"See what you can do about here," says my father, taking in his line, "I shall follow the river up and find if they bite." He turns his back and disappears and reappears among the scrub oaks and stunted24 willows25 that fringe the margin26. I stay where I am like a good son; but being no more successful than before, and bored and wishing company, after a reasonable lapse27 of time, I find myself going after my father. Upon finding him quietly seated under some protruding28 tree, beneath whose mirrored branches and near whose knotty29 root the water darkens in a pool, I inquire into his success. "No, nothing marvelous," he responds gently, gazing dreamily across the river, yet wary30 with the fish that "cometh as a thief in the night." I take the liberty of lifting the lid of his basket and peep at the contents; a large trout31 disturbed by the jar I gave it, snaps violently—I let down the lid instantly at that—and then it lies exhausted32, working its jaw33 in anguish34 for water. "Cast your fly and try your luck," says my excellent father. Of course I obey him; and although I was not so successful every time as he, yet could not always help observing privately35 that the location he had selected was a good fishing hole.
The river I have in mind has a characteristic oriental appellation36 given it—Dragon-fire. It is a small stream at a short distance from the town of Imabari, having its fountain-heads in the valleys of the mountains visible from the mouth. There is nothing remarkable37 about this water-course, except a popular belief that, on the eve of a festal day in honor of the temple situated38 on one of the mountains, a mysterious fire rises from the enchanting39 "dragon-palace" in the depths of the ocean, where a beautiful queen reigns40 supreme41 over her charming watery42 world with its finny and scaly43 subjects of various species. The mysterious light, casting an inverted44 image on the water, moves steadily45 up the river, under the concentrated gaze of thousands who climb the height partly as devotees but mostly as spectators, until it reaches a massive stone lantern erected46 upon the ledge47 of an immense cliff. There it vanishes as strangely as it appeared; and instead the lantern, hitherto dark, lights up suddenly.
I dislike to question the reality of this astonishing phenomenon, or try to explain it with my superficial knowledge of physics. A very pious48, gracious old lady in our neighborhood had always a ready listener in me in her superstitious49 talks concerning the wonders and charitable doings of the Goddess of Mercy, whom she had imposingly50 enshrined in her apartment and adored unceasingly. Perhaps you would wish to know what the goddess looked like. Well, it was a small bronze statuette in a gilded51 miniature temple; she wore a scanty52 Hindoo costume, a halo around her head and an expression gentle, sweet, serene54, godly.—You have seen a reproduction of the ideal Italian picture of Christ, with downcast eyes and a look of meek55 submission56, benign57 tenderness and forgiveness: the Goddess of Mercy seemed quite like that but with slightly more authority. Another conception of the pagan goddess, which I have seen elsewhere, represents her as possessing countless58 arms, signifying, I imagine, the countless deeds of mercy she achieves for mankind.
The good old lady did not feel satisfied with the home worship; she must play the pilgrim, in spite of years and infirmities, and visit, at least, the nearest public temples. So she set off with her company, a circle of aged59 zealots like herself, on a journey to a sacred edifice60 standing somewhere in the mountain which, in fair weather, shows faintly against the sky west of Imabari, towering far above hills and heights of nearer distances. The way is long and tedious and lies through rocky regions. Difficult passes and precipitous declivities were left far behind by assiduous traveling on foot; but the party lost the way, wandered into mountain wilds, silent and sublime61, far, far from home or any human habitation; and there was nothing to be heard but the flocks of rooks cawing inauspiciously among the tree-tops. The day advanced rapidly; the sun wheeled down without tarrying, and in the trackless forest the evening gloom gathered early. Mute admiration62, commingled63 with despair, seized the travelers as they surveyed the forest grandeur64 in its twilight65 robe. The unpruned trees thrust out dry broken arms from near the roots; the leaves sere53 and sodden66 covered the damp, black soil ankle deep rustling67 under the tread.
