owing to circumstances which are made plain in the following
There are moments in the life of a person when the saying of the wise Ni-Hyu that “Misfortune comes to all men and to most women” is endowed with double force. At such times the faithful child of the Sun is a prey3 to the whitest and most funereal4 thoughts, and even the inspired wisdom of his illustrious ancestors seems more than doubtful, while the continued inactivity of the Sacred Dragon appears for the time to give colour to the scoffs5 of the Western barbarian6. A little while ago these misgivings7 would have found no resting-place in the bosom8 of the writer. Now, however—but the matter must be made clear from the beginning.
The name of the despicable person who here sets forth9 his immature10 story is Kin1 Yen11, and he is a native of Kia-Lu in the Province of Che-Kiang. Having purchased from a very aged12 man the position of Hereditary13 Instructor15 in the Art of Drawing Birds and Flowers, he gave lessons in these accomplishments16 until he had saved sufficient money to journey to Peking. Here it was his presumptuous17 intention to learn the art of drawing figures in order that he might illustrate18 printed leaves of a more distinguished19 class than those which would accept what true politeness compels him to call his exceedingly unsymmetrical pictures of birds and flowers. Accordingly, when the time arrived, he disposed of his Hereditary Instructorship20, having first ascertained21 in the interests of his pupils that his successor was a person of refined morals and great filial piety22.
Alas23! it is well written, “The road to eminence24 lies through the cheap and exceedingly uninviting eating-houses.” In spite of this person’s great economy, and of his having begged his way from Kia-Lu to Peking in the guise25 of a pilgrim, journeying to burn incense26 in the sacred Temple of Truth near that city, when once within the latter place his taels melted away like the smile of a person of low class when he discovers that the mandarin’s stern words were not intended as a jest. Moreover, he found that the story-makers of Peking, receiving higher rewards than those at Kia-Lu, considered themselves bound to introduce living characters into all their tales, and in consequence the very ornamental27 drawings of birds and flowers which he had entwined into a legend entitled “The Last Fight of the Heaven-sent Tcheng”—a story which had been entrusted28 to him for illustration as a test of his skill—was returned to him with a communication in which the writer revealed his real meaning by stating contrary facts. It therefore became necessary that he should become competent in the art of drawing figures without delay, and with this object he called at the picture-room of Tieng Lin, a person whose experience was so great that he could, without discomfort30 to himself, draw men and women of all classes, both good and bad. When the person who is setting forth this narrative revealed to Tieng Lin the utmost amount of money he could afford to give for instruction in the art of drawing living figures, Tieng Lin’s face became as overcast31 as the sky immediately before the Great Rains, for in his ignorance of this incapable33 person’s poverty he had treated him with equality and courtesy, nor had he kept him waiting in the mean room on the plea that he was at that moment closeted with the Sacred Emperor. However, upon receiving an assurance that a rumour34 would be spread in which the number of taels should be multiplied by ten, and that the sum itself should be brought in advance, Tieng Lin promised to instruct this person in the art of drawing five characters, which, he said, would be sufficient to illustrate all stories except those by the most expensive and highly-rewarded story-tellers—men who have become so proficient35 that they not infrequently introduce a score or more of living persons into their tales without confusion.
After considerable deliberation, this unassuming person selected the following characters, judging them to be the most useful, and the most readily applicable to all phases and situations of life:
1. A bad person, wearing a long dark pigtail and smoking an opium36 pipe. His arms to be folded, and his clothes new and very expensive.
2. A woman of low class. One who removes dust and useless things from the rooms of the over-fastidious and of those who have long nails; she to be carrying her trade-signs.
3. A person from Pe-ling, endowed with qualities which cause the beholder37 to be amused. This character to be especially designed to go with the short sayings which remove gravity.
4. One who, having incurred38 the displeasure of the sublime39 Emperor, has been decapitated in consequence.
5. An ordinary person of no striking or distinguished appearance. One who can be safely introduced in all places and circumstances without great fear of detection.
