Mr Panscope, highly irritated by the cool contempt with which Mr Escot had treated him, sate1 sipping2 his coffee and meditating3 revenge. He was not long in discovering the passion of his antagonist5 for the beautiful Cephalis, for whom he had himself a species of predilection6; and it was also obvious to him, that there was some lurking7 anger in the mind of her father, unfavourable to the hopes of his rival. The stimulus8 of revenge, superadded to that of preconceived inclination9, determined10 him, after due deliberation, to cut out Mr Escot in the young lady’s favour. The practicability of this design he did not trouble himself to investigate; for the havoc11 he had made in the hearts of some silly girls, who were extremely vulnerable to flattery, and who, not understanding a word he said, considered him a prodigious13 clever man, had impressed him with an unhesitating idea of his own irresistibility14. He had not only the requisites15 already specified16 for fascinating female vanity, he could likewise fiddle17 with tolerable dexterity18, though by no means so quick as Mr Chromatic19 (for our readers are of course aware that rapidity of execution, not delicacy20 of expression, constitutes the scientific perfection of modern music), and could warble a fashionable love-ditty with considerable affectation of feeling: besides this, he was always extremely well dressed, and was heir-apparent to an estate of ten thousand a-year. The influence which the latter consideration might have on the minds of the majority of his female acquaintance, whose morals had been formed by the novels of such writers as Miss Philomela Poppyseed, did not once enter into his calculation of his own personal attractions. Relying, therefore, on past success, he determined to appeal to his fortune, and already, in imagination, considered himself sole lord and master of the affections of the beautiful Cephalis.
Mr Escot and Mr Foster were the only two of the party who had entered the library (to which the ladies had retired21, and which was interior to the music-room) in a state of perfect sobriety. Mr Escot had placed himself next to the beautiful Cephalis: Mr Cranium had laid aside much of the terror of his frown; the short craniological conversation, which had passed between him and Mr Escot, had softened22 his heart in his favour; and the copious23 libations of Burgundy in which he had indulged had smoothed his brow into unusual serenity24.
Mr Foster placed himself near the lovely Caprioletta, whose artless and innocent conversation had already made an impression on his susceptible25 spirit.
The Reverend Doctor Gaster seated himself in the corner of a sofa near Miss Philomela Poppyseed. Miss Philomela detailed26 to him the plan of a very moral and aristocratical novel she was preparing for the press, and continued holding forth27, with her eyes half shut, till a long-drawn nasal tone from the reverend divine compelled her suddenly to open them in all the indignation of surprise. The cessation of the hum of her voice awakened28 the reverend gentleman, who, lifting up first one eyelid29, then the other, articulated, or rather murmured, “Admirably planned, indeed!”
“I have not quite finished, sir,” said Miss Philomela, bridling30. “Will you have the goodness to inform me where I left off?”
The doctor hummed a while, and at length answered: “I think you had just laid it down as a position, that a thousand a-year is an indispensable ingredient in the passion of love, and that no man, who is not so far gifted by nature, can reasonably presume to feel that passion himself, or be correctly the object of it with a well-educated female.”
“That, sir,” said Miss Philomela, highly incensed31, “is the fundamental principle which I lay down in the first chapter, and which the whole four volumes, of which I detailed to you the outline, are intended to set in a strong practical light.”
“Bless me!” said the doctor, “what a nap I must have had!”
Miss Philomela flung away to the side of her dear friends Gall32 and Treacle33, under whose fostering patronage34 she had been puffed35 into an extensive reputation, much to the advantage of the young ladies of the age, whom she taught to consider themselves as a sort of commodity, to be put up at public auction36, and knocked down to the highest bidder37. Mr Nightshade and Mr Mac Laurel joined the trio; and it was secretly resolved, that Miss Philomela should furnish them with a portion of her manuscripts, and that Messieurs Gall & Co. should devote the following morning to cutting and drying a critique on a work calculated to prove so extensively beneficial, that Mr Gall protested he really envied the writer.
While this amiable38 and enlightened quintetto were busily employed in flattering one another, Mr Cranium retired to complete the preparations he had begun in the morning for a lecture, with which he intended, on some future evening, to favour the company: Sir Patrick O’Prism walked out into the grounds to study the effect of moonlight on the snow-clad mountains: Mr Foster and Mr Escot continued to make love, and Mr Panscope to digest his plan of attack on the heart of Miss Cephalis: Mr Jenkison sate by the fire, reading Much Ado about Nothing: the Reverend Doctor Gaster was still enjoying the benefit of Miss Philomela’s opiate, and serenading the company from his solitary39 corner: Mr Chromatic was reading music, and occasionally humming a note: and Mr Milestone40 had produced his portfolio41 for the edification and amusement of Miss Tenorina, Miss Graziosa, and Squire42 Headlong, to whom he was pointing out the various beauties of his plan for Lord Littlebrain’s park.
Mr Milestone. This, you perceive, is the natural state of one part of the grounds. Here is a wood, never yet touched by the finger of taste; thick, intricate, and gloomy. Here is a little stream, dashing from stone to stone, and overshadowed with these untrimmed boughs43.
Miss Tenorina. The sweet romantic spot! How beautifully the birds must sing there on a summer evening!
Miss Graziosa. Dear sister! how can you endure the horrid44 thicket45?
Mr Milestone. You are right, Miss Graziosa: your taste is correct — perfectly46 en règle. Now, here is the same place corrected — trimmed — polished — decorated — adorned47. Here sweeps a plantation48, in that beautiful regular curve: there winds a gravel49 walk: here are parts of the old wood, left in these majestic50 circular clumps51, disposed at equal distances with wonderful symmetry: there are some single shrubs52 scattered53 in elegant profusion54: here a Portugal laurel, there a juniper; here a laurustinus, there a spruce fir; here a larch55, there a lilac; here a rhododendron, there an arbutus. The stream, you see, is become a canal: the banks are perfectly smooth and green, sloping to the water’s edge: and there is Lord Littlebrain, rowing in an elegant boat.
Squire Headlong. Magical, faith!
Mr Milestone. Here is another part of the grounds in its natural state. Here is a large rock, with the mountain-ash rooted in its fissures56, overgrown, as you see, with ivy57 and moss58; and from this part of it bursts a little fountain, that runs bubbling down its rugged59 sides.
Miss Tenorina. O how beautiful! How I should love the melody of that miniature cascade60!
Mr Milestone. Beautiful, Miss Tenorina! Hideous61. Base, common, and popular. Such a thing as you may see anywhere, in wild and mountainous districts. Now, observe the metamorphosis. Here is the same rock, cut into the shape of a giant. In one hand he holds a horn, through which that little fountain is thrown to a prodigious elevation62. In the other is a ponderous63 stone, so exactly balanced as to be apparently64 ready to fall on the head of any person who may happen to be beneath1: and there is Lord Littlebrain walking under it.
Squire Headlong. Miraculous65, by Mahomet!
Mr Milestone. This is the summit of a hill, covered, as you perceive, with wood, and with those mossy stones scattered at random66 under the trees.
Miss Tenorina. What a delightful67 spot to read in, on a summer’s day! The air must be so pure, and the wind must sound so divinely in the tops of those old pines!
Mr Milestone. Bad taste, Miss Tenorina. Bad taste, I assure you. Here is the spot improved. The trees are cut down: the stones are cleared away: this is an octagonal pavilion, exactly on the centre of the summit: and there you see Lord Littlebrain, on the top of the pavilion, enjoying the prospect68 with a telescope.
Squire Headlong. Glorious, egad!
Mr Milestone. Here is a rugged mountainous road, leading through impervious69 shades: the ass4 and the four goats characterise a wild uncultured scene. Here, as you perceive, it is totally changed into a beautiful gravel-road, gracefully70 curving through a belt of limes: and there is Lord Littlebrain driving four-in-hand.
Squire Headlong. Egregious71, by Jupiter!
Mr Milestone. Here is Littlebrain Castle, a Gothic, moss-grown structure, half bosomed72 in trees. Near the casement73 of that turret74 is an owl75 peeping from the ivy.
Squire Headlong. And devilish wise he looks.
Mr Milestone. Here is the new house, without a tree near it, standing12 in the midst of an undulating lawn: a white, polished, angular building, reflected to a nicety in this waveless lake: and there you see Lord Littlebrain looking out of the window.
Squire Headlong. And devilish wise he looks too. You shall cut me a giant before you go.
Mr Milestone. Good. I’ll order down my little corps76 of pioneers.
During this conversation, a hot dispute had arisen between Messieurs Gall and Nightshade; the latter pertinaciously77 insisting on having his new poem reviewed by Treacle, who he knew would extol78 it most loftily, and not by Gall, whose sarcastic79 commendation he held in superlative horror. The remonstrances80 of Squire Headlong silenced the disputants, but did not mollify the inflexible81 Gall, nor appease82 the irritated Nightshade, who secretly resolved that, on his return to London, he would beat his drum in Grub Street, form a mastigophoric corps of his own, and hoist83 the standard of determined opposition84 against this critical Napoleon.
Sir Patrick O’Prism now entered, and, after some rapturous exclamations85 on the effect of the mountain-moonlight, entreated86 that one of the young ladies would favour him with a song. Miss Tenorina and Miss Graziosa now enchanted87 the company with some very scientific compositions, which, as usual, excited admiration88 and astonishment89 in every one, without a single particle of genuine pleasure. The beautiful Cephalis being then summoned to take her station at the harp90, sang with feeling and simplicity91 the following air:—
LOVE AND OPPORTUNITY
Oh! who art thou, so swiftly flying?
My name is Love, the child replied:
Swifter I pass than south-winds sighing,
Or streams, through summer vales that glide92.
And who art thou, his flight pursuing?
’Tis cold Neglect whom now you see:
The little god you there are viewing,
Will die, if once he’s touched by me.
Oh! who art thou so fast proceeding93,
Ne’er glancing back thine eyes of flame?
Marked but by few, through earth I’m speeding,
And Opportunity’s my name.
What form is that, which scowls94 beside thee?
Repentance95 is the form you see:
Learn then, the fate may yet betide thee:
She seizes them who seize not me.2
The little butler now appeared with a summons to supper, shortly after which the party dispersed96 for the night.
![](../../../skin/default/image/4.jpg)
![收听单词发音](/template/default/tingnovel/images/play.gif)
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sate
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v.使充分满足 | |
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sipping
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v.小口喝,呷,抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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meditating
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a.沉思的,冥想的 | |
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ass
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n.驴;傻瓜,蠢笨的人 | |
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antagonist
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n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
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predilection
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n.偏好 | |
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lurking
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潜在 | |
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stimulus
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n.刺激,刺激物,促进因素,引起兴奋的事物 | |
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inclination
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n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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determined
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adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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havoc
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n.大破坏,浩劫,大混乱,大杂乱 | |
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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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prodigious
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adj.惊人的,奇妙的;异常的;巨大的;庞大的 | |
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irresistibility
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n.不能抵抗,难敌 | |
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requisites
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n.必要的事物( requisite的名词复数 ) | |
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specified
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adj.特定的 | |
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fiddle
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n.小提琴;vi.拉提琴;不停拨弄,乱动 | |
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dexterity
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n.(手的)灵巧,灵活 | |
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chromatic
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adj.色彩的,颜色的 | |
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delicacy
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n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
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retired
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adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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softened
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(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰 | |
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copious
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adj.丰富的,大量的 | |
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serenity
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n.宁静,沉着,晴朗 | |
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susceptible
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adj.过敏的,敏感的;易动感情的,易受感动的 | |
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detailed
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adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的 | |
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forth
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adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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awakened
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v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
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eyelid
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n.眼睑,眼皮 | |
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bridling
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给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 ); 控制; 昂首表示轻蔑(或怨忿等); 动怒,生气 | |
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incensed
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盛怒的 | |
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32
gall
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v.使烦恼,使焦躁,难堪;n.磨难 | |
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33
treacle
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n.糖蜜 | |
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34
patronage
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n.赞助,支援,援助;光顾,捧场 | |
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35
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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36
auction
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n.拍卖;拍卖会;vt.拍卖 | |
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bidder
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n.(拍卖时的)出价人,报价人,投标人 | |
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amiable
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adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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solitary
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adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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milestone
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n.里程碑;划时代的事件 | |
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portfolio
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n.公事包;文件夹;大臣及部长职位 | |
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squire
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n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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43
boughs
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大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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horrid
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adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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thicket
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n.灌木丛,树林 | |
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perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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adorned
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[计]被修饰的 | |
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plantation
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n.种植园,大农场 | |
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gravel
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n.砂跞;砂砾层;结石 | |
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majestic
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adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的 | |
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clumps
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n.(树、灌木、植物等的)丛、簇( clump的名词复数 );(土、泥等)团;块;笨重的脚步声v.(树、灌木、植物等的)丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 );(土、泥等)团;块;笨重的脚步声 | |
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52
shrubs
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灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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scattered
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adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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profusion
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n.挥霍;丰富 | |
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larch
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n.落叶松 | |
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56
fissures
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n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 );裂伤;分歧;分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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57
ivy
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n.常青藤,常春藤 | |
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moss
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n.苔,藓,地衣 | |
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rugged
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adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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60
cascade
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n.小瀑布,喷流;层叠;vi.成瀑布落下 | |
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61
hideous
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adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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elevation
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n.高度;海拔;高地;上升;提高 | |
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63
ponderous
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adj.沉重的,笨重的,(文章)冗长的 | |
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64
apparently
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adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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miraculous
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adj.像奇迹一样的,不可思议的 | |
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random
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adj.随机的;任意的;n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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delightful
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adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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prospect
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n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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impervious
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adj.不能渗透的,不能穿过的,不易伤害的 | |
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70
gracefully
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ad.大大方方地;优美地 | |
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71
egregious
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adj.非常的,过分的 | |
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bosomed
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胸部的 | |
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73
casement
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n.竖铰链窗;窗扉 | |
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turret
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n.塔楼,角塔 | |
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owl
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n.猫头鹰,枭 | |
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76
corps
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n.(通信等兵种的)部队;(同类作的)一组 | |
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77
pertinaciously
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adv.坚持地;固执地;坚决地;执拗地 | |
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extol
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v.赞美,颂扬 | |
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sarcastic
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adj.讥讽的,讽刺的,嘲弄的 | |
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80
remonstrances
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n.抱怨,抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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inflexible
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adj.不可改变的,不受影响的,不屈服的 | |
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82
appease
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v.安抚,缓和,平息,满足 | |
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83
hoist
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n.升高,起重机,推动;v.升起,升高,举起 | |
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84
opposition
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n.反对,敌对 | |
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85
exclamations
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n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 );感叹;感叹语;感叹词 | |
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86
entreated
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恳求,乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87
enchanted
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adj. 被施魔法的,陶醉的,入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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88
admiration
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n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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89
astonishment
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n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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90
harp
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n.竖琴;天琴座 | |
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91
simplicity
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n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯 | |
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92
glide
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n./v.溜,滑行;(时间)消逝 | |
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93
proceeding
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n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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94
scowls
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不悦之色,怒容( scowl的名词复数 ) | |
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95
repentance
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n.懊悔 | |
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96
dispersed
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adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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