Let’s do it after the high Roman fashion.
Shakespeare
When my eye falls on the stupendous masses of the clouds, tossed into such irregular greatness across the cope of my sky, I feel that their grandeur1 is thrown away on the meanness of my employments. In vain the sun, thro’ morning and noon rolls defiance2 to man, and, as he sinks behind his cloudy fortress3 in the west, challenges him to equal greatness in his career; but, from his humbleness4 he looks up to the domes5 and minarets6 and gilded7 battlements of the Eternal City, and is content to be a suburban8 dweller9 outside the walls. We look in vain over earth for a Roman greatness, to take up the gantlet which the heavens throw down. Idomeneus would not have demurred10 at the freshness of the last morning that rose to us, as unfit occasion to display his valor11 in; and of some such evening as this, methinks, that Grecian fleet came to anchor in the bay of Aulis. Would that it were to us the eve of a more than ten years’ war,—a tithe12 of whose exploits, and Achillean withdrawals13, and godly interferences, would stock a library of Iliads.
Better that we have some of that testy14 spirit of knight15 errantry, and if we are so blind as to think the world is not rich enough nowadays to afford a real foe16 to combat, with our trusty swords and double-handed maces, hew18 and mangle19 some unreal phantom20 of the brain. In the pale and shivering fogs of the morning, gathering22 them up betimes, and withdrawing sluggishly23 to their daylight haunts, I see Falsehood sneaking24 from the full blaze of truth, and with good relish25 could do execution on their rearward ranks, with the first brand that came to hand. We too are such puny26 creatures as to be put to flight by the sun, and suffer our ardor27 to grow cool in proportion as his increases; our own short-lived chivalry28 sounds a retreat with the fumes29 and vapors31 of the night; and we turn to meet mankind, with its meek32 face preaching peace, and such non-resistance as the chaff33 that rides before the whirlwind.
Let not our Peace be proclaimed by the rust17 on our swords, or our inability to draw them from their scabbards; but let her at least have so much work on her hands as to keep those swords bright and sharp. The very dogs that bay the moon from farmyards o’ these nights, do evince more heroism34 than is tamely barked forth35 in all the civil exhortations36 and war sermons of the age. And that day and night, which should be set down indelibly in men’s hearts, must be learned from the pages of our almanack. One cannot wonder at the owlish habits of the race, which does not distinguish when its day ends and night begins; for, as night is the season of rest, it would be hard to say when its toil37 ended and its rest began. Not to it
—returns
Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn,
Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer’s rose,
But cloud instead, and ever-during dark
Surrounds.
And so the time lapses39 without epoch40 or era, and we know some half-score of mornings and evenings by tradition only. Almost the night is grieved and leaves her tears on the forelock of day, that men will not rush to her embrace, and fulfill41 at length the pledge so forwardly given in the youth of time. Men are a circumstance to themselves, instead of causing the universe to stand around, the mute witness of their manhood, and the stars to forget their sphere music and chant an elegiac strain, that heroism should have departed out of their ranks and gone over to humanity.
It is not enough that our life is an easy one; we must live on the stretch, retiring to our rest like soldiers on the eve of a battle, looking forward with ardor to the strenuous42 sortie of the morrow. “Sit not down in the popular seats and common level of virtues44, but endeavor to make them heroical. Offer not only peace-offerings but holocausts45 unto God.” To the brave soldier the rust and leisure of peace are harder than the fatigues46 of war. As our bodies court physical encounters, and languish47 in the mild and even climate of the tropics, so our souls thrive best on unrest and discontent. The soul is a sterner master than any King Frederick; for a true bravery would subject our bodies to rougher usage than even a grenadier could withstand. We too are dwellers48 within the purlieus of the camp. When the sun breaks through the morning mist, I seem to hear the din49 of war louder than when his chariot thundered on the plains of Troy. The thin fields of vapor30, spread like gauze over the woods, form extended lawns whereon high tournament is held;
Before each van
Till thickest legions close.
It behoves us to make life a steady progression, and not be defeated by its opportunities. The stream which first fell a drop from heaven, should be filtered by events till it burst out into springs of greater purity, and extract a diviner flavor from the accidents through which it passes. Shall man wear out sooner than the sun? and not rather dawn as freshly, and with such native dignity stalk down the hills of the East into the bustling52 vale of life, with as lofty and serene53 a countenance54 to roll onward55 through midday, to a yet fairer and more promising56 setting? In the crimson57 colors of the west I discover the budding hues58 of dawn. To my western brother it is rising pure and bright as it did to me; but only the evening exhibits in the still rear of day, the beauty which through morning and noon escaped me. Is not that which we call the gross atmosphere of evening the accumulated deed of the day, which absorbs the rays of beauty, and shows more richly than the naked promise of the dawn? Let us look to it that by earnest toil in the heat of the noon, we get ready a rich western blaze against the evening.
Nor need we fear that the time will hang heavy when our toil is done; for our task is not such a piece of day-labor59, that a man must be thinking what he shall do next for a livelihood,—but such, that as it began in endeavor, so will it end only when no more in heaven or on earth remains60 to be endeavored. Effort is the prerogative61 of virtue43. Let not death be the sole task of life,—the moment when we are rescued from death to life, and set to work,—if indeed that can be called a task which all things do but alleviate62. Nor will we suffer our hands to lose one jot63 of their handiness by looking behind to a mean recompense; knowing that our endeavor cannot be thwarted64, nor we be cheated of our earnings65 unless by not earning them. It concerns us, rather, to be somewhat here present, than to leave something behind us; for, if that were to be considered, it is never the deed men praise, but some marble or canvas, which are only a staging to the real work. The hugest and most effective deed may have no sensible result at all on earth, but may paint itself in the heavens with new stars and constellations66. When in rare moments our whole being strives with one consent, which we name a yearning67, we may not hope that our work will stand in any artist’s gallery on earth. The bravest deed, which for the most part is left quite out of history,—which alone wants the staleness of a deed done, and the uncertainty68 of a deed doing,—is the life of a great man. To perform exploits is to be temporarily bold, as becomes a courage that ebbs69 and flows,—the soul, quite vanquished70 by its own deed, subsiding71 into indifference72 and cowardice73; but the exploit of a brave life consists in its momentary74 completeness.
Every stroke of the chisel75 must enter our own flesh and bone; he is a mere76 idolater and apprentice77 to art who suffers it to grate dully on marble. For the true art is not merely a sublime78 consolation79 and holiday labor, which the gods have given to sickly mortals; but such a masterpiece as you may imagine a dweller on the tablelands of central Asia might produce, with threescore and ten years for canvas, and the faculties80 of a man for tools,—a human life; wherein you might hope to discover more than the freshness of Guido’s Aurora81, or the mild light of Titian’s landscapes,—no bald imitation nor even rival of Nature, but rather the restored original of which she is the reflection. For such a masterpiece as this, whole galleries of Greece and Italy are a mere mixing of colors and preparatory quarrying82 of marble.
Of such sort, then, be our crusade,—which, while it inclines chiefly to the hearty83 good will and activity of war, rather than the insincerity and sloth84 of peace, will set an example to both of calmness and energy;—as unconcerned for victory as careless of defeat,—not seeking to lengthen85 our term of service, nor to cut it short by a reprieve,—but earnestly applying ourselves to the campaign before us. Nor let our warfare86 be a boorish87 and uncourteous one, but a higher courtesy attend its higher chivalry,—though not to the slackening of its tougher duties and severer discipline. That so our camp may be a pal21?stra, wherein the dormant88 energies and affections of men may tug89 and wrestle90, not to their discomfiture91, but to their mutual92 exercise and development.
What were Godfrey and Gonsalvo unless we breathed a life into them and enacted93 their exploits as a prelude94 to our own? The Past is the canvas on which our idea is painted,—the dim prospectus95 of our future field. We are dreaming of what we are to do. Methinks I hear the clarion96 sound, and clang of corselet and buckler, from many a silent hamlet of the soul. The signal gun has long since sounded, and we are not yet on our posts. Let us make such haste as the morning, and such delay as the evening.
Henry D. Thoreau
July, 1840.
The End
点击收听单词发音
1 grandeur | |
n.伟大,崇高,宏伟,庄严,豪华 | |
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2 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
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3 fortress | |
n.堡垒,防御工事 | |
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4 humbleness | |
n.谦卑,谦逊;恭顺 | |
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5 domes | |
n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 );像圆屋顶一样的东西;圆顶体育场 | |
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6 minarets | |
n.(清真寺旁由报告祈祷时刻的人使用的)光塔( minaret的名词复数 ) | |
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7 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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8 suburban | |
adj.城郊的,在郊区的 | |
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9 dweller | |
n.居住者,住客 | |
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10 demurred | |
v.表示异议,反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11 valor | |
n.勇气,英勇 | |
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12 tithe | |
n.十分之一税;v.课什一税,缴什一税 | |
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13 withdrawals | |
n.收回,取回,撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 );撤退,撤走;收回[取回,撤回,撤退,撤走]的实例;推出(组织),提走(存款),戒除毒瘾,对说过的话收回,孤僻 | |
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14 testy | |
adj.易怒的;暴躁的 | |
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15 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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16 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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17 rust | |
n.锈;v.生锈;(脑子)衰退 | |
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18 hew | |
v.砍;伐;削 | |
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19 mangle | |
vt.乱砍,撕裂,破坏,毁损,损坏,轧布 | |
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20 phantom | |
n.幻影,虚位,幽灵;adj.错觉的,幻影的,幽灵的 | |
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21 pal | |
n.朋友,伙伴,同志;vi.结为友 | |
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22 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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23 sluggishly | |
adv.懒惰地;缓慢地 | |
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24 sneaking | |
a.秘密的,不公开的 | |
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25 relish | |
n.滋味,享受,爱好,调味品;vt.加调味料,享受,品味;vi.有滋味 | |
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26 puny | |
adj.微不足道的,弱小的 | |
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27 ardor | |
n.热情,狂热 | |
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28 chivalry | |
n.骑士气概,侠义;(男人)对女人彬彬有礼,献殷勤 | |
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29 fumes | |
n.(强烈而刺激的)气味,气体 | |
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30 vapor | |
n.蒸汽,雾气 | |
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31 vapors | |
