each knight saluted the other and rode to his assigned station, and there each dressed his spear and his shield, and made him ready for the encounter. Then a silence fell upon all so great that a man might hear his own heart beat in the stillness. So, for a small space, each knight sat like a statue made of iron. Then, of a sudden, each shouted to his war-horse, and drave spurs into his flank, and launched forth from his station. And so they met in the midst of the course with a noise like unto a violent thunder-clap. And lo! the spear of{97} the Duke of North Umber burst into splinters unto the very truncheon thereof; but the spear of King Arthur broke not, but held, so that the Duke was cast out of his saddle like a windmill—whirling in the air and smiting53 the earth so that the ground shuddered54 beneath him. And indeed he rolled full three times over and over ere he ceased to fall.
Then all the people upon the wall shouted with might and main, so that the noise thereof was altogether astonishing; for they had hardly hoped that their champion should have proved so extraordinarily55 strong and skilful56.
Meanwhile, those of King Ryence’s Court ran immediately to the Duke of Umber where he lay upon the earth, and they straightway unlaced his helm for to give him air. And first they thought that he was dead, and then they thought that he was like to die; for, behold! he lay without any life or motion. Nor did he recover from that swoon wherein he lay for the space of full two hours and more.
Now whilst the attendants were thus busied about Duke Mordaunt of North Umber, King Arthur sat his horse, very quietly, observing all that they did. Then, perceiving that his enemy was not dead, he turned him about and rode away from that place.
Nor did he return unto Cameliard at that time, for he deemed that he had not yet entirely done with these enemies to the peace of his realm, wherefore he was minded not yet to return the horse and the armor to the merchant, but to keep them for a while for another occasion.
So he bethought him of how, coming to Cameliard, he had passed through an arm of the forest where certain wood-choppers were at work felling the trees. Wherefore, remembering that place, he thought that he would betake him thither and leave his horse and armor in the care of those rude folk until he would need those things once more. So now he rode away into the country-side, leaving behind him the town and the castle and all the noise of shouting and rejoicing; nor did he once so much as turn his head to look back toward that place where he had so violently overthrown57 his enemy.
And now you shall presently hear of certain pleasant adventures of a very joyous58 sort that befell him ere he had accomplished59 all his purposes. For when a man is a king among men, as was King Arthur, then is he of such a calm and equal temper that neither victory nor defeat may cause him to become either unduly60 exalted61 in his own opinion or so troubled in spirit as to be altogether cast down into despair. So if you would become like to King Arthur, then you shall take all your triumphs as he took this{98} victory, for you will not be turned aside from your final purposes by the great applause that many men may give you, but you will first finish your work that you have set yourself to perform, ere you give yourself ease to sit you down and to enjoy the fruits of your victory.
Yea, he who is a true king of men, will not say to himself, “Lo! I am worthy62 to be crowned with laurels;” but rather will he say to himself, “What more is there that I may do to make the world the better because of my endeavors?”
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1
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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3
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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4
betoken
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| v.预示 | |
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boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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10
assay
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| n.试验，测定 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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15
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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knightliness
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| 骑士的，勋爵士的，骑士似的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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frieze
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| n.(墙上的)横饰带，雕带 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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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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doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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tepid
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| adj.微温的，温热的，不太热心的 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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tapestries
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| n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 ) | |
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32
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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adornment
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| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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encompass
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| vt.围绕，包围；包含，包括；完成 | |
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41
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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42
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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43
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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44
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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45
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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46
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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47
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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48
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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49
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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50
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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51
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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52
overthrows
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| n.推翻，终止，结束( overthrow的名词复数 )v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的第三人称单数 )；使终止 | |
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53
smiting
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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54
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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55
extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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56
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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57
overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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58
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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59
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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60
unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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61
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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62
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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