At length the time arrived when Yin would in the ordinary course of events pass from the instructorship19 of Quang in order to devote himself to the commerce in which his father was engaged, and from time to time the unavoidable thought arose persistently20 within his mind that although Yat Huang doubtless knew better than he did what the circumstances of the future required, yet his manner of life for the past years was not such that he could contemplate22 engaging in the occupation of buying and selling porcelain23 clay with feelings of an overwhelming interest. Quang, however, maintained with every manifestation24 of inspired assurance that Yat Huang was to be commended down to the smallest detail, inasmuch as proficiency25 in the use of both blunt and sharp-edged weapons, and a faculty26 for passing undetected through the midst of an encamped body of foemen, fitted a person for the every-day affairs of life above all other accomplishments.
“Without doubt the very accomplished27 Yat Huan is well advised on this point,” continued Quang, “for even this mentally short-sighted person can call up within his understanding numerous specific incidents in the ordinary career of one engaged in the commerce of porcelain clay when such attainments29 would be of great remunerative30 benefit. Does the well-endowed Yin think, for example, that even the most depraved person would endeavour to gain an advantage over him in the matter of buying or selling porcelain clay if he fully understood the fact that the one with whom he was trafficking could unhesitatingly transfix four persons with one arrow at the distance of a hundred paces? Or to what advantage would it be that a body of unscrupulous outcasts who owned a field of inferior clay should surround it with drawn31 swords by day and night, endeavouring meanwhile to dispose of it as material of the finest quality, if the one whom they endeavoured to ensnare in this manner possessed32 the power of being able to pass through their ranks unseen and examine the clay at his leisure?”
“In the cases to which reference has been made, the possession of those qualities would undoubtedly33 be of considerable use,” admitted Yin; yet, in spite of his entire ignorance of commercial matters, this one has a confident feeling that it would be more profitable to avoid such very doubtful forms of barter34 altogether rather than spend eight years in acquiring the arts by which to defeat them. “That, however, is a question which concerns this person’s virtuous35 and engaging father more than his unworthy self, and his only regret is that no opportunity has offered by which he might prove that he has applied36 himself diligently37 to your instruction and example, O amiable38 Quang.”
It had long been a regret to Quang also that no incident of a disturbing nature had arisen whereby Yin could have shown himself proficient39 in the methods of defence and attack which he had taught him. This deficiency he had endeavoured to overcome, as far as possible, by constructing life-like models of all the most powerful and ferocious40 types of warriors41 and the fiercest and most relentless42 animals of the forest, so that Yin might become familiar with their appearance and discover in what manner each could be the most expeditiously43 engaged.
“Nevertheless,” remarked Quang, on an occasion when Yin appeared to be covered with honourable44 pride at having approached an unusually large and repulsive-looking tiger so stealthily that had the animal been really alive it would certainly have failed to perceive him, “such accomplishments are by no means to be regarded as conclusive45 in themselves. To steal insidiously46 upon a destructively-included wild beast and transfix it with one well-directed blow of a spear is attended by difficulties and emotions which are entirely47 absent in the case of a wickerwork animal covered with canvas-cloth, no matter how deceptive48 in appearance the latter may be.”
To afford Yin a more trustworthy example of how he should engage with an adversary of formidable proportions, Quang resolved upon an ingenious plan. Procuring49 the skin of a grey wolf, he concealed50 himself within it, and in the early morning, while the mist-damp was still upon the ground, he set forth51 to meet Yin, who had on a previous occasion spoken to him of his intention to be at a certain spot at such an hour. In this conscientious53 enterprise, the painstaking54 Quang would doubtless have been successful, and Yin gained an assured proficiency and experience, had it not chanced that on the journey Quang encountered a labourer of low caste who was crossing the enclosed ground on his way to the rice field in which he worked. This contemptible55 and inopportune person, not having at any period of his existence perfected himself in the recognized and elegant methods of attack and defence, did not act in the manner which would assuredly have been adopted by Yin in similar circumstances, and for which Quang would have been fully prepared. On the contrary, without the least indication of what his intention was, he suddenly struck Quang, who was hesitating for a moment what action to take, a most intolerable blow with a formidable staff which he carried. The stroke in question inflicted57 itself upon Quang upon that part of the body where the head becomes connected with the neck, and would certainly have been followed by others of equal force and precision had not Quang in the meantime decided58 that the most dignified59 course for him to adopt would be to disclose his name and titles without delay. Upon learning these facts, the one who stood before him became very grossly and offensively amused, and having taken from Quang everything of value which he carried among his garments, went on his way, leaving Yin’s instructor to retrace60 his steps in unendurable dejection, as he then found that he possessed no further interest whatever in the undertaking61.
