The gorgeous litter, borne by eight men, came to a halt. From it descended9 a youth. He wore many pearls upon his fingers, but he had a protruding10 abdomen11 and his face was covered with pimples12. A cup of aromatic13 wine was offered to him. He drank it, and asked for a second draught14.
The tetrarch had fallen upon his knees before the proconsul, saying that he was grieved beyond words not to have known sooner of the favour of his presence within those domains16; had he been aware of the approach of his distinguished17 guest, he would have issued a command that every person along the route should place himself at the proconsul’s orders. Of a surety, the proconsul’s family was descended direct from the goddess Vitellia. A highway, leading from the Janiculum to the sea, still bore their name. Questors and consuls were innumerable in that great family; and as for the noble Lucius, now his honoured guest, it was the duty of the whole people to thank him, as the conqueror18 of the Cliti and the father of the young Aulus, now returning to his own domain15, since the East was the country of the gods. These hyperboles were expressed in Latin, and Vitellius accepted them impassively.
He replied that the great Herod was the honour and glory of the nation; that the Athenians had chosen him to direct the Olympian games; that he had built temples in the honour of Augustus; had been patient, ingenious, terrible; and was faithful to all the Caesars.
Between the two marble columns, with bronze capitals, Herodias could now be seen advancing with the air of an empress, in the midst of a group of women and eunuchs carrying perfumed torches set in sockets20 of silver-gilt.
The proconsul advanced three steps to meet her. She saluted21 him with an inclination22 of her head.
“How fortunate,” she exclaimed, “that henceforth Agrippa, the enemy of Tiberius, can work harm no longer!”
Vitellius did not understand her allusion24, but he thought her a dangerous woman. Antipas immediately declared that he was ready to do anything for the emperor.
“Even to the injury of others?” Vitellius asked, significantly.
He had taken hostages from the king of the Parthians, but the emperor had given no further thought to the matter, because Antipas, who had been present at the conference, had, in order to gain favour, sent off despatches bearing the news. From that time he had borne a profound hatred25 towards the emperor and had delayed in sending assistance to him.
The tetrarch stammered26 in attempting to reply to the query27 of the proconsul. But Aulus laughed and said: “Do not be disturbed. I will protect thee!”
The proconsul feigned28 not to hear this remark. The fortune of the father depended, in a way, on the corrupt29 influence of the son; and through him it was possible that Antipas might be able to procure30 for the proconsul very substantial benefits, although the glances that he cast about him were defiant31, and even venomous.
But now a new tumult32 arose just within the gates. A file of white mules33 entered the courtyard, mounted by men in priestly garb34. These were the Sadducees and the Pharisees, who were drawn35 to Machaerus by the same ambition: the one party hoping to be appointed public sacrificers, the other determined37 to retain those offices. Their faces were dark, particularly those of the Pharisees, who were enemies of Rome and of the tetrarch. The flowing skirts of their tunics38 embarrassed their movements as they attempted to pass through the throng1; and their tiaras sat unsteadily upon their brows, around which were bound small bands of parchment, showing lines of writing.
Almost at the same moment, the soldiers of the advance guard arrived. Cloth coverings had been drawn over their glittering shields to protect them from the dust. Behind them came Marcellus, the proconsul’s lieutenant40, followed by the publicans, carrying their tablets of wood under their arms.
Antipas named to Vitellius the principle personages surrounding them: Tolmai, Kanthera, Schon, Ammonius of Alexandria, who brought asphalt for Antipas; Naaman, captain of his troops of skirmishers, and Jacim, the Babylonian.
Vitellius had noticed Mannaeus.
“Who is that man?” he inquired.
The tetrarch by a significant gesture indicated that Mannaeus was the executioner. He then presented the Sadducees to the proconsul’s notice.
Jonathas, a man of low stature41, who spoke42 Greek, advanced with a firm step and begged that the great lord would honour Jerusalem with a visit. Vitellius replied that he should probably go to Jerusalem soon.
Eleazar, who had a crooked43 nose and a long beard, put forth23 a claim, in behalf of the Pharisees, for the mantle44 of the high priest, held in the tower of Antonia by the civil authorities.