After many months spent in constant practice and in taking measurements, this unenviable person attained40 a very high degree of proficiency41, and could draw any of the five characters without hesitation42. With renewed hope, therefore, he again approached those who sit in easy-chairs, and concealing43 his identity (for they are stiff at bending, and when once a picture-maker is classed as “of no good” he remains44 so to the end, in spite of change), he succeeded in getting entrusted with a story by the elegant and refined Kyen Tal. This writer, as he remembered with distrust, confines his distinguished efforts entirely45 to the doings of sailors and of those connected with the sea, and this tale, indeed, he found upon reading to be the narrative of how a Hang-Chow junk and its crew, consisting mostly of aged persons, were beguiled46 out of their course by an exceedingly ill-disposed dragon, and wrecked47 upon an island of naked barbarians48. It was, therefore, with a somewhat heavy stomach that this person set himself the task of arranging his five characters as so to illustrate the words of the story.
The sayings of the ancient philosopher Tai Loo are indeed very subtle, and the truth of his remark, “After being disturbed in one’s dignity by a mandarin’s foot it is no unusual occurrence to fall flat on the face in crossing a muddy street,” was now apparent. Great as was the disadvantage owing to the nature of the five characters, this became as nothing when it presently appeared that the avaricious49 and clay-souled Tieng Lin, taking advantage of the blindness of this person’s enthusiasm, had taught him the figures so that they all gazed in the same direction. In consequence of this it would have been impossible that two should be placed as in the act of conversing50 together had not the noble Kyen Tal been inspired to write that “his companions turned from him in horror.” This incident the ingenious person who is recording51 these facts made the subject of three separate drawings, and having in one or two other places effected skilful52 changes in the writing, so similar in style to the strokes of the illustrious Kyen Tal as to be undetectable, he found little difficulty in making use of all his characters. The risks of the future, however, were too great to be run with impunity53; therefore it was arranged, by means of money—for this person was fast becoming acquainted with the ways of Peking—that an emissary from one who sat in an easy-chair should call upon him for a conference, the narrative of which appeared in this form in the Peking Printed Leaves of Thrice-distilled Truth:
is still quite rotund in intellect, nor is he, if we may use a
position, but one who occasionally does inferior work of this
nature for us, recently surprised Kin Yen without warning, and
found him in his sumptuously58 appointed picture-room, busy with
elegant confusion several of his recent masterpieces. From the
subsequent conversation we are in a position to make it known that
entirely to illustrations of processions, funerals, armies on the
march, persons pursued by others, and kindred subjects which
appeal strongly to his imagination. Kin Yen has severe emotions on
the subject of individuality in art, and does not hesitate to
express himself forcibly with reference to those who are content
to degrade the names of their ancestors by turning out what he
The prominence63 obtained by this pleasantly-composed notice—for it was copied by others who were unaware64 of the circumstance of its origin—had the desired effect. In future, when one of those who sit in easy-chairs wished for a picture after the kind mentioned, he would say to his lesser65 one: “Oh, send to the graceful66 and versatile Kin Yen; he becomes inspired on the subject of funerals,” or persons escaping from prison, or families walking to the temple, or whatever it might be. In that way this narrow-minded and illiterate67 person was soon both looked at and rich, so that it was his daily practice to be carried, in silk garments, past the houses of those who had known him in poverty, and on these occasions he would puff68 out his cheeks and pull his moustaches, looking fiercely from side to side.
True are the words written in the elegant and distinguished Book of Verses: “Beware lest when being kissed by the all-seeing Emperor, you step upon the elusive69 banana-peel.” It was at the height of eminence in this altogether degraded person’s career that he encountered the being who led him on to his present altogether too lamentable70 condition.
Tien Nung is the earthly name by which is known she who combines all the most illustrious attributes which have been possessed71 of women since the days of the divine Fou-Hy. Her father is a person of very gross habits, and lives by selling inferior merchandise covered with some of good quality. Upon past occasions, when under the direct influence of Tien, and in the hope of gaining some money benefit, this person may have spoken of him in terms of praise, and may even have recommended friends to entrust29 articles of value to him, or to procure72 goods on his advice. Now, however, he records it as his unalterable decision that the father of Tien Nung is by profession a person who obtains goods by stratagem73, and that, moreover, it is impossible to gain an advantage over him on matters of exchange.
