Aramis was the first to descend1 from the carriage; he held the door open for the young man. He saw him place his foot on the mossy ground with a trembling of the whole body, and walk round the carriage with an unsteady and almost tottering2 step. It seemed as if the poor prisoner was unaccustomed to walk on God’s earth. It was the 15th of August, about eleven o’clock at night; thick clouds, portending3 a tempest, overspread the heavens, and shrouded4 every light and prospect5 underneath6 their heavy folds. The extremities7 of the avenues were imperceptibly detached from the copse, by a lighter8 shadow of opaque9 gray, which, upon closer examination, became visible in the midst of the obscurity. But the fragrance10 which ascended11 from the grass, fresher and more penetrating13 than that which exhaled14 from the trees around him; the warm and balmy air which enveloped15 him for the first time for many years past; the ineffable16 enjoyment17 of liberty in an open country, spoke18 to the prince in so seductive a language, that notwithstanding the preternatural caution, we would almost say dissimulation19 of his character, of which we have tried to give an idea, he could not restrain his emotion, and breathed a sigh of ecstasy20. Then, by degrees, he raised his aching head and inhaled21 the softly scented22 air, as it was wafted23 in gentle gusts24 to his uplifted face. Crossing his arms on his chest, as if to control this new sensation of delight, he drank in delicious draughts25 of that mysterious air which interpenetrates at night the loftiest forests. The sky he was contemplating26, the murmuring waters, the universal freshness — was not all this reality? Was not Aramis a madman to suppose that he had aught else to dream of in this world? Those exciting pictures of country life, so free from fears and troubles, the ocean of happy days that glitters incessantly27 before all young imaginations, are real allurements28 wherewith to fascinate a poor, unhappy prisoner, worn out by prison cares, emaciated29 by the stifling30 air of the Bastile. It was the picture, it will be remembered, drawn31 by Aramis, when he offered the thousand pistoles he had with him in the carriage to the prince, and the enchanted32 Eden which the deserts of Bas–Poitou hid from the eyes of the world. Such were the reflections of Aramis as he watched, with an anxiety impossible to describe, the silent progress of the emotions of Philippe, whom he perceived gradually becoming more and more absorbed in his meditations33. The young prince was offering up an inward prayer to Heaven, to be divinely guided in this trying moment, upon which his life or death depended. It was an anxious time for the bishop34 of Vannes, who had never before been so perplexed35. His iron will, accustomed to overcome all obstacles, never finding itself inferior or vanquished36 on any occasion, to be foiled in so vast a project from not having foreseen the influence which a view of nature in all its luxuriance would have on the human mind! Aramis, overwhelmed by anxiety, contemplated37 with emotion the painful struggle that was taking place in Philippe’s mind. This suspense38 lasted the whole ten minutes which the young man had requested. During this space of time, which appeared an eternity39, Philippe continued gazing with an imploring40 and sorrowful look towards the heavens; Aramis did not remove the piercing glance he had fixed41 on Philippe. Suddenly the young man bowed his head. His thought returned to the earth, his looks perceptibly hardened, his brow contracted, his mouth assuming an expression of undaunted courage; again his looks became fixed, but this time they wore a worldly expression, hardened by covetousness42, pride, and strong desire. Aramis’s look immediately became as soft as it had before been gloomy. Philippe, seizing his hand in a quick, agitated43 manner, exclaimed:
“Lead me to where the crown of France is to be found.”
“Is this your decision, monseigneur?” asked Aramis.
“It is.”
“Irrevocably so?”
Philippe did not even deign44 to reply. He gazed earnestly at the bishop, as if to ask him if it were possible for a man to waver after having once made up his mind.
“Such looks are flashes of the hidden fire that betrays men’s character,” said Aramis, bowing over Philippe’s hand; “you will be great, monseigneur, I will answer for that.”
“Let us resume our conversation. I wished to discuss two points with you; in the first place the dangers, or the obstacles we may meet with. That point is decided45. The other is the conditions you intend imposing46 on me. It is your turn to speak, M. d’Herblay.”
“The conditions, monseigneur?”
“Doubtless. You will not allow so mere47 a trifle to stop me, and you will not do me the injustice48 to suppose that I think you have no interest in this affair. Therefore, without subterfuge49 or hesitation50, tell me the truth —”
“I will do so, monseigneur. Once a king —”
“When will that be?”
“To-morrow evening — I mean in the night.”
“Explain yourself.”
“When I shall have asked your highness a question.”
“Do so.”
“I sent to your highness a man in my confidence with instructions to deliver some closely written notes, carefully drawn up, which will thoroughly51 acquaint your highness with the different persons who compose and will compose your court.”
“I perused52 those notes.”
“Attentively?”
“I know them by heart.”
“And understand them? Pardon me, but I may venture to ask that question of a poor, abandoned captive of the Bastile? In a week’s time it will not be requisite53 to further question a mind like yours. You will then be in full possession of liberty and power.”
“Interrogate me, then, and I will be a scholar representing his lesson to his master.”
“We will begin with your family, monseigneur.”
“My mother, Anne of Austria! all her sorrows, her painful malady54. Oh! I know her — I know her.”
“Your second brother?” asked Aramis, bowing.
“To these notes,” replied the prince, “you have added portraits so faithfully painted, that I am able to recognize the persons whose characters, manners, and history you have so carefully portrayed55. Monsieur, my brother, is a fine, dark young man, with a pale face; he does not love his wife, Henrietta, whom I, Louis XIV., loved a little, and still flirt56 with, even although she made me weep on the day she wished to dismiss Mademoiselle de la Valliere from her service in disgrace.”
“You will have to be careful with regard to the watchfulness57 of the latter,” said Aramis; “she is sincerely attached to the actual king. The eyes of a woman who loves are not easily deceived.”
“She is fair, has blue eyes, whose affectionate gaze reveals her identity. She halts slightly in her gait; she writes a letter every day, to which I have to send an answer by M. de Saint–Aignan.”
“Do you know the latter?”
“As if I saw him, and I know the last verses he composed for me, as well as those I composed in answer to his.”
“Very good. Do you know your ministers?”
“Colbert, an ugly, dark-browed man, but intelligent enough, his hair covering his forehead, a large, heavy, full head; the mortal enemy of M. Fouquet.”
“As for the latter, we need not disturb ourselves about him.”
“No; because necessarily you will not require me to exile him, I suppose?”
Aramis, struck with admiration58 at the remark, said, “You will become very great, monseigneur.”
“You see,” added the prince, “that I know my lesson by heart, and with Heaven’s assistance, and yours afterwards, I shall seldom go wrong.”
“You have still an awkward pair of eyes to deal with, monseigneur.”
“Yes, the captain of the musketeers, M. d’Artagnan, your friend.”
“Yes; I can well say ‘my friend.’”
“He who escorted La Valliere to Le Chaillot; he who delivered up Monk59, cooped in an iron box, to Charles II.; he who so faithfully served my mother; he to whom the crown of France owes so much that it owes everything. Do you intend to ask me to exile him also?”
“Never, sire. D’Artagnan is a man to whom, at a certain given time, I will undertake to reveal everything; but be on your guard with him, for if he discovers our plot before it is revealed to him, you or I will certainly be killed or taken. He is a bold and enterprising man.”
“I will think it over. Now tell me about M. Fouquet; what do you wish to be done with regard to him?”
“One moment more, I entreat60 you, monseigneur; and forgive me, if I seem to fail in respect to questioning you further.”
“It is your duty to do so, nay61, more than that, your right.”
“Before we pass to M. Fouquet, I should very much regret forgetting another friend of mine.”
“M. du Vallon, the Hercules of France, you mean; oh! as far as he is concerned, his interests are more than safe.”
“No; it is not he whom I intended to refer to.”
“The Comte de la Fere, then?”
“And his son, the son of all four of us.”
“That poor boy who is dying of love for La Valliere, whom my brother so disloyally bereft62 him of? Be easy on that score. I shall know how to rehabilitate63 his happiness. Tell me only one thing, Monsieur d’Herblay; do men, when they love, forget the treachery that has been shown them? Can a man ever forgive the woman who has betrayed him? Is that a French custom, or is it one of the laws of the human heart?”
“A man who loves deeply, as deeply as Raoul loves Mademoiselle de la Valliere, finishes by forgetting the fault or crime of the woman he loves; but I do not yet know whether Raoul will be able to forget.”
“I will see after that. Have you anything further to say about your friend?”
“No; that is all.”
“Well, then, now for M. Fouquet. What do you wish me to do for him?”
“To keep him on as surintendant, in the capacity in which he has hitherto acted, I entreat you.”
“Be it so; but he is the first minister at present.”
“Not quite so.”
“A king, ignorant and embarrassed as I shall be, will, as a matter of course, require a first minister of state.”
“Your majesty64 will require a friend.”
“I have only one, and that is yourself.”
“You will have many others by and by, but none so devoted65, none so zealous66 for your glory.”
“You shall be my first minister of state.”
“Not immediately, monseigneur, for that would give rise to too much suspicion and astonishment67.”
“M. de Richelieu, the first minister of my grandmother, Marie de Medici, was simply bishop of Lucon, as you are bishop of Vannes.”
“I perceive that your royal highness has studied my notes to great advantage; your amazing perspicacity68 overpowers me with delight.”
“I am perfectly69 aware that M. de Richelieu, by means of the queen’s protection, soon became cardinal70.”
“It would be better,” said Aramis, bowing, “that I should not be appointed first minister until your royal highness has procured71 my nomination72 as cardinal.”
“You shall be nominated before two months are past, Monsieur d’Herblay. But that is a matter of very trifling73 moment; you would not offend me if you were to ask more than that, and you would cause me serious regret if you were to limit yourself to that.”
“In that case, I have something still further to hope for, monseigneur.”
“Speak! speak!”
“M. Fouquet will not keep long at the head of affairs, he will soon get old. He is fond of pleasure, consistently, I mean, with all his labors74, thanks to the youthfulness he still retains; but this protracted75 youth will disappear at the approach of the first serious annoyance76, or at the first illness he may experience. We will spare him the annoyance, because he is an agreeable and noble-hearted man; but we cannot save him from ill-health. So it is determined77. When you shall have paid all M. Fouquet’s debts, and restored the finances to a sound condition, M. Fouquet will be able to remain the sovereign ruler in his little court of poets and painters — we shall have made him rich. When that has been done, and I have become your royal highness’s prime minister, I shall be able to think of my own interests and yours.”
The young man looked at his interrogator78.
“M. de Richelieu, of whom we were speaking just now, was very much to blame in the fixed idea he had of governing France alone, unaided. He allowed two kings, King Louis XIII. and himself, to be seated on the self-same throne, whilst he might have installed them more conveniently upon two separate and distinct thrones.”
“Upon two thrones?” said the young man, thoughtfully.
“In fact,” pursued Aramis, quietly, “a cardinal, prime minister of France, assisted by the favor and by the countenance79 of his Most Christian80 Majesty the King of France, a cardinal to whom the king his master lends the treasures of the state, his army, his counsel, such a man would be acting81 with twofold injustice in applying these mighty82 resources to France alone. Besides,” added Aramis, “you will not be a king such as your father was, delicate in health, slow in judgment83, whom all things wearied; you will be a king governing by your brain and by your sword; you will have in the government of the state no more than you will be able to manage unaided; I should only interfere84 with you. Besides, our friendship ought never to be, I do not say impaired85, but in any degree affected86, by a secret thought. I shall have given you the throne of France, you will confer on me the throne of St. Peter. Whenever your loyal, firm, and mailed hand should joined in ties of intimate association the hand of a pope such as I shall be, neither Charles V., who owned two-thirds of the habitable globe, nor Charlemagne, who possessed87 it entirely88, will be able to reach to half your stature89. I have no alliances, I have no predilections90; I will not throw you into persecutions of heretics, nor will I cast you into the troubled waters of family dissension; I will simply say to you: The whole universe is our own; for me the minds of men, for you their bodies. And as I shall be the first to die, you will have my inheritance. What do you say of my plan, monseigneur?”
“I say that you render me happy and proud, for no other reason than that of having comprehended you thoroughly. Monsieur d’Herblay, you shall be cardinal, and when cardinal, my prime minister; and then you will point out to me the necessary steps to be taken to secure your election as pope, and I will take them. You can ask what guarantees from me you please.”
“It is useless. Never shall I act except in such a manner that you will be the gainer; I shall never ascend12 the ladder of fortune, fame, or position, until I have first seen you placed upon the round of the ladder immediately above me; I shall always hold myself sufficiently91 aloof92 from you to escape incurring93 your jealousy94, sufficiently near to sustain your personal advantage and to watch over your friendship. All the contracts in the world are easily violated because the interests included in them incline more to one side than to another. With us, however, this will never be the case; I have no need of any guarantees.”
“And so — my dear brother — will disappear?”
“Simply. We will remove him from his bed by means of a plank95 which yields to the pressure of the finger. Having retired96 to rest a crowned sovereign, he will awake a captive. Alone you will rule from that moment, and you will have no interest dearer and better than that of keeping me near you.”
“I believe it. There is my hand on it, Monsieur d’Herblay.”
“Allow me to kneel before you, sire, most respectfully. We will embrace each other on the day we shall have upon our temples, you the crown, I the tiara.”
“Still embrace me this very day also, and be, for and towards me, more than great, more than skillful, more than sublime97 in genius; be kind and indulgent — be my father!”
Aramis was almost overcome as he listened to his voice; he fancied he detected in his own heart an emotion hitherto unknown; but this impression was speedily removed. “His father!” he thought; “yes, his Holy Father.”
And they resumed their places in the carriage, which sped rapidly along the road leading to Vaux-le-Vicomte.
点击收听单词发音
1 descend | |
vt./vi.传下来,下来,下降 | |
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2 tottering | |
adj.蹒跚的,动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 );踉跄;蹒跚;摇摇欲坠 | |
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3 portending | |
v.预示( portend的现在分词 );预兆;给…以警告;预告 | |
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4 shrouded | |
v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 );保密 | |
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5 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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6 underneath | |
adj.在...下面,在...底下;adv.在下面 | |
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7 extremities | |
n.端点( extremity的名词复数 );尽头;手和足;极窘迫的境地 | |
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8 lighter | |
n.打火机,点火器;驳船;v.用驳船运送;light的比较级 | |
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9 opaque | |
adj.不透光的;不反光的,不传导的;晦涩的 | |
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10 fragrance | |
n.芬芳,香味,香气 | |
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11 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12 ascend | |
vi.渐渐上升,升高;vt.攀登,登上 | |
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13 penetrating | |
adj.(声音)响亮的,尖锐的adj.(气味)刺激的adj.(思想)敏锐的,有洞察力的 | |
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14 exhaled | |
v.呼出,发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 );吐出(肺中的空气、烟等),呼气 | |
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15 enveloped | |
v.包围,笼罩,包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16 ineffable | |
adj.无法表达的,不可言喻的 | |
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17 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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18 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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19 dissimulation | |
n.掩饰,虚伪,装糊涂 | |
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20 ecstasy | |
n.狂喜,心醉神怡,入迷 | |
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21 inhaled | |
v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22 scented | |
adj.有香味的;洒香水的;有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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23 wafted | |
v.吹送,飘送,(使)浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24 gusts | |
一阵强风( gust的名词复数 ); (怒、笑等的)爆发; (感情的)迸发; 发作 | |
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25 draughts | |
n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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26 contemplating | |
深思,细想,仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 ); 注视,凝视; 考虑接受(发生某事的可能性); 深思熟虑,沉思,苦思冥想 | |
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27 incessantly | |
ad.不停地 | |
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28 allurements | |
n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 );吸引;诱惑物;有诱惑力的事物 | |
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29 emaciated | |
adj.衰弱的,消瘦的 | |
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30 stifling | |
a.令人窒息的 | |
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31 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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32 enchanted | |
adj. 被施魔法的,陶醉的,入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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33 meditations | |
默想( meditation的名词复数 ); 默念; 沉思; 冥想 | |
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34 bishop | |
n.主教,(国际象棋)象 | |
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35 perplexed | |
adj.不知所措的 | |
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36 vanquished | |
v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 );战胜;克服;抑制 | |
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37 contemplated | |
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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38 suspense | |
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
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39 eternity | |
n.不朽,来世;永恒,无穷 | |
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40 imploring | |
恳求的,哀求的 | |
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41 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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42 covetousness | |
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43 agitated | |
adj.被鼓动的,不安的 | |
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44 deign | |
v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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45 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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46 imposing | |
adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 | |
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47 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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48 injustice | |
n.非正义,不公正,不公平,侵犯(别人的)权利 | |
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49 subterfuge | |
n.诡计;藉口 | |
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50 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
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51 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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52 perused | |
v.读(某篇文字)( peruse的过去式和过去分词 );(尤指)细阅;审阅;匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览(某篇文字) | |
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53 requisite | |
adj.需要的,必不可少的;n.必需品 | |
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54 malady | |
n.病,疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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55 portrayed | |
v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 );描述;描绘;描画 | |
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56 flirt | |
v.调情,挑逗,调戏;n.调情者,卖俏者 | |
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57 watchfulness | |
警惕,留心; 警觉(性) | |
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58 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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59 monk | |
n.和尚,僧侣,修道士 | |
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60 entreat | |
v.恳求,恳请 | |
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61 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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62 bereft | |
adj.被剥夺的 | |
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63 rehabilitate | |
vt.改造(罪犯),修复;vi.复兴,(罪犯)经受改造 | |
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64 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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65 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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66 zealous | |
adj.狂热的,热心的 | |
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67 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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68 perspicacity | |
n. 敏锐, 聪明, 洞察力 | |
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69 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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70 cardinal | |
n.(天主教的)红衣主教;adj.首要的,基本的 | |
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71 procured | |
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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72 nomination | |
n.提名,任命,提名权 | |
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73 trifling | |
adj.微不足道的;没什么价值的 | |
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74 labors | |
v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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75 protracted | |
adj.拖延的;延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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76 annoyance | |
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼 | |
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77 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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78 interrogator | |
n.讯问者;审问者;质问者;询问器 | |
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79 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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80 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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81 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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82 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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83 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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84 interfere | |
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
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85 impaired | |
adj.受损的;出毛病的;有(身体或智力)缺陷的v.损害,削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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87 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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88 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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89 stature | |
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材 | |
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90 predilections | |
n.偏爱,偏好,嗜好( predilection的名词复数 ) | |
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91 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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92 aloof | |
adj.远离的;冷淡的,漠不关心的 | |
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93 incurring | |
遭受,招致,引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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94 jealousy | |
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 | |
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95 plank | |
n.板条,木板,政策要点,政纲条目 | |
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96 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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97 sublime | |
adj.崇高的,伟大的;极度的,不顾后果的 | |
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