Haunt us on the tented plain;
We bid these spectre shapes avaunt,
Ashtaroth and Termagaunt.
WARTON.
The most profound silence, the deepest darkness, continued to brood for more than an hour over the chapel2 in which we left the Knight3 of the Leopard4 still kneeling, alternately expressing thanks to Heaven and gratitude5 to his lady for the boon6 which had been vouchsafed7 to him. His own safety, his own destiny, for which he was at all times little anxious, had not now the weight of a grain of dust in his reflections. He was in the neighbourhood of Lady Edith; he had received tokens of her grace; he was in a place hallowed by relics8 of the most awful sanctity. A Christian9 soldier, a devoted10 lover, could fear nothing, think of nothing, but his duty to Heaven and his devoir to his lady.
At the lapse11 of the space of time which we have noticed, a shrill12 whistle, like that with which a falconer calls his hawk13, was heard to ring sharply through the vaulted14 chapel. it was a sound ill suited to the place, and reminded Sir Kenneth how necessary it was he should be upon his guard. He started from his knee, and laid his hand upon his poniard. A creaking sound, as of a screw or pulleys, succeeded, and a light streaming upwards16, as from an opening in the floor, showed that a trap-door had been raised or depressed17. In less than a minute a long, skinny arm, partly naked, partly clothed in a sleeve of red samite, arose out of the aperture18, holding a lamp as high as it could stretch upwards, and the figure to which the arm belonged ascended19 step by step to the level of the chapel floor. The form and face of the being who thus presented himself were those of a frightful20 dwarf21, with a large head, a cap fantastically adorned22 with three peacock feathers, a dress of red samite, the richness of which rendered his ugliness more conspicuous23, distinguished24 by gold bracelets25 and armlets, and a white silk sash, in which he wore a gold-hilted dagger26. This singular figure had in his left hand a kind of broom. So soon as he had stepped from the aperture through which he arose, he stood still, and, as if to show himself more distinctly, moved the lamp which he held slowly over his face and person, successively illuminating27 his wild and fantastic features, and his misshapen but nervous limbs. Though disproportioned in person, the dwarf was not so distorted as to argue any want of strength or activity. While Sir Kenneth gazed on this disagreeable object, the popular creed28 occurred to his remembrance concerning the gnomes29 or earthly spirits which make their abode30 in the caverns31 of the earth; and so much did this figure correspond with ideas he had formed of their appearance, that he looked on it with disgust, mingled33 not indeed with fear, but that sort of awe34 which the presence of a supernatural creature may infuse into the most steady bosom35.
The dwarf again whistled, and summoned from beneath a companion. This second figure ascended in the same manner as the first; but it was a female arm in this second instance which upheld the lamp from the subterranean36 vault15 out of which these presentments arose, and it was a female form, much resembling the first in shape and proportions, which slowly emerged from the floor. Her dress was also of red samite, fantastically cut and flounced, as if she had been dressed for some exhibition of mimes37 or jugglers; and with the same minuteness which her predecessor38 had exhibited, she passed the lamp over her face and person, which seemed to rival the male’s in ugliness. But with all this most unfavourable exterior40, there was one trait in the features of both which argued alertness and intelligence in the most uncommon41 degree. This arose from the brilliancy of their eyes, which, deep-set beneath black and shaggy brows, gleamed with a lustre42 which, like that in the eye of the toad43, seemed to make some amends44 for the extreme ugliness of countenance45 and person.
Sir Kenneth remained as if spellbound, while this unlovely pair, moving round the chapel close to each other, appeared to perform the duty of sweeping46 it, like menials; but as they used only one hand, the floor was not much benefited by the exercise, which they plied47 with such oddity of gestures and manner as befitted their bizarre and fantastic appearance. When they approached near to the knight in the course of their occupation, they ceased to use their brooms; and placing themselves side by side, directly opposite to Sir Kenneth, they again slowly shifted the lights which they held, so as to allow him distinctly to survey features which were not rendered more agreeable by being brought nearer, and to observe the extreme quickness and keenness with which their black and glittering eyes flashed back the light of the lamps. They then turned the gleam of both lights upon the knight, and having accurately48 surveyed him, turned their faces to each other, and set up a loud, yelling laugh, which resounded49 in his ears. The sound was so ghastly that Sir Kenneth started at hearing it, and hastily demanded, in the name of God, who they were who profaned50 that holy place with such antic gestures and elritch exclamations51.
“I am the dwarf Nectabanus,” said the abortion-seeming male, in a voice corresponding to his figure, and resembling the voice of the night-crow more than any sound which is heard by daylight.
“And I am Guenevra, his lady and his love,” replied the female, in tones which, being shriller, were yet wilder than those of her companion.
“Wherefore are you here?” again demanded the knight, scarcely yet assured that they were human beings which he saw before him.
“I am,” replied the male dwarf, with much assumed gravity and dignity, “the twelfth Imaum. I am Mohammed Mohadi, the guide and the conductor of the faithful. A hundred horses stand ready saddled for me and my train at the Holy City, and as many at the City of Refuge. I am he who shall bear witness, and this is one of my houris.”
“Thou liest!” answered the female, interrupting her companion, in tones yet shriller than his own; “I am none of thy houris, and thou art no such infidel trash as the Mohammed of whom thou speakest. May my curse rest upon his coffin52! I tell thee, thou ass39 of Issachar, thou art King Arthur of Britain, whom the fairies stole away from the field of Avalon; and I am Dame53 Guenevra, famed for her beauty.”
“But in truth, noble sir,” said the male, “we are distressed54 princes, dwelling55 under the wing of King Guy of Jerusalem, until he was driven out from his own nest by the foul56 infidels — Heaven’s bolts consume them!”
“Hush,” said a voice from the side upon which the knight had entered —“hush, fools, and begone; your ministry57 is ended.”
The dwarfs58 had no sooner heard the command than, gibbering in discordant59 whispers to each other, they blew out their lights at once, and left the knight in utter darkness, which, when the pattering of their retiring feet had died away, was soon accompanied by its fittest companion, total silence.
The knight felt the departure of these unfortunate creatures a relief. He could not, from their language, manners, and appearance, doubt that they belonged to the degraded class of beings whom deformity of person and weakness of intellect recommended to the painful situation of appendages60 to great families, where their personal appearance and imbecility were food for merriment to the household. Superior in no respect to the ideas and manners of his time, the Scottish knight might, at another period, have been much amused by the mummery of these poor effigies61 of humanity; but now their appearance, gesticulations, and language broke the train of deep and solemn feeling with which he was impressed, and he rejoiced in the disappearance62 of the unhappy objects.
A few minutes after they had retired63, the door at which he had entered opened slowly, and remaining ajar, discovered a faint light arising from a lantern placed upon the threshold. Its doubtful and wavering gleam showed a dark form reclined beside the entrance, but without its precincts, which, on approaching it more nearly, he recognized to be the hermit64, crouching65 in the same humble66 posture67 in which he had at first laid himself down, and which, doubtless, he had retained during the whole time of his guest’s continuing in the chapel.
“All is over,” said the hermit, as he heard the knight approaching, “and the most wretched of earthly sinners, with him who should think himself most honoured and most happy among the race of humanity, must retire from this place. Take the light, and guide me down the descent, for I must not uncover my eyes until I am far from this hallowed spot.”
The Scottish knight obeyed in silence, for a solemn and yet ecstatic sense of what he had seen had silenced even the eager workings of curiosity. He led the way, with considerable accuracy, through the various secret passages and stairs by which they had ascended, until at length they found themselves in the outward cell of the hermit’s cavern32.
“The condemned68 criminal is restored to his dungeon69, reprieved70 from one miserable71 day to another, until his awful Judge shall at length appoint the well-deserved sentence to be carried into execution.”
As the hermit spoke72 these words, he laid aside the veil with which his eyes had been bound, and looked at it with a suppressed and hollow sigh. No sooner had he restored it to the crypt from which he had caused the Scot to bring it, than he said hastily and sternly to his companion; “Begone, begone — to rest, to rest. You may sleep — you can sleep — I neither can nor may.”
Respecting the profound agitation73 with which this was spoken, the knight retired into the inner cell; but casting back his eye as he left the exterior grotto74, he beheld75 the anchorite stripping his shoulders with frantic76 haste of their shaggy mantle77, and ere he could shut the frail78 door which separated the two compartments79 of the cavern, he heard the clang of the scourge80 and the groans81 of the penitent82 under his self-inflicted penance83. A cold shudder84 came over the knight as he reflected what could be the foulness85 of the sin, what the depth of the remorse86, which, apparently87, such severe penance could neither cleanse88 nor assuage89. He told his beads90 devoutly91, and flung himself on his rude couch, after a glance at the still sleeping Moslem92, and, wearied by the various scenes of the day and the night, soon slept as sound as infancy93. Upon his awaking in the morning, he held certain conferences with the hermit upon matters of importance, and the result of their intercourse94 induced him to remain for two days longer in the grotto. He was regular, as became a pilgrim, in his devotional exercises, but was not again admitted to the chapel in which he had seen such wonders.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
necromantic
|
|
| 降神术的，妖术的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
chapel
|
|
| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
knight
|
|
| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
leopard
|
|
| n.豹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
boon
|
|
| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
vouchsafed
|
|
| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
relics
|
|
| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
lapse
|
|
| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
hawk
|
|
| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
vaulted
|
|
| adj.拱状的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
vault
|
|
| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
upwards
|
|
| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
depressed
|
|
| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
aperture
|
|
| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
dwarf
|
|
| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
conspicuous
|
|
| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
bracelets
|
|
| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
illuminating
|
|
| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
creed
|
|
| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
gnomes
|
|
| n.矮子( gnome的名词复数 )；侏儒；（尤指金融市场上搞投机的）银行家；守护神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
abode
|
|
| n.住处，住所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
caverns
|
|
| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
cavern
|
|
| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
awe
|
|
| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
subterranean
|
|
| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
mimes
|
|
| n.指手画脚( mime的名词复数 )；做手势；哑剧；哑剧演员v.指手画脚地表演，用哑剧的形式表演( mime的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
predecessor
|
|
| n.前辈，前任 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
ass
|
|
| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
exterior
|
|
| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
uncommon
|
|
| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
lustre
|
|
| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
toad
|
|
| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
amends
|
|
| n. 赔偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
sweeping
|
|
| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
plied
|
|
| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
accurately
|
|
| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
resounded
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
profaned
|
|
| v.不敬( profane的过去式和过去分词 )；亵渎，玷污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
exclamations
|
|
| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
coffin
|
|
| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
dame
|
|
| n.女士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
distressed
|
|
| 痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
ministry
|
|
| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
dwarfs
|
|
| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
discordant
|
|
| adj.不调和的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
appendages
|
|
| n.附属物( appendage的名词复数 )；依附的人；附属器官；附属肢体（如臂、腿、尾等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
effigies
|
|
| n.（人的）雕像，模拟像，肖像( effigy的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
disappearance
|
|
| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
hermit
|
|
| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
crouching
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
posture
|
|
| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
dungeon
|
|
| n.地牢，土牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
reprieved
|
|
| v.缓期执行（死刑）( reprieve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
grotto
|
|
| n.洞穴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
beheld
|
|
| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
frantic
|
|
| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
compartments
|
|
| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
scourge
|
|
| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
groans
|
|
| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
penitent
|
|
| adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
penance
|
|
| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
shudder
|
|
| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
foulness
|
|
| n. 纠缠, 卑鄙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
remorse
|
|
| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
cleanse
|
|
| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
assuage
|
|
| v.缓和，减轻，镇定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
beads
|
|
| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
devoutly
|
|
| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
Moslem
|
|
| n.回教徒，穆罕默德信徒；adj.回教徒的，回教的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
infancy
|
|
| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
intercourse
|
|
| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |