After this the king had the child carried to the font and baptized with the name of Ogier.
In his education nothing was neglected to elevate him to the standard of a perfect knight12, and render him accomplished13 in all the arts necessary to make him a hero.
He had hardly reached the age of sixteen years when Charlemagne, whose power was established over all the sovereigns of his time, recollected14 that Geoffroy, Ogier’s father, had omitted to render the homage15 due to him as Emperor, and sovereign lord of Denmark, one of the grand fiefs of the empire. He accordingly sent an embassy to demand of the king of Denmark this homage, and on receiving a refusal, couched in haughty16 terms, sent an army to enforce the demand. Geoffroy, after an unsuccessful resistance, was forced to comply, and as a pledge of his sincerity17 delivered Ogier, his eldest son, a hostage to Charles, to be brought up at his court. He was placed in charge of the Duke Namo of Bavaria, the friend of his father, who treated him like his own son.
Ogier grew up more and more handsome and amiable18 every day. He surpassed in form, strength, and address all the noble youths his companions; he failed not to be present at all tourneys; he was attentive19 to the elder knights20, and burned with impatience21 to imitate them. Yet his heart rose sometimes in secret against his condition as a hostage, and as one apparently22 forgotten by his father.
The King of Denmark, in fact, was at this time occupied with new loves. Ogier’s mother having died, he had married a second wife, and had a son named Guyon. The new queen had absolute power over her husband, and fearing that, if he should see Ogier again, he would give him the preference over Guyon, she had adroitly23 persuaded him to delay rendering24 his homage to Charlemagne, till now four years had passed away since the last renewal25 of that ceremony. Charlemagne, irritated at this delinquency, drew closer the bonds of Ogier’s captivity26 until he should receive a response from the king of Denmark to a fresh summons which he caused to be sent to him.
The answer of Geoffroy was insulting and defiant27, and the rage of Charlemagne was roused in the highest degree. He was at first disposed to wreak28 his vengeance29 upon Ogier, his hostage; but at the entreaties30 of Duke Namo, who felt towards his pupil like a father, consented to spare his life, if Ogier would swear fidelity31 to him as his liege-lord, and promise not to quit his court without his permission. Ogier accepted these terms, and was allowed to retain all the freedom he had before enjoyed.
The Emperor would have immediately taken arms to reduce his disobedient vassal32, if he had not been called off in another direction by a message from Pope Leo, imploring33 his assistance. The Saracens had landed in the neighborhood of Rome, occupied Mount Janiculum, and prepared to pass the Tiber and carry fire and sword to the capital of the Christian world. Charlemagne hesitated not to yield to the entreaties of the Pope. He speedily assembled an army, crossed the Alps, traversed Italy, and arrived at Spoleto, a strong place to which the Pope had retired34. Leo, at the head of his Cardinals35, advanced to meet him, and rendered him homage, as to the son of Pepin, the illustrious protector of the Holy See, coming, as his father had done, to defend it in the hour of need.
Charlemagne stopped but two days at Spoleto, and learning that the Infidels, having rendered themselves masters of Rome, were besieging36 the Capitol, which could not long hold out against them, marched promptly37 to attack them.
The advanced posts of the army were commanded by Duke Namo, on whom Ogier waited as his squire38. He did not yet bear arms, not having received the order of knighthood. The Oriflamme, the royal standard, was borne by a knight named Alory, who showed himself unworthy of the honor.
Duke Namo, seeing a strong body of the Infidels advancing to attack him, gave the word to charge them. Ogier remained in the rear, with the other youths, grieving much that he was not permitted to fight. Very soon he saw Alory lower the Oriflamme, and turn his horse in flight. Ogier pointed40 him out to the young men, and seizing a club, rushed upon Alory and struck him from his horse. Then, with his companions, he disarmed41 him, clothed himself in his armor, raised the Oriflamme, and mounting the horse of the unworthy knight, flew to the front rank, where he joined Duke Namo, drove back the Infidels, and carried the Oriflamme quite through their broken ranks. The Duke, thinking it was Alory, whom he had not held in high esteem42, was astonished at his strength and valor. Ogier’s young companions imitated him, supplying themselves with armor from the bodies of the slain43; they followed Ogier and carried death into the ranks of the Saracens, who fell back in confusion upon their main body.
Duke Namo now ordered a retreat, and Ogier obeyed with reluctance44, when they perceived Charlemagne advancing to their assistance. The combat now became general, and was more terrible than ever. Charlemagne had overthrown45 Corsuble, the commander of the Saracens, and had drawn46 his famous sword, Joyeuse, to cut off his head, when two Saracen knights set upon him at once, one of whom slew47 his horse, and the other overthrew48 the Emperor on the sand. Perceiving by the eagle on his casque who he was, they dismounted in haste to give him his deathblow. Never was the life of the Emperor in such peril49. But Ogier, who saw him fall, flew to his rescue. Though embarrassed with the Oriflamme, he pushed his horse against one of the Saracens and knocked him down; and with his sword dealt the other so vigorous a blow that he fell stunned50 to the earth. Then helping51 the Emperor to rise, he remounted him on the horse of one of the fallen knights. “Brave and generous Alory!” Charles exclaimed, “I owe to you my honor and my life!” Ogier made no answer; but, leaving Charlemagne surrounded by a great many of the knights who had flown to his succor52, he plunged53 into the thickest ranks of the enemy, and carried the Oriflamme, followed by a gallant54 train of youthful warriors55 till the standard of Mahomet turned in retreat, and the Infidels sought safety in their intrenchments.
Then the good Archbishop Turpin laid aside his helmet and his bloody56 sword (for he always felt that he was clearly in the line of his duty while slaying57 Infidels), took his mitre and his crosier, and intoned Te Deum.
At this moment Ogier, covered with blood and dust, came to lay the Oriflamme at the feet of the Emperor. He was followed by a train of warriors of short stature58, who walked ill at ease loaded with armor too heavy for them. Ogier knelt at the feet of Charlemagne, who embraced him, calling him Alory, while Turpin from the height of the altar, blessed him with all his might. Then young Orlando, son of the Count Milone, and nephew of Charlemagne, no longer able to endure this misapprehension, threw down his helmet, and ran to unlace Ogier’s, while the other young men laid aside theirs. Our author says he cannot express the surprise, the admiration59, and the tenderness of the Emperor and his peers. Charles folded Ogier in his arms, and the happy fathers of those brave youths embraced them with tears of joy. The good Duke Namo stepped forward, and Charlemagne yielded Ogier to his embrace. “How much do I owe you,” he said, “good and wise friend, for having restrained my anger! My dear Ogier! I owe you my life! My sword leaps to touch your shoulder, yours and those of your brave young friends.” At these words he drew that famous sword, Joyeuse, and while Ogier and the rest knelt before him, gave them the accolade60 conferring on them the order of knighthood. The young Orlando and his cousin Oliver could not refrain, even in the presence of the Emperor, from falling upon Ogier’s neck, and pledging with him that brotherhood61 in arms, so dear and so sacred to the knights of old times; but Charlot, the Emperor’s son, at the sight of the glory with which Ogier had covered himself, conceived the blackest jealousy62 and hate.
The rest of the day and the next were spent in the rejoicings of the army. Turpin in a solemn service implored63 the favor of Heaven upon the youthful knights, and blessed the white armor which was prepared for them. Duke Namo presented them with golden spurs, Charles himself girded on their swords. But what was his astonishment64 when he examined that intended for Ogier! The loving Fairy, Morgana, had had the art to change it, and to substitute one of her own procuring65, and when Charles drew it out of the scabbard, these words appeared written on the steel: “My name is Cortana, of the same steel and temper as Joyeuse and Durindana.” Charles saw that a superior power watched over the destinies of Ogier; he vowed66 to love him as a father would, and Ogier promised him the devotion of a son. Happy had it been for both if they had always continued mindful of their promises.
The Saracen army had hardly recovered from its dismay when Carahue, King of Mauritania, who was one of the knights overthrown by Ogier at the time of the rescue of Charlemagne, determined67 to challenge him to single combat. With that view he assumed the dress of a herald68, resolved to carry his own message. The French knights admired his air, and said to one another that he seemed more fit to be a knight than a bearer of messages.
Carahue began by passing the warmest eulogium upon the knight who bore the Oriflamme on the day of the battle, and concluded by saying that Carahue, King of Mauritania, respected that knight so much that he challenged him to the combat.
Ogier had risen to reply, when he was interrupted by Charlot, who said that the gage69 of the King of Mauritania could not fitly be received by a vassal, living in captivity; by which he meant Ogier, who was at that time serving as hostage for his father. Fire flashed from the eyes of Ogier, but the presence of the Emperor restrained his speech, and he was calmed by the kind looks of Charlemagne, who said, with an angry voice, “Silence, Charlot! By the life of Bertha, my queen, he who has saved my life is as dear to me as yourself. Ogier,” he continued, “you are no longer a hostage. Herald! report my answer to your master, that never does knight of my court refuse a challenge on equal terms. Ogier, the Dane, accepts of his, and I myself am his security.”
Carahue, profoundly bowing, replied, “My lord, I was sure that the sentiments of so great a sovereign as yourself would be worthy39 of your high and brilliant fame; I shall report your answer to my master, who I know admires you, and unwillingly70 takes arms against you.” Then, turning to Charlot, whom he did not know as the son of the Emperor, he continued, “As for you, Sir Knight, if the desire of battle inflames71 you, I have it in charge from Sadon, cousin of the King of Mauritania, to give the like defiance72 to any French knights who will grant him the honor of the combat.”