The events that have happened prove the deep wisdom of Li Pen when he exclaimed “The whitest of pigeons, no matter how excellent in the silk-hung chamber74, is not to be followed on the field of battle.” Tien herself was all that the most exacting75 of persons could demand, but her opinions on the subject of picture-making were not formed by heavy thought, and it would have been well if this had been borne in mind by this person. One morning he chanced to meet her while carrying open in his hands four sets of printed leaves containing his pictures.
“I have observed,” said Tien, after the usual personal inquiries76 had been exchanged, “that the renowned77 Kin Yen, who is the object of the keenest envy among his brother picture-makers, so little regards the sacredness of his accomplished art that never by any chance does he depict78 persons of the very highest excellence79. Let not the words of an impetuous maiden80 disarrange his digestive organs if they should seem too bold to the high-souled Kin Yen, but this matter has, since she has known him, troubled the eyelids81 of Tien. Here,” she continued, taking from this person’s hand one of the printed leaves which he was carrying, “in this illustration of persons returning from extinguishing a fire, is there one who appears to possess those qualities which appeal to all that is intellectual and competitive within one? Can it be that the immaculate Kin Yen is unacquainted with the subtle distinction between the really select and the vastly ordinary? Ah, undiscriminating Kin Yen! are not the eyelashes of the person who is addressing you as threads of fine gold to junk’s cables when compared with those of the extremely commonplace female who is here pictured in the art of carrying a bucket? Can the most refined lack of vanity hide from you the fact that your own person is infinitely82 rounder than this of the evilly-intentioned-looking individual with the opium pipe? O blind Kin Yen!”
Here she fled in honourable83 confusion, leaving this person standing84 in the street, astounded85, and a prey to the most distinguished emotions of a complicated nature.
“Oh, Tien,” he cried at length, “inspired by those bright eyes, narrower than the most select of the three thousand and one possessed by the sublime Buddha86, the almost fallen Kin Yen will yet prove himself worthy87 of your esteemed88 consideration. He will, without delay, learn to draw two new living persons, and will incorporate in them the likenesses which you have suggested.”
Returning swiftly to his abode89, he therefore inscribed90 and despatched this letter, in proof of his resolve:
“To the Heaven-sent human chrysanthemum91, in whose body reside the Celestial92 Principles and the imprisoned93 colours of the rainbow.
“From the very offensive and self-opinionated picture-maker.
“Henceforth this person will take no rest, nor eat any but the commonest food, until he shall have carried out the wishes of his one Jade94 Star, she whose teeth he is not worthy to blacken.
“When Kin Yen has been entrusted with a story which contains a being in some degree reflecting the character of Tien, he will embellish95 it with her irreproachable96 profile and come to hear her words. Till then he bids her farewell.”
From that moment most of this person’s time was necessarily spent in learning to draw the two new characters, and in consequence of this he lost much work, and, indeed, the greater part of the connexion which he had been at such pains to form gradually slipped away from him. Many months passed before he was competent to reproduce persons resembling Tien and himself, for in this he was unassisted by Tieng Lin, and his progress was slow.
At length, being satisfied, he called upon the least fierce of those who sit in easy-chairs, and requested that he might be entrusted with a story for picture-making.
“We should have been covered with honourable joy to set in operation the brush of the inspired Kin Yen,” replied the other with agreeable condescension97; “only at the moment, it does not chance that we have before us any stories in which funerals, or beggars being driven from the city, form the chief incidents. Perhaps if the polished Kin Yen should happen to be passing this ill-constructed office in about six months’ time—”
“The brush of Kin Yen will never again depict funerals, or labourers arranging themselves to receive pay or similar subjects,” exclaimed this person impetuously, “for, as it is well said, ‘The lightning discovers objects which the paper-lantern fails to reveal.’ In future none but tales dealing98 with the most distinguished persons shall have his attention.”
“If this be the true word of the dignified99 Kin Yen, it is possible that we may be able to animate100 his inspired faculties101,” was the response. “But in that case, as a new style must be in the nature of an experiment, and as our public has come to regard Kin Yen as the great exponent102 of Art Facing in One Direction, we cannot continue the exceedingly liberal payment with which we have been accustomed to reward his elegant exertions103.”
“Provided the story be suitable, that is a matter of less importance,” replied this person.
“The story,” said the one in the easy-chair, “is by the refined Tong-king, and it treats of the high-minded and conscientious104 doubts of one who would become a priest of Fo. When preparing for this distinguished office he discovers within himself leanings towards the religion of Lao-Tse. His illustrious scruples105 are enhanced by his affection for Wu Ping, who now appears in the story.”
“And the ending?” inquired this person, for it was desirable that the two should marry happily.
“The inimitable stories of Tong-king never have any real ending, and this one, being in his most elevated style, has even less end than most of them. But the whole narrative is permeated106 with the odour of joss-sticks and honourable high-mindedness, and the two characters are both of noble birth.”
As it might be some time before another story so suitable should be offered, or one which would afford so good an opportunity of wafting107 incense to Tien, and of displaying her incomparable outline in dignified and magnanimous attitudes, this was eagerly accepted, and for the next week this obscure person spent all his days and nights in picturing the lovely Tien and his debased self in the characters of the nobly-born young priest of Fo and Wu Ping. The pictures finished, he caused them to be carefully conveyed to the office, and then, sitting down, spent many hours in composing the following letter, to be sent to Tien, accompanying a copy of the printed leaves wherein the story and his drawing should appear:
“When the light has for a period been hidden from a person, it is no uncommon108 thing for him to be struck blind on gazing at the sun; therefore, if the sublime Tien values the eyes of Kin Yen, let her hide herself behind a gauze screen on his approach.
“The trembling words of Tien have sunk deep into the inside of Kin Yen and become part of his being. Never again can he depict persons of the quality and in the position he was wont109 to do.
“With this he sends his latest efforts. In each case he conceives his drawings to be the pictures of the written words; in the noble Tien’s case it is undoubtedly110 so, in his own he aspires111 to it. Doubtless the unobtrusive Tien would make no claim to the character and manner of behaving of the one in the story, yet Kin Yen confidently asserts that she is to the other as the glove is to the hand, and he is filled with the most intelligent delight at being able to exhibit her in her true robes, by which she will be known to all who see her, in spite of her dignified protests. Kin Yen hopes; he will come this evening after sunset.”
The week which passed between the finishing of the pictures and the appearance of the eminent112 printed leaves containing them was the longest in this near-sighted person’s ill-spent life. But at length the day arrived, and going with exceedingly mean haste to the place of sale, he purchased a copy and sent it, together with the letter of his honourable intention, on which he had bestowed113 so much care, to Tien.
Not till then did it occur to this inconsiderable one that the impetuousness of his action was ill-judged; for might it not be that the pictures were evilly-printed, or that the delicate and fragrant114 words painting the character of the one who now bore the features of Tien had undergone some change?
To satisfy himself, scarce as taels had become with him, he purchased another copy.
There are many exalted115 sayings of the wise and venerable Confucious constructed so as to be of service and consolation116 in moments of strong mental distress117. These for the greater part recommend tranquillity118 of mind, a complete abnegation of the human passions and the like behaviour. The person who is here endeavouring to bring this badly-constructed account of his dishonourable career to a close pondered these for some moments after twice glancing through the matter in the printed leaves, and then, finding the faculties of speech and movement restored to him, procured119 a two-edged knife of distinguished brilliance120 and went forth to call upon the one who sits in an easy-chair.
“Behold,” said the lesser one, insidiously121 stepping in between this person an the inner door, “my intellectual and all-knowing chief is not here to-day. May his entirely insufficient122 substitute offer words of congratulation to the inspired Kin Yen on his effective and striking pictures in this week’s issue?”
“His altogether insufficient substitute,” answered this person, with difficulty mastering his great rage, “may and shall offer words of explanation to the inspired Kin Yen, setting forth the reason of his pictures being used, not with the high-minded story of the elegant Tong-king for which they were executed, but accompanying exceedingly base, foolish, and ungrammatical words written by Klan-hi, the Peking remover of gravity—words which will evermore brand the dew-like Tien as a person of light speech and no refinement”; and in his agony this person struck the lacquered table several times with his elegant knife.