Then the Galileans came forward and denounced Pontius Pilate. On one occasion, they said, a mad-man went seeking in a cave near Samaria for the golden vases that had belonged to King David, and Pontius Pilate had caused several inhabitants of that region to be executed. In their excitement all the Galileans spoke at once, Mannaeus’s voice being heard above all others. Vitellius promised that the guilty ones should be punished.
Fresh vociferations now broke out in front of the great gates, where the soldiers had hung their shields. Their coverings having now been removed, on each shield a carving45 of the head of Caesar could be seen on the umbo, or central knob. To the Jews, this seemed an evidence of nothing short of idolatry. Antipas harangued46 them, while Vitellius, who occupied a raised seat within the shadow of the colonnade47, was astonished at their fury. Tiberius had done well, he thought, to exile four hundred of these people to Sardinia. Presently the Jews became so violent that he ordered the shields to be removed.
Then the multitude surrounded the proconsul, imploring48 him to abolish certain unjust laws, asking for privileges, or begging for alms. They rent their clothing and jostled one another; and at last, in order to drive them back, several slaves, armed with long staves, charged upon them, striking right and left. Those nearest the gates made their escape and descended to the road; others rushed in to take their place, so that two streams of human beings flowed in and out, compressed within the limits of the gateway49.
Vitellius demanded the reason for the assembling of so great a throng. Antipas explained that they had been invited to come to a feast in celebration of his birthday; and he pointed36 to several men who, leaning against the battlements, were hauling up immense basket-loads of food, fruits, vegetables, antelopes50, and storks51; large fish, of a brilliant shade of blue; grapes, melons, and pyramids of pomegranates. At this sight, Aulus left the courtyard and hastened to the kitchens, led by his taste for gormandizing, which later became the amazement52 of the world.
As they passed the opening to a small cellar, Vitellius perceived some objects resembling breast-plates hanging on a wall. He looked at them with interest, and then demanded that the subterranean53 chambers54 of the fortress56 be thrown open for his inspection57. These chambers were cut into the rocky foundation of the castle, and had been formed into vaults59, with pillars set at regular distances. The first vault58 opened contained old armour60; the second was full of pikes, with long points emerging from tufts of feathers. The walls of the third chamber55 were hung with a kind of tapestry61 made of slender reeds, laid in perpendicular62 rows. Those of the fourth were covered with scimitars. In the middle of the fifth cell, rows of helmets were seen, the crests63 of which looked like a battalion64 of fiery65 serpents. The sixth cell contained nothing but empty quivers; the seventh, greaves for protecting the legs in battle; the eighth vault was filled with bracelets66 and armlets; and an examination of the remaining vaults disclosed forks, grappling-irons, ladders, cords, even catapults, and bells for the necks of camels; and as they descended deeper into the rocky foundation, it became evident that the whole mass was a veritable honeycomb of cells, and that below those already seen were many others.
Vitellius, Phineas, his interpreter, and Sisenna, chief of the publicans, walked among these gloomy cells, attended by three eunuchs bearing torches.
In the deep shadows hideous67 instruments, invented by barbarians68, could be seen: tomahawks studded with nails; poisoned javelins69; pincers resembling the jaws70 of crocodiles; in short, the tetrarch possessed71 in his castle munitions72 of war sufficient for forty thousand men.
He had accumulated these weapons in anticipation73 of an alliance against him among his enemies. But he bethought him that the proconsul might believe, or assert, that he had collected this armoury in order to attack the Romans; so he hastened to offer explanations of all that Vitellius had observed.
Some of these things did not belong to him at all, he said: many of them were necessary to defend the place against brigands74 and marauders, especially the Arabs. Many of the objects in the vault had been the property of his father, and he had allowed them to remain untouched. As he spoke, he managed to get in advance of the proconsul and preceded him along the corridors with rapid steps. Presently he halted and stood close against the wall as the party came up; he spoke quickly, standing75 with his hands on his hips76, so that his voluminous mantle covered a wide space of the wall behind him. But just above his head the top of a door was visible. Vitellius remarked it instantly, and demanded to know what it concealed77.
