And first of all he set himself to show how excellent a soldier he was, and he spared neither time nor work to make this apparent. From morn till midday, and from afternoon till night, we drilled and drilled until in very truth the shouting of the orders and the clatter3 of the arms became wearisome to our ears. The good burghers may well have thought that Colonel Saxon’s Wiltshire foot were as much part of the market-place as the town cross or the parish stocks. There was much to be done in very little time, so much that many would have thought it hopeless to attempt it. Not only was there the general muster4 of the regiment5, but we had each to practise our own companies in their several drills, and to learn as best we could the names and the wants of the men. Yet our work was made easier to us by the assurance that it was not thrown away, for at every gathering6 our bumpkins stood more erect7, and handled their weapons more deftly8. From cock-crow to sun-down the streets resounded9 with ‘Poise your muskets10! Order your muskets! Rest your muskets! Handle your primers!’ and all the other orders of the old manual exercise.
As we became more soldierly we increased in numbers, for our smart appearance drew the pick of the new-comers into our ranks. My own company swelled11 until it had to be divided, and others enlarged in proportion. The baronet’s musqueteers mustered12 a full hundred, skilled for the most part in the use of the gun. Altogether we sprang from three hundred to four hundred and fifty, and our drill improved until we received praise from all sides on the state of our men.
Late in the evening I was riding slowly back to the house of Master Timewell when Reuben clattered13 after me, and besought14 me to turn back with him to see a noteworthy sight. Though feeling little in the mood for such things, I turned Covenant16 and rode with him down the length of High Street, and into the suburb which is known as Shuttern, where my companion pulled up at a bare barn-like building, and bade me look in through the window.
The interior, which consisted of a single great hall, the empty warehouse17 in which wool had used to be stored, was all alight with lamps and candles. A great throng18 of men, whom I recognised as belonging to my own company, or that of my companion, lay about on either side, some smoking, some praying, and some burnishing19 their arms. Down the middle a line of benches had been drawn20 up, on which there were seated astraddle the whole hundred of the baronet’s musqueteers, each engaged in plaiting into a queue the hair of the man who sat in front of him. A boy walked up and down with a pot of grease, by the aid of which with some whipcord the work was going forward merrily. Sir Gervas himself with a great flour dredger sat perched upon a bale of wool at the head of the line, and as quickly as any queue was finished he examined it through his quizzing glass, and if it found favour in his eyes, daintily powdered it from his dredger, with as much care and reverence21 as though it were some service of the Church. No cook seasoning22 a dish could have added his spices with more nicety of judgment23 than our friend displayed in whitening the pates24 of his company. Glancing up from his labours he saw our two smiling faces looking in at him through the window, but his work was too engrossing26 to allow him to leave it, and we rode off at last without having speech with him.
By this time the town was very quiet and still, for the folk in those parts were early bed-goers, save when some special occasion kept them afoot. We rode slowly together through the silent streets, our horses’ hoofs27 ringing out sharp against the cobble stones, talking about such light matters as engage the mind of youth. The moon was shining very brightly above us, silvering the broad streets, and casting a fretwork of shadows from the peaks and pinnacles28 of the churches. At Master Timewell’s courtyard I sprang from my saddle, but Reuben, attracted by the peace and beauty of the scene, rode onwards with the intention of going as far as the town gate.
I was still at work upon my girth buckles29, undoing30 my harness, when of a sudden there came from the street a shouting and a rushing, with the clinking of blades, and my comrade’s voice calling upon me for help. Drawing my sword I ran out. Some little way down there was a clear space, white with the moonshine, in the centre of which I caught a glimpse of the sturdy figure of my friend springing about with an activity for which I had never given him credit, and exchanging sword thrusts with three or four men who were pressing him closely. On the ground there lay a dark figure, and behind the struggling group Reuben’s mare31 reared and plunged32 in sympathy with her master’s peril33. As I rushed down, shouting and waving my sword, the assailants took flight down a side street, save one, a tall sinewy34 swordsman, who rushed in upon Reuben, stabbing furiously at him, and cursing him the while for a spoil-sport. To my horror I saw, as I ran, the fellow’s blade slip inside my friend’s guard, who threw up his arms and fell prostrate35, while the other with a final thrust dashed off down one of the narrow winding36 lanes which lead from East Street to the banks of the Tone.