“O Kin Yen,” exclaimed the lesser one, “this matter rests not here. It is a thing beyond the sphere of the individual who is addressing you. All he can tell is that the graceful Tong-king withdrew his exceedingly tedious story for some reason at the final moment, and as your eminent drawings had been paid for, my chief of the inner office decided123 to use them with this story of Klan-hi. But surely it cannot be that there is aught in the story to displease124 your illustrious personality?”
“Judge for yourself,” this person said, “first understanding that the two immaculate characters figuring as the personages of the narrative are exact copies of this dishonoured125 person himself and of the willowy Tien, daughter of the vastly rich Pe-li-Chen, whom he was hopeful of marrying.”
Selecting one of the least offensive of the passages in the work, this unhappy person read the following immature and inelegant words:
“This well-satisfied writer of printed leaves had a highly-distinguished time last night. After Chow had departed to see about food, and the junk had been fastened up at the lock of Kilung, on the Yang-tse-Kiang, he and the round-bodied Shang were journeying along the narrow path by the river-side when the right leg of the graceful and popular person who is narrating126 these events disappeared into the river. Suffering no apprehension127 in the dark, but that the vanishing limb was the left leg of Shang, this intelligent writer allowed his impassiveness to melt away to an exaggerated degree; but at that moment the circumstance became plain to the round-bodied Shang, who was in consequence very grossly amused at the mishap128 and misapprehension of your good lord, the writer, at the same time pointing out the matter as it really was. Then it chanced that there came by one of the maidens129 who carry tea and jest for small sums of money to the sitters at the little tables with round white tops, at which this remarkable130 person, the confidant of many mandarins, ever desirous of displaying his priceless power of removing gravity, said to her:
“‘How much of gladness, Ning-Ning? By the Sacred Serpent this is plainly your night out.’
“Perceiving the true facts of the predicament of this commendable131 writer, she replied:
“‘Suffer not your illustrious pigtail to be removed, venerable Wang; for in this maiden’s estimation it is indeed your night in.’
“There are times when this valued person wonders whether his method of removing gravity be in reality very antique or quite new. On such occasions the world, with all its schools, and those who interfere132 in the concerns of others, continues to revolve133 around him. The wondrous134 sky-lanterns come out silently two by two like to the crystallized music of stringed woods. Then, in the mystery of no-noise, his head becomes greatly enlarged with celestial and highly-profound thoughts; his groping hand seems to touch matter which may be written out in his impressive style and sold to those who print leaves, and he goes home to write out such.”
When this person looked up after reading, with tears of shame in his eyes, he perceived that the lesser one had cautiously disappeared. Therefore, being unable to gain admittance to the inner office, he returned to his home.
Here the remark of the omniscient135 Tai Loo again fixes itself upon the attention. No sooner had this incapable person reached his house than he became aware that a parcel had arrived for him from the still adorable Tien. Retiring to a distance from it, he opened the accompanying letter and read:
“When a virtuous136 maiden has been made the victim of a heartless jest or a piece of coarse stupidity at a person’s hands, it is no uncommon thing for him to be struck blind on meeting her father. Therefore, if the degraded and evil-minded Kin Yen values his eyes, ears, nose, pigtail, even his dishonourable breath, let him hide himself behind a fortified137 wall at Pe-li-Chen’s approach.
“With this Tien returns everything she has ever accepted from Kin Yen. She even includes the brace138 of puppies which she received anonymously139 about a month ago, and which she did not eat, but kept for reasons of her own—reasons entirely unconnected with the vapid140 and exceedingly conceited141 Kin Yen.”
As though this letter, and the puppies of which this person now heard for the first time, making him aware of the existence of a rival lover, were not enough, there almost immediately arrived a letter from Tien’s father:
“This person has taken the advice of those skilled in extorting142 money by means of law forms, and he finds that Kin Yen has been guilty of a grave and highly expensive act. This is increased by the fact that Tien had conveyed his seemingly distinguished intentions to all her friends, before whom she now stands in an exceedingly ungraceful attitude. The machinery143 for depriving Kin Yen of all the necessaries of existence shall be put into operation at once.”