The tetrarch explained that the door was fastened, and that none could open it save the Babylonian, Jacim.
“Summon him, then!” was the command.
A slave was sent to find Jacim, while the group awaited his coming.
The father of Jacim had come from the banks of the Euphrates to offer his services, as well as those of five hundred horsemen, in the defence of the eastern frontier. After the division of the kingdom, Jacim had lived for a time with Philip, and was now in the service of Antipas.
Presently he appeared among the vaults, carrying an archer’s bow on his shoulder and a whip in his hand. Cords of many colours were lashed78 tightly about his knotted legs; his massive arms were thrust through a sleeveless tunic39, and a fur cap shaded his face. His chin was covered with a heavy, curling beard.
He appeared not to comprehend what the interpreter said to him at first. But Vitellius threw a meaning glance at Antipas, who quickly made the Babylonian understand the command of the proconsul. Jacim immediately laid both his hands against the door, giving it a powerful shove; whereupon it quietly slid out of sight into the wall.
A wave of hot air surged from the depths of the cavern79. A winding80 path descended and turned abruptly81. The group followed it, and soon arrived at the threshold of a kind of grotto82, somewhat larger than the other subterranean cells.
An arched window at the back of this chamber gave directly upon a precipice83, which formed a defence for one side of the castle. A honeysuckle vine, cramped84 by the low-studded ceiling, blossomed bravely. The sound of a running stream could be heard distinctly. In this place was a great number of beautiful white horses, perhaps a hundred. They were eating barley85 from a plank86 placed on a level with their mouths. Their manes had been coloured a deep blue; their hoofs87 were wrapped in coverings of woven grass, and the hair between their ears was puffed88 out like a peruke. As they stood quietly eating, they switched their tails gently to and fro. The proconsul regarded them in silent admiration89.
They were indeed wonderful animals; supple90 as serpents, light as birds. They were trained to gallop91 rapidly, following the arrow of the rider, and dash into the midst of a group of the enemy, overturning men and biting them savagely93 as they fell. They were sure-footed among rocky passes, and would jump fearlessly over yawning chasms94; and, while ready to gallop across the plains a whole day without tiring, they would stop instantly at the command of the rider.
As soon as Jacim entered their quarters, they trotted95 up to him, as sheep crowd around the shepherd; and, thrusting forward their sleek96 necks, they looked at him with a gaze like that of inquiring children. From force of habit, he emitted a raucous97 cry, which excited them; they pranced98 about, impatient at their confinement99 and longing100 to run.
Antipas, fearing that if Vitellius knew of the existence of these creatures, he would take them away, had shut them up in this place, made especially to accommodate animals in case of siege.
“This close confinement cannot be good for them,” said Vitellius, “and there is a risk of losing them by keeping them here. Make an inventory101 of their number, Sisenna.”
The publican drew a writing-tablet from the folds of his robe, counted the horses, and recorded the number carefully.
It was the habit of the agents of the fiscal102 companies to corrupt the governors in order to pillage103 the provinces. Sisenna was among the most flourishing of these agents, and was seen everywhere with his claw-like fingers and his eyelids104 continually blinking.
After a time the party returned to the court. Heavy, round bronze lids, sunk in the stones of the pavement, covered the cisterns105 of the palace. Vitellius noticed that one of these was larger than the others, and that when struck by his foot it had not their sonority106. He struck them all, one after another; then stamped upon the ground and shouted:
“I have found it! I have found the buried treasure of Herod!”
The tetrarch swore that no treasure was hidden in that spot.
“What is concealed there, then?” the proconsul demanded.
“Nothing—that is, only a man—a prisoner.”
“Show him to me!”
The tetrarch hesitated to obey, fearing that the Jews would discover his secret. His reluctance108 to lift the cover made Vitellius impatient.
“Break it in!” he cried to his lictors. Mannaeus heard the command, and, seeing a lictor step forward armed with a hatchet109, he feared that the man intended to behead Iaokanann. He stayed the hand of the lictor after the first blow, and then slipped between the heavy lid and the pavement a kind of hook. He braced110 his long, lean arms, raised the cover slowly, and in a moment it lay flat upon the stones. The bystanders admired the strength of the old man.