n.水汽,水蒸气,无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 );自夸者;幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁(症)v.自夸,(使)蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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32 meek | |
adj.温顺的,逆来顺受的 | |
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33 chaff | |
v.取笑,嘲笑;n.谷壳 | |
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34 heroism | |
n.大无畏精神,英勇 | |
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35 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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36 exhortations | |
n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 );极力推荐;(正式的)演讲;(宗教仪式中的)劝诫 | |
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37 toil | |
vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
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38 herds | |
兽群( herd的名词复数 ); 牧群; 人群; 群众 | |
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39 lapses | |
n.失误,过失( lapse的名词复数 );小毛病;行为失检;偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 );陷入;倒退;丧失 | |
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40 epoch | |
n.(新)时代;历元 | |
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41 fulfill | |
vt.履行,实现,完成;满足,使满意 | |
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42 strenuous | |
adj.奋发的,使劲的;紧张的;热烈的,狂热的 | |
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43 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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44 virtues | |
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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45 holocausts | |
n.大屠杀( holocaust的名词复数 ) | |
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46 fatigues | |
n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 );杂役;厌倦;(士兵穿的)工作服 | |
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47 languish | |
vi.变得衰弱无力,失去活力,(植物等)凋萎 | |
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48 dwellers | |
n.居民,居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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49 din | |
n.喧闹声,嘈杂声 | |
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50 prick | |
v.刺伤,刺痛,刺孔;n.刺伤,刺痛 | |
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51 knights | |
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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52 bustling | |
adj.喧闹的 | |
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53 serene | |
adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的 | |
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54 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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55 onward | |
adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先 | |
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56 promising | |
adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
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57 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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58 hues | |
色彩( hue的名词复数 ); 色调; 信仰; 观点 | |
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59 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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60 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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61 prerogative | |
n.特权 | |
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62 alleviate | |
v.减轻,缓和,缓解(痛苦等) | |
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63 jot | |
n.少量;vi.草草记下;vt.匆匆写下 | |
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64 thwarted | |
阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 ); 使受挫折; 挫败; 横过 | |
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65 earnings | |
n.工资收人;利润,利益,所得 | |
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66 constellations | |
n.星座( constellation的名词复数 );一群杰出人物;一系列(相关的想法、事物);一群(相关的人) | |
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67 yearning | |
a.渴望的;向往的;怀念的 | |
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68 uncertainty | |
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物 | |
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69 ebbs | |
退潮( ebb的名词复数 ); 落潮; 衰退 | |
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70 vanquished | |
v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 );战胜;克服;抑制 | |
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71 subsiding | |
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的现在分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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72 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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73 cowardice | |
n.胆小,怯懦 | |
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74 momentary | |
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的 | |
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75 chisel | |
n.凿子;v.用凿子刻,雕,凿 | |
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76 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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77 apprentice | |
n.学徒,徒弟 | |
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78 sublime | |
adj.崇高的,伟大的;极度的,不顾后果的 | |
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79 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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80 faculties | |
n.能力( faculty的名词复数 );全体教职员;技巧;院 | |
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81 aurora | |
n.极光 | |
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82 quarrying | |
v.采石;从采石场采得( quarry的现在分词 );从(书本等中)努力发掘(资料等);在采石场采石 | |
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83 hearty | |
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 | |
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84 sloth | |
n.[动]树懒;懒惰,懒散 | |
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85 lengthen | |
vt.使伸长,延长 | |
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86 warfare | |
n.战争(状态);斗争;冲突 | |
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87 boorish | |
adj.粗野的,乡巴佬的 | |
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88 dormant | |
adj.暂停活动的;休眠的;潜伏的 | |
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89 tug | |
v.用力拖(或拉);苦干;n.拖;苦干;拖船 | |
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90 wrestle | |
vi.摔跤,角力;搏斗;全力对付 | |
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91 discomfiture | |
n.崩溃;大败;挫败;困惑 | |
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92 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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93 enacted | |
制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94 prelude | |
n.序言,前兆,序曲 | |
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95 prospectus | |
n.计划书;说明书;慕股书 | |
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96 clarion | |
n.尖音小号声;尖音小号 | |
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