Charlot, inflamed73 with rage and vexation at the public reproof74 which he had just received, hesitated not to deliver his gage. Carahue received it with Ogier’s, and it was agreed that the combat should be on the next day in a meadow environed by woods and equally distant from both armies.
The perfidious75 Charlot meditated76 the blackest treason. During the night he collected some knights unworthy of the name, and like himself in their ferocious77 manners; he made them swear to avenge78 his injuries, armed them in black armor, and sent them to lie in ambush79 in the wood, with orders to make a pretended attack upon the whole party, but in fact, to lay heavy hands upon Ogier and the two Saracens.
At the dawn of day Sadon and Carahue, attended only by two pages to carry their spears, took their way to the appointed meadow; and Charlot and Ogier repaired thither80 also, but by different paths. Ogier advanced with a calm air, saluted81 courteously82 the two Saracen knights, and joined them in arranging the terms of combat.
While this was going on the perfidious Charlot remained behind and gave his men the signal to advance. That cowardly troop issued from the wood and encompassed83 the three knights. All three were equally surprised at the attack, but neither of them suspected the other to have any hand in the treason. Seeing the attack made equally upon them all, they united their efforts to resist it, and made the most forward of the assailants bite the dust. Cortana fell on no one without inflicting84 a mortal wound, but the sword of Carahue was not of equal temper and broke in his hands. At the same instant his horse was slain, and Carahue fell, without a weapon, and entangled85 with his prostrate86 horse. Ogier, who saw it, ran to his defence and leaping to the ground covered the prince with his shield, supplied him with the sword of one of the fallen ruffians, and would have him mount his own horse. At that moment Charlot, inflamed with rage, pushed his horse upon Ogier, knocked him down, and would have run him through with his lance if Sadon, who saw the treason, had not sprung upon him and thrust him back. Carahue leapt lightly upon the horse which Ogier presented him, and had time only to exclaim, “Brave Ogier, I am no longer your enemy, I pledge to you an eternal friendship,” when numerous Saracen knights were seen approaching, having discovered the treachery, and Charlot with his followers87 took refuge in the wood.
The troop which advanced was commanded by Dannemont, the exiled king of Denmark, whom Geoffroy, Ogier’s father, had driven from his throne and compelled to take refuge with the Saracens. Learning who Ogier was, he instantly declared him his prisoner, in spite of the urgent remonstrances88 and even threats of Carahue and Sadon, and carried him under a strong guard to the Saracen camp. Here he was at first subjected to the most rigorous captivity, but Carahue and Sadon insisted so vehemently89 on his release, threatening to turn their arms against their own party if it was not granted, while Dannemont as eagerly opposed the measure, that Corsuble, the Saracen commander, consented to a middle course, and allowed Ogier the freedom of his camp, upon his promise not to leave it without permission.
Carahue was not satisfied with this partial concession90. He left the city next morning, proceeded to the camp of Charlemagne, and demanded to be led to the Emperor. When he reached his presence he dismounted from his horse, took off his helmet, drew his sword, and holding it by the blade presented it to Charlemagne as he knelt before him.
“Illustrious prince,” he said, “behold before you the herald who brought the challenge to your knights from the King of Mauritania. The cowardly old King Dannemont has made the brave Ogier prisoner, and has prevailed on our general to refuse to give him up. I come to make amends91 for this ungenerous conduct by yielding myself, Carahue, King of Mauritania, your prisoner.”
Charlemagne, with all his peers, admired the magnanimity of Carahue; he raised him, embraced him, and restored to him his sword. “Prince,” said he, “your presence and the bright example you afford my knights consoles me for the loss of Ogier. Would to God you might receive our holy faith, and be wholly united with us.” All the lords of the court, led by Duke Namo, paid their respects to the King of Mauritania. Charlot only failed to appear, fearing to be recognized as a traitor92; but the heart of Carahue was too noble to pierce that of Charlemagne by telling him the treachery of his son.
Meanwhile the Saracen army was rent by discord93. The troops of Carahue clamored against the commander-in-chief because their king was left in captivity. They even threatened to desert the cause and turn their arms against their allies. Charlemagne pressed the siege vigorously, till at length the Saracen leaders found themselves compelled to abandon the city and betake themselves to their ships. A truce94 was made; Ogier was exchanged for Carahue, and the two friends embraced one another with vows95 of perpetual brotherhood. The Pope was re?stablished in his dominions96, and Italy being tranquil97, Charlemagne returned with his peers and their followers to France.
点击收听单词发音
1 wrested | |
(用力)拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 ); 费力取得; (从…)攫取; ( 从… ) 强行取去… | |
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2 reigned | |
vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式) | |
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3 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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4 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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5 eldest | |
adj.最年长的,最年老的 | |
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6 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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7 valor | |
n.勇气,英勇 | |
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8 boon | |
n.恩赐,恩物,恩惠 | |
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9 vanquished | |
v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 );战胜;克服;抑制 | |
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10 spoke | |
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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11 isle | |
n.小岛,岛 | |
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12 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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13 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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14 recollected | |
adj.冷静的;镇定的;被回忆起的;沉思默想的v.记起,想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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16 haughty | |
adj.傲慢的,高傲的 | |
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17 sincerity | |
n.真诚,诚意;真实 | |
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18 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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19 attentive | |
adj.注意的,专心的;关心(别人)的,殷勤的 | |
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20 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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21 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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22 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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23 adroitly | |
adv.熟练地,敏捷地 | |
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24 rendering | |
n.表现,描写 | |
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25 renewal | |
adj.(契约)延期,续订,更新,复活,重来 | |
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26 captivity | |
n.囚禁;被俘;束缚 | |
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27 defiant | |
adj.无礼的,挑战的 | |
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28 wreak | |
v.发泄;报复 | |
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29 vengeance | |
n.报复,报仇,复仇 | |
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30 entreaties | |
n.恳求,乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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31 fidelity | |
n.忠诚,忠实;精确 | |
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32 vassal | |
n.附庸的;属下;adj.奴仆的 | |
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33 imploring | |
恳求的,哀求的 | |
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34 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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35 cardinals | |
红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 ); 红衣凤头鸟(见于北美,雄鸟为鲜红色); 基数 | |
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36 besieging | |
包围,围困,围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
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37 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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38 squire | |
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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39 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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40 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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41 disarmed | |
v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 );使息怒 | |
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42 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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43 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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44 reluctance | |
n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿 | |
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45 overthrown | |
adj. 打翻的,推倒的,倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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46 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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47 slew | |
v.(使)旋转;n.大量,许多 | |
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48 overthrew | |
overthrow的过去式 | |
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49 peril | |
n.(严重的)危险;危险的事物 | |
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50 stunned | |
adj. 震惊的,惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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51 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
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52 succor | |
n.援助,帮助;v.给予帮助 | |
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53 plunged | |
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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54 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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55 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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56 bloody | |
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染 | |
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57 slaying | |
杀戮。 | |
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58 stature | |
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材 | |
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59 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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60 accolade | |
n.推崇备至,赞扬 | |
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61 brotherhood | |
n.兄弟般的关系,手中情谊 | |
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62 jealousy | |
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 | |
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63 implored | |
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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65 procuring | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的现在分词 );拉皮条 | |
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66 vowed | |
起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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67 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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68 herald | |
vt.预示...的来临,预告,宣布,欢迎 | |
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69 gage | |
n.标准尺寸,规格;量规,量表 [=gauge] | |
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70 unwillingly | |
adv.不情愿地 | |
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71 inflames | |
v.(使)变红,发怒,过热( inflame的第三人称单数 ) | |
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72 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
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73 inflamed | |
adj.发炎的,红肿的v.(使)变红,发怒,过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74 reproof | |
n.斥责,责备 | |
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75 perfidious | |
adj.不忠的,背信弃义的 | |
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76 meditated | |
深思,沉思,冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 ); 内心策划,考虑 | |
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77 ferocious | |
adj.凶猛的,残暴的,极度的,十分强烈的 | |
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78 avenge | |
v.为...复仇,为...报仇 | |
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79 ambush | |
n.埋伏(地点);伏兵;v.埋伏;伏击 | |
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80 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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81 saluted | |
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
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82 courteously | |
adv.有礼貌地,亲切地 | |
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83 encompassed | |
v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 );包围;包含;包括 | |
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84 inflicting | |
把…强加给,使承受,遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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85 entangled | |
adj.卷入的;陷入的;被缠住的;缠在一起的v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86 prostrate | |
v.拜倒,平卧,衰竭;adj.拜倒的,平卧的,衰竭的 | |
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87 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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88 remonstrances | |
n.抱怨,抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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89 vehemently | |
adv. 热烈地 | |
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90 concession | |
n.让步,妥协;特许(权) | |
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91 amends | |
n. 赔偿 | |
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92 traitor | |
n.叛徒,卖国贼 | |
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93 discord | |
n.不和,意见不合,争论,(音乐)不和谐 | |
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94 truce | |
n.休战,(争执,烦恼等的)缓和;v.以停战结束 | |
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95 vows | |
誓言( vow的名词复数 ); 郑重宣布,许愿 | |
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96 dominions | |
统治权( dominion的名词复数 ); 领土; 疆土; 版图 | |
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97 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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