At this point, the person who is now concluding his obscure and commonplace history, having spent his last piece of money on joss-sticks and incense-paper, and being convinced of the presence of the spirits of his ancestors, is inspired to make the following prophecies: That Tieng Lin, who imposed upon him in the matter of picture-making, shall come to a sudden end, accompanied by great internal pains, after suffering extreme poverty; that the one who sits in an easy-chair, together with his lesser one and all who make stories for them, shall, while sailing to a rice feast during the Festival of Flowers, be precipitated144 into the water and slowly devoured145 by sea monsters, Klan-hi in particular being tortured in the process; that Pel-li-Chen, the father of Tien, shall be seized with the dancing sickness when in the presence of the august Emperor, and being in consequence suspected of treachery, shall, to prove the truth of his denials, be submitted to the tests of boiling tar14, red-hot swords, and of being dropped from a great height on to the Sacred Stone of Goodness and Badness, in each of which he shall fail to convince his judges or to establish his innocence146, to the amusement of all beholders.
These are the true words of Kin Yen, the picture-maker, who, having unweighed his mind and exposed the avaricious villainy of certain persons, is now retiring by night to a very select and hidden spot in the Khingan Mountains.
The End
The End
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1
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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2
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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3
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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4
funereal
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| adj.悲哀的；送葬的 | |
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5
scoffs
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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6
barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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7
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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8
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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9
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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10
immature
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| adj.未成熟的，发育未全的，未充分发展的 | |
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yen
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| n. 日元；热望 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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16
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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17
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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18
illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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instructorship
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| （大学）讲师职位（或职务） | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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34
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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35
proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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36
opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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37
beholder
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| n.观看者，旁观者 | |
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38
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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40
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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41
proficiency
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| n.精通，熟练，精练 | |
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42
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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43
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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44
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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45
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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46
beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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47
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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48
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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49
avaricious
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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50
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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51
recording
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| n.录音，记录 | |
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52
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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53
impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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54
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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55
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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56
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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57
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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58
sumptuously
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| 奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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59
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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60
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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61
wittily
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| 机智地，机敏地 | |
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62
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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63
prominence
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| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
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64
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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65
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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66
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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67
illiterate
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| adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲 | |
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68
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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69
elusive
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| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
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70
lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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71
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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72
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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73
stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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74
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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76
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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77
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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78
depict
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| vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述 | |
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79
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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80
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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81
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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82
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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83
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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84
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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85
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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86
Buddha
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| n.佛；佛像；佛陀 | |
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87
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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88
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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89
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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90
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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91
chrysanthemum
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| n.菊，菊花 | |
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92
celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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93
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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95
embellish
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| v.装饰，布置；给…添加细节，润饰 | |
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96
irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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97
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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98
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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99
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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100
animate
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| v.赋于生命，鼓励；adj.有生命的，有生气的 | |
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101
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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102
exponent
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| n.倡导者，拥护者；代表人物；指数，幂 | |
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103
exertions
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| 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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104
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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105
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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106
permeated
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| 弥漫( permeate的过去式和过去分词 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透 | |
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107
wafting
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的现在分词 ) | |
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108
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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109
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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110
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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111
aspires
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的第三人称单数 ) | |
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112
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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113
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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114
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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115
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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116
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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117
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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118
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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119
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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120
brilliance
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| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
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121
insidiously
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| 潜在地，隐伏地，阴险地 | |
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122
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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123
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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124
displease
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| vt.使不高兴，惹怒；n.不悦，不满，生气 | |
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125
dishonoured
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| a.不光彩的，不名誉的 | |
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126
narrating
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| v.故事( narrate的现在分词 ) | |
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127
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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128
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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129
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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130
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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131
commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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132
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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133
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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134
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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135
omniscient
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| adj.无所不知的；博识的 | |
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136
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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137
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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138
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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139
anonymously
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| ad.用匿名的方式 | |
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140
vapid
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| adj.无味的；无生气的 | |
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141
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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142
extorting
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| v.敲诈( extort的现在分词 )；曲解 | |
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143
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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144
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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145
devoured
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| 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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146
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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