‘For Heaven’s sake where are you hurt?’ I cried, throwing myself upon my knees beside his prostrate body. ‘Where is your injury, Reuben?’
‘In the wind, mostly,’ quoth he, blowing like a smithy bellows37; ‘likewise on the back of my pate25. Give me your hand, I pray.’
‘And are you indeed scathless?’ I cried, with a great lightening of the heart as I helped him to his feet. ‘I thought that the villain38 had stabbed you.’
‘As well stab a Warsash crab39 with a bodkin,’ said he. ‘Thanks to good Sir Jacob Clancing, once of Snellaby Hall and now of Salisbury Plain, their rapiers did no more than scratch my plate of proof. But how is it with the maid?’
‘The maid?’ said I.
‘Aye, it was to save her that I drew. She was beset40 by these night walkers. See, she rises! They threw her down when I set upon them.’
‘How is it with you, Mistress?’ I asked; for the prostrate figure had arisen and taken the form of a woman, young and graceful41 to all appearance, with her face muffled42 in a mantle43. ‘I trust that you have met with no hurt.’
‘None, sir,’ she answered, in a low, sweet voice, ‘but that I have escaped is due to the ready valour of your friend, and the guiding wisdom of Him who confutes the plots of the wicked. Doubtless a true man would have rendered this help to any damsel in distress44, and yet it may add to your satisfaction to know that she whom you have served is no stranger to you.’ With these words she dropped her mantle and turned her face towards us in the moonlight.
‘Good lack! it is Mistress Timewell!’ I cried, in amazement45.
‘Let us homewards,’ she said, in firm, quick tones. ‘The neighbours are alarmed, and there will be a rabble46 collected anon. Let us escape from the babblement47.’
Windows had indeed begun to clatter up in every direction, and loud voices to demand what was amiss. Far away down the street we could see the glint of lanthorns swinging to and fro as the watch hurried thitherwards. We slipped along in the shadow, however, and found ourselves safe within the Mayor’s courtyard without let or hindrance48.
‘I trust, sir, that you have really met with no hurt,’ said the maiden49 to my companion.
Reuben had said not a word since she had uncovered her face, and bore the face of a man who finds himself in some pleasant dream and is vexed50 only by the fear lest he wake up from it. ‘Nay, I am not hurt,’ he answered, ‘but I would that you could tell us who these roving blades may be, and where they may be found.’
‘Nay, nay,’ said she, with uplifted finger, ‘you shall not follow the matter further. As to the men, I cannot say with certainty who they may have been. I had gone forth51 to visit Dame52 Clatworthy, who hath the tertian ague, and they did beset me on my return. Perchance they are some who are not of my grandfather’s way of thinking in affairs of State, and who struck at him through me. But ye have both been so kind that ye will not refuse me one other favour which I shall ask ye?’
We protested that we could not, with our hands upon our sword-hilts.
‘Nay, keep them for the Lord’s quarrel,’ said she, smiling at the action. ‘All that I ask is that ye will say nothing if this matter to my grandsire. He is choleric53, and a little matter doth set him in a flame, so old as he is. I would not have his mind turned from the public needs to a private trifle of this sort. Have I your promises?’
‘Mine,’ said I, bowing.
‘And mine,’ said Lockarby.
‘Thanks, good friends. Alack! I have dropped my gauntlet in the street. But it is of no import. I thank God that no harm has come to any one. My thanks once more, and may pleasant dreams await ye.’ She sprang up the steps and was gone in an instant.
Reuben and I unharnessed our horses and saw them cared for in silence. We then entered the house and ascended55 to our chambers56, still without a word. Outside his room door my friend paused.
‘I have heard that long man’s voice before, Micah,’ said he.
‘And so have I,’ I answered. ‘The old man must beware of his ‘prentices. I have half a mind to go back for the little maiden’s gauntlet.’
A merry twinkle shot through the cloud which hid gathered on Reuben’s brow. He opened his left hand and showed me the doe-skin glove crumpled58 up in his palm.
‘I would not barter59 it for all the gold in her grandsire’s coffers,’ said he, with a sudden outflame, and then half-laughing, half-blushing at his own heat, he whisked in and left me to my thoughts.
And so I learned for the first time, my dears, that my good comrade had been struck by the little god’s arrows. When a man’s years number one score, love springs up in him, as the gourd60 grew in the Scriptures61, in a single night. I have told my story ill if I have not made you understand that my friend was a frank, warm-hearted lad of impulse, whose reason seldom stood sentry62 over his inclinations63. Such a man can no more draw away from a winning maid than the needle can shun64 the magnet. He loves as the mavis sings or the kitten plays. Now, a slow-witted, heavy fellow like myself, in whose veins65 the blood has always flowed somewhat coolly and temperately66, may go into love as a horse goes into a shelving stream, step by step, but a man like Reuben is kicking his heels upon the bank one moment, and is over ears in the deepest pool the nest.
Heaven only knows what match it was that had set the tow alight. I can but say that from that day on my comrade was sad and cloudy one hour, gay and blithesome67 the next. His even flow of good spirits had deserted68 him, and he became as dismal69 as a moulting chicken, which has ever seemed to me to be one of the strangest outcomes of what poets have called the joyous70 state of love. But, indeed, pain and pleasure are so very nearly akin71 in this world, that it is as if they were tethered in neighbouring stalls, and a kick would at any time bring down the partition. Here is a man who is as full of sighs as a grenade is of powder, his face is sad, his brow is downcast, his wits are wandering; yet if you remark to him that it is an ill thing that he should be in this state, he will answer you, as like as not, that he would not exchange it for all the powers and principalities. Tears to him are golden, and laughter is but base coin. Well, my dears, it is useless for me to expound72 to you that which I cannot myself understand. If, as I have heard, it is impossible to get the thumb-marks of any two men to be alike, how can we expect their inmost thoughts and feelings to tally73? Yet this I can say with all truth, that when I asked your grandmother’s hand I did not demean myself as if I were chief mourner at a funeral. She will bear me out that I walked up to her with a smile upon my face, though mayhap there was a little flutter at my heart, and I took her hand and I said — but, lack-a-day, whither have I wandered? What has all this to do with Taunton town and the rising of 1685?
On the night of Wednesday, June 17, we learned that the King, as Monmouth was called throughout the West, was lying less than ten miles off with his forces, and that he would make his entry into the loyal town of Taunton the next morning. Every effort was made, as ye may well guess, to give him a welcome which should be worthy15 of the most Whiggish and Protestant town in England. An arch of evergreens75 had already been built up at the western gate, bearing the motto, ‘Welcome to King Monmouth!’ and another spanned the entrance to the market-place from the upper window of the White Hart Inn, with ‘Hail to the Protestant Chief!’ in great scarlet76 letters. A third, if I remember right, bridged the entrance to the Castle yard, but the motto on it has escaped me. The cloth and wool industry is, as I have told you, the staple78 trade of the town, and the merchants had no mercy on their wares79, but used them freely to beautify the streets. Rich tapestries80, glossy81 velvets, and costly82 brocades fluttered from the windows or lined the balconies. East Street, High Street, and Fore57 Street were draped from garret to basement with rare and beautiful fabrics83, while gay flags hung from the roofs on either side, or fluttered in long festoons from house to house. The royal banner of England floated from the lofty tower of St. Mary Magdalene, while the blue ensign of Monmouth waved from the sister turret84 of St. James. Late into the night there was planing and hammering, working and devising, until when the sun rose upon Thursday, June 18, it shone on as brave a show of bunting and evergreen74 as ever graced a town. Taunton had changed as by magic from a city into a flower garden.
Master Stephen Timewell had busied himself in these preparations, but he had borne in mind at the same time that the most welcome sight which he could present to Monmouth’s eyes was the large body of armed men who were prepared to follow his fortunes. There were sixteen hundred in the town, two hundred of which were horse, mostly well armed and equipped. These were disposed in such a way that the King should pass them in his progress. The townsmen lined the market-place three deep from the Castle gate to the entrance to the High Street; from thence to Shuttern, Dorsetshire, and Frome peasants were drawn up on either side of the street; while our own regiment was stationed at the western gate. With arms well burnished85, serried86 ranks, and fresh sprigs of green in every bonnet87, no leader could desire a better addition to his army. When all were in their places, and the burghers and their wives had arrayed themselves in their holiday gear, with gladsome faces and baskets of new-cut flowers, all was ready for the royal visitor’s reception.
