the curious history of the early settlement of Mount Wollaston,
or Merry Mount. In the slight sketch2 here attempted the facts
recorded on the grave pages of our New England annalists have
wrought3 themselves almost spontaneously into a sort of allegory.
The masques, mummeries and festive4 customs described in the text
are in accordance with the manners of the age. Authority on these
points may be found in Strutt’s Book of English Sports and
Pastimes.
Bright were the days at Merry Mount when the Maypole was the banner-staff of that gay colony. They who reared it, should their banner be triumphant5, were to pour sunshine over New England’s rugged6 hills and scatter7 flower-seeds throughout the soil. Jollity and gloom were contending for an empire. Midsummer eve had come, bringing deep verdure to the forest, and roses in her lap of a more vivid hue8 than the tender buds of spring. But May, or her mirthful spirit, dwelt all the year round at Merry Mount, sporting with the summer months and revelling9 with autumn and basking11 in the glow of winter’s fireside. Through a world of toil12 and care she flitted with a dream-like smile, and came hither to find a home among the lightsome hearts of Merry Mount.
Never had the Maypole been so gayly decked as at sunset on Midsummer eve. This venerated13 emblem14 was a pine tree which had preserved the slender grace of youth, while it equalled the loftiest height of the old wood-monarchs. From its top streamed a silken banner colored like the rainbow. Down nearly to the ground the pole was dressed with birchen boughs16, and others of the liveliest green, and some with silvery leaves fastened by ribbons that fluttered in fantastic knots of twenty different colors, but no sad ones. Garden-flowers and blossoms of the wilderness17 laughed gladly forth18 amid the verdure, so fresh and dewy that they must have grown by magic on that happy pine tree. Where this green and flowery splendor19 terminated the shaft20 of the Maypole was stained with the seven brilliant hues21 of the banner at its top. On the lowest green bough15 hung an abundant wreath of roses — some that had been gathered in the sunniest spots of the forest, and others, of still richer blush, which the colonists22 had reared from English seed. O people of the Golden Age, the chief of your husbandry was to raise flowers!
But what was the wild throng23 that stood hand in hand about the Maypole? It could not be that the fauns and nymphs, when driven from their classic groves24 and homes of ancient fable25, had sought refuge, as all the persecuted26 did, in the fresh woods of the West. These were Gothic monsters, though perhaps of Grecian ancestry27. On the shoulders of a comely28 youth uprose the head and branching antlers of a stag; a second, human in all other points, had the grim visage of a wolf; a third, still with the trunk and limbs of a mortal man, showed the beard and horns of a venerable he-goat. There was the likeness29 of a bear erect30, brute31 in all but his hind32 legs, which were adorned33 with pink silk stockings. And here, again, almost as wondrous34, stood a real bear of the dark forest, lending each of his forepaws to the grasp of a human hand and as ready for the dance as any in that circle. His inferior nature rose halfway35 to meet his companions as they stooped. Other faces wore the similitude of man or woman, but distorted or extravagant36, with red noses pendulous37 before their mouths, which seemed of awful depth and stretched from ear to ear in an eternal fit of laughter. Here might be seen the salvage38 man — well known in heraldry — hairy as a baboon39 and girdled with green leaves. By his side — a nobler figure, but still a counterfeit40 — appeared an Indian hunter with feathery crest41 and wampum-belt. Many of this strange company wore foolscaps and had little bells appended to their garments, tinkling42 with a silvery sound responsive to the inaudible music of their gleesome spirits. Some youths and maidens43 were of soberer garb45, yet well maintained their places in the irregular throng by the expression of wild revelry upon their features.
Such were the colonists of Merry Mount as they stood in the broad smile of sunset round their venerated Maypole. Had a wanderer bewildered in the melancholy46 forest heard their mirth and stolen a half-affrighted glance, he might have fancied them the crew of Comus, some already transformed to brutes47, some midway between man and beast, and the others rioting in the flow of tipsy jollity that foreran the change; but a band of Puritans who watched the scene, invisible themselves, compared the masques to those devils and ruined souls with whom their superstition48 peopled the black wilderness.
Within the ring of monsters appeared the two airiest forms that had ever trodden on any more solid footing than a purple-and-golden cloud. One was a youth in glistening49 apparel with a scarf of the rainbow pattern crosswise on his breast. His right hand held a gilded50 staff — the ensign of high dignity among the revellers — and his left grasped the slender fingers of a fair maiden44 not less gayly decorated than himself. Bright roses glowed in contrast with the dark and glossy51 curls of each, and were scattered52 round their feet or had sprung up spontaneously there. Behind this lightsome couple, so close to the Maypole that its boughs shaded his jovial53 face, stood the figure of an English priest, canonically54 dressed, yet decked with flowers, in heathen fashion, and wearing a chaplet of the native vine leaves. By the riot of his rolling eye and the pagan decorations of his holy garb, he seemed the wildest monster there, and the very Comus of the crew.