When Yat Huang was satisfied that his son was sufficiently62 skilled in the various arts of warfare, he called him to his inner chamber63, and having barred the door securely, he placed Yin under a very binding64 oath not to reveal, until an appointed period, the matter which he was going to put before him.
“From father to son, in unbroken line for ten generations, has such a custom been observed,” he said, “for the course of events is not to be lightly entered upon. At the commencement of that cycle, which period is now fully fifteen score years ago, a very wise person chanced to incur66 the displeasure of the Emperor of that time, and being in consequence driven out of the capital, he fled to the mountains. There his subtle discernment and the pure and solitary67 existence which he led resulted in his becoming endowed with faculties68 beyond those possessed by ordinary beings. When he felt the end of his earthly career to be at hand he descended69 into the plain, where, in a state of great destitution70 and bodily anguish71, he was discovered by the one whom this person has referred to as the first of the line of ancestors. In return for the care and hospitality with which he was unhesitatingly received, the admittedly inspired hermit72 spent the remainder of his days in determining the destinies of his rescuer’s family and posterity73. It is an undoubted fact that he predicted how one would, by well-directed enterprise and adventure, rise to a position of such eminence74 in the land that he counselled the details to be kept secret, lest the envy and hostility75 of the ambitious and unworthy should be raised. From this cause it has been customary to reveal the matter fully from father to son, at stated periods, and the setting out of the particulars in written words has been severely76 discouraged. Wise as this precaution certainly was, it has resulted in a very inconvenient77 state of things; for a remote ancestor—the fifth in line from the beginning—experienced such vicissitudes78 that he returned from his travels in a state of most abandoned idiocy79, and when the time arrived that he should, in turn, communicate to his son, he was only able to repeat over and over again the name of the pious80 hermit to whom the family was so greatly indebted, coupling it each time with a new and markedly offensive epithet81. The essential details of the undertaking having in this manner passed beyond recall, succeeding generations, which were merely acquainted with the fact that a very prosperous future awaited the one who fulfilled the conditions, have in vain attempted to conform to them. It is not an alluring82 undertaking, inasmuch as nothing of the method to be pursued can be learned, except that it was the custom of the early ones, who held the full knowledge, to set out from home and return after a period of years. Yet so clearly expressed was the prophecy, and so great the reward of the successful, that all have eagerly journeyed forth when the time came, knowing nothing beyond that which this person has now unfolded to you.”
When Yat Huang reached the end of the matter which it was his duty to disclose, Yin for some time pondered the circumstances before replying. In spite of a most engaging reverence83 for everything of a sacred nature, he could not consider the inspired remark of the well-intentioned hermit without feelings of a most persistent21 doubt, for it occurred to him that if the person in question had really been as wise as he was represented to be, he might reasonably have been expected to avoid the unaccountable error of offending the enlightened and powerful Emperor under whom he lived. Nevertheless, the prospect84 of engaging in the trade of porcelain clay was less attractive in his eyes than that of setting forth upon a journey of adventure, so that at length he expressed his willingness to act after the manner of those who had gone before him.
This decision was received by Yat Huang with an equal intermingling of the feelings of delight and concern, for although he would have by no means pleasurably contemplated85 Yin breaking through a venerable and esteemed86 custom, he was unable to put entirely from him the thought of the degrading fate which had overtaken the fifth in line who made the venture. It was, indeed, to guard Yin as much as possible against the dangers to which he would become exposed, if he determined88 on the expedition, that the entire course of his training had been selected. In order that no precaution of a propitious89 nature should be neglected, Yat Huang at once despatched written words of welcome to all with whom he was acquainted, bidding them partake of a great banquet which he was preparing to mark the occasion of his son’s leave-taking. Every variety of sacrifice was offered up to the controlling deities90, both good and bad; the ten ancestors were continuously exhorted91 to take Yin under their special protection, and sets of verses recording92 his virtues93 and ambitions were freely distributed among the necessitous and low-caste who could not be received at the feast.