Under the bronze lid was a wooden trap-door of the same size. At a blow of the fist it folded back, allowing a wide hole to be seen, the mouth of an immense pit, with a flight of winding steps leading down into the darkness. Those that bent111 over to peer into the cavern beheld112 a vague and terrifying shape in its depths.
This proved to be a human being, lying on the ground. His long locks hung over a camel’s-hair robe that covered his shoulders. Slowly he rose to his feet. His head touched a grating embedded113 in the wall; and as he moved about he disappeared, from time to time, in the shadows of his dungeon114.
The rich tiaras of the Romans sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight, and their glittering sword-hilts threw out glancing golden rays. The doves, flying from their cotes, circled above the heads of the multitude. It was the hour when Mannaeus was accustomed to feed them. But now he crouched115 beside the tetrarch, who stood near Vitellius. The Galileans, the priests, and the soldiers formed a group behind them; all were silent, waiting with painful anticipation for what might happen.
Herodias heard it from the farther end of the palace. Drawn by an irresistible117 though terrible fascination118, she made her way through the throng, and, reaching Mannaeus, she leant one hand on his shoulder and bent over to listen.
The hollow voice rose again from the depths of the earth.
“Woe119 to thee, Sadducees and Pharisees! Thy voices are like the tinkling120 of cymbals121! O race of vipers122, bursting with pride!”
The voice of Iaokanann was recognised. His name was whispered about. Spectators from a distance pressed closer to the open pit.
“Woe to thee, O people! Woe to the traitors123 of Judah, and to the drunkards of Ephraim, who dwelt in the fertile valleys and stagger with the fumes124 of wine!
“May they disappear like running water; like the slug that sinks into the sand as it moves; like an abortion125 that never sees the light!
“And thou too, Moab! hide thyself in the midst of the cypress126, like the sparrow; in caverns127, like the wild hare! The gates of the fortress shall be crushed more easily than nut-shells; the walls shall crumble128; cities shall burn; and the scourge129 of God shall not cease! He shall cause your bodies to be bathed in your own blood, like wool in the dyer’s vat130. He shall rend131 you, as with a harrow; He shall scatter132 the remains133 of your bodies from the tops of the mountains!”
Of which conqueror was he speaking? Was it Vitellius? Only the Romans could bring about such an extermination134. The people began to cry out: “Enough! enough! let him speak no more!”
But the prisoner continued in louder tones:
“Beside the corpses135 of their mothers, thy little ones shall drag themselves over the ashes of the burned cities. At night men will creep from their hiding-places to seek a bit of food among the ruins, even at the risk of being cut down with the sword. Jackals shall pick thy bones in the public places, where at eventide the fathers were wont136 to gather. At the bidding of Gentiles, thy maidens137 shall be forced to cease their lamentations and to make music upon the zither, and the bravest of thy sons shall learn to bend their backs, chafed138 with heavy burdens.”
The listeners remembered the days of exile, and all the misfortunes and catastrophes139 of the past. These words were like the anathemas140 of the ancient prophets. The captive thundered them forth like bolts from heaven.
Presently his voice became almost as sweet and harmonious141 as if he were uttering a chant. He spoke of the world’s redemption from sin and sorrow; of the glories of heaven; of gold in place of clay; of the desert blossoming like the rose. “That which is now worth sixty pieces of silver will not cost a single obol. Fountains of milk shall spring from the rocks; men shall sleep, well satisfied, among the wine-presses. The people shall prostrate142 themselves before Thee, and Thy reign143 shall be eternal, O Son of David!”
The tetrarch suddenly recoiled144 from the opening of the pit; the mention of the existence of a son of David seemed to him like a menace to himself.
“There is no other king than the Eternal God!” he cried; and he cursed Antipas for his luxurious147 gardens, his statues, his furniture of carved ivory and precious woods, comparing him to the impious Ahab.
Antipas broke the slender cord attached to the royal seal that he wore around his neck, and throwing the seal into the pit, he commanded his prisoner to be silent.
But Iaokanann replied: “I shall cry aloud like a savage92 bear, like the wild ass19, like a woman in travail148! The punishment of heaven has already visited itself upon thy incest! May God inflict149 thee with the sterility150 of mules!”
At these words, a sound of suppressed laughter arose here and there among the listeners.
Vitellius had remained close to the opening of the dungeon while Iaokanann was speaking. His interpreter, in impassive tones, translated into the Roman tongue all the threats and invectives that rolled up from the depths of the gloomy prison. The tetrarch and Herodias felt compelled to remain near at hand. Antipas listened, breathing heavily; while the woman, with parted lips, gazed into the darkness of the pit, her face drawn with an expression of fear and hatred.
The terrible man now turned towards her. He grasped the bars of his prison, pressed against them his bearded face, in which his eyes glowed like burning coals, and cried:
“Ah! Is it thou, Jezebel? Thou hast captured thy lord’s heart with the tinkling of thy feet. Thou didst neigh to him like a mare151. Thou didst prepare thy bed on the mountain top, in order to accomplish thy sacrifices!
“The Lord shall take from thee thy sparkling jewels, thy purple robes and fine linen152; the bracelets from thine arms, the anklets from thy feet; the golden ornaments153 that dangle154 upon thy brow, thy mirrors of polished silver, thy fans of ostrich155 plumes, thy shoes with their heels of mother-of-pearl, that serve to increase thy stature; thy glittering diamonds, the scent156 of thy hair, the tint157 of thy nails,—all the artifices158 of thy coquetry shall disappear, and missiles shall be found wherewith to stone the adulteress!”
Herodias looked around for some one to defend her. The Pharisees lowered their eyes hypocritically. The Sadducees turned away their heads, fearing to offend the proconsul should they appear to sympathise with her. Antipas was almost in a swoon.
Louder still rose the voice from the dungeon; the neighbouring hills gave back an echo with startling effect, and Machaerus seemed actually surrounded and showered with curses.
“Prostrate thyself in the dust, daughter of Babylon, and scourge thyself! Remove thy girdle and thy shoes, gather up thy garments and walk through the flowing stream; thy shame shall follow thee, thy disgrace shall be known to all men, thy bosom159 shall be rent with sobs160. God execrates161 the stench of thy crimes! Accursed one! die like a dog!”
At that instant the trap-door was suddenly shut down and secured by Mannaeus, who would have liked to strangle Iaokanann then and there.
Herodias glided162 away and disappeared within the palace. The Pharisees were scandalised at what they had heard. Antipas, standing among them, attempted to justify163 his past conduct and to excuse his present situation.
“Without doubt,” said Eleazar, “it was necessary for him to marry his brother’s wife; but Herodias was not a widow, and besides, she had a child, which she abandoned; and that was an abomination.”
“You are wrong,” objected Jonathas the Sadducee; “the law condemns164 such marriages but does not actually forbid them.”
“What matters it? All the world shows me injustice,” said Antipas, bitterly; “and why? Did not Absalom lie with his father’s wives, Judah with his daughter-in-law, Ammon with his sister, and Lot with his daughters?”
Aulus, who had been reposing165 within the palace, now reappeared in the court. After he had heard how matters stood, he approved of the attitude of the tetrarch. “A man should never allow himself to be annoyed,” said he, “by such foolish criticism.” And he laughed at the censure166 of the priests and the fury of Iaokanann, saying that his words were of little importance.
Herodias, who also had reappeared, and now stood at the top of a flight of steps, called loudly:
“You are wrong, my lord! He ordered the people to refuse to pay the tax!”
“Is that true?” he demanded. The general response was affirmative, Antipas adding his word to the declaration of the others.
Vitellius had a misgiving167 that the prisoner might be able to escape; and as the conduct of Antipas appeared to him rather suspicious, he established his own sentinels at the gates, at intervals168 along the walls, and in the courtyard itself.
At last he retired169 to the apartments assigned to him, accompanied by the priests. Without touching170 directly upon the question of the coveted171 offices of public sacrificers, each one laid his own grievances172 before the proconsul. They fairly beset173 him with complaints and requests, but he soon dismissed them from his presence.
As Jonathas left the proconsul’s apartments he perceived Antipas standing under an arch, talking to an Essene, who wore a long white robe and flowing locks. Jonathas regretted that he had raised his voice in defence of the tetrarch.
One thought now consoled Herod-Antipas. He was no longer personally responsible for the fate of Iaokanann. The Romans had assumed that charge. What a relief! He had noticed Phanuel pacing slowly through the court, and calling him to his side, he pointed put the guards established by Vitellius, saying:
“They are stronger than I! I cannot now set the prisoner free! It is not my fault if he remains in his dungeon.”
The courtyard was empty. The slaves were sleeping. The day was drawing to a close, and the sunset spread a deep rosy174 glow over the horizon, against which the smallest objects stood out like silhouettes175. Antipas was able to distinguish the excavations176 of the salt-mines at the farther end of the Dead Sea, but the tents of the Arabs were no longer visible. As the moon rose, the effect of the day’s excitement passed away, and a feeling of peace entered his heart.
Phanuel, also wearied by the recent agitating177 scenes, remained beside the tetrarch. He sat in silence for some time, his chin resting on his breast. At last he spoke in confidence to Antipas, and revealed what he had wished to say.
From the beginning of the month, he said, he had been studying the heavens every morning before daybreak, when the constellation178 of Perseus was at the zenith; Agalah was scarcely visible; Algol was even less bright; Mira-Cetus had disappeared entirely179; from all of which he augured180 the death of some man of great importance, to occur that very night in Machaerus.
Who was the man? Vitellius was too closely guarded to be reached. No one would kill Iaokanann.
“It is I!” thought the tetrarch.
It might be that the Arabs would return and make a successful attack upon him. Perhaps the proconsul would discover his relations with the Parthians. Several men whom Antipas had recognised as hired assassins from Jerusalem, had escorted the priests in the train of the proconsul; they all carried daggers181 concealed beneath their robes. The tetrarch had no doubt whatever of the exactness of Phanuel’s skill in astrology.
Suddenly he bethought him of Herodias. He would consult her. He hated her, certainly, but she might give him courage; and besides, in spite of his dislike, not all the bonds were yet broken of that sorcery which once she had woven about him.
When he entered her chamber, he was met by the pungent182 odour of cinnamon burning in a porphyry vase and the perfume of powders, unguents, cloud-like gauzes and embroideries183 light as feathers, filled the air with fragrance184.
He did not speak of Phanuel’s prophecy, nor of his own fear of the Jews and the Arabs. Herodias had already accused him of cowardice185. He spoke only of the Romans, and complained that Vitellius had not confided186 to him any of his military projects. He said he supposed the proconsul was the friend of Caligula, who often visited Agrippa; and expressed a surmise187 that he himself might be exiled, or that perhaps his throat would be cut.
Herodias, who now treated him with a kind of disdainful indulgence, tried to reassure188 him. At last she took from a small casket a curious medallion, ornamented with a profile of Tiberius. The sight of it, she said, as she gave it to Antipas, would make the lictors turn pale and silence all accusing voices.
“It was given to me,” was her only answer.
At that moment Antipas beheld a bare arm slipping through a portiere hanging in front of him. It was the arm of a youthful woman, as graceful190 in outline as if carved from ivory by Polyclitus. With a movement a little awkward and at the same time charming, it felt about the wall an instant, as if seeking something, then took down a tunic hanging upon a hook near the doorway191, and disappeared.
An elderly female attendant passed quietly through the room, lifted the portiere, and went out. A sudden recollection pierced the memory of the tetrarch.
“Is that woman one of thy slaves?” he asked.
“What matters that to thee?” was the disdainful reply.
