Zeus. A curse on all those philosophers who will have it that none but the Gods are happy! If they could but know what we have to put up with on men’s account, they would not envy us our nectar and our ambrosia3. They take Homer’s word for it all — the word of a blind quack4; ’tis he who pronounces us blessed, and expatiates5 on heavenly glories, he who could not see in front of his own nose. Look at the Sun, now. He yokes6 that chariot, and is riding through the heavens from morn till night, clothed in his garment of fire, and dispensing7 his rays abroad; not so much breathing-space as goes to the scratching of an ear; once let his horses catch him napping, and they have the bit between their teeth and are off ‘cross country, with the result that the Earth is scorched8 to a cinder9. The Moon is no better off: she is kept up into the small hours to light the reveller10 and the diner-out upon their homeward path. And then Apollo — he has his work cut out for him: with such a press of oracular business, it is much if he has any ears left to hear with: he is wanted at Delphi; the next minute, he must be off to Colophon; then away to Xanthus; then back at a trot12 to Clarus; then it is Delos, then Branchidae; — in short, he is at the beck of every priestess who has taken her draught13 of holy water, munched14 her laurel-leaf, and made the tripod rock; it is now or never; if he is not there that minute to reel off the required oracle15, his credit is gone. The traps they set for him too! He must have a dog’s nose for lamb and tortoise in the pot, or his Lydian customer 71 departs, laughing him to scorn. As for Asclepius, he has no peace for his patients: his eyes are acquainted with horror, and his hands with loathsomeness16; another’s sickness is his pain. To say nothing of the work that the Winds have to get through, what with sowing and winnowing17 and getting the ships along; or of Sleep, always on the wing, with Dream at his side all night giving a helping18 hand. Men have to thank us for all this: every one of us contributes his share to their well-being19. And the others have an easy time of it, compared to me, to me the King and Father of all. The annoyances20 I have to put up with! the worry of thinking of all these things at once! I must keep an eye on all the rest, to begin with, or they would be making some silly mistake; and as for the work I have to do with my own hands, there is no end to it; such complications! it is all I can do to get through with it. It is not as if I had only the main issues to attend to, the rain and hail and wind and lightning, and as soon as I had arranged them could sit down, feeling that my own particular work was over: no, besides all that, I must be looking every way at once, Argus-eyed for theft and perjury21, as for sacrifice; the moment a libation has been poured, it is for me to locate the savoury smoke that rises; for me it is to hear the cry of the sick man and of the sailor; at one and the same moment, a hecatomb demands my presence at Olympia, a battle in the plain of Babylon; hail is due in Thrace, dinner in Ethiopia; ’tis too much! And do what I may, it is hard to give satisfaction. Many is the time that all besides, both Gods and men of plumed22 helm, have slept the long night through, while unto Zeus sweet slumber23 has not come nigh. If I nod for a moment, behold24, Epicurus is justified25, and our indifference26 to the affairs of Earth made manifest; and if once men lend an ear to that doctrine27, the consequences will be serious: our temples will go ungarlanded; the streets will be redolent no longer of roast meat, the bowl no longer yield us libation; our altars will be cold, sacrifice and oblation28 will be at an end, and utter starvation must ensue. Hence like a pilot I stand up at the helm all alone, tiller in hand, while every soul on board is asleep, and probably drunk; no rest, no food for me, while I ponder in my mind and breast on the common safety; and my reward? to be called the Lord of all! I should like to ask those philosophers who assign us the monopoly of blessedness, when they suppose we find time for nectar and ambrosia among our ceaseless occupations. Look at the mildewed29, cob-webbed stack of petitions mouldering30 on their files in our chancery, for want of time to attend to them: look only at the cases pending31 between men and the various Arts and Sciences; venerable relics32, some of them! Angry protests against the delays of the law reach me from all quarters; men cannot understand that it is from no neglect of ours that these judgements have been postponed33; it is simply pressure of business — pressure of blessedness, if they will have it so.
Her. I myself, father, have heard a great deal of dissatisfaction expressed on Earth, only I did not like to mention it to you. However, as you have introduced the subject yourself, I may say that the discontent is general: men do not venture to express their resentment34 openly, but there are mutterings in corners about the delay. It is high time they were all put out of their suspense35, for better or for worse.
Zeus. And what would you have me do, my boy? hold a session at once? or shall we say next year?
Her. Oh, at once, by all means.
Zeus. To work, then: fly down, and make proclamation in the following terms: All litigant36 parties to assemble this day on Areopagus: Justice to assign them their juries from the whole body of the Athenians, the number of the jury to be in proportion to the amount of damages claimed; any party doubting the justice of his sentence to have the right of appeal to me. And you, my daughter, take your seat by the side of the Dread37 Goddesses 72, cast lots for the order of the trials, and superintend the formation of juries.
Just. You would have me return to Earth, once more to be driven thence in ignominious38 flight by the intolerable taunts39 of Injustice40?
Zeus. Hope for better things. The philosophers have quite convinced every one by this time of your superiority. The son of Sophroniscus was particularly strong on your merits: he laid it down that Justice was the highest Good.
Just. Yes; and very serviceable his dissertations41 on Justice were to him, were they not, when he was handed over to the Eleven, and thrown into prison, and drank the hemlock42? Poor man, he had not even time to sacrifice the cock he owed to Asclepius. His accusers were too much for him altogether, and their philosophy had Injustice for its object.
Zeus. But in those days philosophy was not generally known, and had but few exponents43; it is not surprising that the scale turned in favour of Anytus and Meletus. But now it is different: look at the number of cloaks and sticks and wallets that are about; everywhere philosophers, long-bearded, book in hand, maintain your cause; the public walks are filled with their contending hosts, and every man of them calls Virtue his nurse. Numbers have abandoned their former professions to pounce44 upon wallet and cloak; these ready-made philosophers, carpenters once or cobblers, now duly tanned to the true Ethiopian hue45, are singing your praises high and low. ‘He that falls on shipboard strikes wood,’ says the proverb; and the eye, wheresoever it fall, will light on philosophers.
Just. Yes, father, but they frighten me: they quarrel so among themselves; and when they talk about me, they only expose their own little minds. And, from what I hear, most of those who make so free with my name show no inclination46 at all to put my principles into practice. I may count upon finding their doors closed to me: Injustice has been beforehand with me.
Zeus. Come, child, they are not all so bad, and if you can find a few honest men it will be something. Now, off with you both, and see if you can’t get a few cases settled up today.
Her. Well, Justice: yonder is our road: straight in the line for Sunium, to the foot of Hymettus, taking Parnes on our right; you see those two hills? You have quite forgotten the way, I suppose, in all this time? Now, now: weeping? why so vexed47? There is nothing to fear. Things are quite different in these days: the Scirons and Pityocampteses and Busirises and Phalarises who used to frighten you so are all dead: Wisdom, the Academy, the Porch, now hold sway everywhere. They are all your admirers; their talk is all of you; they yearn48 to see you descend49 to them once more.
Just. Tell me, Hermes — you if any one must know the truth; you are generally busy either in the Gymnasium or else in the Market, making proclamation to the Assembly — what are the Athenians like now? shall I be able to live with them?
Her. We are brother and sister, it is only right that I should tell you the truth. Well then, Philosophy has made a considerable change for the better in most of them; at the worst, their respect for the cloth is some check on their misdeeds. At the same time — not to conceal50 anything — you will find villains51 amongst them; and you will find some who are neither quite philosophers nor quite knaves52. The fact is, Philosophy’s dyeing process is still going on. Some have absorbed the full quantity of dye; these are perfect specimens53 of her art, and show no admixture of other colours; with them you will find a ready reception. But others, owing to their original impurities54, are not yet completely saturated55; they are better than the generality of mankind, but they are not all they should be; they are piebald or spotted56 or dappled. Others again there are who have contented57 themselves with merely rubbing a fingertip in the soot58 on the outside of the cauldron, and smearing59 themselves with that; after which they consider the dyeing process complete. But you, of course, will only live with the best. Meanwhile, here we are, close to Attica; we must now leave Sunium on our right, and diverge60 towards the Acropolis. Good: terra firma. You had better sit down somewhere here on the Areopagus, in the direction of the Pnyx, and wait whilst I make Zeus’s proclamation. I shall go up into the Acropolis; that will be the easiest way of making every one hear the summons.
Just. Before you go, Hermes, tell me who this is coming along; a man with horns and a pipe and shaggy legs.
Her. Why, you must know Pan, most festive61 of all Dionysus’s followers62? He used to live on Mount Parthenius: but at the time of the Persian expedition under Datis, when the barbarians63 landed at Marathon, he volunteered in the Athenian service; and ever since then he has had the cave yonder at the foot of the Acropolis, a little past the Pelasgicum, and pays his taxes like any other naturalized foreigner. Seeing us so near at hand, I suppose he is coming up to make his compliments.
Pan. Hail, Justice and Hermes!
Just. Hail, Pan; chief of Satyrs in dance and song, and most gallant65 of Athens’ soldiers!
Pan. But what brings you here, Hermes?
Her. Justice will explain; I must be off to the Acropolis on my errand.
Just. Zeus has sent me down, Pan, to preside in the law-court. — And how do you like Athens?
Pan. Well, the fact is, I am a good deal disappointed: they do not treat me with the consideration to which I am entitled, after repelling66 that tremendous barbarian64 invasion. All they do is to come up to my cave two or three times a year with a particularly high-scented goat, and sacrifice him: I am permitted to look on whilst they enjoy the feast, and am complimented with a perfunctory dance. However, there is some joking and merrymaking on the occasion, and that I find rather fun.
Just. And, Pan — have they become more virtuous67 under the hands of the philosophers?
Pan. Philosophers? Oh! people with beards just like mine; sepulchral68 beings, who are always getting together and jabbering69?
Just. Those are they.
Pan. I can’t understand a word they say; their philosophy is too much for me. I am mountain-bred; smart city-language is not in my line; sophists and philosophers are not known in Arcadia. I am a good hand at flute70 or pipe; I can mind goats, I can dance, I can fight at a pinch, and that is all. But I hear them all day long, bawling71 out a string of hard words about virtue, and nature, and ideas, and things incorporeal72. They are good enough friends when the argument begins, but their voices mount higher and higher as they go on, and end in a scream; they get more and more excited, and all try to speak at once; they grow red in the face, their necks swell73, and their veins74 stand out, for all the world like a flute-player on a high note. The argument is turned upside down, they forget what they are trying to prove, and finally go off abusing one another and brushing the sweat from their brows; victory rests with him who can show the boldest front and the loudest voice, and hold his ground the longest. The people, especially those who have nothing better to do, adore them, and stand spellbound under their confident bawlings. For all that I could see, they were no better than humbugs75, and I was none too pleased at their copying my beard. If there were any use in their noise, if the talking did any good to the public, I should not have a word to say against them: but, to tell you the plain unvarnished truth, I have more than once looked out from my peep-hole yonder and seen them —
Just. Hush76, Pan: was not that Hermes making the proclamation?
Pan. I thought so.
Her. Be it known to all men that we purpose on this seventh day of March to hold a court of justice, and Fortune defend the right! All litigant parties to assemble on Areopagus, where Justice will assign the juries and preside over the trials in person. The juries to be taken from the whole Athenian people; the pay to be sixpence for each case; the number of jurors to vary with the nature of the accusation77. Any parties who had commenced legal proceedings78 and have died in the interim79 to be sent up by Aeacus. Any party doubting the justice of his sentence may appeal; the appeal to he heard by Zeus.
Pan. Talk about noise! how they shout! And what a hurry they are in to get here! See how one hales another up the hill! Here comes Hermes himself. Well, I leave you to your juries and your evidence; you are accustomed to it. I will return to my cave, and there play over one of those amorous81 ditties with which I love to upbraid82 Echo. As to rhetoric and law-pleadings, I hear enough of those every day in this very court of Areopagus.
Her. We had better summon the parties, Justice.
Just. True. Only look at the crowd, bustling83 and buzzing about the hilltop like a swarm84 of wasps85!
First Ath. I’ve got you, curse you.
Second Ath. Pooh! a trumped-up charge.
Third Ath. At last! you shall get your deserts this time.
Fourth Ath. Your villany shall be unmasked.
Fifth Ath. My jury first, Hermes.
Sixth Ath. Come along: into court with you, rascal86.
Seventh Ath. You needn’t throttle87 me.
Just. Do you know what I think we had better do, Hermes? Put off all the other cases for tomorrow, and only take today the charges brought by Arts, Professions, and Philosophies. Pick me out all of that kind.
Her. Drink v. the Academy, re Polemon, kidnapped.
Just. Seven jurors.
Her. Porch v. Pleasure. Defendant88 is charged with seducing89 Dionysius, plaintiff’s admirer.
Just. Five will do for that.
Her. Luxury v. Virtue, re Aristippus.
Just. Five again.
Her. Bank v. Diogenes, alleged90 to have run away from plaintiff’s service.
Just. Three only.
Her. Painting v. Pyrrho. Desertion from the ranks.
Just. That will want nine.
Her. What about these two charges just brought against a rhetorician?
Just. No, those can stand over; we must work off the arrears91 first.
Her. Well, these cases are of just the same kind. They are not old ones, it is true, but they are very like those you have taken, and might fairly be heard with them.
Just. That looks rather like favouritism, Hermes. However, as you like; only these must be the last; we have got quite enough. What are they?
Her. Rhetoric v. a Syrian 73, for neglect; Dialogue v. the same, for assault.
Just. And who is this Syrian? There is no name given.
Her. That is all: the Syrian rhetorician; he can have a jury without having a name.
Just. So! here on Areopagus I am to give juries to outsiders, who ought to be tried on the other side of the Euphrates? Well, give him eleven, and they can hear both cases.
Her. That’s right; it will save a lot of expense.
Just. First case: the Academy versus92 Drink. Let the jury take their seats. Mark the time,’ Hermes. Drink, open the case. . . . Not a word? can you do nothing but nod? — Hermes, go and see what is the matter with her.
Her. She says she cannot plead, she would only be laughed at; wine has tied her tongue. As you see, she can hardly stand.
Just. Well, there are plenty of able counsel present, ready to shout themselves hoarse93 for sixpence; let her employ one of them.
Her. No one will have anything to do with such a client in open court. But she makes a very reasonable proposal.
Just. Yes?
Her. The Academy is always ready to take both sides; she makes a point of contradicting herself plausibly94. ‘Let her speak first on my behalf,’ says Drink, ‘and then on her own.’
Just. A novel form of procedure. However, go on, Academy; speak on both sides, if you find it so easy.
Acad. First, gentlemen of the jury, let me state the case for 16 Drink, as her time is now being taken.
My unfortunate client, gentlemen, has been cruelly wronged: I have torn from her the one slave on whose loyalty95 and affection she could rely, the only one who saw nothing censurable96 in her conduct. I allude97 to Polemon, whose days, from morning to night, were spent in revel11; who in broad daylight sought the publicity98 of the Market in the company of music — girls and singers; ever drunk, ever headachy, ever garlanded. In support of my statements, I appeal to every man in Athens to say whether he had ever seen Polemon sober. But in an evil hour for him, his revels99, which had brought him to so many other doors, brought him at length to my own. I laid hands on him, tore him away by brute100 force from the plaintiff, and made him my own; giving him water to drink, teaching him sobriety, and stripping him of his garlands. He, who should have been sitting over his wine, now became acquainted with the perverse101, the harassing102, the pernicious quibbles of philosophy. Alas103! the ruddy glow has departed from his cheek; he is pale and wasted; his songs are all forgotten; there are times when he will sit far on into the night, tasting neither meat nor drink, while he reels out the meaningless platitudes104 with which I have so abundantly supplied him. I have even incited105 him to attack the character of my client, and to utter a thousand base insinuations against her good fame.
The case of Drink is now complete. I proceed to state my own. Let my time be taken.
Just. What will the defendant have to say to that, I wonder? Give her the same time allowance.
Acad. Nothing, gentlemen of the jury, could sound more plausible106 than the arguments advanced by my learned friend on her client’s behalf. And yet, if you will give me your favourable107 attention, I shall convince you that the plaintiff has suffered no wrong at my hands. This Polemon, whom plaintiff claims as her servant, so far from having any natural connexion with her, is one whose excellent parts entitle him to claim kinship and affinity108 with myself. He was still a boy, his powers were yet unformed, when plaintiff, aided and abetted109 by Pleasure — ever her partner in crime — seized upon him, and delivered him over into the clutches of debauchery and dissipation, under whose corrupt110 influence the unfortunate young man utterly111 lost all sense of shame. Those very facts that plaintiff supposed to be so many arguments in her favour will be found, on the contrary, to make for my own case. From early morning (as my learned friend has just observed) did the misguided Polemon, with aching head and garlanded, stagger through the open market to the noise of flutes112, never sober, brawling113 with all he met; a reproach to his ancestors and his city, a laughing-stock to foreigners. One day he reached my door. He found it open: I was discoursing114 to a company of my disciples115, as is my wont116, upon virtue and temperance. He stood there, with the flute-girl at his side and the garlands on his head, and sought at first to drown our conversation with his noisy outcry. But we paid no heed117 to him, and little by little our words produced a sobering effect, for Drink had not entire possession of him: he bade the flute-girl cease, tore off his garlands, and looked with shame at his luxurious118 dress. Like one waking from deep sleep, he saw himself as he was, and repented119 of his past life; the flush of drunkenness faded and vanished from his cheek, and was succeeded by a blush of shame; at last, not (as plaintiff would have you believe) in response to any invitation of mine, nor under any compulsion, but of his own free will, and in the conviction of my superiority, he renounced120 his former mistress there and then, and entered my service. Bring him into court. You shall see for yourselves, gentlemen, what he has become under my treatment. Behold that Polemon whom I found drunk, unable to speak or stand upright, an object of ridicule121: I turned him from his evil ways; I taught him sobriety; and I present him to you, no longer a slave, but a decent and orderly citizen, a credit to his nation. In conclusion let me say that the change I have wrought122 in him has won me the gratitude123 not only of Polemon himself but of all his friends. Which of us has been the more profitable companion for him, it is now for the jury to decide.
Her. Come, gentlemen, get up and give your votes. There is no time to be lost; we have other cases coming on.
Just. Academy wins, by six votes to one.
Her. I am not surprised to find that Drink has one adherent124. Jurors in the case of Porch v. Pleasure re Dionysius take their seats! The lady of the frescoes125 74 may begin; her time is noted126.
Porch. I am not ignorant, gentlemen, of the attractions of my adversary127. I see how your eyes turn in her direction; she has your smiles, I your contempt, because my hair is close-cropped, and my expression stern and masculine. Yet if you will give me a fair hearing, I fear her not; for justice is on my side. Nay128, it is with these same meretricious129 attractions of hers that my accusation is concerned: it was by her specious130 appearance that she beguiled131 the virtuous Dionysius, my lover, and drew him to herself. The present case is in fact closely allied132 with that of Drink and the Academy, with which your colleagues have just dealt. The question now before you is this: are men to live the lives of swine, wallowing in voluptuousness133, with never a high or noble thought: or are they to set virtue above enjoyment134, and follow the dictates135 of freedom and philosophy, fearing not to grapple with pain, nor seeking the degrading service of pleasure, as though happiness were to be found in a pot of honey or a cake of figs136? These are the baits my adversary throws out for fools, and toil137 the bugbear with which she frightens them: her artifices138 seldom fail; and among her victims is this unfortunate whom she has constrained139 to rebel against my authority. She had to wait till she found him on a sick-bed; never while he was himself would he have listened to her proposals. Yet what right have I to complain? She spares not even the Gods; she impugns140 the wisdom of Providence141; she is guilty of blasphemy142; you have a double penalty to impose, if you would be wise. I hear that she has not even been at the pains of preparing a defence: Epicurus is to speak for her! She does not stand upon ceremony with you, gentlemen. — Ask her what Heracles would have been, what your own Theseus would have been, if they had listened to the voice of pleasure, and shrunk back from toil: their toils143 were the only check upon wickedness, which else must have overrun the whole Earth. And now I have done; I am no lover of long speeches. Yet if my adversary would consent to answer a few questions, her worthlessness would soon appear. Let me remind you, gentlemen, of your oath: give your votes in accordance with that oath, and believe not Epicurus, when he tells you that the Gods take no thought for the things of Earth.
Her. Stand down, madam. Epicurus will now speak on behalf of pleasure.