“Votaries55 of the Maypole,” cried the flower-decked priest, “merrily all day long have the woods echoed to your mirth. But be this your merriest hour, my hearts! Lo! here stand the Lord and Lady of the May, whom I, a clerk of Oxford56 and high priest of Merry Mount, am presently to join in holy matrimony. — Up with your nimble spirits, ye morrice-dancers, green men and glee-maidens, bears and wolves and horned gentlemen! Come! a chorus now rich with the old mirth of Merry England and the wilder glee of this fresh forest, and then a dance, to show the youthful pair what life is made of and how airily they should go through it! — All ye that love the Maypole, lend your voices to the nuptial57 song of the Lord and Lady of the May!”
This wedlock58 was more serious than most affairs of Merry Mount, where jest and delusion59, trick and fantasy, kept up a continual carnival60. The Lord and Lady of the May, though their titles must be laid down at sunset, were really and truly to be partners for the dance of life, beginning the measure that same bright eve. The wreath of roses that hung from the lowest green bough of the Maypole had been twined for them, and would be thrown over both their heads in symbol of their flowery union. When the priest had spoken, therefore, a riotous61 uproar62 burst from the rout63 of monstrous64 figures.
“Begin you the stave, reverend sir,” cried they all, “and never did the woods ring to such a merry peal65 as we of the Maypole shall send up.”
Immediately a prelude66 of pipe, cittern and viol, touched with practised minstrelsy, began to play from a neighboring thicket67 in such a mirthful cadence68 that the boughs of the Maypole quivered to the sound. But the May-lord — he of the gilded staff — chancing to look into his lady’s eyes, was wonder-struck at the almost pensive69 glance that met his own.
“Edith, sweet Lady of the May,” whispered he, reproachfully, “is yon wreath of roses a garland to hang above our graves that you look so sad? Oh, Edith, this is our golden time. Tarnish70 it not by any pensive shadow of the mind, for it may be that nothing of futurity will be brighter than the mere71 remembrance of what is now passing.”
“That was the very thought that saddened me. How came it in your mind too?” said Edith, in a still lower tone than he; for it was high treason to be sad at Merry Mount. “Therefore do I sigh amid this festive music. And besides, dear Edgar, I struggle as with a dream, and fancy that these shapes of our jovial friends are visionary and their mirth unreal, and that we are no true lord and lady of the May. What is the mystery in my heart?”
Just then, as if a spell had loosened them, down came a little shower of withering72 rose-leaves from the Maypole. Alas73 for the young lovers! No sooner had their hearts glowed with real passion than they were sensible of something vague and unsubstantial in their former pleasures, and felt a dreary74 presentiment75 of inevitable76 change. From the moment that they truly loved they had subjected themselves to earth’s doom77 of care and sorrow and troubled joy, and had no more a home at Merry Mount. That was Edith’s mystery. Now leave we the priest to marry them, and the masquers to sport round the Maypole till the last sunbeam be withdrawn78 from its summit and the shadows of the forest mingle79 gloomily in the dance. Meanwhile, we may discover who these gay people were.
Two hundred years ago, and more, the Old World and its inhabitants became mutually weary of each other. Men voyaged by thousands to the West — some to barter81 glass and such like jewels for the furs of the Indian hunter, some to conquer virgin82 empires, and one stern band to pray. But none of these motives83 had much weight with the striving to communicate their mirth to the grave Indian, or masquerading in the skins of deer and wolves which they had hunted for that especial purpose. Often the whole colony were playing at Blindman’s Buff, magistrates84 and all with their eyes bandaged, except a single scapegoat85, whom the blinded sinners pursued by the tinkling of the bells at his garments. Once, it is said, they were seen following a flower-decked corpse86 with merriment and festive music to his grave. But did the dead man laugh? In their quietest times they sang ballads87 and told tales for the edification of their pious88 visitors, or perplexed89 them with juggling90 tricks, or grinned at them through horse-collars; and when sport itself grew wearisome, they made game of their own stupidity and began a yawning-match. At the very least of these enormities the men of iron shook their heads and frowned so darkly that the revellers looked up, imagining that a momentary91 cloud had overcast92 the sunshine which was to be perpetual there. On the other hand, the Puritans affirmed that when a psalm93 was pealing94 from their place of worship the echo which the forest sent them back seemed often like the chorus of a jolly catch, closing with a roar of laughter. Who but the fiend and his bond-slaves the crew of Merry Mount had thus disturbed them? In due time a feud95 arose, stern and bitter on one side, and as serious on the other as anything could be among such light spirits as had sworn allegiance to the Maypole. The future complexion96 of New England was involved in this important quarrel. Should the grisly saints establish their jurisdiction97 over the gay sinners, then would their spirits darken all the clime and make it a land of clouded visages, of hard toil, of sermon and psalm for ever; but should the banner-staff of Merry Mount be fortunate, sunshine would break upon the hills, and flowers would beautify the forest and late posterity98 do homage99 to the Maypole.
