Mandricardo, after contemplating11 the group for a moment, addressed himself to Orlando in these words: “Thou must be the man I seek. For ten days and more I have been on thy track. The fame of thy exploits has brought me hither, that I may measure my strength with thine. Thy crest and shield prove thee the same who spread such slaughter among our troops. But these marks are superfluous12, and if I saw thee among a hundred I should know thee by thy martial13 bearing to be the man I seek.”
“I respect thy courage,” said Orlando; “such a design could not have sprung up in any but a brave and generous soul. If the desire to see me has brought thee hither, I would, if it were possible, show thee my inmost soul. I will remove my visor, that you may satisfy your curiosity; but when you have done so I hope that you will also try and see if my valor corresponds to my appearance.”
“Come on,” said the Saracen, “my first wish was to see and know thee; I will not gratify my second.”
Orlando, observing Mandricardo, was surprised to see no sword at his side, nor mace14 at his saddle-bow. “And what weapon hast thou,” said he, “if thy lance fail thee?”
“Do not concern yourself about that,” said Mandricardo; “I have made many good knights15 give ground with no other weapon than you see. Know that I have sworn an oath never to bear a sword until I win back that famous Durindana that Orlando, the paladin, carries. That sword belongs to the suit of armor which I wear; that only is wanting. Without doubt it was stolen, but how it got into the hands of Orlando I know not. But I will make him pay dearly for it when I find him. I seek him the more anxiously that I may avenge16 with his blood the death of King Agrican, my father, whom he treacherously17 slew18. I am sure he must have done it by treachery, for it was not in his power to subdue19 in fair fight such a warrior20 as my father.”
“Thou liest,” cried Orlando; “and all who say so lie. I am Orlando, whom you seek; yes, I am he who slew your father honorably. Hold, here is the sword: you shall have it if your courage avails to merit it. Though it belongs to me by right, I will not use it in this dispute. See, I hang it on this tree; you shall be master of it, if you bereave21 me of life; not else.”
At these words Orlando drew Durindana, and hung it on one of the branches of a tree near by.
Both knights, boiling with equal ardor22, rode off in a semicircle; then rushed together with reins24 thrown loose, and struck one another with their lances. Both kept their seats, immovable. The splinters of their lances flew into the air, and no weapon remained for either but the fragment which he held in his hand. Then those two knights, covered with iron mail, were reduced to the necessity of fighting with staves, in the manner of two rustics25, who dispute the boundary of a meadow, or the possession of a spring.
These clubs could not long keep whole in the hands of such sturdy smiters, who were soon reduced to fight with naked fists. Such warfare26 was more painful to him that gave than to him that received the blows. They next clasped, and strained each his adversary27, as Hercules did Ant?us. Mandricardo, more enraged28 than Orlando, made violent efforts to unseat the paladin, and dropped the rein23 of his horse. Orlando, more calm, perceived it. With one hand he resisted Mandricardo, with the other he twitched29 the horse’s bridle30 over the ears of the animal. The Saracen dragged Orlando with all his might, but Orlando’s thighs31 held the saddle like a vise. At last the efforts of the Saracen broke the girths of Orlando’s horse; the saddle slipped; the knight, firm in his stirrups, slipped with it, and came to the ground hardly conscious of his fall. The noise of his armor in falling startled Mandricardo’s horse, now without a bridle. He started off in full career, heeding32 neither trees nor rocks nor broken ground. Urged by fright, he ran with furious speed, carrying his master, who, almost distracted with rage, shouted and beat the animal with his fists, and thereby33 impelled34 his flight. After running thus three miles or more, a deep ditch opposed their progress. The horse and rider fell headlong into it, and did not find the bottom covered with feather-beds or roses. They got sadly bruised35; but were lucky enough to escape without any broken limbs.
Mandricardo, as soon as he gained his feet, seized the horse by his mane with fury; but, having no bridle, could not hold him. He looked round in hopes of finding something that would do for a rein. Just then fortune, who seemed willing to help him at last, brought that way a peasant with a bridle in his hand, who was in search of his farm horse that had strayed away.
Orlando, having speedily repaired his horse’s girths, remounted, and waited a good hour for the Saracen to return. Not seeing him, he concluded to go in search of him. He took an affectionate leave of Zerbino and Isabella, who would willingly have followed him; but this the brave paladin would by no means permit. He held it unknightly to go in search of an enemy accompanied by a friend, who might act as a defender36. Therefore, desiring them to say to Mandricardo, if they should meet him, that his purpose was to tarry in the neighborhood three days, and then repair to the camp of Charlemagne, he took down Durindana from the tree, and proceeded in the direction which the Saracen’s horse had taken. But the animal, having no guide but its terror, had so doubled and confused its traces that Orlando, after two days spent in the search, gave up the attempt.
It was about the middle of the third day when the paladin arrived on the pleasant bank of a stream which wound through a meadow enamelled with flowers. High trees, whose tops met and formed an arbor37, overshadowed the fountain; and the breeze which blew through their foliage38 tempered the heat. Hither the shepherds used to resort to quench39 their thirst, and to enjoy the shelter from the midday sun. The air, perfumed with the flowers, seemed to breathe fresh strength into their veins40. Orlando felt the influence, though covered with his armor. He stopped in this delicious arbor, where everything seemed to invite to repose41. But he could not have chosen a more fatal asylum42. He there spent the most miserable43 moments of his life.
He looked around, and noted44 with pleasure all the charms of the spot. He saw that some of the trees were carved with inscriptions46—he drew near, and read them, and what was his surprise to find that they composed the name of Angelica! Farther on he found the name of Medoro mixed with hers. The paladin thought he dreamed. He stood like one amazed—like a bird that, rising to fly, finds its feet caught in a net.
Orlando followed the course of the stream, and came to one of its turns where the rocks of the mountain bent47 in such a way as to form a sort of grotto48. The twisted stems of ivy49 and the wild vine draped the entrance of this recess50, scooped51 by the hand of nature.
The unhappy paladin, on entering the grotto, saw letters which appeared to have been lately carved. They were verses which Medoro had written in honor of his happy nuptials52 with the beautiful queen. Orlando tried to persuade himself it must be some other Angelica whom those verses celebrated53, and as for Medoro, he had never heard his name. The sun was now declining, and Orlando remounted his horse, and went on his way. He soon saw the roof of a cottage whence the smoke ascended54; he heard the barking of dogs and the lowing of cattle, and arrived at a humble55 dwelling56 which seemed to offer an asylum for the night. The inmates57, as soon as they saw him, hastened to render him service. One took his horse, another his shield and cuirass, another his golden spurs. This cottage was the very same where Medoro had been carried, deeply wounded,—where Angelica had tended him, and afterwards married him. The shepherd who lived in it loved to tell everybody the story of this marriage, and soon related it, with all its details, to the miserable Orlando.
Having finished it, he went away, and returned with the precious bracelet58 which Angelica, grateful for his services, had given him as a memorial. It was the one which Orlando had himself given her.
This last touch was the finishing stroke to the excited paladin. Frantic59, exasperated60, he exclaimed, against the ungrateful and cruel princess who had disdained61 him, the most renowned62, the most indomitable of all the paladins of France,—him, who had rescued her from the most alarming perils,—him, who had fought the most terrible battles for her sake,—she to prefer to him a young Saracen! The pride of the noble Count was deeply wounded. Indignant, frantic, a victim to ungovernable rage, he rushed into the forest, uttering the most frightful63 shrieks64.
“No, no!” cried he, “I am not the man they take me for! Orlando is dead! I am only the wandering ghost of that unhappy Count, who is now suffering the torments65 of hell!”
Orlando wandered all night, as chance directed, through the wood, and at sunrise his destiny led him to the fountain where Medoro had engraved66 the fatal inscription45. The frantic paladin saw it a second time with fury, drew his sword, and hacked67 it from the rock.