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1
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
consuls
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| 领事( consul的名词复数 )； （古罗马共和国时期）执政官 （古罗马共和国及其军队的最高首长，同时共有两位，每年选举一次） | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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9
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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10
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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abdomen
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| n.腹，下腹(胸部到腿部的部分) | |
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pimples
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| n.丘疹，粉刺，小脓疱( pimple的名词复数 ) | |
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aromatic
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| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
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draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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21
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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22
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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23
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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24
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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25
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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26
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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28
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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29
corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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30
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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31
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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32
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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33
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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34
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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35
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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36
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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37
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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38
tunics
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| n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍 | |
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39
tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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40
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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41
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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42
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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43
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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44
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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45
carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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46
harangued
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
colonnade
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| n.柱廊 | |
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48
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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49
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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50
antelopes
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| 羚羊( antelope的名词复数 )； 羚羊皮革 | |
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51
storks
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| n.鹳( stork的名词复数 ) | |
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52
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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53
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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54
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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55
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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56
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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57
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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58
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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59
vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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60
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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61
tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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62
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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63
crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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64
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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65
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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66
bracelets
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| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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67
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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68
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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69
javelins
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| n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 ) | |
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70
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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71
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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72
munitions
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| n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品 | |
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73
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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74
brigands
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| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
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75
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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76
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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77
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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78
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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79
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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80
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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81
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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82
grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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83
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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84
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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85
barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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86
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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87
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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88
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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89
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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90
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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91
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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92
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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93
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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94
chasms
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| 裂缝( chasm的名词复数 )； 裂口； 分歧； 差别 | |
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95
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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96
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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97
raucous
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| adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的 | |
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98
pranced
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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99
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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100
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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101
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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102
fiscal
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| adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的 | |
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103
pillage
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| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
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104
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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105
cisterns
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| n.蓄水池，储水箱( cistern的名词复数 )；地下储水池 | |
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106
sonority
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| n.响亮，宏亮 | |
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107
mania
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| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
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108
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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109
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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110
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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111
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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112
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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113
embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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114
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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115
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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116
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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117
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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118
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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119
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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120
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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121
cymbals
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| pl.铙钹 | |
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122
vipers
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| n.蝰蛇( viper的名词复数 )；毒蛇；阴险恶毒的人；奸诈者 | |
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123
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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124
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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125
abortion
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| n.流产，堕胎 | |
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126
cypress
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| n.柏树 | |
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127
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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128
crumble
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| vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁 | |
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129
scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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130
vat
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| n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶 | |
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131
rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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132
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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133
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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134
extermination
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| n.消灭，根绝 | |
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135
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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136
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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137
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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138
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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139
catastrophes
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| n.灾祸( catastrophe的名词复数 )；灾难；不幸事件；困难 | |
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140
anathemas
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|
| n.（天主教的）革出教门( anathema的名词复数 )；诅咒；令人极其讨厌的事；被基督教诅咒的人或事 | |
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141
harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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142
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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143
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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144
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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146
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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148
travail
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| n.阵痛；努力 | |
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149
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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150
sterility
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| n.不生育，不结果，贫瘠，消毒，无菌 | |
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151
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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152
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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153
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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154
dangle
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| v.(使)悬荡，(使)悬垂 | |
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155
ostrich
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| n.鸵鸟 | |
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156
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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157
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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158
artifices
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| n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 )；诡计；巧妙办法；虚伪行为 | |
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159
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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160
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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161
execrates
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| v.憎恶( execrate的第三人称单数 )；厌恶；诅咒；咒骂 | |
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162
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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163
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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164
condemns
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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165
reposing
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的现在分词 ) | |
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166
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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167
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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168
intervals
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| 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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169
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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170
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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171
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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172
grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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173
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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174
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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175
silhouettes
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| 轮廓( silhouette的名词复数 )； （人的）体形； （事物的）形状； 剪影 | |
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176
excavations
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| n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 )；开凿；开凿的洞穴（或山路等）；（发掘出来的）古迹 | |
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177
agitating
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| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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178
constellation
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| n.星座n.灿烂的一群 | |
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179
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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180
augured
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| v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的过去式和过去分词 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
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181
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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182
pungent
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| adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的 | |
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183
embroideries
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| 刺绣( embroidery的名词复数 )； 刺绣品； 刺绣法 | |
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184
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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185
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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186
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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187
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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188
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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189
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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190
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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191
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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