“Thou shalt do no unrighteousness in judgment4.”
Leviticus, chap. xix. verse 15.
“The wicked is snared5 in the work of his own hands.”
Psalms6, chap. ix. verse 16.
Imagine now this depraved and atrocious youth hand-cuffed, and dragged from his wicked haunt, through the streets to a place of security, amidst the scorn and contempt of a jeering7 populace; and thence brought before the sitting magistrate8, (who, to heighten the scene and support the contrast, is supposed to be his fellow-‘prentice, now chosen an alderman,) in order to be dealt with according to law. See him then at last having run his course of iniquity9, fallen into the hands of justice, being betrayed by his accomplice; a further proof of the perfidy10 of man, when even partners in vice11 are unfaithful to each other. This is the only print among the set, excepting the first, where the two principal characters are introduced; in which Mr. Hogarth has shown his great abilities, as well in description, as in a particular attention to the uniformity and connexion of the whole. He is now at the bar, with all the marks of guilt12 imprinted13 on his face. How, if his fear will permit him to reflect, must he think on the happiness and exaltation of his fellow-‘prentice on the one hand, and of his own misery14 and degradation15 on the other! at one instant, he condemns16 the persuasions17 of his wicked companions; at another, his own idleness and obstinacy18: however, deeply smitten19 with his crime, he sues the magistrate, upon his knees, for mercy, and pleads in his cause the former acquaintance that subsisted20 between them, when they both dwelt beneath the same roof, and served the same common master: but here was no room for lenity, murder was his crime, and death must be his punishment; the proofs are incontestable, and his mittimus is ordered, which the clerk is drawing out. Let us next turn our thoughts upon the alderman, in whose breast a struggle between mercy and justice is beautifully displayed. Who can behold21 the magistrate, here, without praising the man? How fine is the painter’s thoughts of reclining the head on one hand, while the other is extended to express the pity and shame he feels that human nature should be so depraved! It is not the golden chain or scarlet22 robe that constitutes the character, but the feelings of the heart. To show us that application for favour, by the ignorant, is often idly made to the servants of justice, who take upon themselves on that account a certain state and consequence, not inferior to magistracy, the mother of our delinquent23 is represented in the greatest distress24, as making interest with the corpulent self-swoln constable25, who with an unfeeling concern seems to say, “Make yourself easy, for he must be hanged;” and to convince us that bribery26 will even find its way into courts of judicature, here is a woman feeing the swearing clerk, who has stuck his pen behind his ear that his hands might be both at liberty; and how much more his attention is engaged to the money he is taking, than to the administration of the oath, may be known from the ignorant, treacherous27 witness being suffered to lay his left hand upon the book; strongly expressive28 of the sacrifice, even of sacred things, to the inordinate29 thirst of gain.
From Newgate (the prison to which he was committed; where, during his continuance he lay chained in a dismal30 cell, deprived of the cheerfulness of light, fed upon bread and water, and left without a bed to rest on) the prisoner was removed to the bar of judgment, and condemned31 to die by the laws of his country.

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收听单词发音

1
industrious
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adj.勤劳的,刻苦的,奋发的 | |
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2
impeached
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v.控告(某人)犯罪( impeach的过去式和过去分词 );弹劾;对(某事物)怀疑;提出异议 | |
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3
accomplice
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n.从犯,帮凶,同谋 | |
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4
judgment
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n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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5
snared
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v.用罗网捕捉,诱陷,陷害( snare的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
psalms
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n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 );圣诗;圣歌;(中的) | |
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7
jeering
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adj.嘲弄的,揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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8
magistrate
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n.地方行政官,地方法官,治安官 | |
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9
iniquity
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n.邪恶;不公正 | |
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10
perfidy
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n.背信弃义,不忠贞 | |
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11
vice
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n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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12
guilt
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n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责 | |
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13
imprinted
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v.盖印(imprint的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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14
misery
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n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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15
degradation
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n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变 | |
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16
condemns
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v.(通常因道义上的原因而)谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 );宣判;宣布…不能使用;迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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17
persuasions
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n.劝说,说服(力)( persuasion的名词复数 );信仰 | |
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18
obstinacy
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n.顽固;(病痛等)难治 | |
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19
smitten
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猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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20
subsisted
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v.(靠很少的钱或食物)维持生活,生存下去( subsist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
behold
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v.看,注视,看到 | |
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22
scarlet
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n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
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23
delinquent
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adj.犯法的,有过失的;n.违法者 | |
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24
distress
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n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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25
constable
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n.(英国)警察,警官 | |
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26
bribery
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n.贿络行为,行贿,受贿 | |
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27
treacherous
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adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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28
expressive
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adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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29
inordinate
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adj.无节制的;过度的 | |
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30
dismal
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adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的 | |
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31
condemned
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adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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