After these authentic100 passages from history we return to the nuptials101 of the Lord and Lady of the May. Alas! we have delayed too long, and must darken our tale too suddenly. As we glance again at the Maypole a solitary102 sunbeam is fading from the summit, and leaves only a faint golden tinge103 blended with the hues of the rainbow banner. Even that dim light is now withdrawn, relinquishing104 the whole domain105 of Merry Mount to the evening gloom which has rushed so instantaneously from the black surrounding woods. But some of these black shadows have rushed forth in human shape.
Yes, with the setting sun the last day of mirth had passed from Merry Mount. The ring of gay masquers was disordered and broken; the stag lowered his antlers in dismay; the wolf grew weaker than a lamb; the bells of the morrice-dancers tinkled106 with tremulous affright. The Puritans had played a characteristic part in the Maypole mummeries. Their darksome figures were intermixed with the wild shapes of their foes107, and made the scene a picture of the moment when waking thoughts start up amid the scattered fantasies of a dream. The leader of the hostile party stood in the centre of the circle, while the rout of monsters cowered108 around him like evil spirits in the presence of a dread109 magician. No fantastic foolery could look him in the face. So stern was the energy of his aspect that the whole man, visage, frame and soul, seemed wrought of iron gifted with life and thought, yet all of one substance with his headpiece and breastplate. It was the Puritan of Puritans: it was Endicott himself.
“Stand off, priest of Baal!” said he, with a grim frown and laying no reverent110 hand upon the surplice. “I know thee, Blackstone!2 Thou art the man who couldst not abide111 the rule even of thine own corrupted112 Church, and hast come hither to preach iniquity113 and to give example of it in thy life. But now shall it be seen that the Lord hath sanctified this wilderness for his peculiar114 people. Woe115 unto them that would defile116 it! And first for this flower-decked abomination, the altar of thy worship!”
2 Did Governor Endicott speak less positively117, we should suspect a mistake here. The Rev10. Mr. Blackstone, though an eccentric, is not known to have been an immoral118 man. We rather doubt his identity with the priest of Merry Mount.
And with his keen sword Endicott assaulted the hallowed Maypole. Nor long did it resist his arm. It groaned120 with a dismal121 sound, it showered leaves and rosebuds122 upon the remorseless enthusiast123, and finally, with all its green boughs and ribbons and flowers, symbolic124 of departed pleasures, down fell the banner-staff of Merry Mount. As it sank, tradition says, the evening sky grew darker and the woods threw forth a more sombre shadow.
“There!” cried Endicott, looking triumphantly125 on his work; “there lies the only Maypole in New England. The thought is strong within me that by its fall is shadowed forth the fate of light and idle mirthmakers amongst us and our posterity. Amen, saith John Endicott!”
“Amen!” echoed his followers126.
But the votaries of the Maypole gave one groan119 for their idol127. At the sound the Puritan leader glanced at the crew of Comus, each a figure of broad mirth, yet at this moment strangely expressive128 of sorrow and dismay.
“Valiant129 captain,” quoth Peter Palfrey, the ancient of the band, “what order shall be taken with the prisoners?”
“I thought not to repent130 me of cutting down a Maypole,” replied Endicott, “yet now I could find in my heart to plant it again and give each of these bestial131 pagans one other dance round their idol. It would have served rarely for a whipping-post.”
“But there are pine trees enow,” suggested the lieutenant132.
“True, good ancient,” said the leader. “Wherefore bind133 the heathen crew and bestow134 on them a small matter of stripes apiece as earnest of our future justice. Set some of the rogues135 in the stocks to rest themselves so soon as Providence136 shall bring us to one of our own well-ordered settlements where such accommodations may be found. Further penalties, such as branding and cropping of ears, shall be thought of hereafter.”
“How many stripes for the priest?” inquired Ancient Palfrey.
“None as yet,” answered Endicott, bending his iron frown upon the culprit. “It must be for the Great and General Court to determine whether stripes and long imprisonment137, and other grievous penalty, may atone138 for his transgressions139. Let him look to himself. For such as violate our civil order it may be permitted us to show mercy, but woe to the wretch140 that troubleth our religion!”
“And this dancing bear?” resumed the officer. “Must he share the stripes of his fellows?”
“Shoot him through the head!” said the energetic Puritan. “I suspect witchcraft141 in the beast.”
“Here be a couple of shining ones,” continued Peter Palfrey, pointing his weapon at the Lord and Lady of the May. “They seem to be of high station among these misdoers. Methinks their dignity will not be fitted with less than a double share of stripes.”
Endicott rested on his sword and closely surveyed the dress and aspect of the hapless pair. There they stood, pale, downcast and apprehensive142, yet there was an air of mutual80 support and of pure affection seeking aid and giving it that showed them to be man and wife with the sanction of a priest upon their love. The youth in the peril143 of the moment, had dropped his gilded staff and thrown his arm about the Lady of the May, who leaned against his breast too lightly to burden him, but with weight enough to express that their destinies were linked together for good or evil. They looked first at each other and then into the grim captain’s face. There they stood in the first hour of wedlock, while the idle pleasures of which their companions were the emblems144 had given place to the sternest cares of life, personified by the dark Puritans. But never had their youthful beauty seemed so pure and high as when its glow was chastened by adversity.
“Youth,” said Endicott, “ye stand in an evil case — thou and thy maiden-wife. Make ready presently, for I am minded that ye shall both have a token to remember your wedding-day.”
“Stern man,” cried the May-lord, “how can I move thee? Were the means at hand, I would resist to the death; being powerless, I entreat145. Do with me as thou wilt146, but let Edith go untouched.”
“Not so,” replied the immitigable zealot. “We are not wont147 to show an idle courtesy to that sex which requireth the stricter discipline. — What sayest thou, maid? Shall thy silken bridegroom suffer thy share of the penalty besides his own?”
“Be it death,” said Edith, “and lay it all on me.”
Truly, as Endicott had said, the poor lovers stood in a woeful case. Their foes were triumphant, their friends captive and abased148, their home desolate149, the benighted150 wilderness around them, and a rigorous destiny in the shape of the Puritan leader their only guide. Yet the deepening twilight151 could not altogether conceal152 that the iron man was softened153. He smiled at the fair spectacle of early love; he almost sighed for the inevitable blight154 of early hopes.
“The troubles of life have come hastily on this young couple,” observed Endicott. “We will see how they comport155 themselves under their present trials ere we burden them with greater. If among the spoil there be any garments of a more decent fashion, let them be put upon this May-lord and his Lady instead of their glistening vanities. Look to it, some of you.”
“And shall not the youth’s hair be cut?” asked Peter Palfrey, looking with abhorrence156 at the lovelock and long glossy curls of the young man.
“Crop it forthwith, and that in the true pumpkin-shell fashion,” answered the captain. “Then bring them along with us, but more gently than their fellows. There be qualities in the youth which may make him valiant to fight and sober to toil and pious to pray, and in the maiden that may fit her to become a mother in our Israel, bringing up babes in better nurture157 than her own hath been. — Nor think ye, young ones, that they are the happiest, even in our lifetime of a moment, who misspend it in dancing round a Maypole.”
And Endicott, the severest Puritan of all who laid the rock-foundation of New England, lifted the wreath of roses from the ruin of the Maypole and threw it with his own gauntleted hand over the heads of the Lord and Lady of the May. It was a deed of prophecy. As the moral gloom of the world overpowers all systematic158 gayety, even so was their home of wild mirth made desolate amid the sad forest. They returned to it no more. But as their flowery garland was wreathed of the brightest roses that had grown there, so in the tie that united them were intertwined all the purest and best of their early joys. They went heavenward supporting each other along the difficult path which it was their lot to tread, and never wasted one regretful thought on the vanities of Merry Mount.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
philosophic
|
|
| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
sketch
|
|
| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
festive
|
|
| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
triumphant
|
|
| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
rugged
|
|
| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
scatter
|
|
| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
hue
|
|
| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
revelling
|
|
| v.作乐( revel的现在分词 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
rev
|
|
| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
basking
|
|
| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
toil
|
|
| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
venerated
|
|
| 敬重（某人或某事物），崇敬( venerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
emblem
|
|
| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
bough
|
|
| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
boughs
|
|
| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
splendor
|
|
| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
hues
|
|
| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
colonists
|
|
| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
throng
|
|
| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
groves
|
|
| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
fable
|
|
| n.寓言；童话；神话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
persecuted
|
|
| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ancestry
|
|
| n.祖先，家世 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
comely
|
|
| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
likeness
|
|
| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
brute
|
|
| n.野兽，兽性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
hind
|
|
| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
wondrous
|
|
| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
halfway
|
|
| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
extravagant
|
|
| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
pendulous
|
|
| adj.下垂的；摆动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
salvage
|
|
| v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
baboon
|
|
| n.狒狒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
counterfeit
|
|
| vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
crest
|
|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
tinkling
|
|
| n.丁当作响声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
maidens
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
maiden
|
|
| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
garb
|
|
| n.服装，装束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
brutes
|
|
| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
superstition
|
|
| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
glistening
|
|
| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
gilded
|
|
| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
glossy
|
|
| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
jovial
|
|
| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
canonically
|
|
| adv.照宗规地，宗规上地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
votaries
|
|
| n.信徒( votary的名词复数 )；追随者；（天主教）修士；修女 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
56
Oxford
|
|
| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
nuptial
|
|
| adj.婚姻的，婚礼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
wedlock
|
|
| n.婚姻，已婚状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
delusion
|
|
| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
carnival
|
|
| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
riotous
|
|
| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
uproar
|
|
| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
rout
|
|
| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
monstrous
|
|
| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
peal
|
|
| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
prelude
|
|
| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
cadence
|
|
| n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
pensive
|
|
| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
tarnish
|
|
| n.晦暗，污点；vt.使失去光泽；玷污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
withering
|
|
| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
dreary
|
|
| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
presentiment
|
|
| n.预感，预觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
inevitable
|
|
| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
doom
|
|
| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
withdrawn
|
|
| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
mingle
|
|
| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
barter
|
|
| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
virgin
|
|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
motives
|
|
| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
magistrates
|
|
| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
scapegoat
|
|
| n.替罪的羔羊，替人顶罪者；v.使…成为替罪羊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
corpse
|
|
| n.尸体，死尸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
ballads
|
|
| 民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
pious
|
|
| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
perplexed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
juggling
|
|
| n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery) adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的 动词juggle的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
overcast
|
|
| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
psalm
|
|
| n.赞美诗，圣诗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
pealing
|
|
| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
feud
|
|
| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
jurisdiction
|
|
| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
posterity
|
|
| n.后裔，子孙，后代 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
homage
|
|
| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
authentic
|
|
| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
nuptials
|
|
| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
tinge
|
|
| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
relinquishing
|
|
| 交出，让给( relinquish的现在分词 )； 放弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
domain
|
|
| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
tinkled
|
|
| （使）发出丁当声，（使）发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 )； 叮当响着发出，铃铃响着报出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
foes
|
|
| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
cowered
|
|
| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
reverent
|
|
| adj.恭敬的，虔诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
abide
|
|
| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
corrupted
|
|
| （使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
iniquity
|
|
| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
woe
|
|
| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
defile
|
|
| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
immoral
|
|
| adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
dismal
|
|
| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
rosebuds
|
|
| 蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女，初入社交界的少女( rosebud的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
enthusiast
|
|
| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
symbolic
|
|
| adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
idol
|
|
| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
expressive
|
|
| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
valiant
|
|
| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
repent
|
|
| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
bestial
|
|
| adj.残忍的；野蛮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
bind
|
|
| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
bestow
|
|
| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
rogues
|
|
| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
imprisonment
|
|
| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
atone
|
|
| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
transgressions
|
|
| n.违反，违法，罪过( transgression的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
wretch
|
|
| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
witchcraft
|
|
| n.魔法，巫术 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
apprehensive
|
|
| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
emblems
|
|
| n.象征，标记( emblem的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
entreat
|
|
| v.恳求，恳请 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
wilt
|
|
| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
wont
|
|
| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
abased
|
|
| 使谦卑( abase的过去式和过去分词 )； 使感到羞耻； 使降低（地位、身份等）； 降下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
desolate
|
|
| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
benighted
|
|
| adj.蒙昧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
twilight
|
|
| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
153
softened
|
|
| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
154
blight
|
|
| n.枯萎病；造成破坏的因素；vt.破坏，摧残 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
155
comport
|
|
| vi.相称，适合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
156
abhorrence
|
|
| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
157
nurture
|
|
| n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
158
systematic
|
|
| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |