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Chapter 11 The Wisdom Of The Dead
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On the morrow Owen baptised the king, many of his councillors, andsome twenty others whom he considered fit to receive the rite1. Also hedespatched his first convert John, with other messengers, on a threemonths' journey to the coast, giving them letters acquainting thebishop and others with his marvellous success, and praying thatmissionaries might be sent to assist him in his labours.

  Now day by day the Church grew till it numbered hundreds of souls, andthousands more hovered4 on its threshold. From dawn to dark Owentoiled, preaching, exhorting6, confessing, gathering7 in his harvest;and from dark to midnight he pored over his translation of theScriptures, teaching Nodwengo and a few others how to read and writethem. But although his efforts were crowned with so signal andextraordinary a triumph, he was well aware of the dangers thatthreatened the life of the infant Church. Many accepted it indeed, andstill more tolerated it; but there remained multitudes who regardedthe new religion with suspicion and veiled hatred9. Nor was thisstrange, seeing that the hearts of men are not changed in an hour ortheir ancient customs easily overset.

  On one point, indeed, Owen had to give way. The Amasuka were apolygamous people; all their law and traditions were interwoven withpolygamy, and to abolish that institution suddenly and with violencewould have brought their social fabric10 to the ground. Now, as he knewwell, the missionary11 Church declares in effect that no man can be botha Christian12 and a polygamist; therefore among the followers13 of thatcustom the missionary Church makes but little progress. Not withoutmany qualms14 and hesitations15, Owen, having only the Scriptures8 toconsult, came to a compromise with his converts. If a man alreadymarried to more than one wife wished to become a Christian, hepermitted him to do so upon the condition that he took no more wives;while a man unmarried at the time of his conversion16 might take onewife only. This decree, liberal as it was, caused greatdissatisfaction among both men and women. But it was as nothingcompared to the feeling that was evoked17 by Owen's preaching againstall war not undertaken in self-defence, and against the strict lawswhich he prevailed upon the king to pass, suppressing the practice ofwizardry, and declaring the chief or doctor who caused a man to be"smelt out" and killed upon charges of witchcraft18 to be guilty ofmurder.

  At first whenever Owen went abroad he was surrounded by thousands ofpeople who followed him in the expectation that he would workmiracles, which, after his exploits with the lightning, they were wellpersuaded that he could do if he chose. But he worked no moremiracles; he only preached to them a doctrine19 adverse20 to their customsand foreign to their thoughts.

  So it came about that in time, when the novelty was gone off and thestory of his victory over the Fire-god had grown stale, although thework of conversion went on steadily21, many of the people grew weary ofthe white man and his doctrines22. Soon this weariness found expressionin various ways, and in none more markedly than by the constantdesertions from the ranks of the king's regiments23. At first, by Owen'sadvice, the king tolerated these desertions; but at length, havingobtained information that an entire regiment24 purposed absconding25 atdawn, he caused it to be surrounded and seized by night. Next morninghe addressed that regiment, saying:--"Soldiers, you think that because I have become a Christian and willnot permit unnecessary bloodshed, I am also become a fool. I willteach you otherwise. One man in every twenty of you shall be killed,and henceforth any soldier who attempts to desert will be killedalso!"The order was carried out, for Owen could not find a word to sayagainst it, with the result that desertions almost ceased, though notbefore the king had lost some eight or nine thousand of his bestsoldiers. Worst of all, these soldiers had gone to join Hafela in hismountain fastnesses; and the rumour28 grew that ere long they wouldappear again, to claim the crown for him or to take it by force ofarms.

  Now too a fresh complication arose. The old king sickened of his lastillness, and soon it became known that he must die. A month later diehe did, passing away peacefully in Owen's arms, and with his lastbreath exhorting his people to cling to the Christian religion; totake Nodwengo for their king and to be faithful to him.

  The king died, and that same day was buried by Owen in the gloomyresting-place of the blood-royal of the People of Fire, where aChristian priest now set foot for the first time.

  On the morrow Nodwengo was proclaimed king with much ceremony in faceof the people and of all the army that remained to him. One captainraised a cry for Hafela his brother. Nodwengo caused him to be seizedand brought before him.

  "Man," he said, "on this my coronation day I will not stain my handwith blood. Listen. You cry upon Hafela, and to Hafela you shall go,taking him this message. Tell him that I, Nodwengo, have succeeded tothe crown of Umsuka, my father, by his will and the will of thepeople. Tell him it is true that I have become a Christian, and thatChristians follow not after war but peace. Tell him, however, thatthough I am a Christian I have not forgotten how to fight or how torule. It has reached my ears that it is his purpose to attack me witha great force which he is gathering, and to possess himself of mythrone. If he should choose to come, I shall be ready to meet him; butI counsel him against coming, for it will be to find his death. Lethim stay where he is in peace, and be my subject; or let him go afarwith those that cleave29 to him, and set up a kingdom of his own, forthen I shall not follow him; but let him not dare to lift a spearagainst me, his sovereign, since if he does so he shall be treated asa rebel and find the doom30 of a rebel. Begone, and show your face hereno more!"The man crept away crestfallen31; but all who heard that speech brokeinto cheering, which, as its purport32 was repeated from rank to rank,spread far and wide; for now the army learned that in becoming aChristian, Nodwengo had not become a woman. Of this indeed he soongave them ample proof. The old king's grip upon things had been lax,that of Nodwengo was like iron. He practised no cruelties, and didinjustice to none; but his discipline was severe, and soon theregiments were brought to a greater pitch of proficiency33 than they hadever reached before, although they were now allowed to marry when theypleased, a boon34 that hitherto had been denied to them. Moreover, byOwen's help, he designed an entirely35 new system of fortification ofthe kraal and surrounding hills, which would, it was thought, make theplace impregnable. These and many other acts, equally vigorous andfar-seeing, put new heart into the nation. Also the report of them putfear into Hafela, who, it was rumoured36, had now given up all idea ofattack.

  Some there were, however, who looked upon these changes with littlelove, and Hokosa was one of them. After his defeat in the duel37 byfire, for a while his spirit was crushed. Hitherto he had more or lessbeen a believer in the protecting influence of his own god or fetish,who would, as he thought, hold his priests scatheless38 from thelightning. Often and often had he stood in past days upon that plainwhile the great tempests broke around his head, and returned thenceunharmed, attributing to sorcery a safety that was really due tochance. From time to time indeed a priest was killed; but, so hiscompanions held, the misfortune resulted invariably from the man'sneglect of some rite, or was a mark of the anger of the heavens.

  Now Hokosa had lived to see all these convictions shattered: he hadseen the lightning, which he pretended to be able to control, rollback upon him from the foot of the Christian cross, reducing his godto nothingness and his companions to corpses39.

  At first Hokosa was dismayed, but as time went on hope came back tohim. Stripped of his offices and power, and from the greatest in thenation, after the king, become one of small account, still no harm orviolence was attempted towards him. He was left wealthy and in peace,and living thus he watched and listened with open eyes and ears,waiting till the tide should turn. It seemed that he would not havelong to wait, for reasons that have been told.

  "Why do you sit here like a vulture on a rock," asked the girl Noma,whom he had taken to wife, "when you might be yonder with Hafela,preparing him by your wisdom for the coming war?""Because I am a king-vulture, and I wait for the sick bull to die," heanswered, pointing to the Great Place beneath him. "Say, why should Ibring Hafela to prey41 upon a carcase I have marked down for my own?""Now you speak well," said Noma; "the bull suffers from a strangedisease, and when he is dead another must lead the herd42.""That is so," answered her husband, "and, therefore, I am patient."It was shortly after this conversation that the old king died, withresults very different from those which Hokosa had anticipated.

  Although he was a Christian, to his surprise Nodwengo showed that hewas also a strong ruler, and that there was little chance of thesceptre slipping from his hand--none indeed while the white teacherwas there to guide him.

  "What will you do now, Hokosa?" asked Noma his wife upon a certainday. "Will you turn to Hafela after all?""No," answered Hokosa; "I will consult my ancient lore43. Listen.

  Whatever else is false, this is true: that magic exists, and I am itsmaster. For a while it seemed to me that the white man was greater atthe art than I am; but of late I have watched him and listened to hisdoctrines, and I believe that this is not so. It is true that in thebeginning he read my plans in a dream, or otherwise; it is true thathe hurled44 the lightning back upon my head; but I hold that thesethings were accidents. Again and again he has told us that he is not awizard; and if this be so, he can be overcome.""How, husband?""How? By wizardry. This very night, Noma, with your help I willconsult the dead, as I have done in bygone time, and learn the futurefrom their lips which cannot lie.""So be it; though the task is hateful to me, and I hate you who forceme to it."Noma answered thus with passion, but her eyes shone as she spoke45: forthose who have once tasted the cup of magic are ever drawn46 to drink ofit again, even when they fear the draught47.

  ****It was midnight, and Hokosa with his wife stood in the burying-groundof the kings of the Amasuka. Before Owen came upon his mission it wasdeath to visit this spot except upon the occasion of the laying torest of one of the royal blood, or to offer the annual sacrifice tothe spirits of the dead. Even beneath the bright moon that shone uponit the place seemed terrible. Here in the bosom48 of the hills was anamphitheatre, surrounded by walls of rock varying from five hundred toa thousand feet in height. In this amphitheatre grew great mimosathorns, and above them towered pillars of granite49, set there not bythe hand of man but by nature. It would seem that the Amasuka, led bysome fine instinct, had chosen these columns as fitting memorials oftheir kings, at the least a departed monarch50 lay at the foot of eachof them.

  The smallest of these unhewn obelisks--it was about fifty feet high--marked the resting-place of Umsuka; and deep into its granite Owenwith his own hand had cut the dead king's name and date of death,surmounting his inscription51 with a symbol of the cross.

  Towards this pillar Hokosa made his way through the wet grass,followed by Noma his wife. Presently they were there, standing52 oneupon each side of a little mound53 of earth more like an ant-heap than agrave; for, after the custom of his people, Umsuka had been buriedsitting. At the foot of each of the pillars rose a heap of similarshape, but many times as large. The kings who slept there wereaccompanied to their resting-places by numbers of their wives andservants, who had been slain54 in solemn sacrifice that they mightattend their Lord whithersoever he should wander.

  "What is that you desire and would do?" asked Noma, in a hushed voice.

  Bold as she was, the place and the occasion awed55 her.

  "I desire wisdom from the dead!" he answered. "Have I not already toldyou, and can I not win it with your help?""What dead, husband?""Umsuka the king. Ah! I served him living, and at the last he drove meaway from his side. Now he shall serve me, and out of the nowhere Iwill call him back to mine.""Will not this symbol defeat you?" and Noma pointed56 at the cross hewnin the granite.

  At her words a sudden gust57 of rage seemed to shake the wizard. Hisstill eyes flashed, his lips turned livid, and with them he spat2 uponthe cross.

  "It has no power," he said. "May it be accursed, and may he whobelieves therein hang thereon! It has no power; but even if it had,according to the tale of that white liar58, such things as I would dohave been done beneath its shadow. By it the dead have been raised--ay! dead kings have been dragged from death and forced to tell thesecrets of the grave. Come, come, let us to the work.""What must I do, husband?""You shall sit you there, even as a corpse40 sits, and there for alittle while you shall die--yes, your spirit shall leave you--and Iwill fill your body with the soul of him who sleeps beneath;; andthrough your lips I will learn his wisdom, to whom all things areknown.""It is terrible! I am afraid!" she said. "Cannot this be doneotherwise?""It cannot," he answered. "The spirits of the dead have no shape orform; they are invisible, and can speak only in dreams or through thelips of one in whose pulses life still lingers, though soul and bodybe already parted. Have no fear. Ere his ghost leaves you it shallrecall your own, which till the corpse is cold stays ever close athand. I did not think to find a coward in you, Noma.""I am not a coward, as you know well," she answered passionately59, "formany a deed of magic have we dared together in past days. But this isfearsome, to die that my body may become the home of the ghost of adead man, who perchance, having entered it, will abide60 there, leavingmy spirit houseless, or perchance will shut up the doors of my heartin such fashion that they never can be opened. Can it not be done bytrance as aforetime? Tell me, Hokosa, how often have you thus talkedwith the dead?""Thrice, Noma.""And what chanced to them through whom you talked?""Two lived and took no harm; the third died, because the awakeningmedicine lacked power. Yet fear nothing; that which I have with me isof the best. Noma, you know my plight61: I must win wisdom or fall forever, and you alone can help me; for under this new rule, I can nolonger buy a youth or maid for purposes of witchcraft, even if onecould be found fitted to the work. Choose then: shall we go back orforward? Here trance will not help us; for those entranced cannot readthe future, nor can they hold communion with the dead, being butasleep. Choose, Noma.""I have chosen," she answered. "Never yet have I turned my back upon aventure, nor will I do so now. Come life, come death, I will submit meto your wish, though there are few women who would dare as much forany man. Nor in truth do I do this for you, Hokosa; I do it because Iseek power, and thus only can we win it who are fallen. Also I loveall things strange, and desire to commune with the dead and to knowthat, if for some few minutes only, at least my woman's breast hasheld the spirit of a king. Yet, I warn you, make no fault in yourmagic; for should I die beneath it, then I, who desire to live on andto be great, will haunt you and be avenged62 upon you!""Oh! Noma," he said, "if I believed that there was any danger for you,should I ask you to suffer this thing?--I, who love you more even thanyou love power, more than my life, more than anything that is or evercan be.""I know it, and it is to that I trust," the woman answered. "Nowbegin, before my courage leaves me.""Good," he said. "Seat yourself there upon the mound, resting yourhead against the stone."She obeyed; and taking thongs63 of hide which he had made ready, Hokosabound her wrists and ankles, as these people bind64 the wrists andankles of corpses. Then he knelt before her, staring into her facewith his solemn eyes and muttering: "Obey and sleep."Presently her limbs relaxed, and her head fell forward.

  "Do you sleep?" he asked.

  "I sleep. Whither shall I go? It is the true sleep--test me.""Pass to the house of the white man, my rival. Are you with him?""I am with him.""What does he?""He lies in slumber65 on his bed, and in his slumber he mutters the nameof a woman, and tells her that he loves her, but that duty is morethan love. Oh! call me back I cannot stay; a Presence guards him, andthrusts me thence.""Return," said Hokosa starting. "Pass through the earth beneath youand tell me what you see.""I see the body of the king; but were it not for his royal ornamentsnone would know him now.""Return," said Hokosa, "and let the eyes of your spirit be open. Lookaround you and tell me what you see.""I see the shadows of the dead," she answered; "they stand about you,gazing at you with angry eyes; but when they come near you, somethingdrives them back, and I cannot understand what it is they say.""Is the ghost of Umsuka among them?""It is among them.""Bid him prophesy66 the future to me.""I have bidden him, but he does not answer. If you would hear himspeak, it must be through the lips of my body; and first my body mustbe emptied of my ghost, that his may find a place therein.""Say, can his spirit be compelled?""It can be compelled, or that part of it which still hover5 near thisspot, if you dare to speak the words you know. But first its housemust be made ready. Then the words must be spoken, and all must bedone before a man can count three hundred; for should the blood beginto clot67 about my heart, it will be still for ever.""Hearken," said Hokosa. "When the medicine that I shall give does itswork, and the spirit is loosened from your body, let it not go afar,no, whatever tempts27 or threatens it, and suffer not that the death-cord be severed68, lest flesh and ghost be parted for ever.""I hear, and I obey. Be swift, for I grow weary."Then Hokosa took from his pouch69 two medicines: one a paste in a box,the other a fluid in a gourd70. Taking of the paste he knelt upon thegrave before the entranced woman and swiftly smeared71 it upon themucous membrane72 of the mouth and throat. Also he thrust pellets of itinto the ears, the nostrils73, and the corners of the eyes.

  The effect was almost instantaneous. A change came over the girl'slovely face, the last awful change of death. Her cheeks fell in, herchin dropped, her eyes opened, and her flesh quivered convulsively.

  The wizard saw it all by the bright moonlight. Then he took up hispart in this unholy drama.

  All that he did cannot be described, because it is indescribable. TheWitch of Endor repeated no formula, but she raised the dead; and sodid Hokosa the wizard. But he buried his face in the grey dust of thegrave, he blew with his lips into the dust, he clutched at the dustwith his hands, and when he raised his face again, lo! it was greylike the dust. Now began the marvel3; for, though the woman before himremained a corpse, from the lips of that corpse a voice issued, andits sound was horrible, for the accent and tone of it were masculine,and the instrument through which it spoke--Noma's throat--wasfeminine. Yet it could be recognised as the voice of Umsuka the deadking.

  "Why have you summoned me from my rest, Hokosa?" muttered the voicefrom the lips of the huddled74 corpse.

  "Because I would learn the future, Spirit of the king," answered thewizard boldly, but saluting75 as he spoke. "You are dead, and to yoursight all the Gates are opened. By the power that I have, I commandyou to show me what you see therein concerning myself, and to pointout to me the path that I should follow to attain76 my ends and the endsof her in whose breast you dwell."At once the answer came, always in the same horrible voice:--"Hearken to your fate for this world, Hokosa the wizard. You shalltriumph over your rival, the white man, the messenger; and by yourhand he shall perish, passing to his appointed place where you mustmeet again. By that to which you cling you shall be betrayed, ah! youshall lose that which you love and follow after that which you do notdesire. In the grave of error you shall find truth, from the deeps ofsin you shall pluck righteousness. When these words fall upon yourears again, then, Wizard, take them for a sign and let your heart beturned. That which you deem accursed shall lift you up on high. Highshall you be set above the nation and its king, and from age to agethe voice of the people shall praise you. Yet in the end comesjudgment; and there shall the sin and the atonement strive together,and in that hour, Wizard, you shall----"Thus the voice spoke, strongly at first, but growing ever more feebleas the sparks of life departed from the body of the woman, till atlength it ceased altogether.

  "What shall chance to me in that hour?" Hokosa asked eagerly, placinghis ears against Noma's lips.

  No answer came; and the wizard knew that if he would drag his wifeback from the door of death he must delay no longer. Dashing the sweatfrom his eyes with one hand, with the other he seized the gourd offluid that he had placed ready, and thrusting back her head, he pouredof its contents down her throat and waited a while. She did not move.

  In an extremity77 of terror he snatched a knife, and with a single cutsevered a vein78 in her arm, then taking some of the fluid that remainedin the gourd in his hand, he rubbed it roughly upon her brow andthroat and heart. Now Noma's fingers stirred, and now, with horriblecontortions and every symptom of agony, life returned to her. Theblood flowed from her wounded arm, slowly at first, then more fast,and lifting her head she spoke.

  "Take me hence," she cried, "or I shall go mad; for I have seen andheard things too terrible to be spoken!""What have you seen and heard?" he asked, while he cut the thongswhich bound her wrists and feet.

  "I do not know," Noma answered weeping; "the vision of them passesfrom me; but all the distances of death were open to my sight; yes, Itravelled through the distances of death. In them I met him who wasthe king, and he lay cold within me, speaking to my heart; and as hepassed from me he looked upon the child which I shall bear and cursedit, and surely accursed it shall be. Take me hence, O you most evilman, for of your magic I have had enough, and from this day forth26 I amhaunted!""Have no fear," answered Hokosa; "you have made the journey whence butfew return; and yet, as I promised you, you have returned to wear thegreatness you desire and that I sent you forth to win; for henceforthwe shall be great. Look, the dawn is breaking--the dawn of life andthe dawn of power--and the mists of death and of disgrace roll backbefore us. Now the path is clear, the dead have shown it to me, and ofwizardry I shall need no more.""Ay!" answered Noma, "but night follows dawn as the dawn followsnight; and through the darkness and the daylight, I tell you, Wizard,henceforth I am haunted! Also, be not so sure, for though I know notwhat the dead have spoken to you, yet it lingers on my mind that theirwords have many meanings. Nay79, speak to me no more, but let us flyfrom this dread80 home of ghosts, this habitation of the spirit-folkwhich we have violated."So the wizard and his wife crept from that solemn place, and as theywent they saw the dawn-beams lighting81 upon the white cross that wasreared in the Plain of Fire.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 rite yCmzq     
n.典礼,惯例,习俗
参考例句:
  • This festival descends from a religious rite.这个节日起源于宗教仪式。
  • Most traditional societies have transition rites at puberty.大多数传统社会都为青春期的孩子举行成人礼。
2 spat pFdzJ     
n.口角,掌击;v.发出呼噜呼噜声
参考例句:
  • Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。
  • There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。
3 marvel b2xyG     
vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异;n.令人惊异的事
参考例句:
  • The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
  • The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。
4 hovered d194b7e43467f867f4b4380809ba6b19     
鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫
参考例句:
  • A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。
  • A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。
5 hover FQSzM     
vi.翱翔,盘旋;徘徊;彷徨,犹豫
参考例句:
  • You don't hover round the table.你不要围着桌子走来走去。
  • A plane is hover on our house.有一架飞机在我们的房子上盘旋。
6 exhorting 6d41cec265e1faf8aefa7e4838e780b1     
v.劝告,劝说( exhort的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Joe Pationi's stocky figure was moving constantly, instructing and exhorting. 乔·佩特罗尼结实的身影不断地来回走动,又发指示,又替他们打气。 来自辞典例句
  • He is always exhorting us to work harder for a lower salary. ((讽刺))他总是劝我们为了再低的薪水也得更卖力地工作。 来自辞典例句
7 gathering ChmxZ     
n.集会,聚会,聚集
参考例句:
  • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
  • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
8 scriptures 720536f64aa43a43453b1181a16638ad     
经文,圣典( scripture的名词复数 ); 经典
参考例句:
  • Here the apostle Peter affirms his belief that the Scriptures are 'inspired'. 使徒彼得在此表达了他相信《圣经》是通过默感写成的。
  • You won't find this moral precept in the scriptures. 你在《圣经》中找不到这种道德规范。
9 hatred T5Gyg     
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨
参考例句:
  • He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
  • The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。
10 fabric 3hezG     
n.织物,织品,布;构造,结构,组织
参考例句:
  • The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
  • I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
11 missionary ID8xX     
adj.教会的,传教(士)的;n.传教士
参考例句:
  • She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
  • I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。
12 Christian KVByl     
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒
参考例句:
  • They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
  • His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
13 followers 5c342ee9ce1bf07932a1f66af2be7652     
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件
参考例句:
  • the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
  • The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。
14 qualms qualms     
n.不安;内疚
参考例句:
  • He felt no qualms about borrowing money from friends.他没有对于从朋友那里借钱感到不安。
  • He has no qualms about lying.他撒谎毫不内疚。
15 hesitations 7f4a0066e665f6f1d62fe3393d7f5182     
n.犹豫( hesitation的名词复数 );踌躇;犹豫(之事或行为);口吃
参考例句:
  • His doubts and hesitations were tiresome. 他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The cool manipulators in Hanoi had exploited America's hesitations and self-doubt. 善于冷静地操纵这类事的河内统治者大大地钻了美国当局优柔寡断的空子。 来自辞典例句
16 conversion UZPyI     
n.转化,转换,转变
参考例句:
  • He underwent quite a conversion.他彻底变了。
  • Waste conversion is a part of the production process.废物处理是生产过程的一个组成部分。
17 evoked 0681b342def6d2a4206d965ff12603b2     
[医]诱发的
参考例句:
  • The music evoked memories of her youth. 这乐曲勾起了她对青年时代的回忆。
  • Her face, though sad, still evoked a feeling of serenity. 她的脸色虽然悲伤,但仍使人感觉安详。
18 witchcraft pe7zD7     
n.魔法,巫术
参考例句:
  • The woman practising witchcraft claimed that she could conjure up the spirits of the dead.那个女巫说她能用魔法召唤亡灵。
  • All these things that you call witchcraft are capable of a natural explanation.被你们统统叫做巫术的那些东西都可以得到合情合理的解释。
19 doctrine Pkszt     
n.教义;主义;学说
参考例句:
  • He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
  • The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。
20 adverse 5xBzs     
adj.不利的;有害的;敌对的,不友好的
参考例句:
  • He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
  • The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。
21 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
参考例句:
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
22 doctrines 640cf8a59933d263237ff3d9e5a0f12e     
n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 );教义;学说;(政府政策的)正式声明
参考例句:
  • To modern eyes, such doctrines appear harsh, even cruel. 从现代的角度看,这样的教义显得苛刻,甚至残酷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
23 regiments 874816ecea99051da3ed7fa13d5fe861     
(军队的)团( regiment的名词复数 ); 大量的人或物
参考例句:
  • The three regiments are all under the command of you. 这三个团全归你节制。
  • The town was garrisoned with two regiments. 该镇有两团士兵驻守。
24 regiment JATzZ     
n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制
参考例句:
  • As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活,所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
  • They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。
25 absconding a827fcc2cad7ee841f17247bc5994624     
v.(尤指逃避逮捕)潜逃,逃跑( abscond的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He was charged with absconding from lawful custody. 他被指控从合法监护人那里逃走。 来自互联网
26 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
27 tempts 7d09cc10124deb357a618cdb6c63cdd6     
v.引诱或怂恿(某人)干不正当的事( tempt的第三人称单数 );使想要
参考例句:
  • It tempts the eye to dream. 这种景象会使眼睛产生幻觉。 来自辞典例句
  • This is the tidbit which tempts his insectivorous fate. 就是这一点东西引诱它残杀昆虫。 来自互联网
28 rumour 1SYzZ     
n.谣言,谣传,传闻
参考例句:
  • I should like to know who put that rumour about.我想知道是谁散布了那谣言。
  • There has been a rumour mill on him for years.几年来,一直有谣言产生,对他进行中伤。
29 cleave iqJzf     
v.(clave;cleaved)粘着,粘住;坚持;依恋
参考例句:
  • It examines how the decision to quit gold or to cleave to it affected trade policies.论文分析了放弃或坚持金本位是如何影响贸易政策的。
  • Those who cleave to the latter view include many conservative American politicians.坚持后一种观点的大多是美国的保守派政客。
30 doom gsexJ     
n.厄运,劫数;v.注定,命定
参考例句:
  • The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
  • The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。
31 crestfallen Aagy0     
adj. 挫败的,失望的,沮丧的
参考例句:
  • He gathered himself up and sneaked off,crushed and crestfallen.他爬起来,偷偷地溜了,一副垂头丧气、被斗败的样子。
  • The youth looked exceedingly crestfallen.那青年看上去垂头丧气极了。
32 purport etRy4     
n.意义,要旨,大要;v.意味著,做为...要旨,要领是...
参考例句:
  • Many theories purport to explain growth in terms of a single cause.许多理论都标榜以单一的原因解释生长。
  • Her letter may purport her forthcoming arrival.她的来信可能意味着她快要到了。
33 proficiency m1LzU     
n.精通,熟练,精练
参考例句:
  • He plied his trade and gained proficiency in it.他勤习手艺,技术渐渐达到了十分娴熟的地步。
  • How do you think of your proficiency in written and spoken English?你认为你的书面英语和口语熟练程度如何?
34 boon CRVyF     
n.恩赐,恩物,恩惠
参考例句:
  • A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住,有辆汽车确实极为方便。
  • These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。
35 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
36 rumoured cef6dea0bc65e5d89d0d584aff1f03a6     
adj.谣传的;传说的;风
参考例句:
  • It has been so rumoured here. 此间已有传闻。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • It began to be rumoured that the jury would be out a long while. 有人传说陪审团要退场很久。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
37 duel 2rmxa     
n./v.决斗;(双方的)斗争
参考例句:
  • The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
  • Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。
38 scatheless 66ff6de4891653df544132b3303370d5     
adj.无损伤的,平安的
参考例句:
39 corpses 2e7a6f2b001045a825912208632941b2     
n.死尸,尸体( corpse的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The living soldiers put corpses together and burned them. 活着的战士把尸体放在一起烧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Overhead, grayish-white clouds covered the sky, piling up heavily like decaying corpses. 天上罩满了灰白的薄云,同腐烂的尸体似的沉沉的盖在那里。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说
40 corpse JYiz4     
n.尸体,死尸
参考例句:
  • What she saw was just an unfeeling corpse.她见到的只是一具全无感觉的尸体。
  • The corpse was preserved from decay by embalming.尸体用香料涂抹以防腐烂。
41 prey g1czH     
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨
参考例句:
  • Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
  • The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。
42 herd Pd8zb     
n.兽群,牧群;vt.使集中,把…赶在一起
参考例句:
  • She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
  • He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见,只是人云亦云。
43 lore Y0YxW     
n.传说;学问,经验,知识
参考例句:
  • I will seek and question him of his lore.我倒要找上他,向他讨教他的渊博的学问。
  • Early peoples passed on plant and animal lore through legend.早期人类通过传说传递有关植物和动物的知识。
44 hurled 16e3a6ba35b6465e1376a4335ae25cd2     
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂
参考例句:
  • He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
  • The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
45 spoke XryyC     
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
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
46 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
47 draught 7uyzIH     
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计
参考例句:
  • He emptied his glass at one draught.他将杯中物一饮而尽。
  • It's a pity the room has no north window and you don't get a draught.可惜这房间没北窗,没有过堂风。
48 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
49 granite Kyqyu     
adj.花岗岩,花岗石
参考例句:
  • They squared a block of granite.他们把一块花岗岩加工成四方形。
  • The granite overlies the older rocks.花岗岩躺在磨损的岩石上面。
50 monarch l6lzj     
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者
参考例句:
  • The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
  • I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。
51 inscription l4ZyO     
n.(尤指石块上的)刻印文字,铭文,碑文
参考例句:
  • The inscription has worn away and can no longer be read.铭文已磨损,无法辨认了。
  • He chiselled an inscription on the marble.他在大理石上刻碑文。
52 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
53 mound unCzhy     
n.土墩,堤,小山;v.筑堤,用土堆防卫
参考例句:
  • The explorers climbed a mound to survey the land around them.勘探者爬上土丘去勘测周围的土地。
  • The mound can be used as our screen.这个土丘可做我们的掩蔽物。
54 slain slain     
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
  • His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。
55 awed a0ab9008d911a954b6ce264ddc63f5c8     
adj.充满敬畏的,表示敬畏的v.使敬畏,使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The audience was awed into silence by her stunning performance. 观众席上鸦雀无声,人们对他出色的表演感到惊叹。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I was awed by the huge gorilla. 那只大猩猩使我惊惧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
56 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
57 gust q5Zyu     
n.阵风,突然一阵(雨、烟等),(感情的)迸发
参考例句:
  • A gust of wind blew the front door shut.一阵大风吹来,把前门关上了。
  • A gust of happiness swept through her.一股幸福的暖流流遍她的全身。
58 liar V1ixD     
n.说谎的人
参考例句:
  • I know you for a thief and a liar!我算认识你了,一个又偷又骗的家伙!
  • She was wrongly labelled a liar.她被错误地扣上说谎者的帽子。
59 passionately YmDzQ4     
ad.热烈地,激烈地
参考例句:
  • She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿,也能爱得一往情深。
  • He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。
60 abide UfVyk     
vi.遵守;坚持;vt.忍受
参考例句:
  • You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
  • If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部,你就得遵守它的规章。
61 plight 820zI     
n.困境,境况,誓约,艰难;vt.宣誓,保证,约定
参考例句:
  • The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
  • She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。
62 avenged 8b22eed1219df9af89cbe4206361ac5e     
v.为…复仇,报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 );为…报复
参考例句:
  • She avenged her mother's death upon the Nazi soldiers. 她惩处了纳粹士兵以报杀母之仇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The Indians avenged the burning of their village on〔upon〕 the settlers. 印第安人因为村庄被焚毁向拓居者们进行报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》
63 thongs 2de3e7e6aab22cfe40b21f071283c565     
的东西
参考例句:
  • Things ain't what they used to be. 现在情况不比从前了。
  • Things have been going badly . 事情进展得不顺利。
64 bind Vt8zi     
vt.捆,包扎;装订;约束;使凝固;vi.变硬
参考例句:
  • I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
  • He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。
65 slumber 8E7zT     
n.睡眠,沉睡状态
参考例句:
  • All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber.住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
  • Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest.不要把他从睡眠中唤醒,因为他需要休息。
66 prophesy 00Czr     
v.预言;预示
参考例句:
  • He dares to prophesy what will happen in the future.他敢预言未来将发生什么事。
  • I prophesy that he'll be back in the old job.我预言他将重操旧业。
67 clot nWEyr     
n.凝块;v.使凝成块
参考例句:
  • Platelets are one of the components required to make blood clot.血小板是血液凝固的必须成分之一。
  • The patient's blood refused to clot.病人的血液无法凝结。
68 severed 832a75b146a8d9eacac9030fd16c0222     
v.切断,断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 );断,裂
参考例句:
  • The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》
69 pouch Oi1y1     
n.小袋,小包,囊状袋;vt.装...入袋中,用袋运输;vi.用袋送信件
参考例句:
  • He was going to make a tobacco pouch out of them. 他要用它们缝制一个烟草袋。
  • The old man is always carrying a tobacco pouch with him.这老汉总是随身带着烟袋。
70 gourd mfWxh     
n.葫芦
参考例句:
  • Are you going with him? You must be out of your gourd.你和他一块去?你一定是疯了。
  • Give me a gourd so I can bail.把葫芦瓢给我,我好把水舀出去。
71 smeared c767e97773b70cc726f08526efd20e83     
弄脏; 玷污; 涂抹; 擦上
参考例句:
  • The children had smeared mud on the walls. 那几个孩子往墙上抹了泥巴。
  • A few words were smeared. 有写字被涂模糊了。
72 membrane H7ez8     
n.薄膜,膜皮,羊皮纸
参考例句:
  • A vibrating membrane in the ear helps to convey sounds to the brain.耳膜的振动帮助声音传送到大脑。
  • A plastic membrane serves as selective diffusion barrier.一层塑料薄膜起着选择性渗透屏障的作用。
73 nostrils 23a65b62ec4d8a35d85125cdb1b4410e     
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Her nostrils flared with anger. 她气得两个鼻孔都鼓了起来。
  • The horse dilated its nostrils. 马张大鼻孔。
74 huddled 39b87f9ca342d61fe478b5034beb4139     
挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
  • We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。
75 saluting 2161687306b8f25bfcd37731907dd5eb     
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的现在分词 );赞扬,赞颂
参考例句:
  • 'Thank you kindly, sir,' replied Long John, again saluting. “万分感谢,先生。”高个子约翰说着又行了个礼。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
  • He approached the young woman and, without saluting, began at once to converse with her. 他走近那年青女郎,马上就和她攀谈起来了,连招呼都不打。 来自辞典例句
76 attain HvYzX     
vt.达到,获得,完成
参考例句:
  • I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
  • His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。
77 extremity tlgxq     
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度
参考例句:
  • I hope you will help them in their extremity.我希望你能帮助在穷途末路的他们。
  • What shall we do in this extremity?在这种极其困难的情况下我们该怎么办呢?
78 vein fi9w0     
n.血管,静脉;叶脉,纹理;情绪;vt.使成脉络
参考例句:
  • The girl is not in the vein for singing today.那女孩今天没有心情唱歌。
  • The doctor injects glucose into the patient's vein.医生把葡萄糖注射入病人的静脉。
79 nay unjzAQ     
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者
参考例句:
  • He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的,不,应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
  • Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章,不,应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。
80 dread Ekpz8     
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧
参考例句:
  • We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
  • Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。
81 lighting CpszPL     
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
参考例句:
  • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
  • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。


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