In three parts of the visible circle whose centre is this spire19 I discern cultivated fields, villages, white country-seats, the waving lines of rivulets20, little placid21 lakes, and here and there a rising ground that would fain be termed a hill. On the fourth side is the sea, stretching away toward a viewless boundary, blue and calm except where the passing anger of a shadow flits across its surface and is gone. Hitherward a broad inlet penetrates22 far into the land; on the verge23 of the harbor formed by its extremity24 is a town, and over it am I, a watchman, all-heeding and unheeded. Oh that the multitude of chimneys could speak, like those of Madrid, and betray in smoky whispers the secrets of all who since their first foundation have assembled at the hearths25 within! Oh that the Limping Devil of Le Sage26 would perch27 beside me here, extend his wand over this contiguity28 of roofs, uncover every chamber29 and make me familiar with their inhabitants! The most desirable mode of existence might be that of a spiritualized Paul Pry30 hovering31 invisible round man and woman, witnessing their deeds, searching into their hearts, borrowing brightness from their felicity and shade from their sorrow, and retaining no emotion peculiar32 to himself. But none of these things are possible; and if I would know the interior of brick walls or the mystery of human bosoms33, I can but guess.
Yonder is a fair street extending north and south. The stately mansions34 are placed each on its carpet of verdant35 grass, and a long flight of steps descends37 from every door to the pavement. Ornamental38 trees — the broadleafed horse-chestnut, the elm so lofty and bending, the graceful39 but infrequent willow40, and others whereof I know not the names — grow thrivingly among brick and stone. The oblique41 rays of the sun are intercepted42 by these green citizens and by the houses, so that one side of the street is a shaded and pleasant walk. On its whole extent there is now but a single passenger, advancing from the upper end, and he, unless distance and the medium of a pocket spyglass do him more than justice, is a fine young man of twenty. He saunters slowly forward, slapping his left hand with his folded gloves, bending his eyes upon the pavement, and sometimes raising them to throw a glance before him. Certainly he has a pensive43 air. Is he in doubt or in debt? Is he — if the question be allowable — in love? Does he strive to be melancholy44 and gentlemanlike, or is he merely overcome by the heat? But I bid him farewell for the present. The door of one of the houses — an aristocratic edifice45 with curtains of purple and gold waving from the windows — is now opened, and down the steps come two ladies swinging their parasols and lightly arrayed for a summer ramble46. Both are young, both are pretty; but methinks the left-hand lass is the fairer of the twain, and, though she be so serious at this moment, I could swear that there is a treasure of gentle fun within her. They stand talking a little while upon the steps, and finally proceed up the street. Meantime, as their faces are now turned from me, I may look elsewhere.
Upon that wharf47 and down the corresponding street is a busy contrast to the quiet scene which I have just noticed. Business evidently has its centre there, and many a man is wasting the summer afternoon in labor48 and anxiety, in losing riches or in gaining them, when he would be wiser to flee away to some pleasant country village or shaded lake in the forest or wild and cool sea-beach. I see vessels49 unlading at the wharf and precious merchandise strown upon the ground abundantly as at the bottom of the sea — that market whence no goods return, and where there is no captain nor supercargo to render an account of sales. Here the clerks are diligent50 with their paper and pencils and sailors ply51 the block and tackle that hang over the hold, accompanying their toil52 with cries long-drawn15 and roughly melodious53 till the bales and puncheons ascend54 to upper air. At a little distance a group of gentlemen are assembled round the door of a warehouse55. Grave seniors be they, and I would wager56 — if it were safe, in these times, to be responsible for any one — that the least eminent57 among them might vie with old Vincentio, that incomparable trafficker of Pisa. I can even select the wealthiest of the company. It is the elderly personage in somewhat rusty58 black, with powdered hair the superfluous59 whiteness of which is visible upon the cape60 of his coat. His twenty ships are wafted61 on some of their many courses by every breeze that blows, and his name, I will venture to say, though I know it not, is a familiar sound among the far-separated merchants of Europe and the Indies.
But I bestow62 too much of my attention in this quarter. On looking again to the long and shady walk I perceive that the two fair girls have encountered the young man. After a sort of shyness in the recognition, he turns back with them. Moreover, he has sanctioned my taste in regard to his companions by placing himself on the inner side of the pavement, nearest the Venus to whom I, enacting63 on a steeple-top the part of Paris on the top of Ida, adjudged the golden apple.
In two streets converging64 at right angles toward my watch-tower I distinguish three different processions. One is a proud array of voluntary soldiers in bright uniform, resembling, from the height whence I look down, the painted veterans that garrison65 the windows of a toy-shop. And yet it stirs my heart. Their regular advance, their nodding plumes66, the sun-flash on their bayonets and musket-barrels, the roll of their drums ascending67 past me, and the fife ever and anon piercing through, — these things have wakened a warlike fire, peaceful though I be. Close to their rear marches a battalion68 of schoolboys ranged in crooked69 and irregular platoons, shouldering sticks, thumping70 a harsh and unripe71 clatter72 from an instrument of tin and ridiculously aping the intricate manoeuvres of the foremost band. Nevertheless, as slight differences are scarcely perceptible from a church-spire, one might be tempted73 to ask, “Which are the boys?” or, rather, “Which the men?” But, leaving these, let us turn to the third procession, which, though sadder in outward show, may excite identical reflections in the thoughtful mind. It is a funeral — a hearse drawn by a black and bony steed and covered by a dusty pall74, two or three coaches rumbling75 over the stones, their drivers half asleep, a dozen couple of careless mourners in their every-day attire76. Such was not the fashion of our fathers when they carried a friend to his grave. There is now no doleful clang of the bell to proclaim sorrow to the town. Was the King of Terrors more awful in those days than in our own, that wisdom and philosophy have been able to produce this change? Not so. Here is a proof that he retains his proper majesty77. The military men and the military boys are wheeling round the corner, and meet the funeral full in the face. Immediately the drum is silent, all but the tap that regulates each simultaneous footfall. The soldiers yield the path to the dusty hearse and unpretending train, and the children quit their ranks and cluster on the sidewalks with timorous78 and instinctive79 curiosity. The mourners enter the churchyard at the base of the steeple and pause by an open grave among the burial-stones; the lightning glimmers80 on them as they lower down the coffin81, and the thunder rattles82 heavily while they throw the earth upon its lid. Verily, the shower is near, and I tremble for the young man and the girls, who have now disappeared from the long and shady street.
How various are the situations of the people covered by the roofs beneath me, and how diversified83 are the events at this moment befalling them! The new-born, the aged84, the dying, the strong in life and the recent dead are in the chambers85 of these many mansions. The full of hope, the happy, the miserable86 and the desperate dwell together within the circle of my glance. In some of the houses over which my eyes roam so coldly guilt87 is entering into hearts that are still tenanted by a debased and trodden virtue88; guilt is on the very edge of commission, and the impending89 deed might be averted90; guilt is done, and the criminal wonders if it be irrevocable. There are broad thoughts struggling in my mind, and, were I able to give them distinctness, they would make their way in eloquence91. Lo! the raindrops are descending92.
The clouds within a little time have gathered over all the sky, hanging heavily, as if about to drop in one unbroken mass upon the earth. At intervals the lightning flashes from their brooding hearts, quivers, disappears, and then comes the thunder, travelling slowly after its twin-born flame. A strong wind has sprung up, howls through the darkened streets, and raises the dust in dense93 bodies to rebel against the approaching storm. The disbanded soldiers fly, the funeral has already vanished like its dead, and all people hurry homeward — all that have a home — while a few lounge by the corners or trudge94 on desperately95 at their leisure. In a narrow lane which communicates with the shady street I discern the rich old merchant putting himself to the top of his speed lest the rain should convert his hair-powder to a paste. Unhappy gentleman! By the slow vehemence96 and painful moderation wherewith he journeys, it is but too evident that Podagra has left its thrilling tenderness in his great toe. But yonder, at a far more rapid pace, come three other of my acquaintance, the two pretty girls and the young man unseasonably interrupted in their walk. Their footsteps are supported by the risen dust, the wind lends them its velocity97, they fly like three sea-birds driven landward by the tempestuous98 breeze. The ladies would not thus rival Atalanta if they but knew that any one were at leisure to observe them. Ah! as they hasten onward99, laughing in the angry face of nature, a sudden catastrophe100 has chanced. At the corner where the narrow lane enters into the street they come plump against the old merchant, whose tortoise-motion has just brought him to that point. He likes not the sweet encounter; the darkness of the whole air gathers speedily upon his visage, and there is a pause on both sides. Finally he thrusts aside the youth with little courtesy, seizes an arm of each of the two girls, and plods101 onward like a magician with a prize of captive fairies. All this is easy to be understood. How disconsolate102 the poor lover stands, regardless of the rain that threatens an exceeding damage to his well-fashioned habiliments, till he catches a backward glance of mirth from a bright eye, and turns away with whatever comfort it conveys!