Unlucky grotto! you shall no more attract by your shade and coolness, you shall no more shelter with your arch either shepherd or flock. And you, fresh and pure fountain, you may not escape the rage of the furious Orlando! He cast into the fountain branches, trunks of trees which he tore up, pieces of rocks which he broke off, plants uprooted68, with the earth adhering, and turf and brushes, so as to choke the fountain, and destroy the purity of its waters. At length, exhausted69 by his violent exertions70, bathed in sweat, breathless, Orlando sunk panting upon the earth, and lay there insensible three days and three nights.
The fourth day he started up and seized his arms. His helmet, his buckler, he cast far from him; his hauberk and his clothes he rent asunder71; the fragments were scattered72 through the wood. In fine, he became a furious madman. His insanity73 was such that he cared not to retain even his sword. But he had no need of Durindana, nor of other arms, to do wonderful things. His prodigious74 strength sufficed. At the first wrench75 of his mighty76 arm he tore up a pine-tree by the roots. Oaks, beeches77, maples78, whatever he met in his path, yielded in like manner. The ancient forest soon became as bare as the borders of a morass79, where the fowler has cleared away the bushes to spread his nets. The shepherds, hearing the horrible crashing in the forest, abandoned their flocks to run and see the cause of this unwonted uproar80. By their evil star, or for their sins, they were led thither81. When they saw the furious state the Count was in, and his incredible force, they would fain have fled out of his reach, but in their fears lost their presence of mind. The madman pursued them, seized one and rent him limb from limb, as easily as one would pull ripe apples from a tree. He took another by the feet, and used him as a club to knock down a third. The shepherds fled; but it would have been hard for any to escape, if he had not at that moment left them to throw himself with the same fury upon their flocks. The peasants, abandoning their ploughs and harrows, mounted on the roofs of buildings and pinnacles82 of the rocks, afraid to trust themselves even to the oaks and pines. From such heights they looked on, trembling at the raging fury of the unhappy Orlando. His fists, his teeth, his nails, his feet, seize, break, and tear cattle, sheep, and swine; the most swift in flight alone being able to escape him.
When at last terror had scattered everything before him, he entered a cottage which was abandoned by its inhabitants, and there found that which served for food. His long fast had caused him to feel the most ravenous83 hunger. Seizing whatever he found that was eatable, whether roots, acorns84, or bread, raw meat or cooked, he gorged85 it indiscriminately.
Issuing thence again, the frantic Orlando gave chase to whatever living thing he saw, whether men or animals. Sometimes he pursued the deer and hind86, sometimes he attacked bears and wolves, and with his naked hands killed and tore them, and devoured87 their flesh.
Thus he wandered, from place to place, through France, imperilling his life a thousand ways, yet always preserved by some mysterious providence88 from a fatal result. But here we leave Orlando for a time, that we may record what befell Zerbino and Isabella after their parting with him.
The prince and his fair bride waited, by Orlando’s request, near the scene of the battle for three days, that, if Mandricardo should return, they might inform him where Orlando would give him another meeting. At the end of that time their anxiety to know the issue led them to follow Orlando’s traces, which led them at last to the wood where the trees were inscribed89 with the names of Angelica and Medoro. They remarked how all these inscriptions were defaced, and how the grotto was disordered, and the fountain clogged90 with rubbish. But that which surprised them and distressed91 them most of all was to find on the grass the cuirass of Orlando, and not far from it his helmet, the same which the renowned Almontes once wore.
Hearing a horse neigh in the forest, Zerbino turned his eyes in that direction, and saw Brigliadoro, with the bridle yet hanging at the saddle-bow. He looked round for Durindana, and found that famous sword, without the scabbard, lying on the grass. He saw also the fragments of Orlando’s other arms and clothing scattered on all sides over the plain.