The dinner itself exceeded in magnificence any similar event that had ever taken place in Ching-toi. So great was the polished ceremony observed on the occasion, that each guest had half a score of cups of the finest apricot-tea successively placed before him and taken away untasted, while Yat Huang went to each in turn protesting vehemently94 that the honour of covering such pure-minded and distinguished95 persons was more than his badly designed roof could reasonably bear, and wittingly giving an entrancing air of reality to the spoken compliment by begging them to move somewhat to one side so that they might escape the heavy central beam if the event which he alluded96 to chanced to take place. After several hours had been spent in this congenial occupation, Yat Huang proceeded to read aloud several of the sixteen discourses97 on education which, taken together, form the discriminating98 and infallible example of conduct known as the Holy Edict. As each detail was dwelt upon Yin arose from his couch and gave his deliberate testimony99 that all the required tests and rites100 had been observed in his own case. The first part of the repast was then partaken of, the nature of the ingredients and the manner of preparing them being fully explained, and in a like manner through each succeeding one of the four-and-forty courses. At the conclusion Yin again arose, being encouraged by the repeated uttering of his name by those present, and with extreme modesty101 and brilliance102 set forth his manner of thinking concerning all subjects with which he was acquainted.
Early on the morning of the following day Yin set out on his travels, entirely unaccompanied, and carrying with him nothing beyond a sum of money, a silk robe, and a well-tried and reliable spear. For many days he journeyed in a northerly direction, without encountering anything sufficiently unusual to engage his attention. This, however, was doubtless part of a pre-arranged scheme so that he should not be drawn from a destined103 path, for at a small village lying on the southern shore of a large lake, called by those around Silent Water, he heard of the existence of a certain sacred island, distant a full day’s sailing, which was barren of all forms of living things, and contained only a single gigantic rock of divine origin and majestic104 appearance. Many persons, the villagers asserted, had sailed to the island in the hope of learning the portent105 of the rock, but none ever returned, and they themselves avoided coming even within sight of it; for the sacred stone, they declared, exercised an evil influence over their ships, and would, if permitted, draw them out of their course and towards itself. For this reason Yin could find no guide, whatever reward he offered, who would accompany him; but having with difficulty succeeded in hiring a small boat of inconsiderable value, he embarked106 with food, incense107, and materials for building fires, and after rowing consistently for nearly the whole of the day, came within sight of the island at evening. Thereafter the necessity of further exertion108 ceased, for, as they of the village had declared would be the case, the vessel109 moved gently forward, in an unswerving line, without being in any way propelled, and reaching its destination in a marvellously short space of time, passed behind a protecting spur of land and came to rest. It then being night, Yin did no more than carry his stores to a place of safety, and after lighting110 a sacrificial fire and prostrating111 himself before the rock, passed into the Middle Air.
In the morning Yin’s spirit came back to the earth amid the sound of music of a celestial112 origin, which ceased immediately he recovered full consciousness. Accepting this manifestation as an omen56 of Divine favour, Yin journeyed towards the centre of the island where the rock stood, at every step passing the bones of innumerable ones who had come on a similar quest to his, and perished. Many of these had left behind them inscriptions113 on wood or bone testifying their deliberate opinion of the sacred rock, the island, their protecting deities, and the entire train of circumstances, which had resulted in their being in such a condition. These were for the most part of a maledictory114 and unencouraging nature, so that after reading a few, Yin endeavoured to pass without being in any degree influenced by such ill-judged outbursts.
“Accursed be the ancestors of this tormented115 one to four generations back!” was prominently traced upon an unusually large shoulder-blade. “May they at this moment be simmering in a vat116 of unrefined dragon’s blood, as a reward for having so undiscriminatingly reared the person who inscribes117 these words only to attain28 this end!” “Be warned, O later one, by the signs around!” Another and more practical-minded person had written: “Retreat with all haste to your vessel, and escape while there is yet time. Should you, by chance, again reach land through this warning, do not neglect, out of an emotion of gratitude118, to burn an appropriate amount of sacrifice paper for the lessening119 of the torments120 of the spirit of Li-Kao,” to which an unscrupulous one, who was plainly desirous of sharing in the benefit of the requested sacrifice, without suffering the exertion of inscribing121 a warning after the amiable manner of Li-Kao, had added the words, “and that of Huan Sin.”
Halting at a convenient distance from one side of the rock which, without being carved by any person’s hand, naturally resembled the symmetrical countenance122 of a recumbent dragon (which he therefore conjectured123 to be the chief point of the entire mass), Yin built his fire and began an unremitting course of sacrifice and respectful ceremony. This manner of conduct he observed conscientiously124 for the space of seven days. Towards the end of that period a feeling of unendurable dejection began to possess him, for his stores of all kinds were beginning to fail, and he could not entirely put behind him the memory of the various well-intentioned warnings which he had received, or the sight of the fleshless ones who had lined his path. On the eighth day, being weak with hunger and, by reason of an intolerable thirst, unable to restrain his body any longer in the spot where he had hitherto continuously prostrated125 himself nine-and-ninety times each hour without ceasing, he rose to his feet and retraced126 his steps to the boat in order that he might fill his water-skins and procure127 a further supply of food.