The old man and his daughters are safely housed, and now the storm lets loose its fury. In every dwelling103 I perceive the faces of the chambermaids as they shut down the windows, excluding the impetuous shower and shrinking away from the quick fiery104 glare. The large drops descend36 with force upon the slated105 roofs and rise again in smoke. There is a rush and roar as of a river through the air, and muddy streams bubble majestically106 along the pavement, whirl their dusky foam107 into the kennel108, and disappear beneath iron grates. Thus did Arethusa sink. I love not my station here aloft in the midst of the tumult109 which I am powerless to direct or quell110, with the blue lightning wrinkling on my brow and the thunder muttering its first awful syllables111 in my ear. I will descend. Yet let me give another glance to the sea, where the foam breaks out in long white lines upon a broad expanse of blackness or boils up in far-distant points like snowy mountain-tops in the eddies112 of a flood; and let me look once more at the green plain and little hills of the country, over which the giant of the storm is striding in robes of mist, and at the town whose obscured and desolate113 streets might beseem a city of the dead; and, turning a single moment to the sky, now gloomy as an author’s prospects114, I prepare to resume my station on lower earth. But stay! A little speck115 of azure has widened in the western heavens; the sunbeams find a passage and go rejoicing through the tempest, and on yonder darkest cloud, born like hallowed hopes of the glory of another world and the trouble and tears of this, brightens forth116 the rainbow.
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1
azure
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adj.天蓝色的,蔚蓝色的 | |
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solitary
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adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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gathering
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n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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ponderous
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adj.沉重的,笨重的,(文章)冗长的 | |
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intervals
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n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 | |
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vapor
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n.蒸汽,雾气 | |
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scattered
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adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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repose
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v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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disporting
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v.嬉戏,玩乐,自娱( disport的现在分词 ) | |
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rosy
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adj.美好的,乐观的,玫瑰色的 | |
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11
obstructs
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阻塞( obstruct的第三人称单数 ); 堵塞; 阻碍; 阻止 | |
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firmament
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n.苍穹;最高层 | |
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frail
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adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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14
withdrawn
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vt.收回;使退出;vi.撤退,退出 | |
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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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longing
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n.(for)渴望 | |
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profusion
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n.挥霍;丰富 | |
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wrung
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绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水) | |
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spire
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n.(教堂)尖顶,尖塔,高点 | |
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rivulets
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n.小河,小溪( rivulet的名词复数 ) | |
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placid
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adj.安静的,平和的 | |
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penetrates
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v.穿过( penetrate的第三人称单数 );刺入;了解;渗透 | |
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verge
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n.边,边缘;v.接近,濒临 | |
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extremity
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n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度 | |
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hearths
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壁炉前的地板,炉床,壁炉边( hearth的名词复数 ) | |
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sage
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n.圣人,哲人;adj.贤明的,明智的 | |
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perch
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n.栖木,高位,杆;v.栖息,就位,位于 | |
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contiguity
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n.邻近,接壤 | |
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chamber
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n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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pry
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vi.窥(刺)探,打听;vt.撬动(开,起) | |
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31
hovering
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鸟( hover的现在分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫 | |
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peculiar
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adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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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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mansions
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n.宅第,公馆,大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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verdant
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adj.翠绿的,青翠的,生疏的,不老练的 | |
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descend
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vt./vi.传下来,下来,下降 | |
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descends
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v.下来( descend的第三人称单数 );下去;下降;下斜 | |
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ornamental
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adj.装饰的;作装饰用的;n.装饰品;观赏植物 | |
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graceful
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adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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willow
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n.柳树 | |
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oblique
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adj.斜的,倾斜的,无诚意的,不坦率的 | |
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intercepted
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拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 ); 截住; 截击; 拦阻 | |
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pensive
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a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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melancholy
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n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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edifice
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n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿,教室) | |
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ramble
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v.漫步,漫谈,漫游;n.漫步,闲谈,蔓延 | |
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wharf
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n.码头,停泊处 | |
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labor
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n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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vessels
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n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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diligent
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adj.勤勉的,勤奋的 | |
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ply
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v.(搬运工等)等候顾客,弯曲 | |
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toil
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vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
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melodious
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adj.旋律美妙的,调子优美的,音乐性的 | |
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ascend
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vi.渐渐上升,升高;vt.攀登,登上 | |
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warehouse
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n.仓库;vt.存入仓库 | |
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wager
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n.赌注;vt.押注,打赌 | |
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eminent
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adj.显赫的,杰出的,有名的,优良的 | |
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rusty
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adj.生锈的;锈色的;荒废了的 | |
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superfluous
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adj.过多的,过剩的,多余的 | |
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cape
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n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
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61
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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bestow
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v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费 | |
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enacting
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制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的现在分词 ) | |
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converging
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adj.收敛[缩]的,会聚的,趋同的v.(线条、运动的物体等)会于一点( converge的现在分词 );(趋于)相似或相同;人或车辆汇集;聚集 | |
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garrison
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n.卫戍部队;驻地,卫戍区;vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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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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ascending
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adj.上升的,向上的 | |
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battalion
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n.营;部队;大队(的人) | |
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crooked
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adj.弯曲的;不诚实的,狡猾的,不正当的 | |
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thumping
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adj.重大的,巨大的;重击的;尺码大的;极好的adv.极端地;非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词);狠打;怦怦地跳;全力支持 | |
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unripe
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adj.未成熟的;n.未成熟 | |
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clatter
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v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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tempted
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v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词) | |
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pall
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v.覆盖,使平淡无味;n.柩衣,棺罩;棺材;帷幕 | |
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rumbling
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n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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attire
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v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装 | |
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majesty
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n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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timorous
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adj.胆怯的,胆小的 | |
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instinctive
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adj.(出于)本能的;直觉的;(出于)天性的 | |
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glimmers
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n.微光,闪光( glimmer的名词复数 )v.发闪光,发微光( glimmer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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coffin
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n.棺材,灵柩 | |
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rattles
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(使)发出格格的响声, (使)作嘎嘎声( rattle的第三人称单数 ); 喋喋不休地说话; 迅速而嘎嘎作响地移动,堕下或走动; 使紧张,使恐惧 | |
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diversified
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adj.多样化的,多种经营的v.使多样化,多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 );进入新的商业领域 | |
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aged
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adj.年老的,陈年的 | |
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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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86
miserable
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adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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87
guilt
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n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责 | |
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88
virtue
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n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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89
impending
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a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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90
averted
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防止,避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 ); 转移 | |
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91
eloquence
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n.雄辩;口才,修辞 | |
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92
descending
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n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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93
dense
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a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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94
trudge
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v.步履艰难地走;n.跋涉,费力艰难的步行 | |
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95
desperately
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adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地 | |
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96
vehemence
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n.热切;激烈;愤怒 | |
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97
velocity
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n.速度,速率 | |
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98
tempestuous
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adj.狂暴的 | |
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99
onward
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adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先 | |
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100
catastrophe
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n.大灾难,大祸 | |
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101
plods
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v.沉重缓慢地走(路)( plod的第三人称单数 );努力从事;沉闷地苦干;缓慢进行(尤指艰难枯燥的工作) | |
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102
disconsolate
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adj.忧郁的,不快的 | |
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103
dwelling
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n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
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104
fiery
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adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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105
slated
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用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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106
majestically
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雄伟地; 庄重地; 威严地; 崇高地 | |
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107
foam
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v./n.泡沫,起泡沫 | |
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108
kennel
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n.狗舍,狗窝 | |
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109
tumult
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n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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110
quell
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v.压制,平息,减轻 | |
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111
syllables
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n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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112
eddies
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(水、烟等的)漩涡,涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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113
desolate
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adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂 | |
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114
prospects
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n.希望,前途(恒为复数) | |
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115
speck
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n.微粒,小污点,小斑点 | |
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116
forth
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adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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