Zerbino and Isabella stood in astonishment92 and grief, not knowing what to think, but little imagining the true cause. If they had found any marks of blood on the arms or on the fragments of the clothing, they would have supposed him slain93, but there were none. While they were in this painful uncertainty94 they saw a young peasant approach. He, not yet recovered from the terror of the scene, which he had witnessed from the top of a rock, told them the whole of the sad events.
Zerbino, with his eyes full of tears, carefully collected all the scattered arms. Isabella also dismounted to aid him in the sad duty. When they had collected all the pieces of that rich armor they hung them like a trophy95 on a pine; and to prevent their being violated by any passers-by, Zerbino inscribed on the bark this caution: “These are the arms of the Paladin Orlando.”
Having finished this pious96 work, he remounted his horse, and just then a knight rode up, and requested Zerbino to tell him the meaning of the trophy. The prince related the facts as they had happened; and Mandricardo, for it was that Saracen knight, full of joy, rushed forward, and seized the sword, saying, “No one can censure97 me for what I do; this sword is mine; I can take my own wherever I find it. It is plain that Orlando, not daring to defend it against me, has counterfeited98 madness to excuse him in surrendering it.”
Zerbino vehemently99 exclaimed, “Touch not that sword. Think not to possess it without a contest. If it be true that the arms you wear are those of Hector, you must have got them by theft, and not by prowess.”
Immediately they attacked one another with the utmost fury. The air resounded100 with thick-falling blows. Zerbino, skilful101 and alert, evaded102 for a time with good success the strokes of Durindana; but at length a terrible blow struck him on the neck. He fell from his horse, and the Tartar king, possessed103 of the spoils of his victory, rode away.
点击收听单词发音
1 crest | |
n.顶点;饰章;羽冠;vt.达到顶点;vi.形成浪尖 | |
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2 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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3 guise | |
n.外表,伪装的姿态 | |
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4 slaughter | |
n.屠杀,屠宰;vt.屠杀,宰杀 | |
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5 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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6 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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7 valor | |
n.勇气,英勇 | |
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8 extolled | |
v.赞颂,赞扬,赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9 benefactor | |
n. 恩人,行善的人,捐助人 | |
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10 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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11 contemplating | |
深思,细想,仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 ); 注视,凝视; 考虑接受(发生某事的可能性); 深思熟虑,沉思,苦思冥想 | |
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12 superfluous | |
adj.过多的,过剩的,多余的 | |
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13 martial | |
adj.战争的,军事的,尚武的,威武的 | |
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14 mace | |
n.狼牙棒,豆蔻干皮 | |
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15 knights | |
骑士; (中古时代的)武士( knight的名词复数 ); 骑士; 爵士; (国际象棋中)马 | |
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16 avenge | |
v.为...复仇,为...报仇 | |
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17 treacherously | |
背信弃义地; 背叛地; 靠不住地; 危险地 | |
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18 slew | |
v.(使)旋转;n.大量,许多 | |
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19 subdue | |
vt.制服,使顺从,征服;抑制,克制 | |
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20 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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21 bereave | |
v.使痛失(亲人等),剥夺,使丧失 | |
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22 ardor | |
n.热情,狂热 | |
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23 rein | |
n.疆绳,统治,支配;vt.以僵绳控制,统治 | |
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24 reins | |
感情,激情; 缰( rein的名词复数 ); 控制手段; 掌管; (成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的)保护带 | |
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25 rustics | |
n.有农村或村民特色的( rustic的名词复数 );粗野的;不雅的;用粗糙的木材或树枝制作的 | |
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26 warfare | |
n.战争(状态);斗争;冲突 | |
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27 adversary | |
adj.敌手,对手 | |
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28 enraged | |
使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 ); 歜; 激愤 | |
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29 twitched | |
vt.& vi.(使)抽动,(使)颤动(twitch的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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30 bridle | |
n.笼头,束缚;vt.抑制,约束;动怒 | |
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31 thighs | |
n.股,大腿( thigh的名词复数 );食用的鸡(等的)腿 | |
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32 heeding | |
v.听某人的劝告,听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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33 thereby | |
adv.因此,从而 | |
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34 impelled | |
v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35 bruised | |
[医]青肿的,瘀紫的 | |
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36 defender | |
n.保卫者,拥护者,辩护人 | |
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37 arbor | |
n.凉亭;树木 | |
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38 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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39 quench | |
vt.熄灭,扑灭;压制 | |
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40 veins | |
n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理 | |
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41 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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42 asylum | |
n.避难所,庇护所,避难 | |
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43 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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44 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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45 inscription | |