The sunset, how glorious! Our travelers threw down their walking-sticks, stretched out their tired limbs and, seated on rocks, spell-bound, gave themselves up to the contemplation of the magnificent fire-painting in the western firmament68. Behold69 the mountains of living coal, the lakes of molten gold, the islands of floating amber70, all irregularly shaped as by a wild genius, distributed not as on the earth's surface,—a mountainous pile superimposed on a lake with a stratum71 of sapphire72 between! At length, the whole melted into one grand universal conflagration73; the undulating tops of the distant mountain-chain appeared boldly against the horizon; the needles and cones74 of a pine branch, pendant near by in the line of vision, depicted75 themselves sharply on the canvas of crimson76 splendor77.
Insensibly to our musing78 friends, however, the red sinking disc finally departed by the western portal, the after-glow died away slowly; and when they awoke from reveries and heaved a sigh, the question of what to be done came pressing upon them. Now the day being over, there was the danger of wild animals in the woods. That could be averted79 by building a bright fire, but what was to be done for hunger which began to assert itself strongly? With energy gone and darkness and peril80 thickening about them, yet trusting in the Goddess, the lonely pilgrims peered around for a less exposed spot to nestle in. In this their search, miraculously81 they came upon what to them looked like a cottage. It was one of the hovels hastily put up with twigs82 and shrubs83 by hunters, where they waylay85 the boar at night and in snow, and where they slice meat, lie by the fire and smoke, and frequently hold a midnight revel86 over their fat game. Our weary, almost famished87 tourists entered it, wondering and looking around at each step; they were at once struck with the snug88 appearance of the interior. There was a heap of ashes, which when disturbed disclosed a few glowing embers; and in a corner was piled on raw hide plenty of excellent venison. The hunters must have left not long since.
The pious old lady goes on to tell that such a thing as this could not have been otherwise than by the dispensation of her merciful Goddess, and that she and her fellow believers fell immediately on their knees to express their heart-felt gratitude89 for her munificence90 and protection. The fire was rekindled91 and fed with armfuls of the dried leaves and dead branches that lay strewn plentifully93 around; the broad blaze cast an illusive94 cheerfulness on objects standing near; each time a stick was thrown in the cloven tongues of the fire emitted sparks, which died in their flight among the masses of the overhanging foliage95. Taken in connection with the surrounding scene, there was something inexpressibly wild and primitive96 about the open fire. The party appeased97 their hunger and waited the return of the proprietors98 of the rude cottage. They did not come, though the night advanced far; some of the pilgrims were extremely fatigued99 and dropped to sleep in the warmth, others sat up resolutely100, repeating prayers and counting the beads101 before a pocket image of the Goddess. The low night wind bore to their ear, at intervals102, the concert of wolves howling in dismal103, forlorn cadence104; and they were now and then started by one of these savage105 marauders appearing in their sight at a safe distance.
The night was passed in this way, and the dawn came; but how to find the right path? While they were in despair and supplicating106 aid from the Goddess, one of them descried107 a figure on the brow of an eminence108 not far distant. It seemed, on nearer approach, to be a venerable mountain sire; his long silver-white beard flowed down his breast; a pair of clear beaming eyes twinkled beneath his great shaggy eyebrows109. Being asked in which point of the compass lay the road to the temple, he slowly lifted his cane110, a knotty stem of a shrub84 called akaza, and indicated the west. Apropos111 of this, the akaza stick is believed to be carried by an imaginary race of men hidden in China's pathless woods and mountains, who are without exception very old but never overtaken by disease or death and live in serene felicity, gathering112 medicinal herbs, writing on scrolls114 and in company with cranes and tortoises. In kakemonoes (wall hangings) they are sometimes depicted as taking a literal "flying" visit on craneback, with the inevitable115 scroll113 in hand, to their brother sennin's (sennin is the name this happy race goes by) grotto116 in a neighboring hill or dale.