Epi. I shall not detain you long, gentlemen of the jury; there is no occasion for me to do so. If it were true, as the plaintiff asserts, that Dionysius was her lover, and that my client by means of drugs or incantations had constrained him to withdraw his affections from the plaintiff and transfer them to herself — if this were true, then my client might fairly be accused of witchcraft144, nor could her wicked practices upon her rival’s admirers escape condemnation145. On the other hand, if a free citizen of a free state, deciding for himself in a matter where the law is silent, takes a violent aversion to this lady’s person, concludes that the blessedness with which she promises to crown his labours is neither more nor less than moonshine, and accordingly makes the best of his way out of her labyrinthine146 maze147 of argument into the attractive arms of Pleasure, bursts the bonds of verbal subtlety148, exchanges credulity for common sense, and pronounces, with great justice, that toil is toilsome, and that pleasure is pleasant — I ask, is this shipwrecked mariner149 to be excluded from the calm haven150 of his desire, and hurled151 back headlong into a sea of toil? is this poor suppliant152 at the altar of Mercy — in other words of Pleasure — is he to be delivered over into the power of perplexity — and all on the chance that his hot climb up the steep hill of Virtue may be rewarded with a glimpse of that celebrated153 lady on the top, and his life of toil followed by a hereafter of happiness? We could scarcely ask for a better judge of the matter than Dionysius himself. He was as familiar with the Stoic154 doctrines155 as any man, and held at one time that virtue was the only Good: but he presently discovered that toil was an evil: he then chose what seemed to him the better course. He would no doubt observe that those philosophers who had so much to say on the subject of patience and endurance under toil were secretly the servants of Pleasure, carefully abiding156 by her laws in their own homes, though they made so free with her name in their discourses157. They cannot bear to be detected in any relaxation159, or any departure from their principles: but, poor men, they lead a Tantalus life of it in consequence, and when they do get a chance of sinning without being found out, they drink down pleasure by the bucketful. Depend on it, if some one would make them a present of Gyges’s ring of invisibility, or Hades’s cap, they would cut the acquaintance of toil without further ceremony, and elbow their way into the presence of Pleasure; they would all be Dionysiuses then. As long as Dionysius was well, he thought that there was some good in all this talk about endurance; but when he fell ill, and found out what pain really was, he perceived that his body was of another school than the Porch, and held quite other tenets: he was converted, realized that he was flesh and blood, and from that day ceased to behave as if he were made of marble; he knew now that the man who talks nonsense about the iniquity160 of pleasure
But toys with words: his thoughts are bent161 elsewhither.
And now, gentlemen, I leave you to your vote.
Porch. Not yet! Let me ask him a few questions.
Epi. Yes? I am ready.
Porch. You hold toil to be an evil?
Epi. I do.
Porch. And pleasure a good?
Epi. Unquestionably.
Porch. Do you recognize the distinction between differentia and indifferentia? between praeposita and rejecta?
Epi. Why, certainly.
Her. Madam, this discussion must cease; the jury say they do not understand word-chopping. They will now give their votes.
Porch. Ah; I should have won, if I could have tried him with my third figure of self-evidents.
Just. Who wins?
Her. Unanimous verdict for Pleasure.
Porch. I appeal to Zeus.
Just. By all means. Next case, Hermes.
Her. Luxury v. Virtue, re Aristippus; Aristippus must appear 23 in person.
Vir. I ought to speak first. Aristippus is mine; his words and his deeds alike proclaim him mine.
Lux. On the contrary, any one who will observe his garlands and his purple robes and his perfumes will agree that he is mine.
Just. Peace! This suit must stand over, until Zeus has decided162 the appeal re Dionysius. The cases are similar. If Porch wins her appeal, Aristippus shall be adjudged to Virtue: if not, Luxury must have him. Bring the next case. By the way, those jurors must not have their fee; they have not earned it.
Her. So the poor old gentlemen have climbed up all this way for nothing!
Just. Well, they must be content with a third. Now go away, all of you, and don’t be cross; you shall have another chance.
Her. Diogenes of Sinope wanted! Bank, it is for you to speak. 24
Diog. Look here, Madam Justice, if she doesn’t stop bothering, I shall have assault and battery to answer for before long, instead of desertion; my stick is ready.
Just. What is the meaning of this? Bank has run away, and Diogenes after her, with his stick raised. Poor Bank! I am afraid she will be roughly handled. Call Pyrrho.
Her. Here is Painting, but Pyrrho has never come up. 25 I knew how it would be.
Just. And what was his reason?
Her. He holds that there is no such thing as a true decision.
Just. Then judgement goes against him by default. Now for the Syrian advocate. The indictments163 were only filed a day or two ago; there was no such hurry. However —. We will first take the case in which Rhetoric is plaintiff. How people crowd in to hear it!
Her. Just so: the case has not had time to get stale, you see; it has the charm of novelty, the indictment164, as you say, having only been filed yesterday. The prospect165, too, of hearing the Syrian defend himself against two such plaintiffs as Rhetoric and Dialogue, one after the other, is a great attraction. Well, Rhetoric, when are you going to begin?
Rhet. Before all things, men of Athens, I pray the Gods that you may listen to me throughout this trial with feelings not less warm than those that I have ever entertained towards my country and towards each one of you, my countrymen. And if, further, I pray them so to dispose your hearts that you will suffer me to conduct my case in accordance with my original intention and design, without interruption from my adversary, I shall be asking no more than justice. When I listen to the defendant’s words, and then reflect upon the treatment I have received from him, I know not how I am to reconcile the two. You will presently find him holding a language scarcely distinguishable from my own: yet examine into his conduct, and you will see, from the lengths to which he has already gone, that I am justified in taking steps to prevent his going yet further. But enough of preamble166: I am wasting time that might be better employed in accusing my adversary.
Gentlemen, the defendant was no more than a boy — he still spoke167 with his native accent, and might at any moment have exhibited himself in the garb168 of an Assyrian — when I found him wandering up and down Ionia, at a loss for employment. I took him in hand; I gave him an education; and, convinced of his capabilities169 and of his devotion to me (for he was my very humble170 servant in those days, and had no admiration171 to spare for any one else), I turned my back upon the many suitors who sought my hand, upon the wealthy, the brilliant and the high-born, and betrothed172 myself to this monster of ingratitude173; upon this obscure pauper174 boy I bestowed175 the rich dowry of my surpassing eloquence176, brought him to be enrolled177 among my own people, and made him my fellow citizen, to the bitter mortification178 of his unsuccessful rivals. When he formed the resolution of travelling, in order to make his good fortune known to the world, I did not remain behind: I accompanied him everywhere, from city to city, shedding my lustre179 upon him, and clothing him in honour and renown180. Of our travels in Greece and Ionia, I say nothing: he expressed a wish to visit Italy: I sailed the Ionian Sea with him, and attended him even as far as Gaul, scattering181 plenty in his path.
For a long time he consulted my wishes in everything, was unfailing in his attendance upon me, and never passed a night away from my side. But no sooner had he secured an adequate provision, no sooner did he consider his reputation established, than his countenance182 changed towards me: he assumed a haughty183 air, and neglected, nay, utterly abandoned me; having conceived a violent affection for the bearded old person yonder, whom you may know from his dress to be Dialogue, and who passes for a son of Philosophy. With this Dialogue, in spite of the disparity of age, he is now living; and is not ashamed to clip the wings of free, high-soaring eloquence, and submit himself to the comedian’s fetters184 of bald question and answer. He, whose thoughts should have found utterance185 in thundering oratory186, is content to weave a puny187 network of conversation. Such things may draw a smile from his audience, a nod, an unimpassioned wave of the hand, a murmur188 of approbation189: they can never hope to evoke190 the deafening191 uproar192 of universal applause. And this, gentlemen, is the fascination193 under which he looks coldly upon me; I commend his taste! They say, indeed, that he is not on the best of terms even with his beloved Dialogue; apparently194 I am not the only victim of his overweening pride. Does not such ingratitude as this render him liable to the penalties imposed by the marriage-laws? He leaves me, his lawful195 wife, to whom he is indebted alike for wealth and reputation, leaves me to neglect, and goes off in pursuit of novelty; and that, at a time when all eyes are turned upon me, when all men write me their protectress. I hold out against the entreaties196 of countless197 suitors: they knock, and my doors remain closed to them; they call loudly upon my name, but I scorn their empty clamours, and answer them not. All is in vain: he will not return to me, nor withdraw his eyes from this new love. In Heaven’s name, what does he expect to get from him? what has Dialogue but his cloak?
In conclusion, gentlemen: should he attempt to employ my art in his defence, suffer him not thus unscrupulously to sharpen my own sword against me; bid him defend himself, if he can, with the weapons of his adored Dialogue.
Her. Now there, madam, you are unreasonable198: how can he possibly make a dialogue of it all by himself? No, no; let him deliver a regular speech, just the same as other people.
Syrian. In view, gentlemen, of the indignation that plaintiff has expressed at the idea of my employing her gift of eloquence in order to maintain my cause at large, I shall confine myself to a brief and summary refutation of her charges, and shall then leave the whole matter to your discernment.
Gentlemen, all that the plaintiff has said is true. She educated me; she bore me company in my travels; she made a Greek of me. She has each of these claims to a husband’s gratitude. I have now to give my reasons for abandoning her, and cultivating the acquaintance of Dialogue: and, believe me, no motive199 of self-interest shall induce me to misrepresent the facts. I found, then, that the discreet200 bearing, the seemly dress, which had distinguished201 her in the days of her union with the illustrious demesman of Paeania 75, were now thrown aside: I saw her tricked out and bedizened, rouged202 and painted like a courtesan. My suspicions were aroused, and I began to watch the direction of her eyes. To make a long story short, our street was nightly infested203 with the serenades of her tipsy gallants, some of whom, not content with knocking at our doors, threw aside all restraint, and forced their way into the house. These attentions amused and delighted my wife: she was commonly to be seen leaning over the parapet and listening to the loose ditties that were bawled204 up from below; and when she thought she was unobserved, she would even open the door, and admit the gallant to her shameless embraces. Such things were not to be endured: I was loth to bring her into the divorce-court, and accordingly sought the hospitality of Dialogue, who was my near neighbour.
Such, gentlemen, are the grievous wrongs that plaintiff has suffered at my hands. Even had the provocation205 I have described been wanting, my age (I was then nearly forty years old) called upon me to withdraw from the turmoil206 of the law-courts, and suffer the ‘gentlemen of the jury’ to rest in peace. Tyrants207 enough had been arraigned208, princes enough been eulogized: it was time to retreat to the walks of Academy or the Lyceum, there to enjoy, in the delightful209 society of Dialogue, that tranquil210 discourse158 which aims not at noisy acclamations. I might say much more, but I forbear: you, gentlemen, will give your votes in accordance with the dictates of conscience. Just. Who wins?
Her. The Syrian has all votes but one.
Just. And that one a rhetorician’s, I suppose. Dialogue will now address the same jury. Gentlemen, you will remain and hear this second case, and will receive a double fee.
Dia. If I had had my choice, gentlemen, I should have addressed you in the conversational211 style to which I am accustomed, instead of delivering a long harangue212. However, I must conform to the custom of the law-courts, though I have neither skill nor experience in such matters. So much by way of exordium: and now for the outrage213 committed on me by the defendant. In former days, gentlemen, I was a person of exalted214 character: my speculations215 turned upon the Gods, and Nature, and the Annus Magnus; I trod those aerial plains wherein Zeus on winged car is borne along through the heights. My flight had actually brought me to the heavenly vault216; I was just setting foot upon the upper surface of that dome217, when this Syrian took it upon himself to drag me down, break my wings, and reduce me to the common level of humanity. Whisking off the seemly tragic218 mask I then wore, he clapped on in its place a comic one that was little short of ludicrous: his next step was to huddle219 me into a corner with Jest, Lampoon220, Cynicism, and the comedians221 Eupolis and Aristophanes, persons with a horrible knack222 of making light of sacred things, and girding at all that is as it should be. But the climax223 was reached when he unearthed224 a barking, snarling225 old Cynic, Menippus by name, and thrust his company upon me; a grim bulldog, if ever there was one; a treacherous226 brute that will snap at you while his tail is yet wagging. Could any man be more abominably227 misused228? Stripped of my proper attire229, I am made to play the buffoon230, and to give expression to every whimsical absurdity231 that his caprice dictates. And, as if that were not preposterous232 enough, he has forbidden me either to walk on my feet or to rise on the wings of poesy: I am a ridiculous cross between prose and verse; a monster of incongruity233; a literary Centaur234.
Her. Now, Syrian: what do you say to that?
Syrian. Gentlemen of the jury, I am surprised. Nothing could be more unexpected than the charge Dialogue has brought against me. When I first took him in hand, he was regarded by the world at large as one whose interminable discussions had soured his temper and exhausted235 his vitality236. His labours entitled him to respect, but he had none of the attractive qualities that could secure him popularity. My first step was to accustom80 him to walk upon the common ground like the rest of mankind; my next, to make him presentable, by giving him a good bath and teaching him to smile. Finally, I assigned him Comedy as his yokefellow, thus gaining him the confidence of his hearers, who until then would as soon have thought of picking up a hedgehog as of venturing into the thorny237 presence of Dialogue.
But I know what the grievance238 is: he wants me to sit and discourse subtle nothings with him about the immortality239 of the soul, and the exact number of pints240 of pure homogeneous essence that went to the making of the universe, and the claims of rhetoric to be called a shadow of a fraction of statecraft, or a fourth part of flattery. He takes a curious pleasure in refinements241 of this kind; it tickles242 his vanity most deliciously to be told that not every man can see so far into the ideal as he. Evidently he expects me to conform to his taste in this respect; he is still hankering after those lost wings; his eyes are turned upwards243; he cannot see the things that lie before his feet. I think there is nothing else he can complain of. He cannot say that I, who pass for a barbarian, have torn off his Greek dress, and replaced it with one like my own: that would have been another matter; to deprive him of his native garb were indeed a crime.
Gentlemen, I have made my defence, as far as in me lies: I trust that your present verdict will confirm the former one.
Her. Well I never! All ten are for you again. Only one dissentient, and he the same one as before. True to his envious244 principles, he must ever give his vote against his betters. The jurors may now leave the court. The remaining cases will come on tomorrow.
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1
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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rhetoric
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| n.修辞学，浮夸之言语 | |
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ambrosia
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| n.神的食物；蜂食 | |
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quack
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| n.庸医；江湖医生；冒充内行的人；骗子 | |
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expatiates
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| v.详述，细说( expatiate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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yokes
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| 轭( yoke的名词复数 )； 奴役； 轭形扁担； 上衣抵肩 | |
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dispensing
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| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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cinder
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| n.余烬，矿渣 | |
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reveller
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| n.摆设酒宴者，饮酒狂欢者 | |
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revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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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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draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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munched
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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loathsomeness
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winnowing
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| v.扬( winnow的现在分词 )；辨别；选择；除去 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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well-being
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| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
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20
annoyances
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| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
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perjury
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| n.伪证；伪证罪 | |
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plumed
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| 饰有羽毛的 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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oblation
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| n.圣餐式；祭品 | |
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mildewed
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| adj.发了霉的，陈腐的，长了霉花的v.（使）发霉，（使）长霉( mildew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mouldering
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| v.腐朽( moulder的现在分词 )；腐烂，崩塌 | |
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pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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litigant
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| n.诉讼当事人；adj.进行诉讼的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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38
ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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dissertations
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| 专题论文，学位论文( dissertation的名词复数 ) | |
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42
hemlock
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| n.毒胡萝卜，铁杉 | |
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43
exponents
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| n.倡导者( exponent的名词复数 )；说明者；指数；能手 | |
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44
pounce
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| n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意 | |
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45
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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46
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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47
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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48
yearn
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| v.想念；怀念；渴望 | |
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49
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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50
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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51
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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52
knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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53
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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54
impurities
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| 不纯( impurity的名词复数 )； 不洁； 淫秽； 杂质 | |
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saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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56
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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57
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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58
soot
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| n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟 | |
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59
smearing
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| 污点，拖尾效应 | |
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60
diverge
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| v.分叉，分歧，离题，使...岔开，使转向 | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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65
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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66
repelling
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| v.击退( repel的现在分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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67
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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sepulchral
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| adj.坟墓的，阴深的 | |
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69
jabbering
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| v.急切而含混不清地说( jabber的现在分词 )；急促兴奋地说话；结结巴巴 | |
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flute
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| n.长笛；v.吹笛 | |
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71
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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incorporeal
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| adj.非物质的，精神的 | |
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73
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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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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75
humbugs
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| 欺骗( humbug的名词复数 )； 虚伪； 骗子； 薄荷硬糖 | |
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76
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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78
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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80
accustom
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| vt.使适应，使习惯 | |
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81
amorous
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| adj.多情的；有关爱情的 | |
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82
upbraid
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| v.斥责，责骂，责备 | |
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bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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84
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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85
wasps
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| 黄蜂( wasp的名词复数 )； 胡蜂； 易动怒的人； 刻毒的人 | |
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86
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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87
throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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88
defendant
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| n.被告；adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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89
seducing
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| 诱奸( seduce的现在分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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90
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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91
arrears
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| n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作 | |
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92
versus
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| prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下 | |
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93
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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94
plausibly
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| 似真地 | |
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95
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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96
censurable
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| adj.可非难的，该责备的 | |
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97
allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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98
publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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99
revels
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| n.作乐( revel的名词复数 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉v.作乐( revel的第三人称单数 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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100
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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101
perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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102
harassing
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| v.侵扰，骚扰( harass的现在分词 )；不断攻击（敌人） | |
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103
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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104
platitudes
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| n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子 | |
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105
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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106
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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107
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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108
affinity
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| n.亲和力，密切关系 | |
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109
abetted
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| v.教唆（犯罪）( abet的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；怂恿；支持 | |
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110
corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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111