n.(尤指石块上的)刻印文字,铭文,碑文 | |
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46 inscriptions | |
(作者)题词( inscription的名词复数 ); 献词; 碑文; 证劵持有人的登记 | |
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47 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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48 grotto | |
n.洞穴 | |
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49 ivy | |
n.常青藤,常春藤 | |
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50 recess | |
n.短期休息,壁凹(墙上装架子,柜子等凹处) | |
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51 scooped | |
v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等) | |
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52 nuptials | |
n.婚礼;婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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53 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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54 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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56 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
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57 inmates | |
n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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58 bracelet | |
n.手镯,臂镯 | |
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59 frantic | |
adj.狂乱的,错乱的,激昂的 | |
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60 exasperated | |
adj.恼怒的 | |
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61 disdained | |
鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 ); 不屑于做,不愿意做 | |
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62 renowned | |
adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的 | |
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63 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
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64 shrieks | |
n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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65 torments | |
(肉体或精神上的)折磨,痛苦( torment的名词复数 ); 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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66 engraved | |
v.在(硬物)上雕刻(字,画等)( engrave的过去式和过去分词 );将某事物深深印在(记忆或头脑中) | |
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67 hacked | |
生气 | |
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68 uprooted | |
v.把(某物)连根拔起( uproot的过去式和过去分词 );根除;赶走;把…赶出家园 | |
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69 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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70 exertions | |
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使 | |
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71 asunder | |
adj.分离的,化为碎片 | |
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72 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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73 insanity | |
n.疯狂,精神错乱;极端的愚蠢,荒唐 | |
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74 prodigious | |
adj.惊人的,奇妙的;异常的;巨大的;庞大的 | |
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75 wrench | |
v.猛拧;挣脱;使扭伤;n.扳手;痛苦,难受 | |
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76 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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77 beeches | |
n.山毛榉( beech的名词复数 );山毛榉木材 | |
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78 maples | |
槭树,枫树( maple的名词复数 ); 槭木 | |
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79 morass | |
n.沼泽,困境 | |
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80 uproar | |
n.骚动,喧嚣,鼎沸 | |
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81 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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82 pinnacles | |
顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 ); 顶点; 尖顶; 小尖塔 | |
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83 ravenous | |
adj.极饿的,贪婪的 | |
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84 acorns | |
n.橡子,栎实( acorn的名词复数 ) | |
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85 gorged | |
v.(用食物把自己)塞饱,填饱( gorge的过去式和过去分词 );作呕 | |
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86 hind | |
adj.后面的,后部的 | |
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87 devoured | |
吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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88 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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89 inscribed | |
v.写,刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 );内接 | |
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90 clogged | |
(使)阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 ); 淤滞 | |
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91 distressed | |
痛苦的 | |
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92 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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93 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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94 uncertainty | |
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物 | |
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95 trophy | |
n.优胜旗,奖品,奖杯,战胜品,纪念品 | |
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96 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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97 censure | |
v./n.责备;非难;责难 | |
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98 counterfeited | |
v.仿制,造假( counterfeit的过去分词 ) | |
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99 vehemently | |
adv. 热烈地 | |
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100 resounded | |
v.(指声音等)回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 );产生回响;(指某处)回荡着声音 | |
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101 skilful | |
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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102 evaded | |
逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 ); 避开; 回避; 想不出 | |
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103 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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