Our party of wanderers thanked the kind but dignified117 old man on their hands and knees and raised their heads, when he seemed to dissolve away from view in a most singular manner. This opportune118 guide, according to my garrulous119 lady, is a messenger sent by her thousand-armed Goddess to their help; in fine, not a thing occurs but is ordained120 by Kwannon the Merciful. The story of the adventure was wound up with the safe arrival in the Kwannon temple, and fervent121 piety122 kindled92 at the altar.
点击收听单词发音
1 appreciation | |
n.评价;欣赏;感谢;领会,理解;价格上涨 | |
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2 leisurely | |
adj.悠闲的;从容的,慢慢的 | |
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3 edible | |
n.食品,食物;adj.可食用的 | |
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4 quaint | |
adj.古雅的,离奇有趣的,奇怪的 | |
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5 ripples | |
逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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6 nibbling | |
v.啃,一点一点地咬(吃)( nibble的现在分词 );啃出(洞),一点一点咬出(洞);慢慢减少;小口咬 | |
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7 tantalizing | |
adj.逗人的;惹弄人的;撩人的;煽情的v.逗弄,引诱,折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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8 morsel | |
n.一口,一点点 | |
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9 receding | |
v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 );向后倾斜;自原处后退或避开别人的注视;尤指问题 | |
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10 despondent | |
adj.失望的,沮丧的,泄气的 | |
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11 soothing | |
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 | |
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12 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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13 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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14 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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15 cove | |
n.小海湾,小峡谷 | |
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16 stork | |
n.鹳 | |
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17 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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18 briny | |
adj.盐水的;很咸的;n.海洋 | |
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19 scent | |
n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉 | |
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20 silhouette | |
n.黑色半身侧面影,影子,轮廓;v.描绘成侧面影,照出影子来,仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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21 grove | |
n.林子,小树林,园林 | |
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22 knoll | |
n.小山,小丘 | |
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23 shrine | |
n.圣地,神龛,庙;v.将...置于神龛内,把...奉为神圣 | |
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24 stunted | |
adj.矮小的;发育迟缓的 | |
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25 willows | |
n.柳树( willow的名词复数 );柳木 | |
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26 margin | |
n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘 | |
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27 lapse | |
n.过失,流逝,失效,抛弃信仰,间隔;vi.堕落,停止,失效,流逝;vt.使失效 | |
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28 protruding | |
v.(使某物)伸出,(使某物)突出( protrude的现在分词 );凸 | |
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29 knotty | |
adj.有结的,多节的,多瘤的,棘手的 | |
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30 wary | |
adj.谨慎的,机警的,小心的 | |
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31 trout | |
n.鳟鱼;鲑鱼(属) | |
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32 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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33 jaw | |
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训 | |
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34 anguish | |
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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35 privately | |
adv.以私人的身份,悄悄地,私下地 | |
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36 appellation | |
n.名称,称呼 | |
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37 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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38 situated | |
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 | |
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39 enchanting | |
a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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40 reigns | |
n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 );君主统治时期;任期;当政期 | |
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41 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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42 watery | |
adj.有水的,水汪汪的;湿的,湿润的 | |
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43 scaly | |
adj.鱼鳞状的;干燥粗糙的 | |
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44 inverted | |
adj.反向的,倒转的v.使倒置,使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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46 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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47 ledge | |
n.壁架,架状突出物;岩架,岩礁 | |
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48 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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49 superstitious | |
adj.迷信的 | |
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50 imposingly | |
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51 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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52 scanty | |
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 | |
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53 sere | |
adj.干枯的;n.演替系列 | |
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54 serene | |
adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的 | |
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55 meek | |
adj.温顺的,逆来顺受的 | |
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56 submission | |
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出 | |
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57 benign | |
adj.善良的,慈祥的;良性的,无危险的 | |
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58 countless | |
adj.无数的,多得不计其数的 | |
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59 aged | |
adj.年老的,陈年的 | |
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60 edifice | |
n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿,教室) | |