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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112
flutes
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| 长笛( flute的名词复数 )； 细长香槟杯（形似长笛） | |
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113
brawling
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| n.争吵，喧嚷 | |
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114
discoursing
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| 演说（discourse的现在分词形式） | |
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115
disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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116
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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117
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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118
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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119
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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120
renounced
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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121
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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122
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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123
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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124
adherent
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| n.信徒，追随者，拥护者 | |
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125
frescoes
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| n.壁画( fresco的名词复数 )；温壁画技法，湿壁画 | |
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126
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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127
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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128
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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129
meretricious
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| adj.华而不实的，俗艳的 | |
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130
specious
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| adj.似是而非的；adv.似是而非地 | |
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131
beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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132
allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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133
voluptuousness
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| n.风骚，体态丰满 | |
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134
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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135
dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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136
figs
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| figures 数字，图形，外形 | |
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137
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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138
artifices
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| n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 )；诡计；巧妙办法；虚伪行为 | |
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139
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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140
impugns
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| v.非难，指谪( impugn的第三人称单数 )；对…有怀疑 | |
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141
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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142
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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143
toils
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| 网 | |
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144
witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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145
condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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146
labyrinthine
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| adj.如迷宫的；复杂的 | |
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147
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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148
subtlety
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| n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别 | |
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149
mariner
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| n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者 | |
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150
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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151
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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152
suppliant
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| adj.哀恳的；n.恳求者，哀求者 | |
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153
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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154
stoic
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| n.坚忍克己之人，禁欲主义者 | |
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155
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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156
abiding
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| adj.永久的，持久的，不变的 | |
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157
discourses
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| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
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158
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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159
relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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160
iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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161
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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162
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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163
indictments
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| n.（制度、社会等的）衰败迹象( indictment的名词复数 )；刑事起诉书；公诉书；控告 | |
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164
indictment
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| n.起诉；诉状 | |
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165
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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166
preamble
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| n.前言；序文 | |
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167
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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168
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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169
capabilities
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| n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力 | |
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170
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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171
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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172
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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173
ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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174
pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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175
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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176
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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177
enrolled
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| adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
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178
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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179
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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180
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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181
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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182
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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183
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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184
fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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185
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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186
oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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187
puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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188
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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189
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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190
evoke
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| vt.唤起，引起，使人想起 | |
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191
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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192
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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193
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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194
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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195
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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196
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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197
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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198
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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199
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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200
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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201
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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202
rouged
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| 胭脂，口红( rouge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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203
infested
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| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
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204
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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205
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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206
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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207
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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208
arraigned
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| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
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209
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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210
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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conversational
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| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
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harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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215
speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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216
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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217
dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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218
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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219
huddle
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| vi.挤作一团；蜷缩；vt.聚集；n.挤在一起的人 | |
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220
lampoon
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| n.讽刺文章；v.讽刺 | |
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221
comedians
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| n.喜剧演员，丑角( comedian的名词复数 ) | |
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222
knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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223
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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224
unearthed
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| 出土的（考古） | |
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225
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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226
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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abominably
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| adv. 可恶地，可恨地，恶劣地 | |
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228
misused
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| v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用 | |
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229
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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230
buffoon
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| n.演出时的丑角 | |
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231
absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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232
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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incongruity
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| n.不协调，不一致 | |
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234
centaur
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| n.人首马身的怪物 | |
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235
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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236
vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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237
thorny
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| adj.多刺的，棘手的 | |
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238
grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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240
pints
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| n.品脱( pint的名词复数 )；一品脱啤酒 | |
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241
refinements
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| n.（生活）风雅；精炼( refinement的名词复数 )；改良品；细微的改良；优雅或高贵的动作 | |
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242
tickles
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| （使）发痒( tickle的第三人称单数 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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243
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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