With a complicated emotion, in which was present every abandoned and disagreeable thought to which a person becomes a prey128 in moments of exceptional mental and bodily anguish, he perceived as soon as he reached the edge of the water that the boat, upon which he was confidently relying to carry him back when all else failed, had disappeared as entirely as the smoke from an extinguished opium129 pipe. At this sight Yin clearly understood the meaning of Li-Kao’s unregarded warning, and recognized that nothing could now save him from adding his incorruptible parts to those of the unfortunate ones whose unhappy fate had, seven days ago, engaged his refined pity. Unaccountably strengthened in body by the indignation which possessed him, and inspired with a virtuous repulsion at the treacherous130 manner of behaving on the part of those who guided his destinies, he hastened back to his place of obeisance, and perceiving that the habitually131 placid132 and introspective expression on the dragon face had imperceptibly changed into one of offensive cunning and unconcealed contempt, he snatched up his spear and, without the consideration of a moment, hurled133 it at a score of paces distance full into the sacred but nevertheless very unprepossessing face before him.
At the instant when the presumptuous134 weapon touched the holy stone the entire intervening space between the earth and the sky was filled with innumerable flashes of forked and many-tongued lightning, so that the island had the appearance of being the scene of a very extensive but somewhat badly-arranged display of costly135 fireworks. At the same time the thunder rolled among the clouds and beneath the sea in an exceedingly disconcerting manner. At the first indication of these celestial movements a sudden blindness came upon Yin, and all power of thought or movement forsook136 him; nevertheless, he experienced an emotion of flight through the air, as though borne upwards137 upon the back of a winged creature. When this emotion ceased, the blindness went from him as suddenly and entirely as if a cloth had been pulled away from his eyes, and he perceived that he was held in the midst of a boundless138 space, with no other object in view than the sacred rock, which had opened, as it were, revealing a mighty139 throng140 within, at the sight of whom Yin’s internal organs trembled as they would never have moved at ordinary danger, for it was put into his spirit that these in whose presence he stood were the sacred Emperors of his country from the earliest time until the usurpation141 of the Chinese throne by the devouring142 Tartar hordes143 from the North.
As Yin gazed in fear-stricken amazement144, a knowledge of the various Pure Ones who composed the assembly came upon him. He understood that the three unclad and commanding figures which stood together were the Emperors of the Heaven, Earth, and Man, whose reigns146 covered a space of more than eighty thousand years, commencing from the time when the world began its span of existence. Next to them stood one wearing a robe of leopard-skin, his hand resting upon a staff of a massive club, while on his face the expression of tranquillity147 which marked his predecessors148 had changed into one of alert wakefulness; it was the Emperor of Houses, whose reign145 marked the opening of the never-ending strife149 between man and all other creatures. By his side stood his successor, the Emperor of Fire, holding in his right hand the emblem150 of the knotted cord, by which he taught man to cultivate his mental faculties, while from his mouth issued smoke and flame, signifying that by the introduction of fire he had raised his subjects to a state of civilized151 life.
On the other side of the boundless chamber which seemed to be contained within the rocks were Fou-Hy, Tchang-Ki, Tcheng-Nung, and Huang, standing16 or reclining together. The first of these framed the calendar, organized property, thought out the eight Essential Diagrams, encouraged the various branches of hunting, and the rearing of domestic animals, and instituted marriage. From his couch floated melodious152 sounds in remembrance of his discovery of the property of stringed woods. Tchang-Ki, who manifested the property of herbs and growing plants, wore a robe signifying his attainments by means of embroidered153 symbols. His hand rested on the head of the dragon, while at his feet flowed a bottomless canal of the purest water. The discovery of written letters by Tcheng-Nung, and his ingenious plan of grouping them after the manner of the constellations154 of stars, was emblemized in a similar manner, while Huang, or the Yellow Emperor, was surrounded by ores of the useful and precious metals, weapons of warfare, written books, silks and articles of attire155, coined money, and a variety of objects, all testifying to his ingenuity156 and inspired energy.
These illustrious ones, being the greatest, were the first to take Yin’s attention, but beyond them he beheld157 an innumerable concourse of Emperors who not infrequently outshone their majestic predecessors in the richness of their apparel and the magnificence of the jewels which they wore. There Yin perceived Hung-Hoang, who first caused the chants to be collected, and other rulers of the Tcheon dynasty; Yong-Tching, who compiled the Holy Edict; Thang rulers whose line is rightly called “the golden,” from the unsurpassed excellence158 of the composed verses which it produced; renowned159 Emperors of the versatile160 Han dynasty; and, standing apart, and shunned161 by all, the malignant162 and narrow-minded Tsing-Su-Hoang, who caused the Sacred Books to be burned.
Even while Yin looked and wondered, in great fear, a rolling voice, coming from one who sat in the midst of all, holding in his right hand the sun, and in his left the moon, sounded forth, like the music of many brass163 instruments playing in unison164. It was the First Man who spoke52.
“Yin, son of Yat Huang, and creature of the Lower Part,” he said, “listen well to the words I speak, for brief is the span of your tarrying in the Upper Air, nor will the utterance165 I now give forth ever come unto your ears again, either on the earth, or when, blindly groping in the Middle Distance, your spirit takes its nightly flight. They who are gathered around, and whose voices I speak, bid me say this: Although immeasurably above you in all matters, both of knowledge and of power, yet we greet you as one who is well-intentioned, and inspired with honourable ambition. Had you been content to entreat166 and despair, as did all the feeble and incapable167 ones whose white bones formed your pathway, your ultimate fate would have in no wise differed from theirs. But inasmuch as you held yourself valiantly168, and, being taken, raised an instinctive169 hand in return, you have been chosen; for the day to mute submission170 has, for the time or for ever, passed away, and the hour is when China shall be saved, not by supplication171, but by the spear.”
“A state of things which would have been highly unnecessary if I had been permitted to carry out my intention fully, and restore man to his prehistoric172 simplicity,” interrupted Tsin-Su-Hoang. “For that reason, when the voice of the assemblage expresses itself, it must be understood that it represents in no measure the views of Tsin-Su-Hoang.”
“In the matter of what has gone before, and that which will follow hereafter,” continued the Voice dispassionately, “Yin, the son of Yat-Huang, must concede that it is in no part the utterance of Tsin-Su-Hoang—Tsin-Su-Hoang who burned the Sacred Books.”
At the mention of the name and offence of this degraded being a great sound went up from the entire multitude—a universal cry of execration173, not greatly dissimilar from that which may be frequently heard in the crowded Temple of Impartiality174 when the one whose duty it is to take up, at a venture, the folded papers, announces that the sublime175 Emperor, or some mandarin176 of exalted177 rank, has been so fortunate as to hold the winning number in the Annual State Lottery178. So vengeance-laden and mournful was the combined and evidently preconcerted wail179, that Yin was compelled to shield his ears against it; yet the inconsiderable Tsin-Su-Hoang, on whose account it was raised, seemed in no degree to be affected180 by it, he, doubtless, having become hardened by hearing a similar outburst, at fixed hours, throughout interminable cycles of time.
When the last echo of the cry had passed away the Voice continued to speak.
“Soon the earth will again receive you, Yin,” it said, “for it is not respectful that a lower one should be long permitted to gaze upon our exalted faces. Yet when you go forth and stand once more among men this is laid on you: that henceforth you are as a being devoted181 to a fixed and unchanging end, and whatever moves towards the restoring of the throne of the Central Empire the outcast but unalterably sacred line of its true sovereigns shall have your arm and mind. By what combination of force and stratagem this can be accomplished may not be honourably182 revealed by us, the all-knowing. Nevertheless, omens183 and guidance shall not be lacking from time to time, and from the beginning the weapon by which you have attained184 to this distinction shall be as a sign of our favour and protection over you.”
When the Voice made an end of speaking the sudden blindness came upon Yin, as it had done before, and from the sense of motion which he experienced, he conjectured that he was being conveyed back to the island. Undoubtedly this was the case, for presently there came upon him the feeling that he was awakening185 from a deep and refreshing186 sleep, and opening his eyes, which he now found himself able to do without any difficulty, he immediately discovered that he was reclining at full length on the ground, and at a distance of about a score of paces from the dragon head. His first thought was to engage in a lengthy187 course of self-abasement before it, but remembering the words which had been spoken to him while in the Upper Air, he refrained, and even ventured to go forward with a confident but somewhat self-deprecatory air, to regain188 the spear, which he perceived lying at the foot of the rock. With feelings of a reassuring189 nature he then saw that the very undesirable190 expression which he had last beheld upon the dragon face had melted into one of encouraging urbanity and benignant esteem87.
Close by the place where he had landed he discovered his boat, newly furnished with wine and food of a much more attractive profusion191 than that which he had purchased in the village. Embarking192 in it, he made as though he would have returned to the south, but the spear which he held turned within his grasp, and pointed65 in an exactly opposite direction. Regarding this fact as an express command on the part of the Deities, Yin turned his boat to the north, and in the space of two days’ time—being continually guided by the fixed indication of the spear—he reached the shore and prepared to continue his travels in the same direction, upheld and inspired by the knowledge that henceforth he moved under the direct influence of very powerful spirits.
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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malignity
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| n.极度的恶意，恶毒；（病的）恶性 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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feign
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| vt.假装，佯作 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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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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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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instructorship
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| （大学）讲师职位（或职务） | |
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persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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porcelain
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| n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的 | |
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manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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proficiency
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| n.精通，熟练，精练 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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attainments
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| 成就，造诣； 获得( attainment的名词复数 )； 达到； 造诣； 成就 | |
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remunerative
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| adj.有报酬的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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34
barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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35
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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36
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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37
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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38
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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39
proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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40
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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41
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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42
relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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43
expeditiously
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| adv.迅速地，敏捷地 | |
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44
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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45
conclusive
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| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
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46
insidiously
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| 潜在地，隐伏地，阴险地 | |
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47
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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48
deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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49
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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50
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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51
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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52
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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53
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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54
painstaking
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| adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的 | |
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55
contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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56
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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57
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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59
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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60
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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61
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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62
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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63
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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64
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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65
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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66
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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67
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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68
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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69
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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70
destitution
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| n.穷困，缺乏，贫穷 | |
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71
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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72
hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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73
posterity
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| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
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74
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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75
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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76
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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77
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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78
vicissitudes
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| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
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79
idiocy
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| n.愚蠢 | |
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80
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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81
epithet
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| n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语 | |
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82
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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83
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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84
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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85
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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86
esteemed
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|
| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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87
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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88
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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89
propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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90
deities
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| n.神，女神( deity的名词复数 )；神祗；神灵；神明 | |
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91
exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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92
recording
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| n.录音，记录 | |
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93
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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94
vehemently
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| adv. 热烈地 | |
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95
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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96
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
discourses
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| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
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98
discriminating
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| a.有辨别能力的 | |
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99
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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100
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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101
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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102
brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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103
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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104
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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105
portent
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| n.预兆；恶兆；怪事 | |
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106
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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107
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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108
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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109
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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110
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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111
prostrating
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|
| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的现在分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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112
celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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113
inscriptions
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| （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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114
maledictory
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| adj.诅咒的，坏话的 | |
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115
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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116
vat
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| n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶 | |
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117
inscribes
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的第三人称单数 ) | |
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118
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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119
lessening
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| 减轻，减少，变小 | |
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120
torments
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| （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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121
inscribing
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的现在分词 ) | |
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122
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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123
conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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124
conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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125
prostrated
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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126
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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127
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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128
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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129
opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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130
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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131
habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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132
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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133
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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134
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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135
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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136
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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137
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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138
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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139
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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140
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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141
usurpation
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| n.篡位；霸占 | |
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142
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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143
hordes
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| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
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144
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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145
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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146
reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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147
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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148
predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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149
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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150
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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151
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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152
melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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153
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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154
constellations
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| n.星座( constellation的名词复数 )；一群杰出人物；一系列（相关的想法、事物）；一群（相关的人） | |
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155
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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156
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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157
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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158
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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159
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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160
versatile
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| adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的 | |
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161
shunned
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| v.避开，回避，避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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162
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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163
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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164
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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166
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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167
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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168
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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169
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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170
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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prehistoric
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| adj.（有记载的）历史以前的，史前的，古老的 | |
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execration
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| n.诅咒，念咒，憎恶 | |
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174
impartiality
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| n. 公平, 无私, 不偏 | |
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175
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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Mandarin
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| n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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lottery
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| n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事 | |
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179
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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honourably
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| adv.可尊敬地，光荣地，体面地 | |
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183
omens
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| n.前兆，预兆( omen的名词复数 ) | |
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184
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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185
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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187
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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188
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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189
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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190
undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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191
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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192
embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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