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61 sublime | |
adj.崇高的,伟大的;极度的,不顾后果的 | |
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62 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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63 commingled | |
v.混合,掺和,合并( commingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64 grandeur | |
n.伟大,崇高,宏伟,庄严,豪华 | |
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65 twilight | |
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 | |
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66 sodden | |
adj.浑身湿透的;v.使浸透;使呆头呆脑 | |
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67 rustling | |
n. 瑟瑟声,沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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68 firmament | |
n.苍穹;最高层 | |
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69 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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70 amber | |
n.琥珀;琥珀色;adj.琥珀制的 | |
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71 stratum | |
n.地层,社会阶层 | |
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72 sapphire | |
n.青玉,蓝宝石;adj.天蓝色的 | |
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73 conflagration | |
n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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74 cones | |
n.(人眼)圆锥细胞;圆锥体( cone的名词复数 );球果;圆锥形东西;(盛冰淇淋的)锥形蛋卷筒 | |
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75 depicted | |
描绘,描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 ); 描述 | |
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76 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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77 splendor | |
n.光彩;壮丽,华丽;显赫,辉煌 | |
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78 musing | |
n. 沉思,冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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79 averted | |
防止,避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 ); 转移 | |
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80 peril | |
n.(严重的)危险;危险的事物 | |
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81 miraculously | |
ad.奇迹般地 | |
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82 twigs | |
细枝,嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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83 shrubs | |
灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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84 shrub | |
n.灌木,灌木丛 | |
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85 waylay | |
v.埋伏,伏击 | |
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86 revel | |
vi.狂欢作乐,陶醉;n.作乐,狂欢 | |
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87 famished | |
adj.饥饿的 | |
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88 snug | |
adj.温暖舒适的,合身的,安全的;v.使整洁干净,舒适地依靠,紧贴;n.(英)酒吧里的私房 | |
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89 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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90 munificence | |
n.宽宏大量,慷慨给与 | |
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91 rekindled | |
v.使再燃( rekindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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92 kindled | |
(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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93 plentifully | |
adv. 许多地,丰饶地 | |
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94 illusive | |
adj.迷惑人的,错觉的 | |
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95 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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96 primitive | |
adj.原始的;简单的;n.原(始)人,原始事物 | |
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97 appeased | |
安抚,抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 ); 绥靖(满足另一国的要求以避免战争) | |
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98 proprietors | |
n.所有人,业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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99 fatigued | |
adj. 疲乏的 | |
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100 resolutely | |
adj.坚决地,果断地 | |
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101 beads | |
n.(空心)小珠子( bead的名词复数 );水珠;珠子项链 | |
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102 intervals | |
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
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103 dismal | |
adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的 | |
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104 cadence | |
n.(说话声调的)抑扬顿挫 | |
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105 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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106 supplicating | |
v.祈求,哀求,恳求( supplicate的现在分词 ) | |
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107 descried | |
adj.被注意到的,被发现的,被看到的 | |
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108 eminence | |
n.卓越,显赫;高地,高处;名家 | |
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109 eyebrows | |
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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110 cane | |
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的 | |
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111 apropos | |
adv.恰好地;adj.恰当的;关于 | |
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112 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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113 scroll | |
n.卷轴,纸卷;(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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114 scrolls | |
n.(常用于录写正式文件的)纸卷( scroll的名词复数 );卷轴;涡卷形(装饰);卷形花纹v.(电脑屏幕上)从上到下移动(资料等),卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 );(似卷轴般)卷起;(像展开卷轴般地)将文字显示于屏幕 | |
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115 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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116 grotto | |
n.洞穴 | |
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117 dignified | |
a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
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118 opportune | |
adj.合适的,适当的 | |
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119 garrulous | |
adj.唠叨的,多话的 | |
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120 ordained | |
v.任命(某人)为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 );授予(某人)圣职;(上帝、法律等)命令;判定 | |
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121 fervent | |
adj.热的,热烈的,热情的 | |
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122 piety | |
n.虔诚,虔敬 | |
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