‘My orders are,’ said Saxon, riding up to us as we sat our horses reside our companions, ‘that I and my captains should fall in with the King’s escort as he passes, and so accompany him to the market-place. Your men shall present arms, and shall then stand their ground until we return.’
We all three drew our swords and saluted88.
‘If ye will come with me, gentlemen, and take position to the right of the gate here,’ said he, ‘I may be able to tell ye something of these folk as they pass. Thirty years of war in many climes should give me the master craftsman’s right to expound to his apprentices89.’
We all very gladly followed his advice, and passed out through the gate, which was now nothing more than a broad gap amongst the mounds90 which marked the lines of the old walls. ‘There is no sign of them yet,’ I remarked, as we pulled up upon a convenient hillock. ‘I suppose that they must come by this road which winds through the valley before us.’
‘There are two sorts of bad general,’ quoth Saxon, ‘the man who is too fast and the man who is too slow. His Majesty’s advisers91 will never be accused of the former failing, whatever other mistakes they may fall into. There was old Marshal Grunberg, with whom I did twenty-six months’ soldiering in Bohemia. He would fly through the country pell-mell, horse, foot, and artillery92, as if the devil were at his heels. He might make fifty blunders, but the enemy had never time to take advantage. I call to mind a raid which we made into Silesia, when, after two days or so of mountain roads, his Oberhauptmann of the staff told him that it was impossible for the artillery to keep up. “Lass es hinter!” says he. So the guns were left, and by the evening of the next day the foot were dead-beat. “They cannot walk another mile!” says the Oberhauptmann. “Lassen Sie hinter!” says he. So on we went with the horse — I was in his Pandour regiment, worse luck! But after a skirmish or two, what with the roads and what with the enemy, our horses were foundered93 and useless. “The horses are used up!” says the Oberhauptmann. “Lassen Sie hinter!” he cries; and I warrant that he would have pushed on to Prague with his staff, had they allowed him.” General Hinterlassen” we called him after that.’
‘A dashing commander, too,’ cried Sir Gervas. ‘I would fain have served under him.’
‘Aye, and he had a way of knocking his recruits into shape which would scarce be relished94 by our good friends here in the west country,’ said Saxon. ‘I remember that after the leaguer of Salzburg, when we had taken the castle or fortalice of that name, we were joined by some thousand untrained foot, which had been raised in Dalmatia in the Emperor’s employ. As they approached our lines with waving of hands and blowing of bugles95, old Marshal Hinterlassen discharged a volley of all the cannon96 upon the walls at them, killing97 three score and striking great panic into the others. “The rogues98 must get used to standing99 fire sooner or later,” said he, “so they may as well commence their education at once.”’
‘He was a rough schoolmaster,’ I remarked. ‘He might have left that part of the drill to the enemy.’
‘Yet his soldiers loved him,’ said Saxon. ‘He was not a man, when a city had been forced, to inquire into every squawk of a woman, or give ear to every burgess who chanced to find his strong-box a trifle the lighter100. But as to the slow commanders, I have known none to equal Brigadier Baumgarten, also of the Imperial service. He would break up his winter-quarters and sit down before some place of strength, where he would raise a sconce here, and sink a sap there, until his soldiers were sick of the very sight of the place. So he would play with it, as a cat with a mouse, until at last it was about to open its gates, when, as like as not, he would raise the leaguer and march back into his winter-quarters. I served two campaigns under him without honour, sack, plunder101, or emolument102, save a beggarly stipend103 of three gulden a day, paid in clipped money, six months in arrear104. But mark ye the folk upon yonder tower! They are waving their kerchiefs as though something were visible to them.’
‘I can see nothing,’ I answered, shading my eyes and gazing down the tree-sprinkled valley which rose slowly in green uplands to the grassy105 Blackdown hills.
‘Those on the housetops are waving and pointing,’ said Reuben. ‘Methinks I can myself see the flash of steel among yonder woods.’
‘There it is,’ cried Saxon, extending his gauntleted hand, ‘on the western bank of the Tone, hard by the wooden bridge. Follow my finger, Clarke, and see if you cannot distinguish it.’
‘Yes, truly,’ I exclaimed, ‘I see a bright shimmer106 coming and going. And there to the left, where the road curves over the hill, mark you that dense107 mass of men! Ha! the head of the column begins to emerge from the trees.’
There was not a cloud in the sky, but the great heat had caused a haze108 to overlie the valley, gathering thickly along the winding course of the river, and hanging in little sprays and feathers over the woodlands which clothe its banks. Through this filmy vapour there broke from time to time fierce sparkles of brilliant light as the sun’s rays fell upon breastplate or headpiece. Now and again the gentle summer breeze wafted109 up sudden pulses of martial110 music to our ears, with the blare of trumpets111 and the long deep snarl112 of the drums. As we gazed, the van of the army began to roll out from the cover of the trees and to darken the white dusty roads. The long line slowly extended itself, writhing113 out of the forest land like a dark snake with sparkling scales, until the whole rebel army — horse, foot, and ordnance114 — were visible beneath us. The gleam of the weapons, the waving of numerous banners, the plumes115 of the leaders, and the deep columns of marching men, made up a picture which stirred the very hearts of the citizens, who, from the housetops and from the ruinous summit of the dismantled116 walls, were enabled to gaze down upon the champions of their faith. If the mere117 sight of a passing regiment will cause a thrill in your bosoms118, you can fancy how it is when the soldiers upon whom you look are in actual arms for your own dearest and most cherished interests, and have just come out victorious119 from a bloody120 struggle. If every other man’s hand was against us, these at least were on our side, and our hearts went out to them as to friends and brothers. Of all the ties that unite men in this world, that of a common danger is the strongest.
It all appeared to be most warlike and most imposing121 to my inexperienced eyes, and I thought as I looked at the long array that our cause was as good as won. To my surprise, however, Saxon pished and pshawed under his breath, until at last, unable to contain his impatience122, he broke out in hot discontent.
‘Do but look at that vanguard as they breast the slope,’ he cried. ‘Where is the advance party, or Vorreiter, as the Germans call them? Where, too, is the space which should be left between the fore-guard and the main battle? By the sword of Scanderbeg, they remind me more of a drove of pilgrims, as I have seen them approaching the shrine123 of St. Sebaldus of Nurnberg with their banners and streamers. There in the centre, amid that cavalcade124 of cavaliers, rides our new monarch125 doubtless. Pity he hath not a man by him who can put this swarm126 of peasants into something like campaign order. Now do but look at those four pieces of ordnance trailing along like lame54 sheep behind the flock. Caracco, I would that I were a young King’s officer with a troop of light horse on the ridge77 yonder! My faith, how I should sweep down yon cross road like a kestrel on a brood of young plover127! Then heh for cut and thrust, down with the skulking128 cannoniers, a carbine fire to cover us, round with the horses, and away go the rebel guns in a cloud of dust! How’s that, Sir Gervas?’
‘Good sport, Colonel,’ said the baronet, with a touch of colour in his white cheeks. ‘I warrant that you did keep your Pandours on the trot129.’
‘Aye, the rogues had to work or hang — one or t’other. But methinks our friends here are scarce as numerous as reported. I reckon them to be a thousand horse, and mayhap five thousand two hundred foot. I have been thought a good tally-man on such occasions. With fifteen hundred in the town that would bring us to close on eight thousand men, which is no great force to invade a kingdom and dispute a crown.’
‘If the West can give eight thousand, how many can all the counties of England afford?’ I asked. ‘Is not that the fairer way to look at it?’
‘Monmouth’s popularity lies mostly in the West,’ Saxon answered. ‘It was the memory of that which prompted him to raise his standard in these counties.’
‘His standards, rather,’ quoth Reuben. ‘Why, it looks as though they had hung their linen130 up to dry all down the line.’
‘True! They have more ensigns than ever I saw with so small a force,’ Saxon answered, rising in his stirrups. ‘One or two are blue, and the rest, as far as I can see for the sun shining upon them, are white, with some motto or device.’
Whilst we had been conversing131, the body of horse which formed the vanguard of the Protestant army had approached within a quarter of a mile or less of the town, when a loud, clear bugle-call brought them to a halt. In each successive regiment or squadron the signal was repeated, so that the sound passed swiftly down the long array until it died away in the distance. As the coil of men formed up upon the white road, with just a tremulous shifting motion along the curved and undulating line, its likeness132 to a giant serpent occurred again to my mind.
‘I could fancy it a great boa,’ I remarked, ‘which was drawing its coils round the town.’
‘A rattlesnake, rather,’ said Reuben, pointing to the guns in the rear. ‘It keeps all its noise in its tail.’
‘Here comes its head, if I mistake not,’ quoth Saxon. ‘It were best perhaps that we stand at the side of the gate.’
As he spoke133 a group of gaily134 dressed cavaliers broke away from the main body and rode straight for the town. Their leader was a tall, slim, elegant young man, who sat his horse with the grace of a skilled rider, and who was remarkable135 amongst those around him for the gallantry of his bearing and the richness of his trappings. As he galloped136 towards the gate a roar of welcome burst from the assembled multitude, which was taken up and prolonged by the crowds behind, who, though unable to see what was going forward, gathered from the shouting that the King was approaching.
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1
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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3
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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4
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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6
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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7
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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10
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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12
mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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13
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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14
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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warehouse
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| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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burnishing
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| n.磨光，抛光，擦亮v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的现在分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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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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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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seasoning
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| n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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pates
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| n.头顶，（尤指）秃顶，光顶( pate的名词复数 ) | |
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pate
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| n.头顶；光顶 | |
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engrossing
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| adj.使人全神贯注的，引人入胜的v.使全神贯注( engross的现在分词 ) | |
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27
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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28
pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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29
buckles
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| 搭扣，扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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30
undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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31
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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32
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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33
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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34
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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35
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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36
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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37
bellows
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| n.风箱；发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的名词复数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的第三人称单数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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38
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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39
crab
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| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
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40
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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41
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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42
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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43
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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44
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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45
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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46
rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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47
babblement
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| 模糊不清的言语，胡说，潺潺声 | |
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48
hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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49
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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50
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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51
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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52
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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53
choleric
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| adj.易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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54
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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55
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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57
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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58
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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59
barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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60
gourd
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| n.葫芦 | |
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61
scriptures
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| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
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62
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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63
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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64
shun
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| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
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65
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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66
temperately
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| adv.节制地，适度地 | |
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67
blithesome
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| adj.欢乐的，愉快的 | |
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68
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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69
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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70
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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71
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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72
expound
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| v.详述；解释；阐述 | |
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73
tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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74
evergreen
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| n.常青树；adj.四季常青的 | |
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75
evergreens
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| n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
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76
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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77
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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78
staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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79
wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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80
tapestries
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| n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 ) | |
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81
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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82
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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83
fabrics
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| 织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地 | |
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84
turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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85
burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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86
serried
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| adj.拥挤的；密集的 | |
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87
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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88
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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89
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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90
mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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91
advisers
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| 顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授 | |
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92
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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93
foundered
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| v.创始人( founder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
relished
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| v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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95
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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96
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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97
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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98
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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99
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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100
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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101
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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102
emolument
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| n.报酬，薪水 | |
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103
stipend
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| n.薪贴；奖学金；养老金 | |
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104
arrear
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| n.欠款 | |
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105
grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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106
shimmer
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| v./n.发微光，发闪光；微光 | |
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107
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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108
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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109
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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110
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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111
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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112
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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113
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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114
ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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115
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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116
dismantled
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| 拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消 | |
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117
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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118
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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119
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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120
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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121
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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122
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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123
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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124
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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125
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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126
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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127
plover
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| n.珩，珩科鸟，千鸟 | |
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128
skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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129
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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130
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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131
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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132
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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133
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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134
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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135
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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136
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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